Warren Buffett donates to the Gates foundation.

[Guitar Toad]

Me thinks it's both. Both share equal blame.
Like two guys in a fight, when asked who started this ruckus, He did it> < No No No he started it. Both guys pointing at each other. But all you saw or heard was the last punch and scream, unfortunately, you didn't see the start.

Have good night and pleasant tomorrow.
GT signing off for the day.

*I knew I shoulda stayed out of this no-win debate. I hate debating. In the end it seems that everyone loses in these threads. They're just plain ugly. But, who knows, maybe one day we'll reach a real breakthrough.*
One day. Someday.

[LesStrat]

I never realized that my children were a smokescreen. All that money and they didn't even exist.

[big_black]

It's all about small steps.

Maybe little by little we can convince your that they're not all so bad.

Just do what is right.

[Rainmaker]

1) Roses are red
2) Violets are blue
3) I like chocolate cake
4) Can you provide facts to prove the above too?

[Luke Duke]

Wow what a hijacking!!!

Obviously with good reason. This place is on the verge of becoming a very uncomfortable place if you are not straight.

I know many gay people.

You have no idea the hell you put these people through. Seriously.

On the contrary it is more comfortable for homosexuals than it has ever been. I personally give no one grief; and I, like you, have quite a few homosexual friends as well.

Luke

[big_black]

On the contrary it is more comfortable for homosexuals than it has ever been. I personally give no one grief; and I, like you, have quite a few homosexual friends as well.

Luke

You don't personally, so I guess it's not happening?

On..the...verge- meaning that if an Amendment passes, yeah, it's not gonna be a very nice place for tha' Gays. Ask your friends how they feel about it.

It's 2006 and we still have people in this country that refuse to beleive all people should be treated equally and fairly. It's hard to beleive sometimes.

[Luke Duke]

You don't personally, so I guess it's not happening?

On..the...verge- meaning that if an Amendment passes, yeah, it's not gonna be a very nice place for tha' Gays. Ask your friends how they feel about it.

It's 2006 and we still have people in this country that refuse to beleive this country should treat all people equally and fairly. It's hard to beleive sometimes.

I can only account for myself, not my wife, not you, not Bill, Stephen, Todd, D!ck, or anyone else.

I once heard someone say that if homosexuals wanted to have a union of some type that's fine, just call it a pod or whatever, because it ain't marriage. I think I spit my drink out on that one. I really think that is how many people feel though. They don't seem to care about the legal end of things, mainly they see it as "not the same".

Will you concede that there is legitimate fear in the slippery slope?

Wow....this thread is hijacked like 10 times over.

Luke

[Guitar Toad]

I agree that investing billions of dollars worth of humanitarian aid into Africa isn't going to solve all the problems in Africa. It may not be enough to help everyone. But, it will help some. I'm glad some are willing to give and not hoard their resources.

[big_black]

I once heard someone say that if homosexuals wanted to have a union of some type that's fine, just call it a pod or whatever, because it ain't marriage. I think I spit my drink out on that one. I really think that is how many people feel though. They don't seem to care about the legal end of things, mainly they see it as "not the same".

I don't know, but if that is the case, it's sad...pretty insulting too.

We have laws and principles here.

Will you concede that there is legitimate fear in the slippery slope?

Slippery slope, how so?

[Luke Duke]

I don't know, but if that is the case, it's sad...pretty insulting too.

We have laws and principles here.

Slippery slope, how so?

By definition marriage has always been a union between a man and a woman. Like green is green or red is red.

I'm sure you think that it is seeing too much black and white in the matter though.

Slippery slope, as in opening the door of marriage between a child with consenting parents signing off for the child to marry an adult. I don't mean teenagers either. You and I both know there are some pretty terrible parents out there who would use that as an excuse to pawn their child off on someone.

Luke

[big_black]

By definition marriage has always been a union between a man and a woman. Like green is green or red is red.

mar·riage (măr'ĭj) pronunciation
n.

1.
1. The legal union of a man and woman as husband and wife.
2. The state of being married; wedlock.
3. A common-law marriage.
4. A union between two persons having the customary but usually not the legal force of marriage: a same-sex marriage.
2. A wedding.
3. A close union: “the most successful marriage of beauty and blood in mainstream comics” (Lloyd Rose).
4. Games. The combination of the king and queen of the same suit, as in pinochle.

