Any other business - My 'Have Your Say' comments

Any other business - My 'Have Your Say' comments

Do you like to have your say?

I do. In fact, I like it so much that I regularly join in on the BBC's Have Your Say pages, which occasionally I feature on. Often they do not use your comments as they get quite a lot in, but it's still worth airing your views. I have decided to share some of mine here. These are all taken with the original context of the debate on the BBC. If some of them seem a little strange, chances are the title isn't quite right or the original debate took a slight tangent ride.

Is faith important today? (15/11/05)
Despite the empty and baseless ranting of a few bitter atheists, for most of us the clear reading of current
science and moral fibre of this nation shows that faith in God and living life by the moral grounds shown by
Jesus is a good thing. Other faiths also, of course are welcome to be practiced. I have yet to see any science
which does not support the Bible, or any archaeology etc. It is the most documented book in the entire world,
nothing else comes close.
'We have to really engage hard issues - M.E., childlessness, and we don't understand...'
-- Linda Jenner, Bristol, United Kingdom
I, also from Bristol, was healed of M.E / CFS in 2001 whilst challenging God to do it and calling Him for who He
is (also known as worshipping Him). I was in a tent filled with young people worshipping God freely. I was
healed and still am healed to this day. I am now 27 and have held several full time jobs.

How should we combat bullying? (15/11/05)
When I was at school, bullying (verbal, mental and physical) was rife, but well hidden. Bullies were never suspended or punished unless they pretty much shoved you off a roof! I had to fight down corridors, break halls and left two schools due to violence. This disrupted my GCSEs and effected my future directly. Schools need to have an utter zero tolerance approach and right now. ANY form of proven bullying whatsoever should be severely punished on the spot, with parents involved. Kids think they are invincible, and shrinks are making us make laws to make them that way. They are not ready to be adults, and we cannot treat them as if they are!
In the 80's when I was at school, my mate (a guy) was told in scouts after being bullied in school and scouts, to 'show his aggression more'. Basically, 'stand up for yourself, lad!' Nice...only there was a gang of them and they were all quite big. I was a girl and it was embarrassing having a girl batter bullies with you. Nowadays I hear it's far worse...so where has liberalism got us? Everything is permissible, that's where. No rules.

Should pubs stay open for longer hours? (15/11/05)
The arguments for longer hours are very shaky and frankly dangerous. If it all goes wrong, lives and city centres will feel the brunt of this. Why can't we crack down hard on anti social behaviour, binge drinking with on the spot fines etc, but not have the pubs open all hours? Midnight is late enough; there just is no good reason to be drinking after that time. If you are that desperate, you can purchase drink from a store and drink it at home in private with friends. This is not about liberty - it is about common sense.

Should parents be told about under 16 abortions? (8/11/05)
The problem here is that dangers are being mixed with the overall picture. The vast majority of young, teenaged girls who are pregnant are that way by accident. Anyone under the age of 16 is not legally an adult and cannot vote, buy cigarettes, alcohol or get married. To treat them as an adult is denying them the protection of childhood - which is where parents or carers/guardians shelter you and care for you as you grow. Parents have a right to know if it comes to an abortion happening.
Advice - free and confidential.
Operations? Absolutely not.
If it was a heart op would we even be having this debate?

Iran's comments on Israel: Your comments (8/11/05)
Israel isn't asking to have Iran 'wiped off the map' or saying that it's political aim is to 'drive the nation into the sea and destroy them', as Hamas does. It's simple - no Israel are not perfect little angels. Yes wars have made life bloody and difficult on both sides, but at the end of the day, until Iran, Hamas and insurgents STOP declaring that only the death of Israel will be enough, they are the reason war continues.

What do you think of the new smoking laws? (8/11/05)
It's a case of, do we want drug consumption for future generations banned in public, or not? Fags are addictive, they kill you and they clog up the NHS with their health related issues. I don't know ANY healthy smokers, they've all got some sort of issue and the youngest is only 20.
Yes, choice is nice. But it comes with a cost. Give people who want to choke and enjoy it smoking lounges. Give the rest of us smoke free places to spend our money and enjoy our spare time.

Have you suffered Ageism? (8/11/05)
I am only 27 (which I realise isn't that old at all). I have been to many interviews where the Manager talking to me is my age or less. Very often the jobs are given to those around 22-25 it seems. I am struggling to be able to afford anywhere to rent and I cannot pay rent off what you get stacking shelves. I am very well educated and am losing key skills with all this waiting around! What's happening, Tony? You promised us a future!

