If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

george tolhurst — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:02:04 GMT

For all our candor and brash remarks| we all have much to learn. In all fairness I believe that we live in one of the most brainwashed countries in the world.

They who do or will not read have absolutly no advantage over those who cannot read.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

MontSoco — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:07:51 GMT

I choose America, as do many thousands of people each day. Even Malcolm X came back to America after self-exile. For many, there is no better place. That doesn't make it perfect, just best. Yeah, our whole culture of conspicuous and self-indulgent consumption is fouled up; yes we are bound to pay for our errors, as well as for the errors of those we permit to poison our environment. True it sucks to be more sick, ignorant, and guided by liars, than we should be. On the other hand, where you gonna go? Except for a few enlightened and financially secure folk scattered here and there, the rest of the world is worse off. And “Hey!” even in America you and find enlightened and secure people. Travel a little, do some comparison, then decide if you’re gonna knock it.

Now about that fat statue… If Michelangelo were to be commissioned today, the statue would probably not change. I think it likely that the men who commissioned that work of art were rich, fat, gouty, mercenary old pirates that only wished they looked like the statue. Good grief! They had a horrible diet and worse doctors. David, as an ideal, has not changed. (Neither have the old men running things.) So what I’m saying is: The statue was the portrayal of an ideal, not an average. The ideal hasn’t changed… and neither has the average.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

Gail Eisenecker — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:34:55 GMT

I have been an avid ready of Dr. Mercola's newsletters and take his advice to heart. However, I am concerned about his radical comments in this article wherein he blames the government and pharmaceutical companies for the "obesetizing of America". As he points out, is is simply a fact of lack of exercise and unhealthy eating. The consumption of junk food, and sitting in front of TV's and computers and therefore lack of exercise is the reason, not the government. Society today has been blind to these facts and accepting of unhealthy habits.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

Rood — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 23:44:31 GMT

Samurai ...

Proud, yes, but may we assume not totally unaware of American "shortcomings"?

Were the David *that* obese, his penis would all but disappear into folds of fat. The condition is sometimes termed "the inconspicuous penis", which circumstance is fast becoming an American norm, even for infants. See:

cirp.org/.../bergeson

Of course Michelangelo's David appears to be gloriously intact, a condition which has prompted more than one head to turn. We wonder: Weren't all Jewish males circumcised?

Actually, there is reason to suppose that the original King David might well have been intact.

Routine genital mutilation did not become the norm among the Jewish people until long after David's reign ... in fact, not until Jewish priests returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity, around 500 BCE. During their sequestration in (present day) Iraq, the priests instituted the procedure, as one means of distinguishing themselves from their much more sophisticated (and intact) rulers.

Forcing simple Jewish herdsmen and traders to mutilate their infant sons, and pay for the privilege with contributions to the rebuilt Temple, ensured that the Priests would control Jewish society ... in the absence of any dynastic King. The priests then rewrote the Bible to conform to these new rules. It was then that Genesis 17 was slipped into the record, and Abram of the original covenant renamed (see Genesis 15). Who is to say that these priests didn't alter more of the bible, such as 1 Samuel 18:25? We already know that the original request was not for Philistine foreskins, but for Philistine *genitals*, whole and complete. So has the Bible been altered through the ages.

That many Americans continue to observe the commands of these obscure priests, by cruelly mutilating the genitals of their infant sons, stands as testament to another, egregious, American shortcoming of sense and sensibility.

Rood

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

goldeneagle — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 21:26:21 GMT

Each indivdiual has to be responsible for themselves and their children. With all the medical advances and knowledge of what is bad for the body, we have to be smart enough to guide and teach ourselves What is important to us? How do we want to feel? How do we want our childrens' lives to thrive, or not when they leave the nest?

Self disipline is one thing that you can not be taught. You have to feel and act on it for yourself. Don't blame McDonald's or someother fast food. No one is holding a gun to your head pointing you to the drive up window.

I will say though, that medical personal that have seen cancer and emphysema ravage a body and still smoke you are totally out of contact with reality. This is not hate talk, but truth. It is proven that cancer and other diseases are caused by smoking. Since people that don't want to quit, seem it ok to kill others with second-hand smoke and not think anything of it, maybe they should all be lined up in the middle of the street and "taken out". Sounds harsh? If they can kill slowly, we should be able to protect ourselves, our children, and anyone else who has to visit the "healing facility".

