Why gay marriage, getting high, and going to Cuba will soon be legal.

my great grandmother had a near death experience, and she said it felt so good up there but all of a sudden(long story short) St Peter(or whoever it may have been) told her it wasn't her time and sent her back, she didn't talk for a whole week...not because of any effects from the stroke but because she was pissed her date was delayed

I love it thanks....

And the Republicans would dash into bed with Bush on nearly everything. Bush was this so called "anoited one".

you presume to know gods intentions?

If God created heaven and earth, why do you think he made a plant, which has so many uses? Cannabis hemp is a plant, which has been able to survive throughout history, regardless of man. I think you are wrong in your assumption about what God intended. I think he created cannabis hemp with forethought. He may have realized the failings of man and created a plant which could withstand the 'madness' of man? It's time to end the 'madness' and end prohabition of a God made plant. All takes is a seed, soil and water, to grow a plant which does so much more than provide a little relaxation.

Cannabis has so many medicinal qualities, while hemp has so many industrial uses. Please don't ass-u-me to know God's intentions. Because you choose to ignore, or prohibit one of his greatest gifts -- cannabis hemp.

And since when should the Bible be any guide to what becomes law? This is a secular country. It may not be what God intended, but then again, we don't go by that...

And I don't think God said anything about not being able to go to Cuba...

it's all good, bush would have said something like "mission accomplished" as he wiped his ass with the legalization paperwork.

travel to another country and you ca buy cuban cigars there ive seen it done.

Yeah. Because we're the only country whose foreign policy is dumb enough to maintain a trade embargo on an entire neighboring nation, based solely on leftover cold war hostilities.

Cien Fuegos was the best cigar I have ever smoked

/agree

I'll burn one with ya in Austin when its legal.

Good call.

so does that mean they're going to bomb the shit out of weed, gay marriage and cuba? cause that's what liberation seems to mean to the media, lol.

that's what the mainstream media presents it as and maybe how you see it, but i'm speaking of their true release from their stigmas and illegality.

let cuba be free, let marijuana be smoked freely without punishment, and let love be maritally established for every individual in love.

like that :)

Coming from Kansas, I know what you speak of and agree for the most part. I think the change will come from 1 of 2 places. The first is my most hopeful and perhaps also the most likely scenerio:

1) Based on New york state race, Republican party divides and become the true libertarian party and the conservative christian party. Needless to say the conservative chrisian party will be psychos who win only a few seats every year. The 3 party system stops political gridlock and allows things to be done to improve people's lives instead of improving the politians appearance to his constituence.

2) Supreme court justices get swine flu or other illness and the conservatives die off enough to allow for more liberal judges. Supreme court rules these freedoms are inalienable rights and states must follow suit.

Does anybody honestly care about Cuba? It is stupid we don't allow travel, but unless your from florida, nobody you know has cuban heritage. Personally I think we need to stop being the worlds baby sitter and allow countries like Iran do whatever the hell they want as long as it doesn't kill us or our allies.

I'm happy to say that kind of thinking is the minority, and getting smaller all the time, ideas and trends just take a little longer to reach some places. Oklahoma is shaped like a trailer after all :)

tomorrow is always a day away... right now its now. the future is now.

It's never tomorrow, because it's always today.

Thats not a very optimistic viewpoint. We are currently in a recession and legalization is probably going to get passed in California soon enough. When coupled with the historically high desire from the public to see marijuana legalized may lead to a strong push for legalization across the board. Gay marriage is only a matter of time imo and the same goes for lifting the restrictions on CUba.

I'm not very optimistic, because the country remains in the hands of wealthy, villainous bankers and corrupted, capitalistic tycoons. While I wish the legalization of Cannabis, Homosexual marriages, and the travel and free-trade to Cuba would all come to fruition, I must remain firm in the thinking that it will not happen until we gain a foothold against the corporate corruption that is eating away at the very fabric of this country.

We are not free, by any means. We are still controlled by the capitalist society, the hierarchy of amassed wealth and influence that control our government by their own whim. And you can damn well believe that if any of that will come to pass, then it will surely go through by their hands.

If there is no profit to turn from the actions of legalization of any of those propositions, then it will be crushed despite the will of the people. I have lost all hope in the due process of the government, since it only seems to support what it deems important instead of what the people deems important.

Ok i agree to a certain extent. Im fairly apathetic about the current situation myself but i feel like big changes are going to be coming. And no this isnt some false Obama brainwashing 'Hope' i just honestly feel like people are starting to get fed up with the current system. I agree that many politicians are owned by the corporations but its not the entire system that screwed. People need to speak out more aggressively. Not violently but aggressively.

