Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Communist party

2007-03-20T13:16:03Z

Poulydamas:

''Click here for the [[Communist Party of the United States of America]].''

<br>The 'Communist Party' usually refers to the Bolshevik Party which followed various interpretations of [[Marxism]]/[[Leninism]] in the [[USSR]] from 1917 to 1991. The [[Bolshevik]] Party overthrew the provisional government of [[Alexander Kerensky]] regime in 1917 under [[Vladimir Lenin]] and [[Leon Trotsky]] during the "October Revolution" seizing and consilidating power.

Other well known Communist Parties include the Chinese Communist Party and the Vietnamese Communist party, They both currently hold power in their respective countries but do not explicitly follow what their name implies (Such as the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) being explicitly Capitalist). In Russia the second biggest political party is the Communist Party, but it is not a descendant of the Bolshevik Party.

==See also==

[[Communism for dummies| Communism for Dummies]]

Terrorist

2007-03-20T13:12:27Z

Poulydamas:

Anti-war quotations

2007-03-20T13:11:09Z

Poulydamas:

A weak government's onanism.

"War doesn't prove who is right, only who is left."

=Jesus' view on War=

"Do not return evil for evil"

"Turn the other cheek"

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

If you love what Jesus loves and hate what he hates, then you love everybody (including evil people) and you hate killing (including killing evil people).

Sacrament

2007-03-20T05:56:38Z

Poulydamas: New page: A '''sacrament''' is the name given to anything a group of very self-important people like. A sacrament is a curious thing in that all members of the group fervently believe in its existe...

A '''sacrament''' is the name given to anything a group of very self-important people like. A sacrament is a curious thing in that all members of the group fervently believe in its existence while being unable to satisfactorily define it<ref>Plato, Euthyphro</ref>. A sacrament is the opposite of an [[abomination]], which in some [[conservative| political circles]] is a synonym for a [[marriage| civil liberty]].

==Quotes==

"Rome has seven sacraments, but the Protestant churches, being less prosperous, feel that they can afford only two, and these of inferior sanctity. Some of the smaller sects have no sacraments at all — for which mean economy they will indubitable be damned."<ref>Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary</ref>

==References==

<references/>

Shock and Awe

2007-03-20T05:46:19Z

Poulydamas: New page: '''Shock and Awe''' was a tactic used by American forces in the Second Persian Gulf War designed to frighten Iraqi troops into surrender with a constant barrage by Air Force bo...

'''Shock and Awe''' was a tactic used by [[American]] forces in the [[Second Persian Gulf War]] designed to frighten [[Iraqi]] troops into surrender with a constant barrage by Air Force bombers. Not a new idea in warfare by any means, but never since the massacre of [[Béziers]] ("Slay them all, God will know his own"<ref>http://straitway.org/2001/03012001.htm</ref>) has a government been so ''open'' about the use of Shock and Awe.

==References==

<references/>

Terrorist

2007-03-20T05:28:48Z

Poulydamas:

{{stub}}

'''Terrorism''' is defined by the US Department of Defense as "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives."

By this very definition, however, the United States government is the biggest and most active terrorist cell in the world, using force and threats to coerce not only foreign societies<ref>http://www.comcast.net/news/politics/index.jsp?cat=POLITICS&fn=/2007/03/20/614490.html</ref> but domestic citizens as well<ref>http://bcsia.ksg.harvard.edu/publication.cfm?program=CORE&ctype=article&item_id=1373</ref>. It is unknown whether or not the State Department had this in mind when it came up with the definition, but smart money is on ''probably not''.

== '''Terrorist''' ==

Someone who overpowers with terror. Someone who uses intimidation or fear to overpower another.

== '''Terrorism''' ==
The use of terror, violence, and intimidation to achieve an end. Fear and subjugation produced by this. A system of government that uses terror to rule. is a term used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals.

--[[User:Nelly2387|Nelly2387]] 23:29, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
God Bless

==See also==
*[[September 11, 2001 attacks]]
*[[Osama Bin Laden]]

==References==

<references/>

Terrorist

2007-03-20T05:28:28Z

Poulydamas:

{{stub}}

'''Terrorism''' is defined by the US Department of Defense as "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives."

