Should we allow unsavory influences to affect our children?

Did you ever get mad at someone you love? When you're mad you can't see anything good in someone else. Likewise when you're infatuated with someone you can't see anything bad about them. You have a love/hate relationship with the world. You are looking at everyone as if they are either good or evil. If there is a god, and there are reasons to believe there may not be, then he knows what is truth and he wouldn't have just chosen you to be the one who knows all and therefore should judge everyone else. Look deeper into people! You might just see more than you have.

Spence57, you have a valid point, but you did not answer Mike's question.  You, instead, made a judgement about him. 

The poster asked you how do you deal with the "surely madness" you find in people. 

I agree with you Spence that it is childish and futile to judge situations as either good or evil or black or white.  Any intelligent and mature person knows that there are many shades of grey in every person and every situation, but it seems to me that you've done that very thing in the way you responded to MikeBuilder123's question.

 As for me, I do a mental shrug of the shoulders and shake of the head most of the time.  I also turn off the horrible thing called television news.  It's merely entertainment for those of us who need excitement in our lives in order to be what we think is happy.

I always thought that for our country's first 80 or so years, it was slavery that was the ugliest smirch on America. 

As far as unsavory influences on our kids, how about coordinated marketing campaigns to get grade-school girls interested in makeup, fashion, and such things (instead of schoolwork, which is not part of the market economy), in order to open up a previously neglected area of customers who can be marketed to.  

I'm a Leftist.  In fact, I'm about as far Left as one can be.  I may be a borderline anarchist.  And, yet, I do not feel at all that I suffer from, "surly madness."  If I suffer from anything, then it would be rational thinking, objectivity and humanism.  And, if so, then I'm very happy to suffer.  MikeBuilder123, I'm sorry to inform you that your position lacks thorough knowledge about that which you are speaking as well as experience and objectivity.  To address your question categorically:

1) Regarding Communists: How many Communists (or, former Communists) do you know personally?  I would venture your answer to be, "zero."  Because if you did, you would know that, culturally, the peoples of Communist countries are of the highest moral and ethical standing as well as the most conservative.  If you're old enough to remember, during the, "Cold War," the former U.S.S.R. used to refer to the U.S. as, "The Decadent West," and for good reason, I think.  Thinking back to the 1960's, when, "Drugs, Sex & Rock-n-Roll," were what characterized America and represented our country to the rest of the world, how could any other self-respecting country think differently?  Marxism, in it's pure form, is not a bad way to go.  In the U.S., the leading cause of homelessness is catastrophic illness (unpayable medical bills).  Two to three million bankruptcies are filed in the U.S. every year, a third of which are due to catastrophic illness.  And, we call the U.S., "a civilized country?"  There are a legion of other problems caused by Capitalism that space does not permit to write about here.  However, you won't find those sorts of problems in Communist countries.  The problem with Communism as it is known today is that, governmentally, it is corrupt: perhaps even as corrupt as our American Democracy.  However, the Communist people, by and large, are as moral, ethical, conservative and intelligent as they come.  It might benefit you to try to get to know people of other cultures including Communists because, obviously, you have not yet.  You might acquire a broader perspective.  I believe that you will find them the epitome of your ideals implied above.

2) Regarding Atheists, Christians, Persecution, Schools, etc.: Sorry to inform you again that there is no more persecutory religion (or, for that matter, persecutory entity, religious or otherwise) in the history of humankind than Christianity.  In fact, the history of Christianity is a blood bath that makes World War II look like a Sunday picnic.  The Inquisition, the Crusades, the persecution of Anabaptists in Europe, "Witch" Trials, "Witch" burnings, murder, torture, rape, child molestation on a grand scale, post-natal abortion/infanticide on a grand scale (evidence which dates back to before the 12th century), bribery, coercion, extortion, pillaging, bigotry and prejudice (hating Jews because they killed Jesus and blaming women for the entire downfall of mankind), herd mentality, mob mentality, hypocrisy (with a capital, "H," as exemplified by your question), physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse, adultery, persecution, fraud, stealing, seizing and destroying the Library at Alexandria thus rendering the entire population of the Roman Empire ignorant and illiterate, in fact, the most bizarre atrocities ever committed against humankind in the history of the world...  All of these and many, many more are, "attributes," of Christianity.  I'm inclined to kneel down every night beside my bed and thank the Lord Jesus Christ for our American, "Freedom of Religion," and, "Separation of Church and State."  It is my strong opinion that religion has no place, whatsoever, in any public entity including schools: not even the phrase, "...Under God..." should belong in our Pledge of Allegiance.  The moment State and Religion embrace, the result is all of the descriptives I listed above as world history has clearly exemplified and as you, apparently, endorse.  If you wish to instill those, "values," in your own children, then, by all means, send them to parochial schools.  But, I have absolutely stellar children who attend public schools.  Please, PLEASE, leave them out of your Right-wing, fundamentalist, literalist agenda.  I don't want their minds contaminated with such atrocious negativity.  Regarding, "persecution," of Christians, I suppose, "Paybacks are Hell," as they say.

