Countryside Philosophy

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It seems like a big can of worms was opened in a previous thread, and I think some of the little wigglers were left dangling...

I for one would be curious to follow some of the perspectives mentioned in previous postings. There were responses from conservative folk, liberal folk, middle of the road (I guess called moderates)...talk of women's work and men's work, etc.

I was rereading the "Our Philosophy" in Countryside magazine, and thinking about if/how folks that I read on here fit in. I am not going to reproduce it here, but for those of you who have it, maybe you could check it out and put your $.02 here. Or what's your life philosophy?

It got kind of long on Skip's thread, but I don't think we are done yet. Forgive me if you were really sick of the topic. You can skip reading this one...(sorry Skip, no pun intended!)

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), March 16, 2000

Answers

I thought it was interesting kind of like a soap opera[ much better, cant stand soaps]I can look at both sides [raised catholic] am married to a diest[spelled right?]TOLERANCE is the key, every one is Intitled to there opinion, Just dont try to shove your belives on me and I wont make you belive what I do [life is much more interesting that way] I have to say dont like bigotry of any typ but just goes to show life has some lessons to teach them still.Once said I would never have a fake x mass tree but as I got a little older couldnt justify cutting one down so I know have a fake tree , kind of like life ? One thing I have learned, NEVER SAY NEVER!

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), March 16, 2000.

Amen to that one. I don't know how many times I have had to eat my words - once I grew up and realized I didn't really know it all. We all grow and mature and our ideas change. The important thing is that we all love each other for who we are, love the differences, and not hurt each other or anyone else. We don't have to agree on everything. Also, no one ever changed my mind about anything by trying to badger me into it. Hope this isn't to syrupy. I wasn't even involved in the big can of worms, but that is my 2 cents anyway.

Men's work and women's work - I guess I do some work that is my husband's responsiblity in the conservative perspective, and he does help me in my work sometimes too. I work outside the home because he wants me to. I'd rather not, but the bill collectors insist. He helps around the house rarely, but because he is working 12 hours a day to help support us (which is another subject alltogether - how about a discussion on why we think we have to have so much stuff we get ourselves into debt and have a hard time getting out - BUT WE WILL).

You all are really nice folks. I received more help from my one little question I posted than in the other forums I have asked numerous questions in.

-- Sherry Cookson (oneofthem@one-eleven.net), March 16, 2000.


I just found the thread you were referring to. I kinda got the wrong idea. Whoops. Sorry.

-- Sherry Cookson (oneofthem@one-eleven.net), March 16, 2000.

In a old movie, "Harvey", the main character named,"Elmer P. Dodd makes a very interesting statement. He says that his mother once told him that if he was going to fit into this world, he needed to be either smart or pleasant. He went on to explain that he tried smart for many years but now he prefers to be pleasant. I am stuck by the wisdom of this...so many times i could have reaped untold benefits and avoided needless conflict if I sought to be pleasant rather than attempt to be right.

-- scott wyatt (scottjoy@flash.net), March 16, 2000.

I guess that I'm a little jaded about people in general. I suppose that it comes from my life experiences. We try to live as peaceful as possible taking only what we need and hopefully putting back more than we take. I try to raise my children to love not only themselves but the others around them and to follow the teachings of Christ.

We treat our animals as well as we can even though they are meant for food. We grow as much of our food as we can and try not to pollute the land with posions and other chemicals.

I try not to argue with people because I feel that it will never solve anything. I have principals that I will defend as well as other peoples right to have different opions other than my own. I feel the best way to change someone mind is through kindness and love rather than anger and shouted words.

Well I guess that was about syrupy enough. :)

-- Jim Tanner (tanner_jim@hotmail.com), March 17, 2000.



Jim, I agree with you. That pretty much sums it up for me but I do not feel we should sit quietly by and let our rights be taken away from us. Our forefathers fought and died for those rights. Thank you for John 10:16 on the other thread. The person who mentioned it did not quote the whole verse.

-- barbara (barbaraj@mis.net), March 17, 2000.

I have two simple philosophies: Live and let live unless someone's getting hurt; and Try to live by the Golden Rule. I don't care who you worship or if you are purple as long as you are kind, considerate, and compassionate.Does that make me liberal or conservative? I've known too many people who claimed loudly to be Christian and were just plain mean-spirited. Why is it that politics and religion seem to bring out the worst in people instead of the best?

-- Peg (jnjohnsn@pressenter.com), March 17, 2000.

Well said Peg: The Golden rule goes a long way toward making for a good life as does Live and let live. I also agree with most others here that tolerance is necessary as long as no one is getting hurt.

I get real uppity when someone else is trying to cram their beliefs down my throat, then tell me I'm goin to hell when I don't agree. That attitude has given Christianity a bad name in the eyes of many.

We're encouraged to think for ourselves and that would seem to imply that we all have the right to be wrong. We don't have to agree with anything anyone else has to say about a given subject but its wise to at least respect the right of others to their opinion, even if its truly dumb or uninformed. Respecting someone right to their opinion is not the same thing as respecting the opinion tho.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), March 17, 2000.


