Omar Campbell: Values under attack

Iconoclast — an interesting and descriptive word that aptly describes the cultural changes that are taking place in our community and our country. Webster’s Dictionary defines iconoclast as “image to break.” Its many meanings include those who attack cherished traditional values, beliefs and institutions of society.

In no particular order of significance, some of these icons are:

■ Constitutional republic. The greatest icon of them all. We mistakenly refer to our form of government as a democracy. An article in Google refers to a true democracy as “mobocracy,” or rule by a mob. The founding fathers were well aware of this danger and set up a system of checks and balances deliberately to prevent mob rule. But since the early 1900s, we have been slipping into a state of dependency on government that is beginning to look like mob (or majority) rule. Witness the last election, where certain demographic groups, largely dependent on welfare and entitlements, voted heavily for the incumbent.

■ Religion. Church attendance is dwindling steadily. Sunday school and catechism taught moral and ethical values early in life — some of which stuck into adulthood. Whether or not one is religious, the Ten Commandments, especially those beginning with “Thou shalt not,” are good precepts to live by.

■ Marriage. The federal Support of Marriage Act defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Gay marriage and civil unions are aberrations that defy millennia of the natural man/woman relationship. The military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is out, and same-sex marriage and civil unions are in and legal in some states. Our leader was first against them, then his opinion evolved during the campaign to be for them when it meant votes.

■ Illegal drugs. Icons for some. Colorado users and sympathizers voted to legalize an addictive drug, despite federal law. Some voted for the recreational enjoyment of the drug, and others because they think it will generate taxes and tourism, and perhaps reduce the law enforcement burden. What’s next —legalizing cocaine, heroin, meth, etc. for the same reasons? When the dust settles, non-users might some day rue their affirmative votes. We will have to wait and see if the law of the land is enforced and if the law of unforeseen consequences turns up more problems. It is unlikely that Attorney General Holder and his handler will opt for enforcement.

Comments

Omar, you have confused your values with those of "society." Freedom of religion, expression, and sovereignty of one's own body and mind are part of what make this country a great place to live. I've read your pieces in the past and can deduce that you consider yourself a conservative, or at least a Republican. Based on that, you should be applauding the fact that Colorado thumbed it's nose at the Federal Government with the recent passage of Amendment 64. Gay marriage is a personal freedom that does not affect you in any way. Freedom of religion also means freedom from religion.

These freedoms are principles that are otherwise championed by Conservative Republicans. Don't like Obamacare? Then it becomes a state's rights issue. Don't like Muslims? It becomes a war on Christianity. Fact is, I have yet to meet a conservative, christian, republican who can explain why any of these freedoms have any negative effect on their lives, other than they just don't like it. And that essentially makes them bigoted hypocrites.

For gay marriage to be an "aberration" then you must also believe that being gay is an aberration or that being gay and having a long term relationship is an aberration. That is a pretty hateful view of other people's personal lives.

Nor has there ever been any research or even a coherent argument made how allowing gays to marry has any affect upon the marriages of heterosexuals.

Thus, those in favor of gay marriage see themselves as reinforcing traditional values by allowing all adults to enter long term stable relationships recognized by law. It was not that long ago that interracial marriage was outlawed in many states. But now interracial marriage is no longer a controversial issue and to argue against it labels you as a racist.

As for legalizing marijuana, surely it is possible for the public to recognize historic mistakes and correct them. The medical literature on marijuana clearly does not support treating it as a dangerous narcotic. It is not physically addictive. It is addictive as being habit forming like people can be addicted to video games. The medical harm is clearly less than alcohol or tobacco which are also both physically addictive. Legalizing also removed the issue from the medical community of doctors writing recommendations allowing patients to get mmj.

Marijuana is commonly available despite being illegal and so is the source of immense money for drug dealers and gangs. The efforts to legalization did not suggest that anyone should use it. It was to stop the harm of the illegal marijuana trade by converting it into a regulated legal drug.

Thus, legalizing marijuana is simply following the great value of democracy of the people fixing what is wrong with current government.

Sadly, laws do not change men, men change laws.
They so because their conscience tells them they need the sanction of some body of authority to do the things their heart tells them are wrong.

Unfortunately, many Americans now believe that there is no higher authority than the state and if the state says it's ok then it must be ok, whether that be homosexuality, mob rule, confiscatory taxes (plunder), etc.

My personal belief is that, when it comes to who's law is supreme, many of us are in for quite a surprise just beyond our final breath.

