if only you could find compassion and tolerance through religion, instead of all this hatred and bigotry. I'm not against gun ownership but in your case I think an exception might need to be made

Ah yes...another conservative, right wing pinhead from yahoo financial blogs!! We won...deal with it!!

Thanks Mike

I was going to leave your comment go with just a thank you but, after re-reading it..

Mike, what exactly is your definition of compassion and tolerance? Apparently, your compassion and tolerance is limited to those of only your point of you.I'm all for differences of opinion but when my opinions are challenged I back them up with facts, not just my feelings. Sorry Mike the short of it is that I'm not the touchy, feely, and emotional type of guy that you appear to be.

President elect Obama has stated as a senator and on the presidential campaign trail that he plans on limiting gun ownership.

He made the quoted statement about religion, or have you conviently forgotten that and why do you not define his own words as bigotry snd hatred?

Where in the post is my "hatred and bigotry" displayed? Perhaps before you start throwing accusations around you need to first look into s mirror and Grow Up.

Chris, there is great positive in all of this. Obama, as a liberal, will protect your rights to freedom of speech and religion. You will always be able to say what you feel and think, and practice your religion without interference.

I cannot speak for everyone who comments on your blogs, but I believe their problem with your beliefs is in the manner and time in which you present them. Dale wrote a blog speaking about how far America has come in terms of race, and you tried (unsuccessfully) to flip this prideful moment into one of politics when you brought up abortion. Understand there are many "liberal Democrats" who agree with you on many aspects of abortion, including myself. There is a time and place to hold the fight, and it is not to be thrown in the face of people who demonstrate their happiness and sense of pride on electing a black man to the highest office in the country.

Dawn, I'm not really sure why you blogged to this. No need to call names and everyone already knows who won. I am a conservative who no matter how sad I am right now, I can be happy for those who are enjoying this moment. I'm sure had it been the other way around, you wouldn't want people to call you a name and say "deal with it". That's never a nice reaction to give someone who is upset. If you have received this type of response perhaps in your life I am sure you can agree it's not so nice. And although others may behave differently then we may think is appropriate I try (not always succeeding) to not behave in the same manner which I disapprove. I am not trying to be harsh in any way; it's just I have enjoyed reading many of your blogs, ones which I agree and disagree with so I guess I was just a little disappointed to read this one. I do not personally know you but sometimes when you are reading these blogs you feel like you get to know a piece of someone, I felt this was not up to par according to your usual standards.

Richard,
I absolutely agree with you. My husband and I are big football fans. Our motto however as fans is that "We only root for our team, not against the other". I never care for the fans who are the "in your face" kind. They take all the life out of the party. We raise out kids to be this way too. I certainly agree that Dale's reflection was one of sincerity and I for one appreciated it. His blog was not a place for anger, it was a place where he made himself vulnerable to us so that we could share in such an awesome emotion of joy, disbelief, pride, etc.
You know, I spent election night with a great group of people, I think all were democrats except for my husband, myself and two others. I never felt any animosity from them, or to them. My husband and I said on our way home that night how nice it was to be out among others rather than at home counting numbers and being depressed. We could feed off of the other's joy and that was a neat experience. I am not going to pretend I am happy about the results (not that we didn't know before hand)I even cried last night for my broken heart for this country. But that is my own feelings, I will pray for this country and for our president and that God will protect us and find a way to bring people back to him. There is great good that will come of all of this (there already has been). Those who believe in God must remember to put their faith in him, and trust that he has a plan. "I know not the master plan, but it is comforting to know the master and that he has planned it for me."

Audrey....first let me say this....u are right to a point. My reactions to Chris's blog was out of line. I am a decent enough person to admit when I am wrong and to take the punishment when I am wrong!! You were correct in your chastizing of me!! If I offended you or anyone...I am very sorry!! That was never my intention...I assure you!! I think perhaps I just got a bit upset in Chris's reaction to Dale's blog as well as the many blogs that seem to suggest that people that vote Democratic are not Godly or unmoral. That is a very big pet peeve of mine!! Chris.....I apologize to you as well. I just wish you could find it in your untouchy, unfeely, and unemotional(your words) personality to see that just because people don't think like you, doesn't make them bad or doomed to Hell. And yes Audrey I know exactly how you felt Tuesday...I felt pretty bad when the election was stolen from Al Gore in 2000 and then felt completely baffled and upset when Mr.Bush won in 2004. However, I think people that voted for him in 2004 finally saw in 2008 just how bad a decision that was, and that was why the election Tuesday night turned out to go Democratic. Just my opinion. Again, to all I may have offended and/or hurt with my last post to this blog...I AM SORRY!! It was just the venting and ramblings of a woman that couldn't understand how anyone couldn't see this election as one type of victory for all of us as a country and giving us our due time to enjoy our victory!! And Audrey...I would be more than happy to meet you anytime, you seem quite lovely!!

