I removed the Current Events forum

LOL Pala! At first I thought I was really getting an error message. Tried again and actually read it! LOL!

Hugs,
Joan

ROTF! That's a good one!!

Good one Pala.

Hehehe! Thanks for the info. I need it. LOL

kell, that does it - you and zanymuse are NEVER going to be permitted to be in the same room with one another :)

Pala, that's a good one. I get those error messages so often, I hit "refresh" a couple times, just out of habit. Guess that means I need to spend more time away from the 'puter, huh?

Kell, you must have been at Calas house with all that worm eating going on http://davesgarden.com/t/365356/ who could forget her yummy 'sketti she served Carol7!

Smiles :)

LOL Pala! Good for you!

Now THAT's cute - and so true~~

While I was surfin the net one night
I stumbled into a really awesome site
The priorty there was gardening
but discussions covered near everything.

Subjects ranged from love to war,
religion, politics and so much more
I agreed with many and dispised a few
But they offered me a different point of view.

With the changes you've made I do regret
I have not found one stop shopping yet.
Some folk discussed ideas and that was fine
while others attacked people and crossed the line.

I suppose tis simpler to remove the forum
than to constantly remind folks of proper decorum.
So I, for one, grieve all we have lost
And hope this ditty won't get me tossed!

Zanymuse aka Brenda

Oh your rhyme is taken to heart
Common ground we share, surely in part
That gardens we love through the seasons
Celebrated on site for all reasons!

But do you see the quest for honesty
When leaders dissemble from policy
And though this seems hard to believe
It's bound to affect us all, you see.

Gardens are still a great refuge
For mind and soul and deed
And prayers for World Peace are medicine
Any forum should surely not jettison.

Zanymuse: Great poem! I've been lurking around here, much as I usually did on the Current Events Forum, and I know most of those who have posted here would like this issue dropped and the forum forgotten, but I feel I've earned at least one posting to this thread.

I'm afraid I might be among the 50% of the people Dave doesn't agree with, but, to his credit, he hasn't censored me or censured me here in the Garden. I always enjoy a lively discussion, always more interesting when there is a difference of opinion, but when the people start attacking each other rather than the topic at hand, it becomes destructive and hurtful. I've seen this done from both sides of the fence, and often I step in with a scathing post of my own, but just before hitting the "Send" button, I consider my audience and how much good I'm going to do, how much "enlightenment" I can offer or expect, and what the repercussions are going to be. Most of the time I just delete my message and move on to another thread or another forum.

The sad truth is that most of the world's problems are unsolvable, and many of our differences will never be spanned. However, if differences of opinion are the stopping point for conversation, then we should have forums called "Liberals" & "Conservatives", "Religious" & "Agnostic", "Rich" & "Poor", and so on. I know Dave would never do this, nor would we want it.

Having said all that, I want to also say that I can understand Pala's frustration. You are not alone in your concerns about war, nor are you alone in your concerns about expressing opinions. I would only offer this consolation. Since the Current Events Forum is gone, I won't have to stop myself from hitting that "Send" button anymore, and I won't be stewing in my own juices because I did not.

Good stuff, and since this is starting to die down, I'll add some helpful links. Let it never be said that I don't provide solutions to problems :)

...

Democrats and liberals go here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/links/pages/Forums_and_Communities/

Repulicans and conservatives go here: http://www.freerepublic.com/

Gardeners, go here: http://davesgarden.com/

:)

dave

I had really come to that decision that it's obvious it should be a moot topic by now, but people keep reading and posting. I really thought I personally was done with this thread---until that neat poem of Zanymuse's was too good not to respond. Choose your addiction, but this site has lots of spots that will hook you in one way or another. I need to find the Davesgarden.com dopelganger site that has the 12-step program for garden website addiction. This site is too interesting darn it. How many forums can suck up your evening?

I've held my tongue, but will say this one thing. Let's say I've opened my house up for people to visit, or even live in for a while. I have a right to have them abide by my rules. I try to make my home welcoming to people and to have reading materials and movies around to interest people. But there are ground rules - after all, it's my house and the folks there are guests. Sometimes my rules may chaffe those who disagree with them, but it is my home, after all. If the people want to smoke, they have to go outside. If they're combative and fight amongst themselves, they're effecting me and my family - the behavior has to be remedied or they must leave. If they want to belittle something I care a great deal about, they can do it elsewhere, out of my earshot. I would, I believe, have a right to maintain whatever atmosphere I wanted in my my own house.

That said, I don't have a problem with Dave running his site as he sees fit. This is not a publically-funded government forum, and it's not a newspaper or radio station which must provide equal time for opposing sides.

Generally, if I disagree with someone, I write them privately or I just keep my lip zipped; most disagreements are fruitless in the end, for each just wants to convince the other, after all.

This message was edited Friday, Nov 8th 4:56 PM

LOL, Dave! Your links were a hoot! Just the laugh I needed!

