I think the key message here is the golden rule. If we all obeyed that the world would be a much better place. I believe the US government more than most could do well to remember that.

granma.cu - Pope’s message to the United States: the world needs the hope of peace

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Viva Fidel

If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?

This kind of thing just proves that people who dismiss religion as complete nonsense are being too quick in their dismissal. There's a lot of good things Christianity, and other religions, can offer all of us and things like "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and spreading the meesage of loving one another as brothers and sisters also. The God bit need only be a personal choice.

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Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

Exactly so, there is much i dislike about organised religion, but there are good things too. In this instance i would have to agree with the pope. I only hope the people who are often christian and act in defiance of the golden rule will be influenced by his words.

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Viva Fidel

If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?

Yes, I do disagree with the Pope where he said: "but this hope will not be rewarded without obedience to the law of God."

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Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

Me too, i think obedience to the golden rule is more important. That is a rational conclusion, where as obedience to the law of God is driven by blind faith and often goes against what reason tells us.

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Viva Fidel

If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?

There are some good moral found in religion. As far as the other beliefs it is faith, not fact.

The Pope doesn't get to dictate policy to the United States. He is interfering with American sovereignty and, since the Vatican is a quasi-nation-state, that can be construed as an act of war.

What was it Joe Stalin supposedly said to one of his advisors? "How many divisions does the Pope have?"

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A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.

"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes toward the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

"I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up."

The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."

As usual Joe points to America and not the others who might need this lesson also. Like Russia, A few S. American dictators, many in the different Muslim countries, N. Korea, China and many more lesser known countries.
Joe, you could use a dose of these rules in the Bible. You never give an inch in you pursuit to demean America. And not all here disagree with the Pope or agree with Bush. But you fail to use any of that in your attacks.
Nor do you point the finger in others places beside Israel. Two countries aren't the cause of all the problems that you assign to them.

Other wise a good post... For the link only.

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Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

LoooooooooooooL Chan, Bush will greet the Pope and kiss his hand. All ceremonial! I doubt American will bomb the Vatican. We just allow him his time to speak and then back to business as usual. lol
Thanks for the update on the Pope and his non Army divisional country. Plus you show Stalin's paranoid personality. Which is well documented. Thanks.

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Yea can't keep the words of your great leader.

Prophet Muhammad - “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

Mlurp, why would i talk about any other country here when the pope is only speaking to America ?

__________________
Viva Fidel

If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?