Comment Archives: stories: Opinion: Messina
Re: “Messina”
Standard fare for froo science - if we pray and it rains, see it worked. If we pray and it doesn't rain, then the problem is we need MORE prayer - not that it just doesn't work.
They used to think that setting off dynamite would make it rain. (they were also setting off dynamite quite often, in the mines) Correlation does not imply causation - I notice that whenever the pavement is wet, it rains. So, I guess wet pavement CAUSES rain?
Re: “Messina”
Bingo Ms. Messina. Avatar touches on this as many other authors. Thank you & Tucson Weekly for spreading the light...
Re: “Messina”
If you hate AZ vote with your feet and leave..........just leave. It's not hard and we can drop unemployment and government dole by having all the idiots run for greener grass. Ok so maybe it's not hard to find greener grass mine is looking pretty dingy as I don't water it enought :)
Re: “Messina”
TXJesse already said it. We carry ourselves wherever we go.
Re: “Messina”
This "suckie" attitude says more about the mind"less" state of the author than it does about the states mentioned. Happiness is an inside job.
Re: “Messina”
P.S. It is surprising how many people don't know the motto mentioned in the article, "Don't mess with Texas," is a very effective anti-litter campaign slogan. It means don't throw any mess on the ground. And we don't! Texas is clean.
Because of the widespread misunderstanding in other states of our motto, some Texans have added to the slogan, "Don't mess with Texas, but we reserve the right to mess with you."
As for coming here and messin' with us, if you don't litter you can come on over and give a try at messing with us. We like a good time and love to be entertained. This may be the good-timing party state of the nation.
Re: “Messina”
Maybe Texas doesn't suck as much as some states. In Texas the Republicans have brought us to first in the nation in lack of health insurance. We are 49th in the nation in spending for public and higher education. Many students can't speak English and can't read or write in any language, nor can adults. And it is getting worse, rapidly!
I'd guess nearly half the people in Texas did not graduate from high school, so they can't think straight and they believe every lie a politician tells them. They vote Republican perhaps because Republicans are for the rich and somehow ignorant people think that means the Republicans will make them rich too. See if that happens!
Texas politicians and police are corrupt. But isn't that the American way?
And don't forget BP poisoned our Gulf Coast for generations to come. And this week the entire state was declared s a disaster area because drought has killed our crops and livestock.
Despite this, Texas has the University of Texas and other state universities where decent education is available if you can get in.
The business climate is the best in the nation. Houston thrives. Austin has intelligent, progressive citizens. There is room to roam, great scenery, and friendly people, most of them. Houston has opera and symphony to rival New York City. The arts thrive here, as does individuality. If I have to live in USA, Texas is my choice.
If we could get rid of the Republicans and the corrupt police, Texas could be the least sucking state in the nation.
But after a couple of years of Obama and the Dems, I am not sure there is much hope, not for Texas and not for any state.
And now our governor, Ricky "Good Hair" Perry, is prancing around in his high heels wanting to run for president. Another Texas cheerleader wanting to be president. If you like Bush you will love Perry. Neither man is fit to be president. But would anyone fit to be president want the job of lying to us and letting the rich steal the country?
So all in all, I think we should just say every state sucks, some just suck more than others. All the websites mentioned are correct. I wonder how life is in Canada?
Re: “Messina”
I think what should be added here is that you suck too...
Re: “Messina”
Suggesting or proclaiming a day of prayer is ridiculous and an insult to anyone who has the intelligence to distinguish a canard from a canary. Besides, the god you are praying to likes to drown people.
Re: “Messina”
Now I will correct Chuck.
The First Amendment DOES NOT SAY "a religion," "a national religion," "one sect or society," or "any particular denomination of religion." It is religion generically that may not be established.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"
About the word "thereof":
An overlooked aspect of the free exercise clause is that it looks back to the establishment clause for its definition of "religion". The establishment clause says that Congress may make no law respecting the establishment of religion, while the free exercise clause says that Congress cannot prohibit the free exercise "thereof". Logically, the word "thereof" must have the same content as the object to which it refers. Accordingly, what counts as religion for one clause MUST count as religion for the other. The free exercise clause makes no sense unless the word "religion" is read to encompass more than a church, denomination, or sect. As the free exercise clause pertains to religion generically, the word 'thereof', being placed where it is, clearly signifies that the establishment clause does likewise.