I don't remember learning anything that said just because you're religious you have to be a republican...hmm I guess my years at Lourdes have failed me. I was taught to love and not judge, I guess you missed that part of the lesson. Instead of blaming the democrats and Obama for abortions, maybe you should look at the bigger picture. Is Obama going to the abortion clinic and having abortions, nope, is he forcing people to go there, nope. It's the persons choice NOT Obamas. More so you should think along the lines of your beliefs, you don't want your right to carry a gun taken away, but you want others rights taken away. There is more to life than whether or not you're able to carry a gun. A gun is a material possesion as well, have you bought any new ones lately? If so, I guess you're getting wrapped up in the western material culture. You gotta open your eyes and broaden your horizons, it'll only do you good.

Thank you Dawn for not taking what I said as a angry criticism. I'm glad you saw it for what it was. I am often nervous about writing these blogs because I am afraid people will read into them something unintended. I'm sure you know what I mean. Your apology was very sincere and appreciated. I figured you knew what I meant because there is no doubt in my mind you would have experienced it back in 2000 and 04. Those people just make me nuts! I hate when people like that try to act as if they represent all of us!
Please do introduce yourself to me if ever you see me, I am not exactly sure who you are. I am quite sure we could have some awesome discussions. It's always fun for me to talk with people who can see both sides of an issue. People often forget that to critically think about an issue/subject it only means you need to open your mind to see where the other side is coming from - You DO NOT have to change your mind or agree with them. Isn't that what tolerance is as well? I know YOU know what I mean.I enjoy friendly debates ( sorry Chris, I think you may be a little harsh for me).

Your blog postings make me really sad. Last year there was a blogger who I couldnt stand, for personal reasons and nothing more, this year I am finding your blogs irritating and not a good representation of Lourdes College. You have taken a place that should be fun and entertaining and turned it into a place of disgust and dissapointment. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but at the same time we need to be respectful of others as well. I thnk you lack that respect. I have no problem if you want to carry a gun, if that is legal and you have all the necessary preparations, go for it. In a society full of violence do you really wonder why people don't want guns everywhere? You may be educated and responsible, but not everyone is and it's scary for some to think that people could be carrying guns legally around. Lourdes College is so much better than this, it's a community of support and understanding, not bashing due to ones political choices. I am not strongly religious, but I do believe that God loves me for me, and no matter what choices I make in life, as long as I do good, I'll be alright. I don't believe that God is banishing everyone who doesn't make all the correct choices to hell. Theres so much more to life than this.......get out, live a little, get educated on the issues( I don't mean politics). Your not stupid, thats apparent so don't say things that come off as stupidity speaking.

Jen, I’m not sure if I should be sorry for my blog posts making you sad. What maybe sad is that someone was disliked for personal reasons and not that their ideas were disliked. There is a difference. I am intrigued that you find my posts “irritating and not a good representation of Lourdes College”. What is a good representation? Is it supposed to be “fun and entertaining? I go to college for a real world education, not to be placated or entertained. Is it a fake, lets get along to get along attitude? That is not what life is about. That is not what Lourdes College should be preparing you for. If it is then the College is offering a great disservice. A college as well as, life is an arena of ideas and someone will be offended. Free thought can and will offend. Why do guns “scare you”? A person that has completed a required training and background check, should be able to carry anywhere that that they choose.

I also believe that God loves you for you, and no matter what choices you make in life, as long as you do good. But, how does one decide what is good? Religion helps in making proper choices. I also agree that, “God is [not] banishing everyone who doesn't make all the correct choices to hell.” That is up to God. However, we are instructed not to place our heads into the sand in hopes to get to heaven. We are required to provide action. I am not really sure what you meant by, “get educated on the issues ( I don't mean politics).” What are these “issues”?

Tim, I agree that we are taught to love, but check out Mat 16, the 1st of several passages concerning admonishing those that have fallen away? Judging with competent is wrong, but admonishing with love (sometimes love can be tough to hear) is required by scripture. Obama is not going to the abortion clinic and having abortions, nor is he forcing people to go there. You did hit it on the head when you said, “It's the persons choice NOT Obamas.” Obama is even guiltier by legislating abortion procedures through the third trimester. Obama, lead the charge in Illinois to allow for babies born alive during an abortion procedure to be left unattended to die. Sorry, but that is evil.

Your mixing two different issues with your gun analogy. The right to keep and bear arms is a constitutional right. The access to abortion is not a constitutional right. It is simply law. Laws can be enacted and rescinded. Constitutionally, a woman has a right to bear arms but not the right to terminate the life of a child. You had suggested that I was, “getting wrapped up in the western material culture” by purchasing firearms. How so? Material objects are neither bad nor sinful. Materialism is different from owning material objects. It is my intent that would cause me to cross the line into materialism. For instance, if I choose to use my paycheck to buy a weapon and not feed my kids, I have done wrong. If I can do both and perhaps have left over money and or time to volunteer for the needy, I have not done anything wrong.