Sheepish, I think you have opened a barrel of worms instead of a can !!! Yet, shy thing that I am,I cannot resist a comment.When dinosaurs roamed the earth and I was young, I was very opinionated.Now that there are no dinosaurs and I am 52 (ouch),I remain very opinionated, but I no longer apologize for being so.The one constant in my life is that God is the judge of other folks, not me, so I do not have to bother with it.Oh, I have no problem being intolerant of ideas, philosophies, and social fads, but never intolerant of people.I like all kinds of people,yet feel free to be intolerant of some of their ideas.I work with some women who are homosexuals.I like them. They are very nice folks to work with.I am very intolerant of their life style..that's not a problem, since I have never been recruited into it.They are aware that as a Christian woman, I believe that they have a major problem.The best I do for them is to pray for them,not belittle them.I would not appreciate folks condeming me for my sins.I work with folks who are racial bigots.I like them.They are nice folks to work with..that's not a problem either, because when they voice their hatred and intolerance, they often see me in silent prayer for them.They know it, I know it, and on we go..I work at a prison, and see all levels of humanity every day.I love the little bracelet that my son gave to me..it says WWJD? (What would Jesus do?)...it helps me through my day, every day.Jesus did not throw rocks at folks who disagreed with Him, yet He did get angry sometimes..a good philosophy.

-- Lesley Chasko (martchas@gateway.net), March 17, 2000.

The thread above refering to the old movie HARVEY got me thinking. I saw that movie when I was a kid (It was old then). It convicted me then and it still does today. The main character Dodd is the perfect example of how Christians and everyone should act. I'm going to rent that movie and show it to my kids. Maybe they can do better they we are.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), March 18, 2000.


I think Jim said it all--All I ever wanted was a family and to farm. I don't know what I am classified as--probably an anarchist. Definetly jaded by life experience and fast becoming anti-social(rarely leave the property these days). My life is defined by the statement " Tall fences make good neighbors"--I have become very adapted to showing people the other side of mine. I also keep myself inside mine. We are very tolerant of other ideas and the live and let live thing--on the outside of the fence. I call knowledge--wealth and money ---trash. My plants and fields are my sanity and I grow when they do. If it works and doesn't use electricity or fuel==I'll buy it. I have the pride of a father, the faith from my bible, the work ethic of a Virginia mule and the mouth of Thomas Paine. So --what am I classified as????

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), March 20, 2000.

I think Jim said it all--All I ever wanted was a family and to farm. I don't know what I am classified as--probably an anarchist. Definetly jaded by life experience and fast becoming anti-social(rarely leave the property these days). My life is defined by the statement " Tall fences make good neighbors"--I have become very adapted to showing people the other side of mine. I also keep myself inside mine. We are very tolerant of other ideas and the live and let live thing--on the outside of the fence. I call knowledge--wealth and money ---trash. My plants and fields are my sanity and I grow when they do. If it works and doesn't use electricity or fuel==I'll buy it. I have the pride of a father, the faith from my bible, the work ethic of a Virginia mule and the mouth of Thomas Paine. So --what am I classified as?

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), March 20, 2000.

Countryside philosophy....I've read all these answers and they are each right for the people who are writing them...

Having been an investigative newspaper reporter for 20 years THIS MONTH, I am quite cynical about everybody....but the one thing that bothers me more than ANYTHING else is intolerance...

I just want to be left alone on my (nearly) 14 acres with my animals and my garden and my SANITY!!!

We've let the government intrude on every area of our lives (don't get me started on that one!) when we all need to take responsibility for our own actions. Any if there is someone less fortunate who cannot provide for themselves because of illness or something else, neighbors should be the one to help them out....not a government check...

I can hear it now....some saying that neighbors won't help....that that is why the govt. "had" to step in and take control....nope...that argument won't work.

We lost everything in a housefire when we had three young children...we only had $10,000 in insurance because we lived out in the country and it was a double wide so they wouldn't insure us for more....PLUS the house burned less than three months after my husband cut off his big toe under a lawn mower and almost died (hospitalized one month and off work much longer.) So we weren't in the best finantial state....but folks we didn't even know brough the kids clothes.....a dear elderly friend of my mama sent us TWO DOLLARS which was so precious....people cared...my daddy's old work crew came and helped rebuild us a house.....and we worked ourselves....

Countyside philosophy is a state of mine to me....to get back to the simple life as much as possible....to accept responsibility for our own lives whenver possible....and to help others when we can....

I tell my editor a lot (with so many people in the news business having fatal heart attacks in their 40's and the others all going to psychologists!) that it's a lot more fulfilling to me to pet my animals and plant and care for my garden and then can and freeze the food....than to spend that money on a psychologist or psychiatrist!!!

I hope these ramblings make sense to someone.....

-- Suzy in 'bama (slgt@yahoo.com), March 22, 2000.


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