westslope wrote: 
To quote the great philosopher Hal David:

Just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kiss is the start
That won't get you into his heart

So if you're thinkin' how great true love is
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his

 

 westslope wrote:  
Even though I am a devout Agnostic who just does not engage in belief at all on a grand level such as the existence of a supreme being, I do believe in the power of prayer. Whether or not it is a response from a divine deity or all of us being a part of a collective consciousness that through the power of thought can all have a positive or negative effect on one another is beyond me, but I do think it is worth the effort.

 Steely_D wrote: 
 Instead of using the verb 'hope', I almost used the verb 'pray'.

Secular humanists often use the concept of praying though they do not believe in God.  Think of it as fervent wishing.  

 Steely_D wrote: 
It's stranger still to think that humanity could choose to cure cancer or eradicate hunger but would rather prosecute wars and waste the precious resource of time, but there it is.

It's not about a him or about fixing anything. It's about a change in awareness. It's about humility.

 Steely_D wrote: 
Ah yes, the media. Quite another kettle of fish, wouldn't you say? So much power. So little accountability. Without it the Donald Trumps disappear. Also without a noble standard for the practitioners, the country disappears, quite ironically given the protections afforded it by the integrity of the foundations it undermines.

 oldviolin wrote: 
God didn't cause it, so it's strange to ask him to fix it.

Trump and Carson are deflecting us from asking the real questions of the less interesting candidates - one of whom could end up as President.

Is this Trump's accidental consequence, or a real plan by the GOP to distract with one hand so we ignore the other? I doubt they're that thoughtful.

What the media needs to do - and won't - is ignore these folks, and all folks who do outlandish things for media attention, and focus on the issues of the nation. Not doing that is hurting our country. 

 westslope wrote: 
Donald Trump is a carnival barker. A sideshow. A self serving patron of his own branding machinery. And yet, a barometer; his candidacy the product of a nation having lost it's way; a visceral response to the incompetent and illusory leadership born of radical factional thinking and entitlement mentality serving in the current capacity of state... Then there's Hillary Clinton. The perfect foil of freedom and a product of the forces pushing the likes of a Donald Trump to prominence. Politically speaking, our beloved constitution is screwed. It will take a people far more determined to be free of tyranny than the likes of popular culture and twisted history can produce to head coming disaster off at the pass. It can happen, but not without revolution part 2. Then we'll see what the future portends. Will we rise to the bait or to the challenge? It's prophetic, my friend. Man finds stray dog. Man feeds dog. Dog bites hand of well meaning but careless man. Man dies of rabies. Slowly. Horribly. Or not.

People are afraid. They should be. Prayer works. I've seen it. Pray for each other. Pray for our (your) country. Pray for a renewal of fierce determination to protect and serve each other in spite of deceitful and misguided government squandering of the opportunities afforded the freedom to choose. Unity must not be used for sales gimmicks and freedom of thought cannot be legislated. A truly free people are insulated without being isolated. Explicitly unafraid. The lady's torch is not to be underestimated.

At a young age during the Vietnam War frenzy, I quickly dialled into the fact that political opinions are highly diverse in the USA.  A band exchange between my High School in Ottawa, Ontario and another high school in Syracuse, New York circa 1971 was one of the defining moments.  

So when I read of presidential candidate Donald Trump spouting his sectarian hate I know that many Americans must feel absolutely outraged including many in the GOP.  

 I feel particularly sorry for the Republican party as his biases and hate will likely hurt the party greatly.

On the other hand, it does get past polite posturing of the kind Canadians can do so well.  We have plenty of haters and ignorant sectarian warriors up here in Canada-land.   Maybe the ensuing debate will ultimately make the USA an even better place to live?

Here's to hoping.   -Erik