Dawn, I know that you are a passionate person and I was not offended by you. Like I said earlier, in the arena of ideas, someone will be offended. I agree that just because people don't think like me, doesn't make them bad or doomed to Hell. I don’t think that I ever said that. What I have said is that a person is responsible for their own actions, and that there is an objective truth that humanity must abide by. It is the particular choices that a person makes that place them at odds with objective truth. It is interesting that I have and will speak out against Obamas ideology and be personally attacked for it yet it is perfectly alright to claim that, “.. the election was stolen from Al Gore in 2000 and then felt completely baffled and upset when Mr. Bush won in 2004. However, I think people that voted for him in 2004 finally saw in 2008 just how bad a decision that was, and that was why the election Tuesday.” I and several million other people disagree with you and remain scared that Obama will weaken the country and quite possibly place us into a socialist form of government. Sorry, but I and several million others that do not see this election as a good thing for the direction of the country.

Audrey, I am sure that, “Dale's reflection was one of sincerity”. However, by placing such reflections onto a blog leaves one open to differing opinions.
Richard, I disagree that, “..there is great positive in all of this. Obama, as a liberal, will protect your rights to freedom of speech and religion. You will always be able to say what you feel and think, and practice your religion without interference..” In the campaign itself, anything negative about Obama was attacked as racism. Already, Obama is looking bring back the “Fairness Doctrine” which is nothing more than censorship against those that will scrutinize and expose his and the DNCs ideology. No, the facts show that the basic constitutional freedoms that you wrote about will soon be under attack, one small attack at a time.

Richard, You wrote that, “I believe their problem with your beliefs is in the manner and time in which you present them.” May I ask what in your opinion is a good manner and time? You accused me of trying to (unsuccessfully) flip this prideful moment into one of politics when you brought up abortion…[and]There is a time and place to hold the fight, and it is not to be thrown in the face of people who demonstrate their happiness and sense of pride on electing a black man to the highest office in the country.” No, as Dale proclaimed his happiness, the fact remains that the most pro-abortion candidate in history was elected president. Sorry, but the fight for those that cannot fight for themselves does not wait for a proper time and place. Incidentally, I am still waiting for Dale to clarify his original ambiguous comment that looked like a pro-abortion endorsement. Lastly, why are progressives so into labeling people? Comments such as “The black candidate” just shows that some have not become as color blind as they would like.

Chris...I miswrote that All people that voted for Bush in 2004 wound up voting for Obama in 2008, because they realized what a mistake that was. But, there sure were a heck of a lot of people that did, and that certainly helped President elect Obama win!! There's no denying that!!

Dawn...I agree with you! I am not happy with Bush nor was I happy with McCain as the nominee. Both have dropped the conservativism that Reagan the Great brought to US. Yet, like I said before, a candidate can only deliver on about 10% of their promises. It is the party platform that one is actually voting for. I admit that the Republicans have lost their way since Bush I and II and with nominee McCain. One can only hope that the Republicans will go back to their roots and re-install a clear conservative message. Perhaps if Gingrich does take control of the RNC that will happen. Either way I am still stock piling my food rations and ammo :)

Chris...if "Reagan the Great" conservatism becomes a mainstay of the RNC...you can kiss all elections goodbye for as long as that is the case!! There's just not enough hard right wing republicans left anymore to vote for that cause. I think if McCain had actually stuck to his old demeanor, the guy that ran against Bush in 2000, he might've had a chance. That guy wasn't halfbad. Then he pics Palin, to appease to the right, well...he just shot himself in the foot with that one...independents, that seemed to decide the race, just weren't buying that hard right wing woman. Plus..alot of people saw her as just downright dumb to succeed him in case something would've happened to him. It seems to me that the days of us against them is over....the country is looking more to unite and solve problems in a bipartisan way....I think that was the real difference about Obama. His message of unity and bipartisanship resonated with more people..hardcore right wing policies just don't wash with mainstream America anymore...no matter who gets put in charge of it's party!!! P.S. Don't shoot me if the revolution comes....I mean u know harm brother lol!!!

Dawn, Again thanks, I love your passion! I disagree [go figure :)]with your premise. I think that the country is way more conservative than you give it credit for. The gay mariage defeats and Arizonia's passage of the no adoption to unmarried couples laws, appears to show this. I said before that I agree with you that the RNC "message" was lacking. It has been that way since Reagan had left office. If the RNC gets back to what conservatism is, gets its message out and finds actual conservative candidates, the Dems will lose the White House and most likely both houses. I admit that these are big "if's" but only time will tell.