I'm going to my monthly district Buddhist meeting on Friday at 7pm. (Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism) There are some people here that may have some interest so I didn't want to leave them out. Let me know via something.
libertad
p.s. sorry the Dalai Lama (Not sure if I spelled that right) will not be able to attend.
Here is my sarcasm cause so many think that we all follow him. No disrespect to anyone, its just like saying all Christians follow the Pope.
Libertad's Journal
My Podcast Link
09/20/2006 21:17 #25831
Another invite...just in case09/18/2006 00:13 #25830
Changing of Billboard in CubaThis is a pic I took of the billboard in front of the US Interest section in Cuba.
This is what is there now.
This is what is there now.
09/17/2006 21:06 #25829
?(e:joshua), I'm not sure where your confusion comes from about me calling you a liar. I made references to it here 
here
and here
You say I am being vague about why I call you a liar, but I have three links asking you why you did lie. I don't include links unless I feel they are important. Please look at them. How could you possibly think that my reference to you lying is about the billboards along the Malecón in Havana Cuba. I posted the pics in the chatter, not even in a journal. All I remember saying is that I'm glad that they decided to change their billboards. Since I walked past these billboards in front of the US interest section on a continuous basis for four months, I know exactly what the billboards say. You are right, I do know how the people of Cuba live. You have not seen what I have seen. I spent twelve days traveling Cuba and the rest living in Havana (4 months) Don't call me naive. I know exactly how the Cuban people are living. I didn't live in a resort. I lived with the Cuban people.
I don't rememember saying that I love abortion. In fact I don't remember ever saying anything about abortion.
Just remember, I am talking about issues not politics.
As you said "I will NOT be supressed because I'm a loud-mouthed voice of disagreement and dissent here. " That is exactly why you lied. It is because you want to be the dissent. You want to be the opposing view, regardless of the truth.
here
and here
You say I am being vague about why I call you a liar, but I have three links asking you why you did lie. I don't include links unless I feel they are important. Please look at them. How could you possibly think that my reference to you lying is about the billboards along the Malecón in Havana Cuba. I posted the pics in the chatter, not even in a journal. All I remember saying is that I'm glad that they decided to change their billboards. Since I walked past these billboards in front of the US interest section on a continuous basis for four months, I know exactly what the billboards say. You are right, I do know how the people of Cuba live. You have not seen what I have seen. I spent twelve days traveling Cuba and the rest living in Havana (4 months) Don't call me naive. I know exactly how the Cuban people are living. I didn't live in a resort. I lived with the Cuban people.
I don't rememember saying that I love abortion. In fact I don't remember ever saying anything about abortion.
Just remember, I am talking about issues not politics.
As you said
"I will NOT be supressed because I'm a loud-mouthed voice of disagreement and dissent here. " That is exactly why you lied. It is because you want to be the dissent. You want to be the opposing view, regardless of the truth. libertad - 09/18/06 18:44
(e:uncutsaniflush), sorry for the confusion. That wasn't directed at you, just the first part was. The part where I was agreeing with you about not being an expert. I have to admit, I don't know what you mean about answering comments inline. These comments are getting awfully confusing.
(e:jason) and (e:joshua) both thought I was not treating them fairly because I didn't rebuke ajay for his words (political labels and such not directed at me). I definitely see their point. Maybe I was being unfair in just puting it all on (e:joshua), I just thought you could defend yourself against (e:ajay), and you have.
One final thing (e:joshua), I know how you feel many times about feeling that you are the minority. There are many times that I feel this way, even when it seems that I don't.
(e:uncutsaniflush), sorry for the confusion. That wasn't directed at you, just the first part was. The part where I was agreeing with you about not being an expert. I have to admit, I don't know what you mean about answering comments inline. These comments are getting awfully confusing.
(e:jason) and (e:joshua) both thought I was not treating them fairly because I didn't rebuke ajay for his words (political labels and such not directed at me). I definitely see their point. Maybe I was being unfair in just puting it all on (e:joshua), I just thought you could defend yourself against (e:ajay), and you have.
One final thing (e:joshua), I know how you feel many times about feeling that you are the minority. There are many times that I feel this way, even when it seems that I don't.
uncutsaniflush - 09/18/06 18:01
(e:libertad) if you were addressing to me the part about (e:jay) and you being two different people, please believe me that i am very aware of this.
