Society & Culture - 6 September 2006

August 27, 2006
A cry for art

If Orwell really said 'Some ideas are so stupid that only an intellectual could believe them', he might have added that there's no notion so inane that some artistic person won't come up with it. On the front of the Sunday Times magazine today there are photographs - 20 of them - of young children crying. They were made to cry by the photographer, Jill Greenberg, arranging for their mothers to give them lollipops and then take the lollipops away. And for why?

[She] intended her images of sobbing babies to be a metaphorical commentary on what she sees as the evils of the Bush administration and the dangerous influence of the evangelical religious right.
What a bold concept. And the best way of achieving this aim:
I was trying to make images that made you feel something, because we are so inundated with images in our culture that oftentimes people don't feel anything.
We've all got deadened feelings, so... I know, I'll distress a whole lot of kids.

2006-09-06 18:48:34 · 14 answers · asked by Doug B 3 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-09-06 18:48:08 · 20 answers · asked by Kevin H. 3 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-09-06 18:46:04 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

I am taking an elementary Mandarin Chinese Class, and my instructor gave us Chinese names. They all supposedly have meanings, but I would like to know the meaning of mine. In pinyin, my name is Wu, Aimei. Wu is second tone, Ai is fourth tone, and mei is second. I also have the simplified chinese characters for it, but I don't know how to display them here. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

2006-09-06 18:45:55 · 5 answers · asked by rockn2country 3 in Languages

I'm not too sure how many people out there ask themselves this though, so I'm posting it for people to give their reasons. (no this is not an attack)

First, if you don't want to give the true reason then that's ok. No need to post witless coments like "none of your business"

Second, people who cut and paste scriptural dogma to reinforce their beliefs are probably the most insecure people I've ever have talked to. If you have to cut and paste your beliefs, your reasons you're already in trouble.

Third, please explain, whether it is by logic, fear, security, happiness etc...

I don't ask to argue. I ask to understand.

2006-09-06 18:45:28 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

I'm not saying hitting or heavy beating, just a spanking for behaving badly? Why is it so frowned upon these days?
Shoo, I'm alright, love my parents but I still remember the spankings I got when I got out of line.
Whachu think?

2006-09-06 18:44:13 · 34 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Society & Culture

2006-09-06 18:43:59 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Society & Culture

You get on the elevator alone, mind wondering, start humming, and realize OMG, NO! I remember that song when it first came out as hot alternative music. AAAYK!!!

What song, when, how'd'ya respond?

Lol, if it hasn't happened yet, bet on how many yrs til then and what song you'd hate it to be. :)



Bashers: If you respond, you are admiting that you know you're really gay. Them's the rules for this question! :)

Oh yeah, posting here 'cuz I'm gay.

2006-09-06 18:43:41 · 4 answers · asked by Alex62 6 in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

They believe in ghost's, in rabbit's feet for good luck, UFO's which never seem to "abduct" anyone beyond a level 70 IQ, Fortune Tellers, Horoscopes which half a billion people who have the same sign.

But they don't want to know God...or how to live a life that may require some self-observation.

2006-09-06 18:43:17 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Society & Culture

How many of you believe the life we live in is not exactly real. It is all ordered to be, perhaps by a god up there.

Life as we know it, is more like the hollo deck aboard the Enterprise. It is made to be real whereas in actually fact, it is not.

How many of you believe life is really like that?

2006-09-06 18:39:54 · 21 answers · asked by Sleuth! 3 in Religion & Spirituality

can some explain to me why ??

2006-09-06 18:39:51 · 29 answers · asked by r p 2 in Etiquette

Mine is: Live and let live

2006-09-06 18:39:43 · 25 answers · asked by *SaL* 2 in Other - Society & Culture

Does anybody here know anything about other countries that America has not invaded.I was shocked to find out that a lot of college students and even grads no nothing about the world outside America.
I think with better education,americans would accept others just the way they are.I am tired of people talking about accents,tired of people wanting to know what they are not willing to embrace.
Do you think that Americans respect people from other countries?

2006-09-06 18:39:41 · 8 answers · asked by MIKE I 1 in Other - Cultures & Groups

Haven't you pretended long enough? 2000 years??

2006-09-06 18:38:44 · 29 answers · asked by fresh2 4 in Religion & Spirituality

violate and remove something as simple as this.
i posted a heart felt thank you to all the people who had said they would include my wife in their prayers. i know that this wasn't a question on an answer but come on now! is there ever anything offensive about a sincere thank you?
so again i thank you all and i have to do it like this so they won't remove it again. please know that your prayers from all religions and faiths are greatly needed and apreciated.

2006-09-06 18:38:16 · 12 answers · asked by bgdadyp 5 in Religion & Spirituality

Most religious people don’t understand the meaning of blasphemy according to statistical surveys, and the meaning of blasphemy today is different than meaning of blasphemy years ago, but why, according to the Bible, is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost or Spirit (a part of the Trinity) an unforgivable sin doomed to Hell, yet blasphemy of the other two parts of the Trinity, the Father and the Son, is forgivable?