Im not entirely sure what your definition of freedom is exactly since its such a difficult thing to define. True pure freedom is anarchy and i dont support such a thing. With that being said im pissed that corporations and big business do have such influence in how we live our lives.

You continue to say "we" are controlled by corporations but i disagree. Maybe society as a whole is under its influence but id like to believe that i dont buy into most of the crap that gets peddled off as being the new cool thing.

So again id like to say that i believe that these three things will be passed "soon". Probably not within a few years but definitely within my lifetime(which isnt saying much since im 19 haha).

Freedom is different to each individual in the sense that it represents different ideas to all of us. I feel that to be free is to be free of corruption, in the same sense that all people have a voice within the democracy that they live in. As long as that voice is not infringing on the rights of others, then it is free to speak it's mind regardless of the consequences that may befall it after finished. As was attributed to Voltaire, "While I do not agree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it".

While people have the will to become free, we are still as a people and as a society, influenced greatly by those who create and supply the money in our country. And to remove them from power is extremely difficult. If you are violent, then they will outgun you because they create the guns you will use to fight. If you are non-violent, then they will ignore you because they have enough money to drown your voices out or sway you if your conviction is weak. It is a tightrope to walk, however it must be done to bring a sense of balance into our world.

But, you are right, and as long as people continue to fight for what they believe in, there is at least a sliver of hope to be found. As long as people stop being complacent and lethargic, then we will rise above adversity. Slowly, surely, and eventually, things will have to get better as long as we as a people, as a nation, as a worldwide society keeps pushing for it.

Although there are times where I am disgusted by the inhumane and despicable acts committed by humanity, I sincerely hope that we do not destroy each other before we can find freedom, peace, and prosperity among each other.

Ahh see again i agree. I believe everyone has the right to think and say what they please so long as it doesnt incite violence against others or infringe on other people's right to believe what they will. Personally I would love to live in a world free of corruption. A world that was as efficient and logical as possible. Sadly i dont think its human nature to desire such things. Instead most people desire power and wealth and let that guide their path through life. Hopefully one day humans will be able to live peacefully together without the need to struggle over such silly things as money, land, resources, or worst of all religion.

It is a delicate balance that we live in. The thing is that politicians understand this just as well as we do. Thats why there hasnt been a true 'war' in the traditional sense of the term since WWII. We now have the capability of destroying our planet entirely... not something that should be taken lightly.

I agree as well. While we have the power to destroy the planet as we know it with one bomb, we also have the power to destroy the planet purely based on our neglectful and wasteful attitudes in the concerns of energy, pollution, and inappropriate disposal of waste products. These are also things we should be mindful of.

Here's to working towards a cleaner, more efficient world.

Amen to that.

Ahhhh, that is so cute, you guys are recommending each other....

I recommended you too, so you wouldn't feel left out Jubal... Lol.

haha...it is. whoever designed that picture obviously didn't take the time to recognize the difference between the two.

I know! They are almost identical though so I don't think it's a big deal.

I was looking at it and yes it IS the Puerto Rican flag ... and yes it is kind of a big deal because Cuba and Puerto Rico are totally different from one another. The flag should have the colors switched around and the artist should try again, it's a little offensive lol (I'm Puertorican and we're not the biggest fans of Cuba)

i'm part puerto rican, i have no problem with cuba, but in this case, YES, there is a big difference and they're two seperate countries and in no way share the same issues.

also, who let this person's picture go through like this???
starting to annoy me, this little detail.

You don't have to worry about them marrying under religion unless the specific church allows it. Churches have the right to set their rules. I would like to see cannibis for medical use legal.

Medicinal marijuana is legal in many states. In my home state there are dispensaries opening up in every town now that Obama has asked that DEA to stop targeting medicinal marijuana users.

I hope you realize marriage is originally a Pagan tradition, and the catholics followed suit. The religions that the foolish worship today are nothing more than the compilation of all the failed religions of the past.

Religious institutions are archaic beliefs that were used to explain the unexplainable. One day the world will be rid of the religious institutions disgusting influence on spirituality and logic.

Dont let religion make you a fool.

I appreciate my church because it fosters a sense of community--more so than any appreciation of religion. I think Love is my religion, and my church is just a place to come together--religions that claim to be better than others or are formed as a place to generate wealth (cough cough, scientology) are an abomination.

