Significant Pursuit by Renaissance Guy

September 11

September 11, 2009 · 4 Comments

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
american-flag

Categories: Miscellaneous

4 responses so far ↓

  • Jesurgislac // September 12, 2009 at 3:47 pm | Reply

    Given your absolute indifference to the 22,000 people who die each year because they do not have health insurance, and your persistent arguments that this situation should continue, I presume this post is celebrating the deaths of the much smaller number of Americans who died 8 years ago. After all, if you actively prefer for thousands of Americans to die each year because they cannot get health insurance, why should you care if a few thousand died on one day because of a terrorist attack?

    Or is this post in mourning for the losses on the Stock Exchange – since apparently profits are far more important to you than human lives?

    Stan Dorn, “Uninsured and Dying Because of It: Updating the Institute of Medicine Analysis on the Impact of Uninsurance on Mortality,” Urban Institute, 2008 (PDF)

  • renaissanceguy // September 13, 2009 at 1:10 am | Reply

    Is there any room in your mind for a spectrum of attitudes from “absolute indifference” to “absolute concern”? Nobody can live their life with complete concern for every single person in the world who is suffering–except in a general sense.

    When my sister was dying of cancer, I was very concerned–obviously. I helped out as much as I could, as did other family members and her friends. I did not expect somebody who lived hundreds of miles away to worry about her or to provide for her needs, and I did not accuse them of “absolute indifference.”

    If everyone takes care of themselves, their families, and their neighbors, then nobody has to worry about somebody that they do not even know. Notice that I am not saying that people should only take care of themselves. I agree that there is a moral imperative for every human being to be concerned about others around them, but there is only so much that on person can do.

    I am appalled at the concept of people dying for lack of health insurance. Based on my personal observation, I do not know how that can be happening. With the safety net already in place in America, it should not.

    I would advise such a person to explore whatever resources are available to them. In my hometown in America, for example, we have a Community Ministries organization that would help them find financial aid (from both public and private sources) and would provide as much aid directly as they could, including housing and utility payments, food, and clothing. They would also help them negotiate their bills. I support that organization personally and through my church. Another thing that people can do is ask their own family and friends for assistance. They can have fundraising activities, which we did when my sister was getting cancer treatments.

    One thing that I would urge everyone to do is to make lots of friends, join organizations (including religious organizations), and be such a good person that people are more than happy to give financial aid when you need it. That’s how my sister was. I would adivse young people to study hard and work hard and make sure that they are able to provide for themselves and their loved ones.

    Because the victims of 9/11 were victims of an attack against my country, I do mourn them and honor their memory. That is very appropriate.

  • Mike Strong // October 31, 2009 at 6:16 pm | Reply

    Hi.

    I am building a site called Raised in America. It is NOT launched yet.

    May I use the flag picture you have on your front page? Is that your image? Is it copyrighted?

    Thanks, in advance, for your time, regardless.

    God bless you!

    Mike

  • renaissanceguy // November 1, 2009 at 6:39 am | Reply

    Mike, I “borrowed” the image after doing Goggle search. I do not know if it is under copyright or not.

    There are lots of flag images available on the Inernet. I’m sure that you can find something that is free and in the public domain.

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