The National Day of Prayer is a constitutional violation in that the congress officially endorses religion generically (and so it does not matter if it's of just one religion, though promoting "Jesus" as they do is especially egregious). If federal judges weren't the cowards they are, and the court system wasn't politically fixed as it is to protect right-wing politicians who reap huge financial & voter rewards by pushing a pseudo-theocracy upon all of us, they would stop using "standing" as an easy way of avoiding these issues THEY KNOW are unconstitutional actions of government.
"Believing... that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their Legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church and State." ~ Thomas Jefferson, letter to the Danbury Baptists, 1802. ME 16:281
Re: “Messina”
... nothing fails like prayer... a pure waste of time and energy... If it is to be, it is up to ME... not anyone or anything else... wake up world...
Re: “Messina”
If we all pray for the economy to get better, and it doesn't, will we be told next year to pray even harder?
Re: “Messina”
Good piece Irene, I agree completely. The same goes for county and city governments. If anyone needs suing, it's the Pima County Board of Supervisors. Pima County is listed as an "Official Gold Sponsor" at PimaNDP.org, the local chapter of Focus on the Family's National Day of Prayer task force. Get the scoop at the Meetup.com website of the Tucson Atheists:
http://www.Meetup.com/Tucson-Atheists/mess…
Re: “Messina”
"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
--Gospel of Matthew
And as to the effect of this most-definitely-unconstitutional Day of Prayer, please note that on last year's Day, the Dow Jones dropped 900 points in the "flash crash". Dark clouds and thunder indeed!
Re: “Messina”
First, I feel I need to correct your assertion that "The freedom to practice—or not practice—a particular religion is one of the privileges we enjoy in the United States." Freedom of religion is not a privilege, it is a right guaranteed under the Constitution in the 1st Amendment of the Bill of Rights, which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishing of a religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." There's nothing in the Constitution or the 1st Amendment that prohibits the government from establishing "A National Day of Prayer." In addition, the establishment of "A Day of Prayer," either by a state or the federal government does not violate the individuals' right or "freedom to practice—or not practice—a particular religion." We can still "gather at churches, synagogues, mosques or even parks to exercise our beliefs," and we can still "choose whether or not we pray or believe in God."
There's no violation of the "Establishment Clause of the First Amendment ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ..."), because Congress is not making a law respecting the establishment of a religion. Rather, what Congress is doing is designating a particular day for individuals to pray, if they choose to pray. It is clear that the "Establishment Clause of the First Amendment" is meant to prohibit Congress from making a law that would establish a religion. It does not prohibit Congress from making a law to honor all religions, which is what a National Day of Prayer does, nor does it prohibit any state from making a law that would either establish a particular religion, prohibit a particular religion or prohibit all religions. Moreover, the "Establishment Clause of the First Amendment" specifically refers only to Congress, or the federal government, not the states.
After all, establishing a "National Day of Prayer" does not force anybody to pray, or to believe in God or anything else. However, according to you and the FFRF it's okay for everyone else to be forced to accept your beliefs, even though what Congress has done clearly does not violate the Constitution.
Re: “Messina”
Hey Corvi: It seems to me that the entire health-care plan passed by Democrats was based on what was once the preferred GOP policy--until Democrats embraced said policy, and it became another step toward socialism.
Re: “Messina”
The two parties seem to be dead set against any idea from the opposition that might work. This was expressed best by JD Hayworth, when he said, if elected he would vote against anything proposed by a Democrat, evidently no matter how good an idea it might be. That shows real deep thought on the issues. Fortunately, he lost.
Re: “Messina”
"we are getting back to our roots." Yes! And with modern efficiency.
Check out Local Roots Aquaponics, here in Tucson:
http://www.localrootsaquaponics.com/
We are involved with the Tucson AquaPonics Project and are very excited about the future of AP here in the desert. Way to go Casey!
Local Roots Aquaponics LLC
http://www.localrootsaquaponics.com
localrootsaquaponics@gmail.com
765-APONICS (765-276-6427)
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Re: “Messina”
How sweet it is! Glad it is working out for both of you. Adoption is a tricky issue at first and it sounds like you have become friends. Bravo