Yikes! I just had a local firefighter come to my door for money.

[Ripley]

I invited her into my home while I got my checkbook in the other room. The TV was on PBS where they were talking about Iraq. When I came back she said "I don't know why they keep saying post-war...our men are still dying."

I said yeah. She told me about a fellow fireman who had been Reserve and had just gotten back from Afghanistan. He saw horrible things...lots of mutilated dead bodies. I said American or Taliban? She said Oh, Taliban but it is horrible what they did to them.

We talked a bit about how the National Guard and Reserves were being abused by this war and how their families (we both know of some) are being put into positions of losing their homes, etc.

Then, boom. She said well, the Bible said this would happen. I said, well, I don't really believe in that theory about Armeghedon (sorry can't spell) but I believe Bush should have told us the truth about his wanting to go in. If it was about finding the anti-Christ, then he should have said so to Congress and the American people instead of lying about WMD.

She said Oh, Saddam is a smart man, he hid them in the sand. I said it was good to kill him if they did. She said no, he is alive and he will rise up and cause the holy war.

I said I hoped her fireman friend got help for his mental anguish from his tour in Afghanistan (he wasn't physically hurt). And we ended up agreeing that the Reservists from this state (Alabama) are being screwed by the government on length of tour, etc.

I gave her a big check for our local firefighters and said good luck.

Bush's first proclamation that we should consider this a "Crusade" has done a real number on people who actually see the government is wrong in what they are doing to the Reserves/Guard, because he played on their Fundie beliefs. So they forgive him.

[FlemingsGhost]

1. I would have sent her on her way, with nothing.

If we are all going to perish in the rapture, anyway, no amount of firefighters are going to save us.

[Ripley]

4. It's my house that will burn down bud.

I tend to think a firehouse is a necessity in a civilized world.

I don't believe in the Rapture and if she does, it doesn't stop her from doing her job now.

[FlemingsGhost]

8. You can still make a contribution. Just not to her directly

You had a perfect opportunity to give this misguided fool something to think about.

[Ripley]

9. The whole conversation was not quoted above.

We chatted a lot about a man we both know who is the father of a soldier killed in Iraq, and more.

I didn't get into the whole conversation because it is personal.

She represents my local volunteer fire department (I live outside city limits in the county) and I have no desire to piss her off.

[FlemingsGhost]

12. Instead she pissed you off.

Why else would you share you frustration?

[Ripley]

16. I am trying to make the point that people are feeling the pain.

Directly from this government's actions. They may like Bush and his "crusade" agenda, but they don't like the reality on the ground.

That is my point.

They will feel this pain and eventually realize they were duped. If they really believed in the Rapture and it didn't happen they should feel screwed.

They are cracking, they don't think it is right what is happening to our Reserves/Guards...they are becoming distrustful of the government. That is a good thing my friend because the goverment is George.

[NNN0LHI]

18. Key words here. "local volunteer fire department"

Translation: They don't have to put your house out if its on fire if they don't want to. Or they could put it out. Just verrrrry slowly. In my town its that same way. And some of the ambulance guys (EMT's) are also volunteer firemen. I would not want to make these people mad ever. They could be the ones who could keep me alive long enough to get to a hospital after a car accident, heart attack, etc. I would have humored the woman as Ripley did too. Discretion truly is the better part of valor. Kind of like the same reason you never do anything to piss off the cook at a restaurant. Yea, you may get a hotter baked potato if you complain. But is it worth those extra few degrees if the cook spits on the damn thing?

Don

[Ripley]

21. Thanks NNNOLHI.

The baked potato was a toss, I assume. ;-)

[Gin]

2. scary............so why try to stop anything if this is ordained by god?

people who take the bible literally scare me.

[Cha]

3. Gawd how depressing.....I would have been spending the time

saying what a phoney jerk bush is...I talked to the owner of the local hardware store today and she told me how "phoney" bush is.

And a young man saw my Dean button today and said "where do I get mine?"

I told him .."you made my day!" :)

[Ripley]

7. She was in my home, so I didn't want to insult her.

I freak out every once in awhile about the fundies around me, but this wasn't one of them. She actually was concerned about the missing firefighters and policeman from our community. We have lost about 20% of them to this war and it has huge repurcussions on our community.

We all agree houses burning down because no one is available is wrong.

[Frances]

11. What part of Alabama do you live in?

I was born and raised in Alabama. I guess with all of the fiscal problems in the state, the firefighters have to raise more money on their own.

[Ripley]

13. Local firefighters have been doing this since 1995

when I moved here. Tuscaloosa County.

[Frances]

15. The volunteer firefighters came to my home

when I lived in Maryland too. I just meant that the fire department is probably more in need of private donations now because of the financial straits of the state governments all over the country.

Are you a Roll Tide person? I went to Auburn, but I no longer get into the rivalry thing.

[calimary]

5. HEY! I thought police and firefighters didn't come to people's doors

soliciting money. Out here, if they say they do, they're rip-off artists. That's a ploy to weasel money out of the unsuspecting and gullible, vulnerable little old ladies. It's quite a racket. I hope your visitor was legit. I can only speak for here in So Cal. Then again, judging from this past Tuesday, I really CAN'T speak for ANYBODY out here...

[Lorien]

6. So, was she for the occupation

or against it? Sounds like a typical fundie attitude;"oh, isn't terrible what's happening-but oh well, my pastor interpreted that this would happen from the Bible-so it's God's will". Get's them out of any feelings of responsibility or regret with ease. :eyes:

[rucky]

10. I was doing some googling...

and saw something on a fundie board. dunno how it relates - i was trying to find some serious discussion among the fundies that GW is a false prophet, but instead...

Re: Anti-Christ bush?

GWB cannot be the Anti-Christ.

(Dan 11:37 KJV) Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

Clearly, the Anti-Christ is gay according to this verse. It also hints that the Anti-Christ is Jewish, not regarding the God of his fathers.

:wtf:

[AP]

14. Man, the crazies need to get stories straight. Remember when Khaddafy....

....was the antichrist?

[Ripley]

17. Who's that girl?

I asked you in another thread if that was Pat Ireland, is it?

[AP]

19. That girl is...

...Elizabeth Edwards. She replied very sweetly to some things I wrote somewhere else, so she has become my new favorite politician.

I can't wait for her to become Senator Edwards.

[Ripley]

22. Well, darn, she looks just like P. Ireland in that photo!

Thanks for clarifying that important woman...good luck Elizabeth!!!

[jiacinto]

20. Well glad that you gave them money

It is sad that our firefighters have to resort to door to door fundraising for their cause.

[Ripley]

23. They do that every year here.

And every year I give them money and praise.

And we are always considered the best country in the world?

Why the f do my firefighters have to knock door-to-door?

Why is our national security threatened? Because half of the firefighters and EMTs and highway patrols have been sent to the ME. My town is seriously lacking fire response...people have even died.

[elfin]

24. Sounds like intimidation

The police organizations (at least that's what they say they are) do it in the Midwest via phone. They badgered my elderly Mom relentlessly. I just say "thank you SO much for the work you do - I've already made my charitable donations for the year" and then hang up.

If they come to my door I will say the same thing , but request they leave any written material. Then check out the organization via BBB or City Hall.

I suspect you were scammed.

[Ripley]

25. I suspect you didn't really read my post.

Funny how you guys choose posts to crash......why?