Jazz for aficionados

***** Furthermore, my comments about certain ’injustices’ are pointed toward the system ( read money and power) that are creating them and I realy cant understand why any citizen ( you) has a need to identify himself with everything american when in fact he has nothing to do with it, except for the fact that you share same geographical origin.*****

I identify with everything American because I am American.  And how do you know I don't have power and money.  I could.   This ain't Europe.
As the John Birch Society was so fond of saying, "Equal Men Aren't Free, and Free Men Aren't Equal".

Cheers

***** What should I do Frogman?*****

Chill???

Why are my posts being removed??  I hate this socialist BS!!!

Cheers

Alex, as you know by now, I also consider you to be a thoughtful and intelligent person. Obviously, these are very complicated and personal topics and I would welcome an opportunity to have a few drinks with you and exchange thoughts about this with perhaps some Chet Baker in the background. Not enough time now to expound too much on what has been previously expressed; but, I would like to point to something that "jumped out" at me in the comments already made. I mention this because I believe it is important (to me) in its relevance to this issue and because in some ways it says more to me than the remainder of your comments. I also mention this with the full understanding that it is difficult to accurately express our and understand others’ thoughts on a forum like this and I don’t mean to disrespect nor to provoke gratuitously.

This is not the first time that you have responded to me this way when discussing/debating a non-music topic. I refer to a comment from you that suggests that because you consider me to be intelligent you are then surprised that I would hold the views that I do. In the current example it is around the issue of secularism vs. (as in my example) the idea that there are benefits with the presence of religion or spirituality in government (and particularly in education) and the ensuing problems when it is removed. The implication seems to be that it is unlikely that a person who holds these views can be intelligent; along with the assumed superiority of secularism and "logic". In my experience many of the most thoughtful and intelligent individuals that I have met are also religious, sometimes deeply so, and share these views. From my vantage point this is a perfect example of what I referred to earlier: the importance of being able to recognize our own biases. Obviously, there is much more that is tied to this and would very interesting to discuss. I prefer single-malt Scotch myself. Regards.

Frogman, hopefully you know by know that I have no intention to offend you, or anyone else by that matter.
But, it seems to me that nobody has read that quote from Kant.Please, if you dont mind me saying that again, read that post above carefully.

To cut long story short, I have no objections toward any of your statements, or personal beliefs, but we should agree that they are 'personal'.

In that regard, looking at diversity of people (in some state) and diversity of their values and beliefs, we must agree that we can use only one universal rule as principle.
 That rule (untill we come up with something better) is law.
It has to be univerasal and to provide equal and just treatment to all its citizens.
To acomplish that, we must put a side any particularity that might give 'better treatment' to some group over another, meaning, there are no 'priviliges' over race,religion, sex or political orientation. Even more those 'particularitys' cant be presented as 'higher ground' in goverment. Period.

You can be deeply religious or you can prefer this over that, but those views can not be implemented toward everyone as law or rule, because we are all different. It is very simple notion.

Of course, you might see my views as biased. I would call them ethical.
In any case I am ready to disscus it

Single malt is  an excellent choice. I prefer at least three brands, Lagavulin, Laphroag and Ardbeg.