Well, I guess values have been going wrong for you ever since the laws were changed to allow men that didn't own property to vote, the slaves were freed, women were allowed to vote, segregation ended, blacks were allowed to vote, discrimination by race was outlawed, and so on.

Or were some of those changes good and only some were bad? I don't have a direct connection to God like you have and so I don't which peoples God wants me to hate.

Scott -- Well you'd better get busy and pick a church, young man, and don't pick the wrong one, lest ye go to Hell with the rest of us infidels. Your odds of picking the right one are only what -- 1 in 50 or so? Since they all claim to be God's Choice, this is a critical decision.

Then you can sit up on a hill casting stones down on those inferior to yourself and your fellow adherents (everybody else) repeating your mantra:

Scott,
I'm not sure I've ever read anything in the Bible concerning any of the laws you just mentioned.
Way to change the subject from gay marriage!!! You sneeky devil, you...
God doesn't want you to "hate" anyone, Scott.
Does calling me a "racist" "hater" make you a non-racist lover of all men, Scott? Do you really think that makes me a racist hater anymore than calling you an aircraft carrier makes you one?
Seriously, you never met me. You don't know who I might have given a kidney to, how much money and time I might have given to aids research, how much time I might have spent with Mother Theresa in Bangladesh, how many blacks and women I might have employed, whether my grandmother was black, etc. Hell, you don't even know for sure that I'm not black myself.
And yet you are stupid enough to call me a "hating" "racist"???
And what's that, like the 2nd time in two weeks???
One would think you could come up with new material...

Omar you have some good points and I have no problem with kids learning about Jesus in school, It could be taught as a history lesson they could learn about Budah and all the other faiths. And you are right about the US being a Constitutional republic but as you know that all changed in 1913 when the Federal Reserve Bank was created along with the Federal Income Tax which is used to pay the Interest on the money they print and lend to the Government. That was the worst thing that has ever happen to this country by far just look where we are today. But you lose me when it comes to State Right issues. As you may not know the States created the Federal Government not the other war around. All the Feds should be involved in is control of the Armed Forces and ALL the Federal Land in the WEST should be returned to the States. Our Routt Natl Forest should be in the hands of Colorado not people on the East Coast. Californians and Texans need not have a say in what gos on in the Flat Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park This is our state not theirs. And Im sure Wyoming residents don't want to be told by Chicago residents where they can ride their Sleds in Yellowstone Natl Pk. But Omar I don't get the whole gay marriage issue or your opinion of it. But the States have rights so Gays can marry in Iowa and Washington but I wonder if those Liberals out West will let them have the tax breaks that a Man and Women get. And You have really got it backwards on the Drug Issue and what a CO or WA resident does at 4:20 PM on his day off. It aint Obamas or Eric Holders damm business. Eric Holder was behind that Gun buying scam that killed a lot of Mexicans to weaken the 2nd Amendment and he was part of the cover up in Oklahoma City in 95. That man has a lot of blood on his hands and I hope you are right about Respecting our States Rights. A little history lesson Omar Prohibition did not work with booze, all it did was drive the price up along with the crime rate. The War on Drugs is a complete joke and show me what part of the Constitution says you can in prison a man for a victimless crime. This mindless war drove the price and crime rate up and the % of users is the same as it was 100 years ago for the harder drugs. Smoking Pot is not any worse that drinking beer. Besides the FEDS bring all the drugs in to fund Black Ops and other off the books stuff. And Clinton GW Bush and Obama all got or get high in the Oval Office. So Omar I take it you are not a fan of States Right and are home in the Nanny State.

For anybody interested, I highly recommend "Seth Speaks." Seth is a modern-day prophet; his writings refer to and explain the Bible, and he answers many questions the Bible left me with.

Mark Isaac -- Right on -- I agree totally -- with one exception: Beer is a LOT worse than pot. Just weak whiskey, it is still possible to get so drunk you kill yourself or others -- while every strain of pot has a ceiling: Smoke it all day long, and you won't get any higher. And you are STILL in better shape to drive than if you had smoked nothing at all, Nixon's commission just the first to verify this.

Jerry -- You won't want to miss the Nuggets on ESPN tonight, 8:30. The Memphis Grizzlies are in Denver, and the Nugs just concluded a brutal opening stretch of 17 out of 23 games on the road. Memphis is being touted as one of the powers in the West, and our Nuggets still get no respect, despite having beaten the Griz on their own floor recently. So this game should be fun -- don't miss it, if you've got the choice.

