Conversations with the Silver Dragon

[Sarah]

The Return of the Silver Dragon

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   posted 04-18-2006 10:07 AM                   
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My Dearest and Most Beautiful Sarah,

It is I who am humbled. Not only that someone as beautiful as you would be so kind to a beastly dragon but that you would trust me to offer my comments on something that is so close to your heart and Soul. Knowing this, these are matters that I do not treat lightly my Love. You may agree or disagree with what I say but this is the very spark that ignites intellectual thought and conversation isn’t it!

Let us deal first in definitions. I would like to define and differentiate races and cultures. Races are defined as communities within a population of organisms that share in common physical attributes that separate them from other communities within a population. You have white humans, yellow humans, black humans etc. While the differences are strictly physical, they are ultimately defined by evolution/genetics/God. Always remember though that the genetic variability within any race is always higher than the genetic variability between races. In other words, racial differences do not hold up under statistical analysis. They are to be utterly discounted.

Cultures on the other hand are strictly behavioural differences between groups of organisms. I for example, am a member of the cave dwelling dragons. There are also cliff-clinging dragons, a more ancient and I believe inferior culture to the cave dwellers.

Cultures evolve and grow in response to social and environmental pressures and in response to each other. Weak cultures fail and strong cultures thrive in Darwinian patterns. It is acceptable to brand some cultures as failures and others as successes and it is acceptable to argue about the terms of reference used to label cultures. The more open and free a culture is to change and assimilation, the more successful it will be. It is possible to change one’s culture, to move from one to another or even to be a member of several cultures. We know some cultures to be successful or superior to others when we see millions of humans abandoning their homes, families and cultures to migrate to other cultural areas be they through dangerous voyages across the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or through Mexican borderlands. The newcomers embrace the new culture with the hope that they and their offspring will have a better life because of it. Their original culture becomes secondary or even disappears after a generation or two. Some aspects of the culture may persist and enter into the larger broader culture.

Cultures exist because they offer an individual and family protection and security via collective participation among those with shared values. For those who are still evolving their sense of self-concept and self worth, a culture offers a ready made template that they can fit their psche within and achieve self assurance about who they are and gain affirmation about what their worth is. The type of culture or template selected says a lot about who a human is and what their experience has been. Weak minded humans with little self confidence or self esteem will often select cultures that project physical power that they do not themselves have. Hence, the emergence of fundamentalist cultures, gang culture, biker culture or cowboy culture.

As a human grows, they can choose to experience this growth within the cultural template that they have chosen or they can grow beyond it. Always remember that cultures consist of a set of rules defined by man. Although man may believe that these rules are based upon the word of God. These rules are still, nevertheless, defined by man and not God. It is up to the individual human to decide whether or not this was God’s intention. A free Soul is one who chooses to follow their own rules or mores, influenced by man, yes, but not constrained by man either. This is what God wants and this is how one can get closer to their God if this is what they choose to do.

As for cultures that preach hatred and violence. I can understand why these humans are the way they are. This is a normal consequence of cultural friction. There is always going to be evil committed somewhere by someone against someone else. If you can understand that this is always going to occur in greater or lesser (hopefully lesser with time) amounts and if you can understand why it occurs, then it will not trouble you as much because one can gain an enormous amount of peace, security and strength by being able to understand and therefore choose how one reacts to any situation – especially bad situations. By growing beyond one’s cultural template and thinking for oneself rather than letting one’s culture think for them, humans can be truly free and escape being participants or victims in unfortunate events.

With Greatest Affection Sarah, I remain,

The Silver Dragon

“I can’t believe he said that about cowboys!”
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Posts: 79 | From: Baja & Xian Xiao | Registered: Dec 2005   

[Sarah]

Volitzer

Member
Member # 245

Rate Member   posted 04-18-2006 11:39 PM                       
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[  (sucking sound...)]