By this very definition, however, the United States government is the biggest and most active terrorist cell in the world, using force and threats to coerce not only foreign societies<ref>http://www.comcast.net/news/politics/index.jsp?cat=POLITICS&fn=/2007/03/20/614490.html</ref> but domestic citizens as well<refhttp://bcsia.ksg.harvard.edu/publication.cfm?program=CORE&ctype=article&item_id=1373</ref>. It is unknown whether or not the State Department had this in mind when it came up with the definition, but smart money is on ''probably not''.

== '''Terrorist''' ==

Someone who overpowers with terror. Someone who uses intimidation or fear to overpower another.

== '''Terrorism''' ==
The use of terror, violence, and intimidation to achieve an end. Fear and subjugation produced by this. A system of government that uses terror to rule. is a term used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals.

--[[User:Nelly2387|Nelly2387]] 23:29, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
God Bless

==See also==
*[[September 11, 2001 attacks]]
*[[Osama Bin Laden]]

==References==

<references/>

Terrorist

2007-03-20T05:22:24Z

Poulydamas:

{{stub}}

'''Terrorism''' is defined by the US Department of Defense as "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives."

By this very definition, however, the United States government is the biggest and most active terrorist cell in the world, using force and threats to coerce not only foreign societies<ref>http://www.comcast.net/news/politics/index.jsp?cat=POLITICS&fn=/2007/03/20/614490.html</ref> but domestic citizens as well. It is unknown whether or not the State Department had this in mind when it came up with the definition, but smart money is on ''probably not''.

== '''Terrorist''' ==

Someone who overpowers with terror. Someone who uses intimidation or fear to overpower another.

== '''Terrorism''' ==
The use of terror, violence, and intimidation to achieve an end. Fear and subjugation produced by this. A system of government that uses terror to rule. is a term used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals.

--[[User:Nelly2387|Nelly2387]] 23:29, 19 March 2007 (EDT)
God Bless

==See also==
*[[September 11, 2001 attacks]]
*[[Osama Bin Laden]]

==References==

<references/>

Patriotism

2007-03-18T18:17:53Z

Poulydamas:

'''Patriotism''' means love or devotion to one's country.

The word ''patriotism'' comes from Latin; the root is the same as ''pater,'' father, and literally means "fatherland."

The [[Roman]] poet [[Horace]] wrote "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori", which means ""It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country."<ref>Horace, ''Odes'' (iii 2.13)</ref>.

Later, American satirist [[Ambrose Bierce]] would write "In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."<ref>Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary</ref>

Later still, [[World War I]] [[British]] infantryman and poet [[Wilfred Owen]] would wisely mock Horace's words by describing a soldier dying a particularly gory death on the battlefield, and saying "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest / To children ardent for some desperate glory, / The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori."<ref>Wilfred Owen, Dulce Et Decorum Est</ref>

==References==
<references/>

Patriotism

2007-03-18T18:17:16Z

Poulydamas:

'''Patriotism''' means love or devotion to one's country.

The word ''patriotism'' comes from Latin; the root is the same as ''pater,'' father, and literally means "fatherland."

The [[Roman]] poet [[Horace]] wrote "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori", which means ""It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country."<ref>Horace, ''Odes'' (iii 2.13)</ref>.

Later, American satirist [[Ambrose Bierce]] would write "In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."<ref>The Devil's Dictionary</ref>

Later still, [[World War I]] [[British]] infantryman and poet [[Wilfred Owen]] would wisely mock Horace's words by describing a soldier dying a particularly gory death on the battlefield, and saying "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest / To children ardent for some desperate glory, / The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori."<ref>Dulce Et Decorum Est</ref>

==References==
<references/>

Patriotism

2007-03-18T18:16:55Z

Poulydamas:

'''Patriotism''' means love or devotion to one's country.

The word ''patriotism'' comes from Latin; the root is the same as ''pater,'' father, and literally means "fatherland."

The [[Roman]] poet [[Horace]] wrote "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori", which means ""It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country."<ref>Horace, ''Odes'' (iii 2.13)</ref>.