I answer comments inline (threaded to use a usenet term) where they originally occurred (to avoid confusion, ironically enough) unless I feel the comments warrant a journal of my own.
(e:libertad) if you were addressing to me the part about (e:jay) and you being two different people, please believe me that i am very aware of this.
I answer comments inline (threaded to use a usenet term) where they originally occurred (to avoid confusion, ironically enough) unless I feel the comments warrant a journal of my own.
libertad - 09/18/06 12:07
I agree with you (e:uncutsaniflush) regarding not being an expert on a governement just because you have lived in that country. Really the more I ever know about any given topic, the more I know that I really don't know all that I could.
As for me going to Cuba to study it was because of my deepest desire to come to my own understanding of the country based on experience. In retrospect, I have gained more questions than answers. I would like to reiterate that I have never down played the Cuban Government's oppression over the people. There is a lot that I can share about this and I wouldn't mind doing so. You may have misinterpreted what I said in chat when I said I'm glad they decided to change the billboards. That happens a lot when I use sarcasm, so I understand why it happened. As you can see they only changed one propaganda sign to another. These signs appear everywhere in Cuba, even in the coutry side. It was my way of adding humor.
I have a fairly good idea of where I fall on the political spectrum. All I have been saying is that I don't think its important when discussing issues. I think affixing political labels to people only inhibits dialogue. That is why I try to avoid it when it is possible.
Another thing is that (e:ajay) and I are two different people with each our own views. If you have a problem with the manner in which he responds to you, I think it is best that you addresss him. Some of our views may be similar, but I don't think we can be grouped together so easily.
I agree with you (e:uncutsaniflush) regarding not being an expert on a governement just because you have lived in that country. Really the more I ever know about any given topic, the more I know that I really don't know all that I could.
As for me going to Cuba to study it was because of my deepest desire to come to my own understanding of the country based on experience. In retrospect, I have gained more questions than answers. I would like to reiterate that I have never down played the Cuban Government's oppression over the people. There is a lot that I can share about this and I wouldn't mind doing so. You may have misinterpreted what I said in chat when I said I'm glad they decided to change the billboards. That happens a lot when I use sarcasm, so I understand why it happened. As you can see they only changed one propaganda sign to another. These signs appear everywhere in Cuba, even in the coutry side. It was my way of adding humor.
I have a fairly good idea of where I fall on the political spectrum. All I have been saying is that I don't think its important when discussing issues. I think affixing political labels to people only inhibits dialogue. That is why I try to avoid it when it is possible.
Another thing is that (e:ajay) and I are two different people with each our own views. If you have a problem with the manner in which he responds to you, I think it is best that you addresss him. Some of our views may be similar, but I don't think we can be grouped together so easily.
uncutsaniflush - 09/18/06 10:03
You know, (e:ajay), that just living in a country doesn't automatically make you an expert on that country's government.
So, theorically, (e:joshua) could have a greater understanding of the Cuban government than (e:libertad).
That being said, I think that (e:libertad) has an interest in politics and culture so that I think he has insight as to the realities of living under the Cuban government.
Perhaps if (e:libertad) and (e:joshua) got together, we might get a most excellent examination of the Cuban government from inside and out.
You know, (e:ajay), that just living in a country doesn't automatically make you an expert on that country's government.
So, theorically, (e:joshua) could have a greater understanding of the Cuban government than (e:libertad).
That being said, I think that (e:libertad) has an interest in politics and culture so that I think he has insight as to the realities of living under the Cuban government.
Perhaps if (e:libertad) and (e:joshua) got together, we might get a most excellent examination of the Cuban government from inside and out.
ajay - 09/18/06 00:31
(e:joshua) writes: "You've spent time there and as a result I would hope for you to be somewhat savvy with how their government works."
.... as opposed to (e:joshua), who has _not_ spent any time there, and yet is fully savvy about how their government works. :-D
I will admit that I haven't been to Cuba. But I have wondered many a time why we do have sanctions on Cuba, when much worse countries like China get "most favored nation" treatment? If the US truly wanted to get rid of Castro, they would just lift the sanctions and let capitalism take care of the problem, just like it did in fUSSR and is doing in China. I guarantee you that if the sanctions were lifted today, Castro's government would fall in less than a year or two...
