Joined: 1/19/2010(UTC) Posts: 695 Thanks: 4 times Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 7 post(s)
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One of the brothers and I have a lively debate raging about the "Occupy Wall Street" protests and the issues involved. Because this topic seems to be important to many, I thought I would share our last email exchange and let you folks weigh in with your own thoughts and observations. I have removed my brother's name as a show of respect to him. UnnamedBrother wrote: How do people assemble and not be called a, mob? I don't care if G. Soros is or isn't behind this, there are legitimate declarations that need answers here. This protest, even if some believe, it's for bums neglecting their bill, most is not the case, bro. The system is stacked against the people that the system should be aligned with, not against. Gucci can hire chinese to stand on their feet for 14hrs. How do you compete with that? It's wrong in every way. So do we just turn away our eyes and say, " I'll let God sort 'em out? "
Flintface wrote: My short answer to your last question is, "No. We don't say, 'I'll let God sort 'em out.' We say, 'Both they and those against whom they protest are going to die in their sins unless they reconsider and turn back to Yahowah. It is my duty to give them warning about that. How they run their day-to-day affairs is none of my concern.' "
I can't understand why you persist with your ideas that linking arms with those who hate Yahowah is what He wants us to do. I don't get it. You are a child of His. You show compassion and put your money where your mouth is. So you obviously have His love living in you. But when will you acknowledge the existence of a very real difference between us and the world, brother? There are legitimate complaints which ought to be addressed. There always will be. When will the masses humble themselves and admit that without the corporations and banks they cry out against, they would have nothing at all? If they are so offended by Gucci exploiting Chinese laborers, then let them stop buying Gucci's products. Without consumers, no corporation will survive. But those screaming out against the greed of others are greedy themselves, so they deserve nothing. No compassion, no help, no respect, nothing. They are all puppets being jerked around by our adversary. They are all deceived. The only thing that matters is that they learn the truth, (name removed). When we are in a position to offer help - food, clothing, shelter - then let us do that on a one-on-one basis. But let us avoid the stubborn, self-righteous mouthings of the so-called peaceful assemblers.
As for protesting in general, how does Yahowah look on it?
Now when the people complained, it displeased Yahowah; for Yahowah heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of Yahowah burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moseh, and when Moseh prayed to Yahowah, the fire was quenched. So he called the name of the place Burning (Hebrew = Taberah), because the fire of Yahowah had burned among them. Now the mixed multitude [i.e., the gentiles] who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Yisra'el also wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat? We remember ... Egypt ..." Number 11:1-5
It seems to me that He doesn't appreciate protesting, nor do we ever find in Scripture any record of His telling us that protests are okay to take part in. The people did complain with just cause against Solomon's son, but Yahowah stayed out of it as far as I can tell. And their protests fell on deaf ears, just like today's protests are doing and like the protests of my day back in the 60's fell on deaf ears. The corporate leaders and their puppets in various government offices and positions are like certain customer service reps. They pretend they're listening, then they do nothing, collect their paychecks, and go home to their private lives, never giving the problems of their customers, or constituents, or employees, another thought. That's the way it is, and all the whining about how it isn't fair won't change it.
Let me tell you something about us, brother.
Having been homeless 3 times since my 50th birthday, I know on the most personal level how miserable that sort of existence is. For 2 weeks during the Christmas season in 1999, all Christy and I had to eat were the candy corns put out for employees at Toys 'R' Us there on Westheimer. We were cashiers, but we had only the clothes on our backs and were living in a nasty little motel across the street from the Target there by the Astrodome. That is the truth. All we had to eat for two weeks, until we got our first paychecks, was candy corn. To this day, Christy won't eat the stuff ever again. A Christian lady who took a fancy to me at the TEC office had offered us a place to stay, not knowing that Christy and I were married. She thought we were just a couple and that she could win my heart. When that didn't happen, she locked us out of her house, not even opening the door to give us our winter coats. So we froze our asses off for weeks. I know exactly what being hungry and destitute is all about, (name removed). And I give help whenever and however I can. But I also know that there are too many lazy ne'er-do-wells and outright outlaws in the ranks of the poor and homeless, and that their offensive attitudes and actions make life all the more difficult and frustrating for those who through no fault of their own are poor and helpless. Moreover, I know that all the flag-waving, tear-jerking speeches in the world are not going to change anything in any meaningful way for any meaningful length of time. Again, that's just the way it is. History proves it.
So, that is why I insist that we ought to just ignore all that mess and stay focused on walking with Dad, on getting to know Him. We'll be there to offer a helping hand when He brings someone our way if He prospers us, and we'll be grateful to Him for that prosperity. But we will never put our trust in man, not in his sense of humanity and not in his governments.
I love you, too, my brother. Keep it real.
Richard
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