Pala: I, too, am a Dave's Garden junkie, and I tell myself every day that I'll just peek my head in the door to see what's happening, and the next thing you know, I'm posting to threads, wandering through the PDB, and exploring all the links that are offered. I either need some sort of support group or a cheap housekeeper! If this is the worst addiction any of us have, the whole world is a better place for it!

Dave, thanks for the links. i have only been to two of these
sites, lol.
ms kell, you are so smart. somehow on the brug forum i always thought you were blonde!

But Arlene, remember the pictures she posted of herself on the brug forum? In that, ahhhhhh, swim suit? BLONDE..........NOT. :-)

gee Arlene, I am not quite sure how to take that comment!!! LOL

Where, where?? Pic of Kell in ahh..swim suit?

I love how easily we are all distracted! It's what saves us from getting in more trouble than we do!

ms kell, in the best gracie fashion, your sense of humor!

God I loved Gracie!! I remember those shows. I wonder if they ever show them anymore. Actually I work hard at trying to keep you amused Arlene............ a little laughter is good for what ails you!!!

LOL! Thanks for the links Dave. I already had both of them bookmarked because I like to read both sides before I make a decision on anything. Now I need to locate a place to discuss both sides of the issues with people who are not walking a party line but are seeking understanding of todays issues from many angles without judging the person.

WANTED, A Place where I can find OPEN and FRIENDLY
Debate of ideas and concepts done with RESPECT by all parties involved in an MATURE and NON HOSTILE manner...Yeah, I know....it probably doesn't exist in the real world or in cyber space....but that doesn't make it wrong to wish for it!

My little ditty was not meant to offend but to express my sorrow over the loss of a valued forum. Understanding a loss does not alter the fact that it IS a loss.

Your Inspiration:

Never Forget

Your presence is a gift to the world,
You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be -
Take it one day at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles,
And you'll make it through what comes along.
Within you are so many answers,
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself,
Your dreams are waiting to be realized.
Don't leave your important decisions to chance -
Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying -
The longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously -
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way -
Remember that a lot goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment,
Life's treasures are people... together.

Have health and hope and happiness,
Take the time to wish on a star.
And don't ever forget for even a day...
How very special YOU ALL are !!

The last couple of paragraghs of Voltaire's Candide:


....."You must certainly have a vast estate," said Candide to the Turk.

"I have no more than twenty acres of ground," he replied, "the whole of which I cultivate myself with the help of my children; and our labor keeps off from us three great evils-idleness, vice, and want."

Candide, as he was returning home, made profound reflections on the Turk's discourse.

"This good old man," said he to Pangloss and Martin, "appears to me to have chosen for himself a lot much preferable to that of the six Kings with whom we had the honor to sup."

"Human grandeur," said Pangloss, "is very dangerous, if we believe the testimonies of almost all philosophers; for we find Eglon, King of Moab, was assassinated by Aod; Absalom was hanged by the hair of his head, and run through with three darts; King Nadab, son of Jeroboam, was slain by Baaza; King Ela by Zimri; Okosias by Jehu; Athaliah by Jehoiada; the Kings Jehooiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah, were led into captivity: I need not tell you what was the fate of Croesus, Astyages, Darius, Dionysius of Syracuse, Pyrrhus, Perseus, Hannibal, Jugurtha, Ariovistus, Caesar, Pompey, Nero, Otho, Vitellius, Domitian, Richard II of England, Edward II, Henry VI, Richard Ill, Mary Stuart, Charles I, the three Henrys of France, and the Emperor Henry IV."

"Neither need you tell me," said Candide, "that we must take care of our garden."

"You are in the right," said Pangloss; "for when man was put into the garden of Eden, it was with an intent to dress it; and this proves that man was not born to be idle."

"Work then without disputing," said Martin; "it is the only way to render life supportable."

The little society, one and all, entered into this laudable design and set themselves to exert their different talents. The little piece of ground yielded them a plentiful crop. Cunegund indeed was very ugly, but she became an excellent hand at pastrywork: Pacquette embroidered; the old woman had the care of the linen. There was none, down to Brother Giroflee, but did some service; he was a very good carpenter, and became an honest man. Pangloss used now and then to say to Candide:

"There is a concatenation of all events in the best of possible worlds; for, in short, had you not been kicked out of a fine castle for the love of Miss Cunegund; had you not been put into the Inquisition; had you not traveled over America on foot; had you not run the Baron through the body; and had you not lost all your sheep, which you brought from the good country of El Dorado, you would not have been here to eat preserved citrons and pistachio nuts."

"Excellently observed," answered Candide; "but let us cultivate our garden."

-THE END-


(hint hint ;)

Lophophora ~~~

You are quoting from my favorite book, one which has stood me in good stead my entire adult life. It helps me remember that no matter how tall I feel, I am only just tall enough so that my feet reach the ground when I stand up.

Thank you so much.

Adam.

I'm now under surveillance here. Looks like these days are numbered for me and it's back to weeding in the rain?
"Orgy porgy ford and fun." --Brave New World

Yes, a good quote Lophophora :)

Gee................sounds like I'm really glad I had a short vacation!! Now let's all run outside on this glorious day and get some dirt under our nails!!

"eyes"