Give parents all power in local schools? (8/11/05)
Children should be sent to their nearest school based on geography. This will raise standards and bring back the sense of pride and community in local schools again, rather than the rat race to buy the right houses so that one can get their kids into 'the best schools'. All schools need an even spread of talent and community input. Giving adults more input to schools is good, but the council must keep them accountable.

Is Paternity Pay a good thing? (8/11/05)
Having a family is not selfish. If we all stopped having children, we would die out so there's nothing selfish about it at all. I think that the new rule is fine, so long as it and maternity pay/leave are tightly regulated to ensure a lack of abuse. 'Frequent customers' also need to be avoided and advised on better family planning. If you cannot afford more than one child, you really need to think twice before continuing to make babies. One we can argue a case for. More is greedy and asking the government to pay for your 'chosen lifestyle'.

New Tory Party leader? (8/11/05)
Isn't this all a bit gloom and doom? It's certainly not over for the Tory Party just because the big lion of the past is gone. Let's give these newer lions some time to chew on Blair and Brown, and see what they can come up with. Everybody deserves a chance to see what they would do with some power to back their talking.

Should Saddam be executed? (8/11/05)
I would think that the danger of keeping him alive (that some day he could return) is outweighed by what we could learn from sparing him to top security prison. But my gut says, let his own people once they are set up, judge him. Let it be fully documented and done to international standards where possible to do so, but under Iraqi law (which would be Islamic, Sharia). Let it be fully covered with Iraqi media, and let it take the time that it needs to. If under their law, he must die, then he must die. But he should be spoken to first and as much information (though much of it may be false) got from him first. If only we could still learn from the likes of H Shipman and other cruel men. There is much to discover.

Speaking to the 'violent' in Ireland: (8/11/05)
I am a Christian. I think what matters for the Christian is whether you are saved, or just wearing the historical badge of your family tree. Knowing Jesus saves, according to the Bible - that is the Catholic and Protestant Bible (Catholics include extra books). No where in the Bible does Christianity entail marching or flags or banners, in fact these are the marks of middle eastern, war torn countries like Iraq which used to be covered with flags and murals of Saddam.
The Bible says that the ONLY religion that is pure and acceptable to God is to visit the needy in their affliction/hour of need, and to have a pure mouth/tongue. Everything else is man made outward working! Jesus said the greatest commandments were to love the Lord your God with all your strength, mind and body etc, and to love fellow men as yourself.
Give up your religious ways and your pharasee-ism. Let go of warring ways and instead, live the Christian life, whichever church you worship in.

Blair apology to 'Heckler': your views (30/9/05)
The point of 'was the heckling rude or ill timed' is a moot one. Using the anti
terrorism laws to keep him out of the building is a sign of the times. Threatening
striking petrol activists, putting OAPs in jail for non complete payment of council
tax, and changing the law so that anyone 'glorifying terrorism acts' can also be
arrested? Does that mean standing up for Mr Wolfgang makes me arrestable too? As far
as I am concerned, Labour have shown they cannot control their own 'fists' of power.
Get them out, because anything is better than a police nation. Anything at all.

100 Minute Bible written: your thoughts (26/9/05)
To all the strongly ardent anti-bible folk posting; are you consistent? Have you
actually read the book you are slating, have you ever been to a church service, have
you ever prayed and really meant it? Have you investigated what REAL Christians are
like, or do you judge based on what the newspapers tell you or the guys down the
pub? Contrary to what some have written here, the Bible has never been altered from
the original manuscripts and the Dead Sea scrolls proved this, real archaeology that
you can see and touch. Rather than childishly being rude from the sidelines, admit
you're not interested and leave the rest of us to find the truth in this world.

What drives people apart? (26/9/05)
I agree with J Airey; your exact shade of melanin (skin colouration factor) is
irrelevant to your race. Races are 'social creations', as we're all one blood
chemically speaking.

It seems that language drives people apart more than anything. When I am on the tube
and have two people speaking in a language I cannot understand in front of me and
laughing visibly in my direction, yes I feel threatened and a little insulted. Why
can't they speak to me in English? I have a white Chinese speaking friend I plan to
take along in future...

Can Loyalist violence be stopped? (15/9/05)
I am a Christian. I think what matters for the Christian is whether you are saved,
or just wearing the historical badge of your family tree. Knowing Jesus saves,
according to the Bible - that is the Catholic and Protestant Bible (Catholics
include extra books). No where in the Bible does Christianity entail marching or
flags or banners, in fact these are the marks of middle eastern, war torn countries
like Iraq which used to be covered with flags and murals of Saddam.
The only outward fruit of these marches and sectarian clubs is festering
generations old hatred and bigotry. Why not have mixed clubs, or Christian clubs?
The Bible says that the ONLY religion that is pure and acceptable to God is to visit
the needy in their affliction/hour of need, and to have a pure mouth/tongue.
Everything else is man made outward working! Jesus said the greatest commandments
were to love the Lord your God with all your strength, mind and body etc, and to
love fellow men as yourself.
Give up your religious ways and your Pharisee-ism. Let go of warring ways and
instead, live the Christian life, whichever church you worship in.

