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Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

aallamas0617 — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:44:23 -0000

nice article! nice site. you're in my rss feed now ;-)
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Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

lifes cience articles — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:42:57 -0000

great post guys

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Randy — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:30:55 -0000

thanks George.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Randy — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:30:20 -0000

that is a funny observation. Not sure how to answer it either. I don't think they are necessarily the same thing ... but it is funny to think about.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

RThomasETC — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:30:55 -0000

thanks George.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

RThomasETC — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:30:20 -0000

that is a funny observation. Not sure how to answer it either. I don't think they are necessarily the same thing ... but it is funny to think about.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Brady — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:25:28 -0000

Randy, I just thought of something...what's going on with you guys in Florida? First a city council meeting doesn't manage to draw a single person to speak against the marriage amendment, and now this University can't manage to get a real group to speak in favor of it?!?

Ok, seriously, I'm just kidding, but it did strike me as rather odd.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

David L. Wylie — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:38:53 -0000

The only difference between Janet L. Folger at Faith2Action, a proponent of Amendment 2, and the two Phelps sisters invited to attend the debate? LIPSTICK!!!

Remove the veneer of a coifed hairdo, the haute couture and the refined and well rehearsed false argument that Amendment 2 is only about protecting the sanctity of marriage from the likes of Janet Folger & those of her ilk, what do you have? Shirley & Margie Phelps!!!

The offer to participate was made by the debate organizers to numerous, more â€˜mainstreamâ€™ of the Amendment 2 Supporters but alas, they declined.

So now we get to see the debate framed in its proper context: Hate & Homophobia at the expense of the thousands of Senior citizens whoâ€™ll be hurt by Amendment 2 vs. sound legal arguments defending the equality of all citizens of the State of Florida. Sounds like a great debate! Iâ€™ll be there!

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

ChaplianChas. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:42:41 -0000

Thanks for the info. May God have mercy on us all.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Brady — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:25:28 -0000

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

DavidLWylie — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:38:53 -0000

The only difference between Janet L. Folger at Faith2Action, a proponent of Amendment 2, and the two Phelps sisters invited to attend the debate? LIPSTICK!!!

Remove the veneer of a coifed hairdo, the haute couture and the refined and well rehearsed false argument that Amendment 2 is only about protecting the sanctity of marriage from the likes of Janet Folger & those of her ilk, what do you have? Shirley & Margie Phelps!!!

The offer to participate was made by the debate organizers to numerous, more ‘mainstream’ of the Amendment 2 Supporters but alas, they declined.

So now we get to see the debate framed in its proper context: Hate & Homophobia at the expense of the thousands of Senior citizens who’ll be hurt by Amendment 2 vs. sound legal arguments defending the equality of all citizens of the State of Florida. Sounds like a great debate! I’ll be there!

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

George — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:16:56 -0000

Randy, you hit the nail on the head. The invitation of the Phelps will prevent any real discussion and mutual respect from taking place. I suspect, as you do, that it was an intentional move. *sigh*

Keep up the good work!

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

ChaplianChas. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:42:41 -0000

Thanks for the info. May God have mercy on us all.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Randy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:37:03 -0000

Could you imagine? The indulgent ones with the Phelps tribe? I think the universe would be torn in half.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Randy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:35:32 -0000

Burke, I know for a fact that those talking points are not false and people don't just mindlessly recite what they hear.

Talk about a cynical generalization.

And if you are honestly equating what the Christians in California are doing with Phelps ... I don't even know what to say.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Randy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:28:37 -0000

Yeah! what she said. :)

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Randy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:27:00 -0000

and good thoughts, as usual, they are. Thanks Ana.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Ellie — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:58:05 -0000

First, just because a group wants to stage a debate, a specific organization is not compelled to join it. If the organizers of the Amendment 2 campaign are extremely busy (what with it being only a few weeks until the election), then they are not obligated to attend every event they are invited to, especially if an invitation comes at the relative last minute, or is relatively unimportant or can't reasonably be expected to be a fair forum (I don't know whether or not these last three things apply in this case, they are just general criteria I would apply if I were deciding whether to attend an event).

The real question in this case would be how thoroughly did the university group attempt to find a suitable, mainstream replacement for the amendment group? Somehow, I don't think that they asked a whole lot of anti-gay marriage groups, because probably somebody would have agreed to attend (unless there is some reason to believe that the forum would be extremely biased). If they extended an invitation they expected to be declined to only a few groups (i.e. only one or two), and then went straight to the Phelps clan, they have acted inappropriately.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

George — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:16:56 -0000

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

RThomasETC — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:37:03 -0000

Could you imagine? The indulgent ones with the Phelps tribe? I think the universe would be torn in half.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

RThomasETC — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:35:32 -0000

I know for a fact that those talking points are not false and the people putting together the ads and church events don't just mindlessly recite what they hear.

Talk about a cynical generalization.

And if you are honestly equating what the Christians in California are doing with Phelps ... I don't even know what to say.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

RThomasETC — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:28:37 -0000

Yeah! what she said. :)

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

RThomasETC — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:27:00 -0000

and good thoughts, as usual, they are. Thanks Ana.

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

RThomasETC (Randy Thomas) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:11:19 -0000

Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment http://tinyurl.com/5q287t

Re: Florida International University Replaces Proper Debate with Hateful Infotainment

Alex — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:03:08 -0000

I'm with you guys. It's a really bad idea. But I'd be lying if I said part of me doesn't want to see Fred and his charming family spread their "love" in a lecture hall instead of a cemetery or street corner.