Why is this so, and what does it mean?

2006-09-06 18:37:29 · 15 answers · asked by Brenda's World 4 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-09-06 18:36:35 · 35 answers · asked by jetangel101 1 in Religion & Spirituality

It stated to let your kids stay home on this day in rememberance of this day. It went on talking about being out of school for presidents birthday, other small holidays. We should be able to be out of school for the mass murder from terrorism on our land. I agree this should be a day of rememberance to spend with family. Do you agree??? Thanks.

2006-09-06 18:36:04 · 8 answers · asked by heyall 2 in Other - Holidays

2006-09-06 18:33:06 · 11 answers · asked by Pyar 1 in Languages

ok 9/11 could be any damn person in the world but why should u blame muslims just cause dumbass bush said so? if someone comes in ur country and ur the president you dont want them taking over, maby the iraqies liked suddam and bushed ruined it plus the middle east in general dont have any explosives, thats why they blow themself up cause nothing is left inside of them and islam is not a violent religion its peaceful always look at somthing at a different angle. SO tell me why is a muslim a terriost?

2006-09-06 18:32:51 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

Is it possible that the word covenant comes from the word coven? Do you know the origin of the word covenant?

2006-09-06 18:32:05 · 8 answers · asked by Maggie 6 in Religion & Spirituality

Everyone who is even a bit interested in knowing the present state of Ganga, knows Ganga is littered with all kinds of pollutants both point sources and non point sources of pollution. You must know that the entire Government machiney has failed in India to make Ganga pollution free.

Under such circumstances what can you add your bit to make Ganga pollution free?

Mohd Owais
Kanpur, India

2006-09-06 18:31:14 · 11 answers · asked by Owais 1 in Other - Society & Culture

50 years ago, people didn't come out and gays weren't as common as they are now. my mom and dad hooked up to get a bank loan so they could open a bar/grill together,because the banks wouldn't loan to a " queer " ( my dad) back then, and then, my older sister was born. When I tell ppl my parent's sexual origins, as the result of a conversation we are having, they expect me to tell them I am gay/bi,too. In fact,some gay women/bi men have told me I am gay and have not realized it yet. Can this be true? I am not a homophobe,or i would not have married two bi men. They later went gay. I seem to attract bi men as lovers and have been hit on by alot of women. This has caused me some anxiety on whether i am gay/bi or not. i am straight,and have been married 4 times,and current hubby and I have been married 10 years....

2006-09-06 18:29:09 · 32 answers · asked by Dragonflygirl 7 in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

could someone please tell me about this religon please, i want to find out, so i can learn

2006-09-06 18:28:02 · 14 answers · asked by louise 3 in Religion & Spirituality

when the love of your life is in a serious accident or situation?
That gossiper next door or the highfaluten lawyer, or naggin' christian down the street...... or the gays on the other side of you? why?

2006-09-06 18:27:17 · 18 answers · asked by deed 5 in Other - Society & Culture

this questions probably annoying...

2006-09-06 18:26:16 · 46 answers · asked by Euro 3 in Religion & Spirituality

i mean i tried christanity but im soo lost plus the quran book wasnt changed since it was born 1400, and the bible has soo many versions i belive in jesus as you do but why not give islam a try?

2006-09-06 18:24:25 · 36 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

We were asked to place eggs, buns and some of the deceased's fav food on table on the 7th day. We were told that he will be back to eat those food. The colour change in the egg will tell. however the eggs which we placed had nothing at all...puzzled..n we were told he is brought away with Buddha. anyone has experience in this area? but on that nite, i heard the sound of the chair moving. it was like moving out to sit on and even water flowing sound. i believe the soul came back, but how come he never touch the food? n it really makes me wonder if he did return back..

2006-09-06 18:21:23 · 8 answers · asked by Chick chilli 1 in Religion & Spirituality

I used to, but I don't anymore. Why? As I was walking by a bus stop one day, I gave a guy some change. But he and a few of his boy then followed me down the street and around the corner and attempted to rob me. I ran and was able to loose them. But they ruined it for all honest panhandlers.

Not really sure what category this fits in.

2006-09-06 18:21:09 · 20 answers · asked by Subconsciousless 7 in Other - Society & Culture

Some of these commercials really irritate me. Mostly I think because they generalize pot smokers and throw them all into the same group...

The one that gets me the most right now is the one I hear on the radio..."who wants to get high? Who wants to get faded? Who wants to give up trying?"

I gotta tell ya...that one just pisses me off...

I smoke...daily...multiple times a day...and the "giving up trying" statement just bothers me. I'm 28 years old...I've only been smoking for 3 or 4 years...but in these last 3 or 4 years, I've gotten more accomplished in my life and have more ambition that I've ever had before. I'm on my way back to school...finally...with plenty of drive and ambition to spare...

So the question is I guess...do any of these kind of commercials bother you like they bother me? Which ones? Why? Just feel free to vent/voice opion/blab incoherently...I just wanna know how they make you feel...

2006-09-06 18:20:13 · 20 answers · asked by HerbAngel420 1 in Other - Society & Culture