Trump was shot!

[Elisabetta]

This is NOT a political post so please don't make it one. There was a shooting at a Rally in Butler, Pennsylvania and Trump got shot. I Pray for him and our country. We almost had another assassination which would've been devastating.

These shootings are getting bad.

[Bill]

A long range sniper shot clipped the top of Trumps right ear. Shooter was killed and, sadly, an attendee was killed and two others injured.

[TSH]

If you really want to pray (whatever good that does), pray for the family of the person killed. Pray for the two other attendees as well, who were injured in this atrocity.

[Elisabetta]

If you really want to pray (whatever good that does), pray for the family of the person killed. Pray for the two other attendees as well, who were injured in this atrocity.

I do Pray for them.

[Jim]

If you really want to pray (whatever good that does), pray for the family of the person killed. Pray for the two other attendees as well, who were injured in this atrocity.

Yes, that is the more immediate concern.

But a big concern is what is happening to our country--I'll avoid politics and not explain any more.

[Kirbstone]

Totally ghastly business. The weapon was legally bought and held. One BBC reporter pointed out that currently in the US of A, guns outnumber the entire population by three to one.!
It is clear that the Secret Service personnel trusted with protecting public figures need to tighten up their act considerably.

Tom

[moonshadow]

But a big concern is what is happening to our country--I'll avoid politics and not explain any more.

If this country doesn't cool its jets, I fear this is only getting started.

A strange notion came over me a few weeks back. I learned that the state of Oklahoma is requiring that bibles be placed in all public school classrooms.

Normally I would be against this, however with everything that's been happening basically for the last 50 years, I gave it more consideration. They took the [bibles] out of schools in the 1960's, and it actually does seem like we've been circling the drain ever since then. Now, here we sit, the "religious right" has found a new messiah. (just like the old preachers said would happen). And... of course now, he's a martyr.

When I consider the woe plaguing this society, utter greed, the money worshiping, the backbiting, the homelessness, the pain and sorrow, profit over people, drugs, abuse, random acts of violence, school shootings, the list goes on and on. We've been on a regressive course since the 1970's, and now here we sit, on the verge of losing our very democracy and FREEDOM to radical authoritarianism.

Yes I considered these things, and actually chuckled when I thought about the looks on those Oklahoma kids' faces when they crack that book open for the first time and realize what it actually says and doesn't say. This country has nothing to believe in anymore, and we're left grasping for anything that will catch our attention. I'm all for separation of church and state, but it seems that the general populace just isn't enlightened enough for that.

Six decades of a spiritual vacuum has yielded our current situation, the people have nothing to believe in anymore except for Trumpism and Leftism. Almost ALL of the legislation that we take for granted today (Social Security, Medicare, SNAP, infrastructure, industry, taxing corporations and the ultra wealthy, etc...) were ALL enacted back when public school children were exposed to scripture.

I'm not saying that's the answer, I'm just saying I see a pattern. It could be a coincidence, but I'm just saying that personally, I'd rather see politicians follow Christ rather than Trump... or Biden. I expect a lot of member's to take me to task for writing this, but it just seems to me that in the past, we see something that worked, and now, we are full speed in reverse. There's even talk of a Civil War all over again.

Pardon the cliche pun, but this country desperately needs a "come to Jesus" moment.

[FranTastic444]

Well, as someone who is on the front pew of atheists corner in this hallowed church of the skirt, I must vociferously (but respectfully) object to any notion that putting bibles or the 10 Commandments (or anything religious, regardless of the religion) into any situation is the answer.

Andrea, I most definitely feel that the pattern you are seeing between the absence of the good book in school and the ills of society today is just a coincidence. An associate of mine is a professor of medicine and he has often been vilified on a separate forum we both frequent for challenging posters to back up what they have said with evidence. Being a man of science, he is data driven and has no time for "gut feeling" or sentiment. As an example, he often suggests to people who think that we are living in more violent times today than in the past to read The Better Angels of Our Nature by Stephen Pinker.

We get a better society via schools through civics class and history lessons and teaching children to be empathetic and caring - and we do not need any religious text to do this. As an aside, there are also many other things to be addressed that impact society - such as poverty, inequality, medical care (including mental health), gun policy etc. etc.

The current Republican party with Trump at the helm is strongly backed by those of the religious right, including some that espouse the Seven Mountain Mandate and / or policies advocated as part of Project 2025. Keeping this post somewhat on track with the aims and mission of this forum, I do wonder if male skirting would be impacted should the people behind Project 2025 get their hands on the levers of power, particularly given their position on LGBT rights.

As a footnote, I will just add one final thought. As a British American, I find it somewhat ironic that the US has a constitution that officially separates church and state whereas the UK has a political system that has Christianity at its core and despite this, religion plays a much bigger part in government and wider society in the US than it does in the UK.

[crfriend]

And... of course now, he's a martyr.

The only way he'd have a claim to martyrdom is if the assassin had better aim.

[Bertino56]

Without implying any political agenda on my part, I agree with President Biden on the
necessity to have a complete, independent, unbiased, and comprehensive investigation.

[Elisabetta]

Welp I tried keeping this from going in a political way. Just hope people remain civil and it doesn't go south.

[moonshadow]

The current Republican party with Trump at the helm is strongly backed by those of the religious right, including some that espouse the Seven Mountain Mandate and / or policies advocated as part of Project 2025. Keeping this post somewhat on track with the aims and mission of this forum, I do wonder if male skirting would be impacted should the people behind Project 2025 get their hands on the levers of power, particularly given their position on LGBT rights.

The problem... in a nutshell, is that among many Christians, Trump has replaced Christ. Oh they'll never admit it, however coming from the Bible belt of America I can tell you this: You're safer to be an open aithiest than anti-Trump. I speak from experience, my discussions about Wicca and separation of church and state were better received by the Bible belt populous than my claims that Trump might not be all that swell a guy.

That's right, it's okay to deny Christ, but you'd better not deny Trump. That's scary as hell.. And alls in saying is maybe, seeing as how a conservative will always be a conservative, why not put them back on the Christ like path (the one they claim to be on anyway) and remind them that Trump does not sit at the right hand of God almighty.

Given the choice, would you rather have Oklahoma kids be taught that Trump is the messiah or Jesus? Because I can tell you, in these southern schools it WILL be one or the other....

[moonshadow]

And... of course now, he's a martyr.

The only way he'd have a claim to martyrdom is if the assassin had better aim.

Worse yet... he had a near miss, literally dodging a bullet. Now he and his flock will truly believe he's invincible.

Hey, then don't call him "Teflon Don" for nothing!

[crfriend]

Worse yet... he had a near miss, literally dodging a bullet. Now he and his flock will truly believe he's invincible.

Hey, then don't call him "Teflon Don" for nothing!

Blame to the would-be assassin. Lousy choice of weaponry.

As far as the "Teflon Don" goes, we had one of those a while ago that turned to Velcro -- and things started sticking. Note that Trump has 34 (and counting) felonies he's yet to answer for.

[moonshadow]

As far as the "Teflon Don" goes, we had one of those a while ago that turned to Velcro -- and things started sticking. Note that Trump has 34 (and counting) felonies he's yet to answer for.

There is no way he's going to answer for any of that.

The SCOTUS has already ruled, they guy's above the law.