     
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Posts: 8243 | From: Jacksonville, Florida | Registered: Oct 2000   

[Sarah]

Volitzer

Member
Member # 245

Rate Member   posted 04-18-2006 11:49 PM                       
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quote:
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Originally posted by Brooke:
Better give that kiss back to SD, Andrew. You're better than Volitzer, but you haven't done anything to earn one yet!


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BETTER THAN VOLITZER!!!  Baby I'm the best. 

If guys who are full of BS get kisses from you I don't think any normal guy would want to get one from you if they knew of your nature. (  <hurl>)
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Posts: 8243 | From: Jacksonville, Florida | Registered: Oct 2000   

[Sarah]

Volitzer

Member
Member # 245

Rate Member   posted 04-18-2006 11:52 PM                       
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quote:
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Originally posted by Andrew Waters:
Better give that kiss back to SD, Andrew. You're better than Volitzer, but you haven't done anything to earn one yet! 
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Kissing a whitewashed tomb comes to mind.   
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Posts: 8243 | From: Jacksonville, Florida | Registered: Oct 2000   

[Sarah]

The Return of the Silver Dragon

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Member # 2875

Member Rated:
   posted 04-19-2006 08:10 AM                   
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Dear Mr. Volitzer,

Allow me to introduce myself:

Pteranadon argentum sagiensis of Xian Xiao presents his regards.

With greatest respect, I would kindly ask you not to post this type of thing on my thread. You are welcome here but we like to keep our discussions at a more formal level but still in the spirit of fellowship and in cheerful spirits.

I do not mean to offend and I hope you can understand.

It would please me if you would be so kind as to edit out what you have posted as it is a little distracting to the important discussion that I am having with my good friend, Sarah, at the moment.

Thank you ever so much and thank you again for understanding.

Sincerest regards,

The Silver Dragon
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Posts: 79 | From: Baja & Xian Xiao | Registered: Dec 2005   

[Sarah]

Brig

Administrator
Member # 802

  posted 04-19-2006 06:09 PM                       
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Yeah, Volitzer, buzz off, I need more syrup for my pancakes. You and I are off "topic?" 
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Posts: 11395 | From: Old Washington, Ohio , USA | Registered: Apr 2002  |

[Sarah]

Sarah

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Member # 2812

Member Rated:
   posted 04-19-2006 08:37 PM                       
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Volitzer, if you value my opinion of you, please do not participate in this thread, or, at the least, continue to add comments that trend towards the inane. This topic should be seen as one reserved for philosophy, not frivolousness. My thanks in advance.

Your friend Sarah

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"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand fail..." - King David, Psalms 137:5

http://www.zwoje-scrolls.com/shoah/index.html

http://www.holocaustchronicle.org/

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Posts: 822 | Registered: Oct 2005  |

[Sarah]

Sarah

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Member # 2812

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   posted 04-19-2006 08:57 PM                       
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quote:
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You may agree or disagree with what I say but this is the very spark that ignites intellectual thought and conversation isn't it!
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Yes, it certainly is, Dragon.

Let me offer my own thoughts as to why people tend to group others together as well as to hate as stridently as they do: fear.

Almost everything that mortals do, in every aspect of their lives is rooted in fear, actually. Some of us actually acknowledge that and have taken measures to control it. The impulse, once acknowledged, is quite capable of being controlled. Once this perception becomes known, almost everything around us makes that much more sense. No doubt many human sacrifices were offered to dragons in days of old. Why did they do this? Out of fear, of course.

Fear is the most primitive and no doubt the first of all human emotions. Christians seem to preach as they do and behave in the manner they do out of fear of being denied an idyllic afterlife. Jews don't place as much emphasis on heaven because we seem to know that good conduct in this world is often it's own best reward.

We come to the Nazis, the self-proclaimed, "Master race." It is no doubt that the Germans had an accomplished culture back in the late 1800's, producing many achievements in music, science, the arts. And yet, that was not enough, it was also important for themselves to consider themselves the first in everything.