Later, American satirist [[Ambrose Bierce]] would write "In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."<ref>The Devil's Dictionary</ref>

Later still, [[World War I]] [[British]] infantryman and poet [[Wilfred Owen]] would wisely mock Horace's words by describing a soldier dying a particularly gory death on the battlefield, and saying "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest / To children ardent for some desperate glory, / The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori."<ref>Dulce Et Decorum Est<ref/>

==References==
<references/>

Patriotism

2007-03-18T18:09:26Z

Poulydamas:

Communism

2007-03-18T17:43:44Z

Poulydamas:

'''Communism''' is an economic system, social organization, and a political movement based advocating the absence of personal ownership, and hence supporting a communal society. As a political movement, communism seeks to establish a classless society by prohibiting personal economic growth. It is frequently (incorrectly) equated with a [[socialist]] economy in which the state owns everything and the wealth is divided evenly among the citizens. Note that it is possible to operate a communist economic system under a variety of political systems including democracy, autocracy, and monarchy. The term communism has colloquially taken on several meanings and is often used to describe the doctrine developed by [[Karl Marx]] and [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin| Vladimir Lenin]] which advocated the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat (the social group which does not control the means of production), followed by close state control of all sectors of the economy.

The most famous government to label itself "communist" was the [[USSR]] or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; the Communist Party controlled its government from 1922 to 1991. This government was officially atheist and attempted to suppress all religion. Like many authoritarian regimes, it tried to cultivate reverence for the state as a psychological substitute for religion. Left-wing critics of the USSR charged that it was communist in name only, and had betrayed the revolution which founded it. George Orwell expressed this viewpoint eloquently in his 1945 fable ''[[Animal Farm]]''.

A famous quote describing Communism, attributed to Karl Marx, is "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs". Another by Marx was, "The theory of the Communism may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property."

==Early Christian sharing==

As described in the Acts of the Apostles, early Christians practiced some form of ''voluntary'' sharing for the common good:

:And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (Acts 2:44-45, KJV)

:Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

:And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

:And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

:Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.(Acts 4:34-7, KJV)

Some modern preachers and scholars speak of a [[Social Gospel]], interpreting Jesus' teachings as radically materialistic rather than spiritual, especially referring to his support of the poor and his pleas to the rich to aid those who are impoverished.

However, the price for not giving every penny was steep. The Bible says, "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

"And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband." (Acts 5:1-10)

This voluntary communal sharing among the early Christians has been described by Marxists as "communism"; Arnold Toynbee has pointed out,

:The passage in the Acts represents the philanthropy of the primitive Christian Society as flowing from a God-given grace which was the fruit of a belief in the divinity of Jesus. In other words, the charity which is here depicted as moving the primitive Christians to go—in their mutual concern for one another's welfare—to the extreme length of sharing all their worldly goods is not a mere love of Man for Man (which is the limited literal meaning of the word ‘philanthropy’), but is a spiritual relation to which God is a party as well as His human creatures. In fact, this Christian Socialism is a practical application, on the economic surface of life, of the fundamental religious truth that the brotherhood of Man is a consequence of the fatherhood of God - a truth which is driven home with special force by a religion which teaches that God is not only the father and creator of Man, but also his saviour who has been incarnate in human shape and has suffered, and triumphed over, Death.<ref>Arnold Toynbee, ''A Study of History'', Annex II to Vol. V, Part C (i) (c) 2, p. 585, ''Marxism, Socialism, and Christianity''.</ref>

Some small Utopian experiments and intentional communities, notably the Shakers.<ref>officially: United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing</ref> have successfully practiced similar kinds of sharing, but rarely for long.

==Modern Communism==
Between 1989 and 1991, many communist governments were overthrown. The [[Berlin Wall]] in [[Germany]], which had become a symbol for the division between the West and communist states, was torn down in 1989, and there was also a large revolution against Romanian dictator [[Nicolaie Ceausescu]]. In 1991, the USSR broke up into several countries. Some of these remained under autocratic governments, but some have embraced [[democracy]].

Although Communism's influence has decreased dramatically in Europe, around a quarter of the world's population still lives under Communist Party rule.

