Well i grew up on the west side and you learn to carry yourself a certain way.You learn how to talk to people a certain way.In short you earn respect and usually you do not become a target.

If i was walking home with or without family, and a person wanted my wallet.They better have a weapon or they are going to have a hard time getting it.If they have a weapon, hey here's my underwear, and whatever else they want.
Different scenario - break into my home at night and i am there you will meet the twins "Smith and Wesson"
Or possibly Winchester.
Once you are in my house you are threatening my family.

I do believe you should know how to handle a weapon though. This is what our heritage is about.Teach your children the importance of being able to defend their lives.Teach them how to hunt, if they want to learn.
All my children can use a weapon properly.It's just a matter of bringing your children up to respect others and their property.Heck watch a store entry door sometime for about 30 minutes and see how many people actually have manners nowadays. You will see a few, not many open a door for an elderly person. I blame this on the parent. Mom and Dad have a huge impact on the way their children will view others. IMHO

The forced passage of mandated healthcare against the will of the American public = united? I don't think so. Yet, the program is so great and Washington won't implement the same healthcare for themselves? I wonder why?

Have you hopped on an airplane, lately, Rod? If not, try taking a flight just for kicks. Let me know how you feel when a TSA agent gropes your body and genitals. You won't feel "united". If we were truly united, these sort of things wouldn't be happening to us. No one can convince me that government mandated lifestyles are part of a democracy (yeah yeah yeah, we're actually a Republic, but who cares?). Go ahead, make our grandchildren slaves to the debt of this ridiculous reform.

I'll respectively agree to disagree with you Rod. 2012 will reveal a whole new version of what "United" really means in America. It's not about waving and flying flags, to show unity, anymore, those days are long gone.

With respect to Mike and his dilemma, I'll say that he and his family need to be in the company of those who look after one another. How many here actually know your neighbors, personally? It's become a rare thing in big cities. People distance themselves because of fear. I know my neighbors to the north and west of me, but the neighbors to my east and south are not interested in being friendly. They prefer to keep a low profile, and don't even respond to a courteous "hello" or "good morning". They are also younger than my neighbors to the west and north, not sure it has anything to do with their indifference, though.

Sadly I can't wait till 2012, cause then you'll see some truth in people. (To many hide behind doors, and play an act for the so called "cool kids" to "fit in") it's been a war zone out here of GD vs. Latin Kings sense I could remember, and probably will continue. However when 2012 hits you'll see friends betraying friends, lies broken, and crap all, cause of what people may think will happen. I don't care if it does, cause you gotta live each day as if it's your last, and show people you love them, cause you'll never know if you'll live till tomorrow. (At least that's what I've learned)

Life is temporary, so the key is to make the best of what you have. A 31 year old friend passed away unexpectedly. He was married 4 months and just found out a few days ago, that his new wife is pregnant.

My big advice? Treat everyone with the love and respect you want! And have fun, while making those around you smile! Life is a good as you make it!

Exactly

I agree PM.
@ Mahvin - Sorry Mahvin i do not fly or cruise anywhere
I do agree however i wouldn't want to be groped by a total stranger.

I can't wait to see the faces of everyone when 2012 comes and goes just like 2k did.
So many people have made so much money off those poor folks that say the sky is falling.
Think of all those people who are going to move in together into missile silo apartments.I wonder what their gonna think when they realize they just blew their life savings?
The 2012 issue is the biggest hoax since global warming - thanks Al Gore for discovering that btw.
I can't believe they actually gave him a Pulitzer for it.
What a scam

I agree, Rod, I don't subscribe to the global warming crap as it is presented. It's just another method of taxation.

As for 2012, I was referring to the vote. LOL. Not the doomsday scenario...

But I think a lot of people will use that to milk even more money off the fearful.

Sigh. More mutterings from an opinionated old fool (aka "Me").

global warming a hoax ?
Sure the simplified version (temperature goes higher ) is ridicolous, because temperature may be also lower ...the reaise is predicted only on global scale locally may be quite frequent the opposite, colder or even much colder...much more rainy or much less rainy

because the changes mainly increase the more extrem phenomenon,very cold, very hot, no rain for mounths balanced by rain so heavy to cause floods

that i believe is hard to deny, i believe in new Orleans people had twice pratical examples , the city was not new to flooding but never was hit twice so hard with such short interval

Well you have to remember also that the astronomy is changing, so the sun may be closer or farther from the Earth than it has been in many years.Also the big earthquake that caused the tsunami actually tilted the Earth by 01 degrees or so.Those things are going to effect our weather.Moon tides and other things.
I just wonder what doomsday scenarios will be thought up after 2012 comes and goes.Space invaders possibly?

lol

Why another invasion? We replaced all natives with our Vega replicants from long,
At the time we even recorded the event with a documentary, title was something as "the invasion of the Body Snatcher",

about the earthlings, we only left David Hicks because is sooo fun, Reptilians of all Galaxies really enjoy his conferences , books and video

,