Now that I have made this drastic point, I have not smoked in over 27 years. I quit when I became with child. For the love of my child, I quit, not only for my and her health, but I spent the money on something that she would benefit from, not be sicken by. If each individual would show at least respect, but love for another person, we would not have all the diseases, crime and poverty we do now. Thank you.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

readwell — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:45:40 GMT

America is the most successful country in the history of the world. This is not my opinion, but facts repeatedly pointed out by scholars throughout the world for centuries. The reason we have let the corporations produce unethical products that promote unhealthy anxious lifestyles is because we the people, have allowed ethics to be removed from our government and our lives. Ethical capitalism worked for hundreds of years, with plenty of oversight from ethical legislators and direct involvement from the people, but we have erased a great portion of ethics from our society. Virtue and morality are the only things to prevent this. It is not profitable to have a healthy happy populous. Our ills in both mind and body reap trillions upon trillions in profit. We have allowed our country to be turned into a cash cow to keep the cogs of government and business turning. What indeed does a happy healthy well grounded satisfied person need to survive? Very little. We need good food, shelter and warmth, our families and loved ones, and not a whole lot else. We do however fall for the brainwashing that we need all the baggage in our complicated American lives. The more busier and distracted we are with all the useless stuff we strive for, and our work to pay for it all, the less we pay attention to what really goes on around us. We reap what we sow. Its never too late to do something about it, but its up to we the people to take the lead. And we have to educate ourselves and our children, because the powers that be do not want an educated populous. Those who know their rights and where they come from cannot be manipulated by sound bites from talking heads, or be confused by opinion proposed as fact or authority. Come out of the fog of denial. Your college degree could not hold a candle to an 8th grade education from the 1750's. By the time children finished the 8th grade, they ready and able to run for office. Today, we in general don't have a clue for lack of education.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

timmmay — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:07:48 GMT

nurses...... tsk tsk.

overweight nurses are one thing, i think the gaggle of nurses (in uniform) that seem to collect around the front of the hospital and puff on that wonderful ciggy is just as bad.

nice example your setting.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

readwell — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:56:39 GMT

I really like the "VOTE" answer. But the problem is once the vote is cast, you go home and don't get involved in government until next election. Voting is the least of the work required to keep corrupt people on track. Building pipelines of communication to your school board, city councilman, reps, senators, governors, etc and letting them know your outrage on issues that are important to you will go miles farther than your single vote. Fax your rep and senators regularly. Leave messages on the white house switchboard, etc. They need to hear that they are out of touch, and that we are still in charge.

Get involved with like minded individuals and constantly influence government. Its easy with the internet. Vote for people only with morals and character. That matters more than policy.

Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust be men of unexceptionable characters. The public cannot be too curious concerning the character of public men…

Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, Harry Alonzo Cushing, editor (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1907), Vol. III, p. 236-237, to James Warren on November 4, 1775.

Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. … f the next centennial does not find us a great nation… it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.

James Garfield, “A Century of Congress” published in Atlantic, July 1877.

Nanny states don't work. They (the government) don't care for us, we must care for and guide them. Educate yourselves!

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

Eel — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:06:22 GMT

David represents the soul of man, or, his inner potential in symbol. So, you have just made, in choosing that obnoxious image, yourself/us as the *** slobbolo, which is opposite to the truth. Also, it is real bad taste to butcher the image of any fine piece of art to use for any concept other than what it was created for. Like using Silent Night as the soundtract for a horror movie. You're right about all the big guys and institutions that are the source of poisening the people. Count yourself among the freedom fighters for the valuable education of your website, but I'm disappointed in you. The power elite is perhaps chuckling.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

ryree — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:10:22 GMT

Only this time David pulled out his 5 piece from the local McDonalds and hurled a chicken Mcnugget to slay Goliath. Much deadlier I'd say.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

Kaelisabeth — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:19:07 GMT

Sad to think that today, this is the "norm"

...sucks to be American!

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

vitalhealth_203 — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:07:52 GMT

Don't forget individual responsibility....

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

bklynrizz — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:38:23 GMT

It is interesting to note that in the USA the poor people are fat and the rich people are thin. Through out the world it is usually the reverse. Does anybody know what is a normal weight for people? The Army fitness manual states that for my height and age, 6' & 45, I should weigh 203 pounds. I weigh 210.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

milknhoney — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:20:49 GMT

overweight medical staff,

I was also working in the medical field and was amazed at how little the nursing staff knew about nutrition. Most of the nurses I worked with were overweight. We had a break room that had a constant flow of bagels, candy, cookies, pies, carbs etc. I suspect a great deal of the eating was also emotional as the stress level on the unit was so high. With constant staff shortages and such high level of care eating seemed to be a way to cope on the unit. When I started there I had very good eating habits. It got harder and harder to avoid the candy and cookies constantly on the table. So many of the nurses were trying to change their habits and then would backslide. I love my nurses and I tried to help by setting a good example and to bring in healthy alternatives.

re: If Michangelo's David Lived In the US Today

peseta — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:05:38 GMT

Not to mention that 'misspelled' was misspelled. But a nation compelled to say 'The problem is is that...' or 'incentivize' or that Exxon Valdez (pronounced with long ee) 'lightly oiled' the Alaska coast, much like a salad, is too far gone for correction.