Southern Democrats and Southern Republicans fought to retain segregation. So what? Northern Democrats, some Northern Republicans and some Southern Democrats (LBJ in particular) fought to end segregation. The Republican Party welcomed segregationists that left the Democratic Party. Both parties have a sorry history of accepting racism as part of getting votes in the South.

Organized southern religious support of slavery and segregation was far more extensive than some "2-bit minister".

Does God change? Now that is a serious question. Why not? Does even an all knowing God know and contemplate the infinite future? If so, then upon the moment the universe was created then God knew the entire future. So what does God do for the rest of eternity? After considering everything then there is little to do other than wait around to make the little adjustments and miracles to make the USA the greatest country ever.

Can something happen that is a surprise to God? Does God create an Einstein thinking it is now time for that knowledge to be introduced to humans and know everything Einstein is going to do? Or is God a little bit surprised that Einstein was able to go as far as mathematically proving the General Theory of Relativity?

As far as what God does for the rest of eternity there are several simple answers:

First, He does whatever he wants, He's God.

Second, He's already in the future so He doesn't have to wait around being bored.

Third, God is a master artist who is painting His masterpiece on the canvas of time and space.

And, God is drawing all men toward Himself (John 12:32) He put a God-shaped vacuum in every mans soul.

Men change. They wax more and more wicked. They change laws to assuage their conscience rather than repent of their transgressions. Then, unrepentant men build cases to defend their actions; I know, I've built some great ones, just like every one else.

That's how religious people justified slavery 150 years ago.

That's how kings ruled their people, because they were said to be gods or the very next best thing.

That's how todays church-goers and ministers accept and condone all manner of things today that God STILL calls sin.

Rhys Thanks for the tip. I saw the last half of Nuggets game and they looked good. Maybe this new center will turn into the kind of superstar they need to be truly competitive with the top echelon teams.

Mark H -- While God may answer prayers, I heartily disagree that everything is pre-ordained, otherwise we could do anything we want, and say God made me do it. I believe He put the pieces in place to see what we do with them, as we all have Free Will.

Speaking of slavery -- and I am not defending it whatsoever -- but it did have an unintended consequence. Think about it: First we (them white folk back then) grabbed the biggest and strongest in Africa -- many died in the holds of transport ships crossing the Atlantic -- then they were bought and sold for generations, the biggest and best commanding the highest prices -- and selectively bred. We inadvertently created a Super Race!! Is it any wonder the NFL and NBA are now dominated by blacks?

Jerry -- One shining example of this Super Race is Javale McGee. Who else can block a shot 12 feet in the air? That guy is a diamond in the rough, and promises thrills for years to come; I hope the Nuggets can keep him. That sure was a fun game last night.

We know that Bible did not get physics right. It mattered to the Church that Galileo said the earth was not the center of the universe.

Man is truly more wicked? By not stoning witches? By giving women rights? By outlawing slavery? By allowing Blacks to vote? By allowing interracial marriage? We have greatly reduced truly awful sins once allowed to be inflicted upon others. Now, sins are more of a matter of personal choice of what we chose to do to ourselves.

Rhys,

Your theory of slavery resulting in a Super Race is simply wrong and ignorant. White plantation farmers having sex with slaves somehow created a super race? Many of those you suggest are part of a "Super Race" have wildly different levels of African vs European genetics. And you think that Black's have genetic advantages for football and basketball, but not baseball or hockey or soccer?

Based upon the results from the Olympics, then Blacks from the Caribbean are the best sprinters while Blacks from Africa tend to be the best long distance runners?

And those from Brazil have genetic advantages for soccer and volleyball, but not other sports?

Or maybe one can look at cultural and socioeconomic factors to see why certain groups have more athletes in particular sports.

Rhys A little harsh but I understand how Scott can be a little irritating. I seem to remember Howard Cossell expressing the exact same view as you quite a few years ago on Monday Night Football and it cost him his job. On to more inmportant things. Could not remember the centers name but that block, catch, whatever, was one of the more amazing plays I have ever seen in basketball. Big day tomorrow! Going to 8:30 church tomorrow so I can see Broncos at 11:00 here! Go Broncos!

Scott -- Given that there are thousands of college athletes of all races and creeds competing for a few hundred jobs in the pros every year, can you explain to me why the proportion of black to any other race is so far out of proportion to their occurence in general society? Can we add genetics to the long line of subjects you are expert in? Is there anything you DON'T know? And most critical -- why are you so eager to insult people by calling them stupid and ignorant? Is your knowledge and expertise so superior? Your comments say much more about you than they do me. You need a life, buddy, something to occupy those random bitter signals bouncing around inside your head. Humor and facetious and two concepts foreign to you, you who claims to be so superior. My condolences, I'm glad I'm not you.