Look back over history, and one thing you will find: my people have always been there. Something tells me we always will, no matter how people try and destroy us.

We have born witness to the rise and fall of the greatest empires and also the worst. We have been victims to the Persians, the Egyptians, the Romans, the Crusaders, the Russians, all the way down to the Third Reich and the Arabs. We may be many things to many people, but I also think that we know the truth. Not only are we the first to speak God's word, we also bore witness to who was there in the beginning, and who was not. The Germans were not the first.

It is a sad truth for us humans that people not only tend to hate that which they don't understand, but they also don't like to be told the truth as well.

Sarah

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"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand fail..." - King David, Psalms 137:5

http://www.zwoje-scrolls.com/shoah/index.html

http://www.holocaustchronicle.org/

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Posts: 822 | Registered: Oct 2005 

[Sarah]

 
Brooke

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Member # 2806

Member Rated:
   posted 04-19-2006 10:53 PM                       
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Volitzer, I'll answer you in the Origins of Love topic as you really don't belong here.

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"The most incomprehensible thing about our universe is that it can be comprehended." - Albert Einstein

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Posts: 1102 | Registered: Oct 2005   
 

[Sarah]

Volitzer

Member
Member # 245

Rate Member   posted 04-20-2006 12:37 AM                       
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Don't belong I'm the comic relief here. 

Did I complain when Jade, Brooke, and Jen O'Dell disrupted the Origins of Love topic with their insults and jokes ay my expense???

How much did they actually contribute to that topic???

Go back to it and a 4 appenadgeless amputee could count all the contributions these 3 ladies have made. 
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Posts: 8243 | From: Jacksonville, Florida | Registered: Oct 2000   

[Sarah]

Volitzer

Member
Member # 245

Rate Member   posted 04-20-2006 12:39 AM                       
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quote:
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Originally posted by Sarah:
Volitzer, if you value my opinion of you, please do not participate in this thread, or, at the least, continue to add comments that trend towards the inane. This topic should be seen as one reserved for philosophy, not frivolousness. My thanks in advance.

Your friend Sarah
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You never brought this up in the Origins of Love topic???

I was actually looking forward to learning how women approach love with the female mindset there but all I got was a ton of jokes and insults. Because it happens here now it's bad???   

Okay I'll just read this topic when I need to stick to my diet. Ya know, when I over eat and need to hurl.   

[ 04-20-2006, 12:52 AM: Message edited by: Volitzer ]
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Posts: 8243 | From: Jacksonville, Florida | Registered: Oct 2000   

[Sarah]

 
Volitzer

Member
Member # 245

Rate Member   posted 04-20-2006 12:57 AM                       
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quote:
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Originally posted by Sarah:

Look back over history, and one thing you will find: my people have always been there. Something tells me we always will, no matter how people try and destroy us.


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Given the pluralistic nature of NY the only time I've ever seen people say anything bad about Jewish people is when the have the "fair-trade" ethic of a Chi-Commie. Other than that we all blend very well. 
 

[Sarah]

The Return of the Silver Dragon

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Member # 2875

Member Rated:
   posted 04-24-2006 08:50 AM                   
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Good Morning My Good, Kind and Beautiful Friend,

Indeed my love, Fear is a strong motivator. But one can still exhibit Courage while experiencing Fear. Courage is Fear’s greatest salve. Courage is contagious. And courage gives strength and hope to the weak. You are very Courageous.

And if you are a student of economics, as I am, Fear’s partner and co-conspirator is Greed. Greed and I are close friends. Poor old Greed. He is the most misunderstood of characters, always painted with the bad brush and never given any credit for anything.

Sarah, you said “Look back over history, and one thing you will find: my people have always been there. Something tells me we always will, no matter how people try and destroy us.”