(e:joshua) writes: "You've spent time there and as a result I would hope for you to be somewhat savvy with how their government works."
.... as opposed to (e:joshua), who has _not_ spent any time there, and yet is fully savvy about how their government works. :-D
I will admit that I haven't been to Cuba. But I have wondered many a time why we do have sanctions on Cuba, when much worse countries like China get "most favored nation" treatment? If the US truly wanted to get rid of Castro, they would just lift the sanctions and let capitalism take care of the problem, just like it did in fUSSR and is doing in China. I guarantee you that if the sanctions were lifted today, Castro's government would fall in less than a year or two...
libertad - 09/17/06 23:53
Yes i am biased, we ALL are. No i have never said that the Cuban government doesn't have a strong program of propaganda. It is as overt as can be. The fact is there are good things and bad about our government and theirs. If I have ever pointed out the good in theirs, it does not imply that I agree with everything or even the majority of what they do. Likewise, when I point out the bad in ours, it does not mean that we do not have good as well.
I guess we will have to wait until you actually explain why you lied.
Yes i am biased, we ALL are. No i have never said that the Cuban government doesn't have a strong program of propaganda. It is as overt as can be. The fact is there are good things and bad about our government and theirs. If I have ever pointed out the good in theirs, it does not imply that I agree with everything or even the majority of what they do. Likewise, when I point out the bad in ours, it does not mean that we do not have good as well.
I guess we will have to wait until you actually explain why you lied.
joshua - 09/17/06 22:29
PS - I respect your wish for your given name to not be used - I'm all for keeping it somewhat anonymous if people choose to and that is all good by me. I edited out your name in my post.
PS - after reading the comments you were talking about I'm convinced that you don't know what "political hackery" is. If you somehow see that from what I write, but don't see it from what someone else with what Ajay says... then I'm going to be accusing you of being biased. Which is fine, but at least be honest about it.
PS - I respect your wish for your given name to not be used - I'm all for keeping it somewhat anonymous if people choose to and that is all good by me. I edited out your name in my post.
PS - after reading the comments you were talking about I'm convinced that you don't know what "political hackery" is. If you somehow see that from what I write, but don't see it from what someone else with what Ajay says... then I'm going to be accusing you of being biased. Which is fine, but at least be honest about it.
joshua - 09/17/06 22:25
Point 1 - you aren't being naive about the people of Cuba, I think you are playing down or simply ignoring how the Communist government there distributes and maintains a propaganda program, as all Communist governments do. You've spent time there and as a result I would hope for you to be somewhat savvy with how their government works.
Point 2 - The abortion thing was a RHETORICAL statement... I thought it was fairly obvious but if I wasn't clear, now you know.
Point 3 - The issues we talk about regularly ARE political in nature. Therefore, we are talking about politics.
Point 4 - I am the loud-mouthed voice of disagreement and dissent here BY DEFAULT. Trust me, I'd be happier if more people saw things my way around here. Unfortunately that is not the case.
I will address your calling me a liar later - I don't have time to pick apart anybody's logic tonight. If I have somehow, somewhere told a factual lie I'd be happy to rescind if its the case. If you classify lying as not telling the truth as YOU see it, then I cannot help you. At this juncture however, to be completely honest, I think its a load of shit. In fact, this whole statement -
"That is exactly why you lied. It is because you want to be the dissent. You want to be the opposing view, regardless of the truth."
- Is a load of shit. That is a meaningless statement and is in fact UNTRUE, which apparently makes you a liar. I'm not a contrarian... that should be blindingly obvious to anybody that reads what I talk about. Despite my abrasive political demeanor I'm not actually out here just to tell people no when they say yes, or to say up when someone else says down, for the hell of it, like you are suggesting. If you've somehow been lead to believe that based on what I've written, I'm here to tell you that you are hallucinating are are 100% incorrect about that. You are reading into something that isn't there.
Point 1 - you aren't being naive about the people of Cuba, I think you are playing down or simply ignoring how the Communist government there distributes and maintains a propaganda program, as all Communist governments do. You've spent time there and as a result I would hope for you to be somewhat savvy with how their government works.
Point 2 - The abortion thing was a RHETORICAL statement... I thought it was fairly obvious but if I wasn't clear, now you know.