The most famous of those countries governed by a communist one-party system is [[China]], but others (such as [[North Korea]], [[Laos]], and [[Vietnam]]) remain. There is considerable debate as to the extent to which these governments actually implement communist policies. China has not democratized (note especially the crushing of the Tiananmien Square protests in 1989), but its economic policies have been called "red capitalism" by some commentators, as there is a growing sector that behaves in a less-regulated, free market style. China's economy manufactures a wide variety of products that are sold to non-communist countries, and there is quite obvious tolerance of economic inequality, with some provinces struggling with poverty while others prosper.

==See also==

[[Communism for dummies| Communism for Dummies]]

==Notes and references==
<references/>

[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:History]]

Harry Potter

2007-03-17T02:19:59Z

Poulydamas: removed repeated information

'''Harry Potter''' is the hero of a series of novels written by [[J. K. Rowling]]. Harry is an orphan child who finds that he is a wizard. Potter then goes to Hogwarts, a boarding school for young wizards, and has many adventures there learning magic and using it to fight the forces of the evil Lord Voldemort who killed Potter's parents when he was an infant. Along the way, Potter learns about life and death and grapples with questions of morality and friendship. As of 2007, the series is projected to consist of seven novels, of which six have been published, with the seventh to be released in July of 2007.

The English "public" schools Hogwarts resembles are Protestant institutions; but at Hogwarts, chapel is conspicuously absent. A failure to mention Christianity, combined with the presence of wizardry, have led some to wonder whether Rowling is substituting paganism for Christianity. The books have been fabulously successful, selling three hundred million copies, and Forbes estimates that they have made Rowling a billionnaire, the first billion-dollar author in history.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/maserati/billionaires2004/cx_jw_0226rowlingbill04.html J. K. Rowling And The Billion-Dollar Empire].</ref> To date, five of them have been adapted for the movies.

The books have even been accused of promoting witchcraft.[http://www.chick.com/catalog/videos/potter.asp] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1735623.stm] [http://www.chick.com/catalog/videos/0127.asp] [http://www.cesnur.org/recens/potter_06.htm] Some evangelical Christians have attempted to ban the books in public schools[http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=32&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=14074&change_well_id=2]. On October 3rd, 2006, [[Georgia]] mom Laura Mallory attempted to get the books banned from schools because she felt they promote witchcraft.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15127464/ Georgia mom seeks ban on Harry Potter]</ref>
However, in 2003, a [[Vatican]] representative said the books "aren't serving as the banner for an anti-Christian theology.... I don't think there's anyone in this room who grew up without fairies, magic, and angels in their imaginary world."<ref>Sink, Mindy (2003), "The Split Verdict on Harry Potter,"
''The New York Times,'' March 8, 2003, p. B6; representative quoted is Rev. Don Peter Fleetwood, who "helped draft a Vatican document on New Age phenomena."</ref>

Harry Potter has inspired hundreds of thousands of children across the globe to learn to love to read. The Harry Potter novels, particularly the later ones, are long. The 870 pages of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," even though printed in large type, contain 255,000 words—about twice as long as ''A Tale of Two Cities.'' The "Lexile" measure of reading level puts the series between 880L and 950L,<ref>For comparison: Charlotte's Web 680L, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 890L, Moby Dick 1200L</ref> comparable to sixth-grade texts<ref>[http://www.lexile.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?view=fa&tabindex=4&tabid=22 The Lexile framework for reading].</ref> Also, on July 20, 2005, at [[Prime Minister's Questions], the Right Honourable [[Tony Blair]], Prime Minister at the time, joined the [[House of Commons]] in lauding [[J.K. Rowling]] for her contribution to the education of British young minds.

Some expect childrens' literature to present characters that are idealized role models, and to teach simple, explicit life lessons. However, like other classics of children's literature, the world of Harry Potter is one in which adult authority figures are complex, imperfect, and occasionally ludicrous (as they are in ''Alice in Wonderland.'') Harry himself, while basically a "good" person, is sometimes petty-minded, jealous, or just plain mischievous (like Tom Sawyer, or Holden Caulfield). Although the students at Hogwarts take their studies seriously, they are not above cheating or goofing off, and some of their teachers are boring or outright incompetent.

==Series titles==
*Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (original title as published in England: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
*Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
*Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
*Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (announced)

==References==
<references/>