Do new anti-terror measures go far enough? (15/9/05)
The danger lies not in the holding of a definite terrorist and some one who is
talking in Mosques about blowing up people in the name of God, but when you have
these lesser offences such as 'indirect incitement' etc. If there was a heated
debate in a pub between a Christian and a Muslim or a Sikh and a Hindu, would that
be deemed enough to start witch hunt rumours? What if my neighbours don't like my
religious beliefs and send info to the police stating that they've seen
strange things or heard foreign natter or seen packages being delivered? How can I
prove any of this false? If you have enough evidence to get them, get them. But
leave the rest of us alone. It is ok to disagree, that is a British right we hold.
Only the blatant 'God has called me to blow people up' brigade need these measures.
Not the rest of us.

Have you been buying extra petrol? (14/9/05)
The 'oil is a finite resource' argument is based upon shifting science. Actually,
oil of various forms can be formed quite quickly; recent efforts in Canada to
produce oil from turkey waste parts have been very successful and there are many
global cases increasing such as this. Also there is evidence that coal beds and
fossil fuels can be created rather quickly in catastrophic pressure conditions, i.e.
Mount St Helens eruption when coal beds were formed within HOURS.
Therefore, we should be looking to utilise all oil types to drive cars and exploring
healthier engines too - that way prices for car fuel will come down. Park and Ride
is also a great answer to congestion and rural drivers also win with this.

Who runs your world? (14/9/05)
My world is run by two people, myself and God. Jobs, cars, friends and even family
come and go. Fortunes no matter how hard you work, can be lost in a blink of an
eye; hard work is no guarantee of anything these days. My life is the LORD's and I
work without pay on the streets at night helping young people explore the meaning of
life for themselves, as well as work bad jobs to pay the bills. It's easy to get
down about the quality of life when everyone on the telly seems to have perfect show
houses and affairs are 'so much fun'. The reality is so different. Throw away what
really matters and you risk losing everything you ever wanted - that's why my trust
is in the LORD, and He's healed me, helped me and I always have total peace, no
matter what happens around me or to my loved ones. He's saved me - in every way a
person can be saved.

Should civil liberties be protected? (14/9/05)
If the authorities can demonstrate some fair and practical, job-creating measures
that will help and may mean a slightly longer wait at say airports, train stations
or certain public locations and special events, then I say show us the paperwork and
prove we will still be free men/women as we go about our daily lives. This
argument is false; terror exists in Arab nations where there is very little freedom
at all to express or to live as you wish to due to the government there and social
climate. Therefore I say lets do both - not lose freedoms, but be more careful,
create some jobs, tighten security but remain free persons with the right to express
ourselves. Saying that I disagree with someone over say, faith, doesn't make me a
terrorist. It makes me a human with a viewpoint based on life.

Gaza pull out - your views (14/9/05)
It disturbs me to see pictures of burning Jewish temples and raided buildings, flags
going up and people scrambling about with AKs. It looks like a scene from Iraq...and
they're not in a war. It is time for the Palestinians to get out of their victim
mentality, whether it's justified or not, and build for the future. There is simply
no way any nation will give them any more land if they cannot control what they
already have. They are not starving or being tortured, imprisoned or blown up, right
now they have rights and they have land. Let them now show they can live peacefully
with Israel. If they cannot do this and continue to behave as though any non Arab
will be burnt or slain, then they have no place in the modern world and will have
demonstrated that they are intolerant of Israel and truely do wish, as Hamas openly
does, to destroy all of Israel and kill it's people and take all it's land. That is
not a politically acceptable aim.

Can a culture of respect happen? (early Sept 05)
Respect will only be recognisable and doable within a paradigm of some sort. If the
country wants to promote itself as secular and anti-strong views such as religion or
other firm views, then I see no way forward for us to ever improve. Every time
something is done to try to set a standard, it gets attacked by human rights and
civil liberty activists, intent on insuring that everything and anything is always
possible and permitted. The trouble with this nice sounding mantra is you allow
everything that comes with it - the crime, yobbish behaviour and failing sex education.
Last night I spoke to a 15 yr old male on the streets. He had got several girls
pregnant though they aborted the children. He could have been a father several
times over. He is a frightening product of a society afraid to say anything is right
or wrong anymore, for fear of being seen as a bigot. 1+1 does not equal five though.
If that makes me a bigot, so be it.