When we came together for my wedding, it was a way for my family/community to come together to say, "we support the creation of this union and embrace it as a part of our community". I really feel like my family will endure because of this ceremony, more so than just eloping--because we have the support of our community. Why shouldn't gays have this opportunity, especially if they are coming from a place of love and want to raise children. That is why I affiliate myself with the Episcopal church. Evangelism really turns me off, and I don't really see the bible as being any better of a story than greek mythology or native american folklore, they all have merit in their own right. I find more insight in the spiritual use of entheogens, and believe that the archetypes in these folklore were discovered with the aid of psychedelics.

There are actually already some churches that perform marriage ceremonies for gays, and it's a real slap in the face that the law will recognize the work of discriminating churches but not accepting ones.

ok well first blaino..

the first marriage according to the bible was between Adam and Eve, and Jehovah was the one who married them. this tells you that marriage was originally a religious ceremony for the unification of man and woman in holy matrimony. then countries decided that they could make money off marriage, they still are.

second fernweher,

the church has every right to deny people their marriage. as a matter a fact if you read the bible homosexuality is not really a sin but... well you remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. now in the story homosexuality wasn't the only thing going on but it was the main reason why judgment was placed upon the cities.

now i personally dont care if your gay or straight. i have some gay friends as a matter a fact. if thats your life style fine, its not hurtin me and its your right to free will so you can do what ever or who ever you want. just so long as im respected ima respect you.

but just get it straight, homosexuality is really looked down upon in the church. and i dont want you trying to impose a lifestyle that was punished by god himself on a religion. not saying that gays are pushing religions but im just saying is all.

and the church needs to get outta your way to get married if you want to do so under the state, the churches begin to forget one of the main rights god gave humans.. free will. and they get in the way of people who want to live like that, what they should do is let the world do what it does and if the church dont like it they aint gotta comply with that law, especially since state cant control religion.

WTF???? The state can control religion. Just wait till we start taking your tax exempt status away from your sorry asses.

no... state cant control religion. they can do all the hell they want to the people but for the truly religious people there is no such thing as the world controlling Christians Jews or Muslims.... or any other religion for that matter. to religions money aint worth a damn thing.

LOL "religions money ain't worth a damn thing" LOL

Then why, pray tell, do they make such a big deal about donating money? Why do they pass the collection plate? Why do they need to build stadiums and call them Churches?

Money is the god of religions.

well religions do this because they know about the hard times people face in the world. so if there is money in a place that welcomes all there will be food, clothes... haven't you heard of the salvation army? (i know the salvation army is an organization and not a church but it is an religious organization, doing what i just stated)

also it helps fund trips across the world for missions to spread their religion to those who know nothing about the religion thats being presented.

now the things you see in most churches are tainted pastors that are really only in the church for business. to help make more pastors books and pay the pastors salary and the Bentley. but thats not what a true Christian or Muslim or Jew does.

im a member of Crenshaw Christian Center and other than tithes and offerings we dont really talk about money much, unless thats the subject our teacher is being led to talk about.

if you see churches only talk about buying books and paying for different things that really dont have to do with church then its not of the church its of the man speaking for the church.... and he/she is really only speaking for them selves.

look bottom line its in the bible "the love of money is the root of all evil" Timothy 6:10. now although money is relatively important because thats basically the only way to survive in this day of age, since you cant just go out and hunt for what ever you want anymore, money doesn't rule us we rule it.

but that thing i just said about not being able to just hunt what ever you want... we can hunt for some animals and bring home the animal for food, clothing or what ever the person see's fit...

so thats not entirely true, but if you live in the inner city, money is basically the way your going to eat or get clothes.

I won't hound you anymore, it sounds to me that you are sincere.

But FYI, my friend, tithing ended with Jesus. He told people not to give more than they could afford and not to go into debt to give.

I agree with you that there are many "so called" pastors that are out there putting a huge emphasis on money that are giving Christianity a bad name. It truly is a shame that very little can be done to survive in this world without money.

Religion in America has to some extent gotten perverted, by politics and greed. Thank God my faith does not lie in the hands of man. I consider myself to be a Christian, but I do not assume guilt for the failings of others who claim to be Christians. We are all responsible for our own failings.

thanks, cuz this whole ting about money n church wasn't even really the whole argument. but i do understand what you are saying.

religion in all places has been distorted and twisted to fulfill the the wants and desires of the corrupt; greed, secrecy, power, and a total misrepresentation of ones religion to recruit those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for something that in actuality is the complete opposite of what their religion is and stands for.

anything that man touches gets twisted and distorted for their own personal gains.