"The VP is generally considered a waste product. You don't pick your VP to match your views you pick your VP to fill in the blanks in your own personality."
In the US, Veeps are traditionally the "chucklehead sidekick" often seen in Westerns. They exist to ensure no one would kill the POTUS since they would be so much worse.
Superstition is based on lies. There is no evidence to support religion, therefore hating it as a lie is appropriate for those who want to protect civilization. I suggest that those who appreciate religion as the enemy of the search for Truth (not part of it) not sit idly by. Hating lies is fine.
"These children's parents don't want them to be slaves, they want their children to be brought up in the same culture and beliefs that they were."
Religion is inherently slavery, submission, grovelling before other men since there is obviously no god. Their parents are fools if they disregard this.
Youth can critically examine what their parents teach them, and if they find it dishonest it is appropriate to resent being lied to and resent the liars themselves.
There is no point cultivating "understanding" with Superstitionists. They consign those who disagree with them to Hell, and seek to bring Hell to Earth that they may enforce obediance to their Sky Fairie.
Prove your God exists, here, now, testably, incontrovertibly, and I'll kiss his/her/it's Noodly Appendage and recant.
"This is all the more concern when the VP is specifically chosen because of his background as a policy wonk."
Moreso when the strategy of the GOP is for future leadership to come from the House of Representatives. The POTUS need only sign off on their decisions. This is expected, and since Romney knows nothing about anything other than business he will be forced to rely on others.
Note that Romney opposes any Defense budget cuts. That's a key sign of ignorance since it reveals he can't sort wheat from chaff.
The wars in Europe could well have gone differently or not happened if there had been no US influence or intervention.
WWII was a consequence of WWI and the Versailles treaty.
Had the US not intervened, WWI may well have ended in a tie with both sides exhausted. With neither victory or defeat, their appetite for peace might well have been greater.
Slavery sustained over time becomes impractical due to interbreeding, which was quite common in the Antebellum South.
Maintaining slavery in such an increasingly mixed society requires the mixed-race people to buy into the system. It's bound to fail eventually as the slave population and mixed freeman population increase.
Not to say it wouldn't take time. The Denmark Vesey conspiracy failed because _slaves_ who supported the system dimed him out.
"Will this test ever influence you chance at getting a better education (entrance exam to a college) or your chances at getting a job later on in life?"
If I'm hiring I want to know which applicant had a superstitionist education so I can stealthily find another reason not to pollute my workplace with Taliban. Let Jesus write their paychecks.
The Civil War, if one takes the long view, was a horrible mistake rather than a righteous Crusade.
The South would eventually have given up slavery, the North would have prospered through trade with the South, and fewer Southerners would pollute the American political landscape. We could have had a much improved North as a separate country too weak to chase dreams of Empire.
The US is simply too large to make a good nation. Diversity of viewpoints is best catered by smaller nations which can self-segregate regionally, politically, ethnically, and religiously.
Instead, the victory of the North begat the Globalist Corporate Republic we have today. It's a net loss for the world.
Your bosses and the parents of your students, whose desires are expressed to your bosses.
Ensure you don't own the decision.
The purpose of filtering is to demonstrate you have filtering.
After your bosses define what they want, give it to them as best you are able but get it in writing (spieling that it protects everyone to do it that way). Have a written AUP, etc.
"Some of us are homebodies, and I think it is unreasonable to view us as backwards or ignorant of the world."
You can't cope, so don't expect respect for not being able to mingle and use social skills to get on. Just say "I can't handle this" and be done with it.
The Brits didn't declare war first, but were supporting Native Americans as proxy warriors against the US. Impressment ("capture and enslavement") of US sailors was clearly an act of aggression.
Slashdot Mirror
" There have been a number of predictive models that indicate there will be 5-10M+ cancers caused by Fukushima"
Not shit next to smoking.
The religious right would like you to ignore them...until they win.
Be aware of everything they do in order to resist it.
Of course you were downmodded for pointing that out.
Winlots strike again!
"The VP is generally considered a waste product. You don't pick your VP to match your views you pick your VP to fill in the blanks in your own personality."
In the US, Veeps are traditionally the "chucklehead sidekick" often seen in Westerns. They exist to ensure no one would kill the POTUS since they would be so much worse.
"Has Slashdot sunk so low that their submission queue has run dry?"
Slashdot will never run dry. Here's the submission queue:
http://www.fark.com/
The Orthodox Church endorses Putin, describing his era as a "miracle of God".
Dear "former Soviet" friends:
You didn't kill nearly enough priests when you had the chance. Now they are licking the boots of your new Tsar.
Superstition is based on lies. There is no evidence to support religion, therefore hating it as a lie is appropriate for those who want to protect civilization. I suggest that those who appreciate religion as the enemy of the search for Truth (not part of it) not sit idly by. Hating lies is fine.
"These children's parents don't want them to be slaves, they want their children to be brought up in the same culture and beliefs that they were."
Religion is inherently slavery, submission, grovelling before other men since there is obviously no god. Their parents are fools if they disregard this.