Jerry -- I thing Howard's fatal line was "Look at that monkey run!!" Nothing racist THERE...

Javale McGee is that great new center, and he does amazing stuff every game. Our new secret weapon is the Andre Miller -- McGee (or Faried or Igoudala) lob pass which they catch and dunk -- Miller is the Elway of the court, he can hit them from 3/4 court. Mark Gasol largely prevented that last night, but it's gotten to be a regular thing. Even George said 'Dre won that game for us. I don't know if they will gel enough to compete for a title this year -- OKC, Memphis, and San Antonio are great too, and that's just the West. But they're the third-youngest team in the NBA, so we have many fun years ahead.

Yeah Broncos, and that's an early game, so it won't be a problem when the Nuggets play at 4 in the afternoon. I'd really consider the NBA channel, if I were you. Yeah Broncos!!

Seriously?? I call your theory stupid. You go off in a post with numerous personal attacks. I then defend my point that your Super Race theory is bunk. And then you get offended by a personal attack? So what, you think you should be able to dish it out and not get any in return?

You also appear to be totally clueless that your Super Race theory has no scientific basis,. Being unable to think of other possibilities is not scientific evidence of a stupid racial theory.

You also appear to be totally clueless that your Super Race theory is generally considered to be offensive because without any scientific basis it claims there are major genetics differences between people of different colors that predetermines success in major fields. That is offensive since that same rationale used to argue Blacks have genetic advantages to become NFL and NBA players then also suggests genetics makes Whites be better CEOs. Whites are certainly way overrepresented as corporate CEOs and corporate board members. Are you willing to argue that Whites have genetic advantages in running a business?

Scott -- Forget the Super Race; I was just throwing that out there looking for a nibble -- not expecting a frontal assault from the head scientist and best brain of all time, seeking to demosnstrate his superiority in all things cerebral for all to see and hear, ad nauseum. I will abandon the argument of the moment -- not that additional points couldn't be raised -- but because I find the vehemence of your responses far more interesting.

Now you flop like a fish on the shore -- first it's an insult, then it's not, then it is again. Be consistent, man. Speaking of "dish it out" -- YOU were the first one to level personal attacks -- so how about some of your own medicine, you stupid snob?

Why are you compelled to poach every subject in these forums, criticizing every opinion and action, always demonstrating your superior knowledge of every subject under the sun? Have you nothing better to do? Or are you compensating? Are you the biggest underachiever ever known to man, or is the car wash more challenging than we might imagine? With all your brains, that is the total of your contribution to society, other than the endless blather spewn in here? Get a life, and leave these poor folks alone -- most don't waste their time on your tripe anyway. You could piss off the Pope.

My first response to your Super Race theory was not a a personal insult, but criticized the stupid theory. Then you repeated your stupid theory and added in some personal insults. My response to that was a comment that was not specifically criticizing the stupid theory and could be taken as a personal insult. And then you repeated your stupid theory with more personal insults.

And now you say you were just putting that theory out there for discussion. After defending it twice, now you say it was just an idea. Okay, whatever.

I have people I respect tell me they appreciate my posts. Seems to me that my ideas on different topics can at least be reasonably defended.

"Based upon the results from the Olympics, then Blacks from the Caribbean are the best sprinters while Blacks from Africa tend to be the best long distance runners?"

No, that would be an assumption. But, yes, based on the science which explains that empirical observation...

"Over the past decade, human genome research has moved from a study of human similarities to a focus on patterned, population-based differences. Such research offers clues to solving the mystery of disease, the Holy Grail of genetics. So why do we readily accept that evolution has turned out Jews with a genetic predisposition to Tay-Sachs, Southeast Asians with a higher proclivity for beta-thalassemia, and blacks who are susceptible to colorectal cancer and sickle-cell disease, yet find it racist to suggest that Usain Bolt can thank his West African ancestry for the most critical part of his success?"

Exactly. Gotta love the politically-correct know-it-all attitude which leads to thought-blockers on this issue -- "wrong, ignorant, nonsense spouted by the ignorant and stupid" -- from the self-appointed morally superior, who can't be bothered to check their assumptions with a quick Google search before posting.

Seems like the sort of legitimate topic for debate, which shouldn't be suppressed by an out-of-control forum bully.