Every living Soul on this planet is here because their people have always been here. Everyone here now is here because their people struggled to survive. All humans stand upon the shoulders of their ancestors. At the same time, the past behaviours or events of one’s tribe of affiliation is ultimately irrelevant. The only thing that matters is how one conducts oneself in the here and now and in the future.

As I said in my previous post. It is dangerous to place oneself too strongly within a chosen cultural template. One run’s the great risk of letting one’s culture doing their thinking rather than thinking for oneself. Oh but would this world be a greater place but were this not more true.

Truth is what is believed.

The Silver Dragon

“The Silver Dragon’s a friggin’ idiot.” – Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
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Posts: 79 | From: Baja & Xian Xiao | Registered: Dec 2005   

[Sarah]

Sarah

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Member # 2812

Member Rated:
   posted 04-24-2006 09:43 PM                       
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Hello Dragon,

Thank you for your compliment, you are courageous as well. And you are certainly right when you say that it is dangerous to place oneself too strongly with a cultural template - in most occasions. I fear in this occaision, one cannot identify strongly enough.

Make no mistake, I don't believe the Jews to be better than any other race, or more skilled or even (as some would have us say) that we are better than all others. We are not. I am no better than anyone else. However, others must, at times, be reminded, that they are no better than me as well.

I have been asked often in another thread, "what makes a Jew?" My answer to that person is, that my definition is more liberal than most, and yet I would not go into any detail.

Because I happen to like you, I shall go into detail: anyone who identifies with human suffering is, in my words, a Jew. Anyone who witnessed the crimes of the Holocaust and acknoweledges that they happened, rather than look for ways to explain them away, can become a Jew. Anyone who identifies with the plight of the Jewish people and realizes that we have endured our share of suffering, that we are far from a perfect people, and yet we have done the best we can in this world, can become a Jew.

Well, as I said, my definition is more liberal than most, and admittedly the older relatives in my family would disagree with me, but there it is. I think, though, that people should not dwell too closely on ethnicity, though, as they all dwell on it in the wrong way. Suffice it to say, for their purposes, we are all part of the same human family, each of us, no better, nor no worse than the other.

But I fear I may have made this topic a bit too serious for your tastes, so perhaps I'll just leave this idea alone for now. Yet, bear this in mind: we are what our lives make us, and in ourselves, we carry on the memory of all those who came before.

Sarah

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"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand fail..." - King David, Psalms 137:5

http://www.zwoje-scrolls.com/shoah/index.html

http://www.holocaustchronicle.org/

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Posts: 822 | Registered: Oct 2005 

[Sarah]

The Return of the Silver Dragon

Member
Member # 2875

Member Rated:
   posted 04-25-2006 03:08 PM                   
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My Dearest Beautiful Friend,

Too serious for my tastes? What do you take this dragon for? An old softie? Well…..perhaps! Damn…you have profound insight!

Actually, it is a little bit of a challenge debating you because I too like you very much as well. Nay…I am completely smitten and besotted with you! It is like inflicting pain upon a kitten. Very difficult thing to do yet I know you are as tough as nails my Spartan one.

But I would love to continue the debate with you my dearest. And I shall raise the stakes a little and ultimately present a challenge to you and humankind. You shall see that discussing difficult subjects me is still worthwhile.
.
The Phillistines have fought just as many enemies and have suffered a great deal of persecution. They have also suffered from very bad public relations owing to the perspective offered in the Old Testament, followed in turn, until recently I believe, by western interpretations of the events of the Crusades.

What do you say to this?

And another challenge for you. Could you ever become a Muslim assuming that you would apply the same sensible liberal views that you apply to Judaism.

And if so, like Einstein’s fruitless quest, and many after him, do you think there is a unifying set of principles that could bridge the gap between liberal/moderate Jews and Muslims (and Christians for that matter.)

Your Loving and Beloved Dragon,

The Silver Dragon

FIGAH = I + J + C
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Posts: 79 | From: Baja & Xian Xiao | Registered: Dec 2