Slippery slope, as in opening the door of marriage between a child with consenting parents signing off for the child to marry an adult. I don't mean teenagers either. You and I both know there are some pretty terrible parents out there who would use that as an excuse to pawn their child off on someone.

Wow.

You are equating a homosexual with a pedophile, someone who abuses children?

Wow....I don't know what else to say.

(BTW- that is another smokescreen. It does not apply to this discussion. Children cannot legally consent...so yeah...try again.)

[Luke Duke]

mar·riage (măr'ĭj) pronunciation
n.

1.
1. The legal union of a man and woman as husband and wife.
2. The state of being married; wedlock.
3. A common-law marriage.
4. A union between two persons having the customary but usually not the legal force of marriage: a same-sex marriage.
2. A wedding.
3. A close union: “the most successful marriage of beauty and blood in mainstream comics” (Lloyd Rose).
4. Games. The combination of the king and queen of the same suit, as in pinochle.

I'm not sure what you are trying to say. I'm guessing the crux of the argument is that if it's in Webster's 2006 then it must be the way it is?

Wow.

You are equating a homosexual with a pedophile, someone who abuses children?

Wow....I don't know what else to say.

(BTW- that is another smokescreen. It does not apply to this discussion. Children cannot legally consent...so yeah...try again.)

I am not equating anything. You are putting words in my mouth, in a most offensive way.

I am saying that by changing the fundamental meaning of a word/institution you are opening it up to future change, change that might not be positive.

Did I say the children could consent? I said a parent could sign them over. You could do me the courtesy of reading my posts in their entirety since I pay you that courtesy.

You're absolutley right homosexuality has absolutely NOTHING to do with the discussion the Gates'. I will respectfully bow out of said thread, if you would like to continue this discussion I will be glad to via PM.

Luke

[Fresh_Start]

This thread started out discussing a very successful businessman giving billions to charity.

Two cheers for Warren Buffet! May he drink like an Englishman for the rest of his life and never have a hangover

Chip

[Chaos]

This thread started out discussing a very successful businessman giving billions to charity.

Two cheers for Warren Buffet! May he drink like an Englishman for the rest of his life and never have a hangover

Chip

Thanks for the reminder Chip.

Ha! Who knew what I set in motion when I started this thread.
Please remember to occasionally insert the words “Gates”, “Buffett,” “philanthropy” and “charity” into your comments less the administrators think this discussion has become ‘political’.

Carry on…

[big_black]

Did I say the children could consent? I said a parent could sign them over. You could do me the courtesy of reading my posts in their entirety since I pay you that courtesy.

I did read your post, in its entirety.

A parent cannot just "sign there children away" however they like. I'm not sure what you are talking about. A human has certain rights, and certain situations require consent, regardless of age....things involving sex are one of them. Any group that wishes to push that agenda has to overcome and re-write consent laws first, and I don't see that happening.

Like I said, this is a smokescreen tactic Social Conservatives use because they have no legal basis for an argument.

[big_black]

You are disgusting.

[Skarekrough]

Slippery slope, as in opening the door of marriage between a child with consenting parents signing off for the child to marry an adult. I don't mean teenagers either. You and I both know there are some pretty terrible parents out there who would use that as an excuse to pawn their child off on someone.

Luke

...and at what point did we agree to do away with child protection laws?

Last I checked letting homosexuals marry wouldn't do away with either the task that is called "parenting" nor the laws put in place to protect children.

There is no "slippery slope", a phrase I believe the gun lobby came up with BTW, which speaks droves about those that use it loudly and openly in arguments like this. It's simply making legal standing to consenting ADULTS and has NOTHING to do with religion, the church or God.

[big_black]

Can you explain?

You are saying this child abuser speaks for the nature of all homosexuals?

That is just asinine.

[Skarekrough]

That's really not much of a stretch at all.

Please...you might as well be standing up and stating that the Klu Klux Klan represents the views of all white persons in America.

[Animal]

I am saying that by changing the fundamental meaning of a word/institution you are opening it up to future change, change that might not be positive.

Come on, that's just blatant paranoia.