3) Regarding Communists and, "the establishment"..."holding them back:" I presume you are speaking of the Russian Territories (the former Soviet Union).  I feel it is unfair to speak of Russia today in terms of the Communist government it once had.  When the U.S.S.R. disbanded, the country fell into a state of chaos in which organized crime (often called the, Russian Mafia) rose to power and, namely, siezed control of the Russian banking system.  This is unfortunate because, today, in order for governments to accomplish anything in the Russian Territories, they must make deals with those who control the money: criminals.  So, yes, people are somewhat, "oppressed," in the Russian Territories and exhibit the natural symptoms of social oppression to some extent such as public demonstrations, but not because of Communism: rather because of lack of Communism (or any organized government) and the prevalence of organized crime.  With respect to, "Cause and Effect," relating social oppression, specifically, in Russia to Communism is like trying to compare apples and oranges.  It doesn't work.  

China, on the other hand, is a different story.  I feel that names for governments are misnomers to begin with.  In the U.S., we call our government a, "Democracy," which implies, "Freedom."  Yet, how much freedom do we really have (ie. George Bush's so-called, "Patriot Act")?  As I compose this answer, there is a U.S. Government facility the size of three football fields and another one the size of two football fields being erected right next door to Microsoft Headquarters.  The government facilities, in cooperation with Microsoft, will monitor and store every piece of information transmitted and received in the U.S.  How's that for, "Democracy/Freedom," let alone privacy?  It feels more like Communism---"Big Brother Watching us"--- to me.  Conversely, if one were to visit the People's Republic of China today, one would describe the so-called, "Communist," country as more of a Capitalist Democracy similar to the U.S.  It doesn't seem at all, "Communist," as we learn about it in the U.S. to me.  So, Communism ("the establishment"), "holding them back?"  Exactly who said that and in what context?  Can you cite any specific sources for me please?  I'd like to read about it.  

I think I should end here.  With all that I've written, I don't think I've answered your question.  The reason is because, rather than seeing, "Leftists," demonstrating, "surly madness," I see you, MikeBuilder123, apparently a Right Wing Fundamentalist, demonstrating, "surly madness," as well as an, "Unsavory Influence," trying to, "Affect my Children."  Sorry.                        

Frater (Communist) Manifesto, from what planet do you originate?

Leftist genocide is as violent as you are, and now, you come here trying to make genocide seem an attractive option rather than earning a decent living and saving a little money for the future.

Leftist hate and demands for bloody civil war are typical of you leftist hate machines.

That is why your gods, Stalinand Mao, are now properly scorching in the pits of hell for what they did and what you demand.

They will be down there for all eternity, with the rest of you atheist/leftist thugs.

You can keep your leftist threats away from my kids, tyrant!

We, as Americans, need to go the route lain out by the founding fathers. Unfortunately, this means allowing those of that sort of twisted thinking the freedom of expressing themselves. We need to teach our children, and all others that we can-the founding principles of this nation. They're what has made it the haven of liberty and freedom that it's been. Obama and his kind are of the Marxist philosophy, and due to that, we need to be prepared to make a stand at any time. We have the same right of free speech that they have. The only difference is, we have the light of the truth on our side as well. I'm a Christian, yet I don't force anyone to follow the dictates of my conscience. But as a parent, I shouldn't allow anyone else to enforce things upon my children that go outside the bounds of what's really right and wrong. Obama and his minions will find out what seeds they've genuinely sown at the next election. If they try to impinge on any of our God given rights, they're opening a door they won't be able to close......................

Howdy-Hey southern7162.  It appears to me that you read only the first three words of my answer above and then, immediately, went off on your little temper tantrum.  Firstly, I've done none of the things you accuse me of in your answer and comment.  Secondly, you do not know me at all, let alone well enough to level the accusations you've leveled at me.  Speaking of violence, hate machines, blood, war, threats, etc...  It wasn't the Leftists who were in favor of invading Iraq for no good reason.  It was the, "Right-ists."  In reading your answer and comment, I find it difficult to believe that you read my answer at all (other than the first three words).  In reference to your answer and comment, the words of the late Eliphas Levi come to mind, which I'll quote as follows:

"What is a fool?  One who is somewhat more irrational than a dumb animal.  He is a man who wants to run before he can crawl; a man who thinks he has mastered a subject as soon as he had made a little progress in it; a mathematician who looks down his nose at poetry; a poet who condemns mathematics; a painter who says that theology and the Qabalah are stuff and nonsense; an uneducated man who repudiates knowledge without taking the trouble to study it; a man who talks without knowing what he is talking about and makes assertions without certainty.  Fools are the people who kill men of genius...  Folly is a wild beast which has the composure of innocence; it assassinates without remorse.  The fool is the bear in La Fontaine's fable; he breaks his friend's head under a paving stone to whisk away a fly...  The animal is never a fool, because it openly and naturally plays the role of an animal; but man teaches folly to dogs and intelligent donkeys.  The fool is the animal who despises instinct and poses as intelligent...  Progress is a possibility for the animal: it can be broken in, tamed and trained; but it is not a possibility for the fool, because the fool thinks he has nothing to learn.  It is his place to dictate to others and put them right, and so it is impossible to reason with him.  He will laugh you to scorn in saying that what he does not understand is not a meaningful proposition.  'Why don't I understand it, then?,' he asks you, with marvellous impudence.  To tell him it is because he is a fool would only be taken as an insult, so there is nothing you can say in reply.  Everybody else sees it quite clearly, but he will never realize it."

By the way, I originate from the planet, Earth.  From what planet do you originate?