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I won't accept any view that promotes suffering, no matter how well it is packaged and presented, no matter who the presenter. I am sorry if that offends you.
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Apology accepted. However I should hasten to add that I am perhaps not so deserving of an apology as I dont actually promote suffering. I leave to that heavy metal bands and the people who insist of re-running "Dawsons Creek" ad inifinitum (Ok, I get it that a bunch of 18 year olds are more mature than I am, must you rub it in??!).
What I am 'guilty' of is accepting suffering as a naturally occuring, and realistic part of the human experience. If you suggest that by accepting it I am therefore condoning it - I am happy for you to lump me in with the group of heinous, unconscionable people who acknowledge it as a perfectly normal (albeit unpleasant) aspect of the human condition.
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Imagine if the germans dismissed hitler's views. The mongols those of ghenghis khan. The british the views of colonialism. Imagine the spanish rejecting the brutal views of their warped religion in the inquisition. Imagine rejecting darwin's views... the catholics views on abuse and deceit and power. Imagine if the zulu's rejected chaka's views of power and slavery. Imagine if Jesus accepted the views jammed down his, and his societies throats.
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Rejected these views - on the basis of what? You see, today we can confidently reject all of these things because we've had experiece of them. We've suffered through them and now we are positioned to recognise them in the future. Nobody rejected these things simply because they hadnt the experience to. That is the value of suffering. It teaches us, we learn from it and we grow. Thats progress. It isnt easy and it isnt pretty, but its remarkably effective.
I appreciate your passionate clamour for an end to the belief in the need for suffering - but I wouldnt give up my suffering for anything. Its helped me to become who I am. I've earned my growth, and therefore I've learnt a real appreciation and respect for myself. I dont want anything just given to me. Er, except maybe a Tivo. Then I could fast forward though Dawsons Creek