Point 3 - The issues we talk about regularly ARE political in nature. Therefore, we are talking about politics.
Point 4 - I am the loud-mouthed voice of disagreement and dissent here BY DEFAULT. Trust me, I'd be happier if more people saw things my way around here. Unfortunately that is not the case.
I will address your calling me a liar later - I don't have time to pick apart anybody's logic tonight. If I have somehow, somewhere told a factual lie I'd be happy to rescind if its the case. If you classify lying as not telling the truth as YOU see it, then I cannot help you. At this juncture however, to be completely honest, I think its a load of shit. In fact, this whole statement -
"That is exactly why you lied. It is because you want to be the dissent. You want to be the opposing view, regardless of the truth."
- Is a load of shit. That is a meaningless statement and is in fact UNTRUE, which apparently makes you a liar. I'm not a contrarian... that should be blindingly obvious to anybody that reads what I talk about. Despite my abrasive political demeanor I'm not actually out here just to tell people no when they say yes, or to say up when someone else says down, for the hell of it, like you are suggesting. If you've somehow been lead to believe that based on what I've written, I'm here to tell you that you are hallucinating are are 100% incorrect about that. You are reading into something that isn't there.
09/17/2006 20:39 #25828
My name is e:libertadPlease everyone, refer to me as (e:libertad) on the site. If you have my birth name on any of your journals please change it to (e:libertad). That is my pen name here and that is how I would like to be referred to on (e:strip). You can use either one when referring to me in person. This is not directed at anyone in particular, but I hope everyone can respect my wishes. Thank you.
libertad - 09/17/06 23:38
thanks (e:jason), I never said anything about it before so no need to apologize. Thank you and and everyone else for understanding.
thanks (e:jason), I never said anything about it before so no need to apologize. Thank you and and everyone else for understanding.
jason - 09/17/06 21:53
Argh, hey Libertad I apologize profusely. I'm not sure if I can delete my comments on other's journals, but I regret using your birth name. Again, I'm sorry.
Argh, hey Libertad I apologize profusely. I'm not sure if I can delete my comments on other's journals, but I regret using your birth name. Again, I'm sorry.
09/17/2006 02:03 #25827
Some random picsI seriously need to do some digital pic maintaining. Pics everywhere and I'm nervous many could be lost due to a faulty burner...
kookcity2000 - 09/17/06 03:25
random but awesome\
random but awesome\
oooh, I love those religious tracts the crazies hand out!!! When I worked @ Teletech in the falls I'd go up and ask them for one of each kind they had. (mind you, I was very pierced and quite scary looking then.. lol) and I had a big collection of them pinned up all over my desk. :)
yeah i must say i've never understood that- wtf does "christian" even mean? Like when someone says they are "a christian". What kind? are you catholic? protestant? episcopal? lutheran? methodist? unitarian? How can you be just plain "christian"? To me Christian pretty much just means 'judeo-christian but not jewish', but apparently I am wrong.
:shrug:
Chick tracts are amazing in an awful sort of way. I find them morbidly interesting. Some of the tracts are so over the top (yet internally consistent) for me that they read more like satires or parodies than actual tracts.
The scariest thing about them for is that people actually take them seriously and believe them and act upon them.
I was raised Roman Catholic and back before I became a non-believer, I had been told on more than one ocassion that the Roman Catholics weren't really Christian. I was even given the tract I linked to (or something very similar) to show me the error of my ways.
Since I was raised Catholic and I haven't accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Jesus (cue Depeche Mode), I think Jack Chick saved a spot in Hell right next to you just for me. Howdy, neighbor!!
More seriously, I hope I didn't offend you or bring up bad memories for you by mentioning them.
(e:uncutsaniflush),
When I worked at "Coffee &" someone would leave those booklets scattered around the house. I particularly enjoyed the depictions of gay men burning in hell. (sarcasm)
Thanks for the memories! You also brought a smile to my lips.
Your comment abouts Christians and the Pope brought a smile to my lips.
Believe it or not, there some groups of Christians, mostly self-identified as fundamentalist, in the U.S. who do not consider Catholics to be Christians.
Jack Chick has a graphic tract that explains why Roman Catholics aren't Christian: :::link:::