Thanks David, I try as best as I can to learn from the life lessons I see, live, read about. I don't hate anyone, as I know if I would hate, I should hate myself first. With UOG I wish he would realize, in order to safe others, he need to save himself first. I feel sad reading his writings and I can feel his pain.

I have come to realize, we are all one. If we don't care, we will end up suffering in some sort of way. Our paths were already set. I am just doing my job in my purpose with this gifted life.

I am not a saint, I am a sinner. I am not perfect. I told my kids today after reading the response I received from my irresponsible lashing, I said if you want to complain about each other(sibling rivalry), start with I. I did something wrong. I am to blame.

:) Thank you for the lessons.. it never ends..

I could vouch that the ratio of Australian travelers who actually show respect to the cultures they visit are very low.

In Thailand, people were impressed that I was NOT a sex tourist, behaved myself, was happy to share a conversation, or even asked to share a (soft)drink. Of course, being approached by a loud obnoxious git who won't likely handle his liquor but intends to take it anyway would probably get a polite no in response.
That alone says something.

Also, people who assume that the locals simply dont like whites- not true- they only dislike Australians. Most people along south-east Asia are quite happy to meet people from Germany or Scandanavia- because these tourists are usually more polite and respectful.

Most Australians who travel seem to be looking for cheap stuff to hoard, and distance from people they would care to be judged by for bad behavior so they can let loose.

Anyway, my own cultural tolerance here varies- I don't really care if people speak different languages (although this annoys most Australians it seems)- I however have no tolerance for people that don't want to obey road rules, or carry some kind prejudice or religious fundamentalism with them.

In a way, it is a two-way street. I would obviously demand this respect for myself in Australia, and I would bloody well demand Australians not act like louts in someone else's country- aside from making us look bad, it's simply the right thing to do.

Hence why I never feel sorry for Aussies that get busted overseas.

"Unfortunately Christianity got off to a bad start. It divided humanity."

Christianity started on the Jewish foundation, where division already existed, then tried to improve on it.

"He who is not with me is against me" is a statement of fact, not a call for action. What then about: "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also"? Is that too an expression of intolerance?

"Can we live and let live?"

No, but if we are realy keen on respecting others' choices, then we can certainly and under all circumstances "let live". Whether or not we subsequently also live is not up to us - but hey, this is the case anyway.

How does 'live and let live' feed into the social contract which requires 'mutual obligation? on the part of the state and the individual?

"How does 'live and let live' feed into the social contract which requires 'mutual obligation? on the part of the state and the individual?"

A social contract? What contract?

When one feels strong enough to grab theirs at the expense of others, one common bullying technique is to refer to some fictitious "social contract" or a "mutual obligation". Somehow, the same people 'forget' to mention such contract/obligation when theirs is the lower hand.

Fact is, no such contract was ever signed or otherwise agreed upon and in any case, exclamations made under duress do not count either and are not obliging!

As an individual, I have never agreed to any social contract. The only applying mutual obligation is between me and God.

The Canberra Times, 4 December 1986, "The average person can expect to give up three to four years of his or her life working to foot the arms bill, while ever more people suffer from illiteracy, ill health and chronic hunger."

We need new ways of thinking. Charles Olson proclaimed, "What does not change is the will to change." That there can be change, and that there are positive alternatives is evident. We need to find them and take direction.