Youth can critically examine what their parents teach them, and if they find it dishonest it is appropriate to resent being lied to and resent the liars themselves.
There is no point cultivating "understanding" with Superstitionists. They consign those who disagree with them to Hell, and seek to bring Hell to Earth that they may enforce obediance to their Sky Fairie.
Prove your God exists, here, now, testably, incontrovertibly, and I'll kiss his/her/it's Noodly Appendage and recant.
"The Brady Campaign hasn't outlawed guns."
The National Rifle Association fought them effectively so they could make no great progress toward their goal.
"This is all the more concern when the VP is specifically chosen because of his background as a policy wonk."
Moreso when the strategy of the GOP is for future leadership to come from the House of Representatives. The POTUS need only sign off on their decisions. This is expected, and since Romney knows nothing about anything other than business he will be forced to rely on others.
Note that Romney opposes any Defense budget cuts. That's a key sign of ignorance since it reveals he can't sort wheat from chaff.
The wars in Europe could well have gone differently or not happened if there had been no US influence or intervention.
WWII was a consequence of WWI and the Versailles treaty.
Had the US not intervened, WWI may well have ended in a tie with both sides exhausted. With neither victory or defeat, their appetite for peace might well have been greater.
The Taliban work around the drone problem by infiltration. They send recruits into the enemy government, where Predators do no good at all.
Never underestimate what determined humans can do.
In a domestic context, nukes aren't a player.
In an internal squabble, they are very much a player. See "Syria" for an example. Those without small arms are prey for those who are armed.
You may not LIKE firearms, but events don't CARE what either of us "like".
Slavery sustained over time becomes impractical due to interbreeding, which was quite common in the Antebellum South.
Maintaining slavery in such an increasingly mixed society requires the mixed-race people to buy into the system. It's bound to fail eventually as the slave population and mixed freeman population increase.
Not to say it wouldn't take time. The Denmark Vesey conspiracy failed because _slaves_ who supported the system dimed him out.
Too bad it is less common now. That would FORCE people to take better security measures they will refuse to do otherwise.
"Will this test ever influence you chance at getting a better education (entrance exam to a college) or your chances at getting a job later on in life?"
If I'm hiring I want to know which applicant had a superstitionist education so I can stealthily find another reason not to pollute my workplace with Taliban. Let Jesus write their paychecks.
The Civil War, if one takes the long view, was a horrible mistake rather than a righteous Crusade.
The South would eventually have given up slavery, the North would have prospered through trade with the South, and fewer Southerners would pollute the American political landscape. We could have had a much improved North as a separate country too weak to chase dreams of Empire.
The US is simply too large to make a good nation. Diversity of viewpoints is best catered by smaller nations which can self-segregate regionally, politically, ethnically, and religiously.
Instead, the victory of the North begat the Globalist Corporate Republic we have today. It's a net loss for the world.
That argues for getting guns yourselves. Guns are tools from which political power flows.
If you are not competent and willing to use firearms, that's your weakness.
The students should know to hate anyone who promotes religion. THAT can only be taught by experience, and is no proper role for the State.
Instead, let them know their PARENTS want them to be slaves to the superstitions of Flat Earthers.
Youth love to rebel. It is the role of those who object to Superstition to fan such rebellion.
Dear "students" who read this:
TRUST NO ONE. Not Left or Right or Superstitious or otherwise.
Anyone who tells you WHAT to think instead of suggesting you think for yourself is your enemy.
Learn about the world, make up your own minds, and if you want to lick someone elses boots that's your right, but do it with your eyes wide open!
The Christian Taliban could take their White Trash and teach them in their own Madrassas. Voluntary segregation would get them out of the system.
Education is a tool, and empowers those who use it. Secularists should seek superior knowledge to overcome their Superstitionist enemies.
We should also fully understand that ALL superstitions and ALL those who promote religion are the enemies of progress.
Your bosses and the parents of your students, whose desires are expressed to your bosses.
Ensure you don't own the decision.
The purpose of filtering is to demonstrate you have filtering.
After your bosses define what they want, give it to them as best you are able but get it in writing (spieling that it protects everyone to do it that way). Have a written AUP, etc.
"Toxify your local environment and expose yourself to biochemically active substances..."
Life is full of tradeoffs, and you still die in the end.
.. dirt cheap.
There is good reason dentists recommend salt water gargling after tooth removal and oral surgery. It works very well. Try it.
"Some of us are homebodies, and I think it is unreasonable to view us as backwards or ignorant of the world."
You can't cope, so don't expect respect for not being able to mingle and use social skills to get on. Just say "I can't handle this" and be done with it.
"You don't want people reading that thing. They'll start to see how wacky it is."
Sophisticated atheists would question it, but ignorant tribesmen in mud huts aren't different from its original audience.
Religion sells to the ignorant and the desperately self-deluding. The Third World is infested with it.
The Brits didn't declare war first, but were supporting Native Americans as proxy warriors against the US. Impressment ("capture and enslavement") of US sailors was clearly an act of aggression.