Quote to think about.

[Ronin13]

I think my vagina got bigger after reading the OP.

So you've gone from a cameltoe to a moose knuckle? Sorry had to.
I personally like the Overly Manly Man stuff for quotes:

[Sawin]

Addison Gayle, Jr.

"Power comes not from the barrel of a gun, but from one's awareness of his or her own cultural strength and the unlimited capacity to empathize with, feel for, care, and love one's brothers and sisters"

For the sake of wasting time, let's break this quote down and analyze each part.

"Power comes not from the barrel of a gun" - Well, yes. I can actually agree with that. The power comes from the man with his finger on the trigger, good power or bad. It's his power, not the bullets' and not the guns'. Maybe he's a tyrant or a criminal? Or maybe he's an innocent lawful man, protecting himself and family from that tyrant or criminal? It truly doesn't matter.

"but from one's awareness of...cultural strength" - I think all cultures have strengths and weakness, derived from the community that defines that culture. That being said, right now the USA is sorely lacking any true overarching "culture". Take for instance Japan, who's on the opposite end of the spectrum from us. Japan's culture is very pronounced and fundamental to the identity and portrayal of their country. We in the USA are the epitome of a "melting pot" that some seem to value above all else, but in that pot, the USA has lost touch of what brings us together. We've lost the foundation. I contend we are no longer "together" as a culture and a country. We are a diverse group of many different cultures, from many countries, each trying to stake their own claim on what it means to be American. This does not work. Separation and subversion follows. To regain strength and unity for all Americans, we must work to define that overarching culture that everyone in the USA wishes (and is proud) to be a part of.... What is that and how do we define it? I can't answer that, but I tend to think it's freedom... and we're losing it, one freedom at a time.

"and the unlimited capacity to empathize with, feel for, care, and love one's brothers and sisters" - I'm leaving this together as a complete thought, although it could be divided, I'm sure.... firstly, all aspects of being human are confined by limitations... we do not have the unlimited capacity for anything. Think about that for a minute if you believe an example of unlimited capacity for something exists. Does it really? Under any circumstance? Please reply and convince me... Empathizing with others is very natural, and is far easier toward those we "feel for, care, and love". ie. Family and friends, those we can relate to, our neighbors and colleagues, anyone we have something in common with or recognizable circumstances, that they cannot control... We empathize as civilized people. I believe that is innate. In times of turmoil or emergency, a lot of people still come together to the aid of others. Nevertheless, action from that empathy is sorely lacking. All this being said, with the previously alluded to "separation and subversion" being present, and the complete lack of an overarching culture that we can all be proud of, the typical American does not feel that everyone around them is their "brother and sister", anymore.

[cstone]

For the sake of wasting time, let's break this quote down and analyze each part....

Some of us just enjoy dissecting and analysis

[Ronin13]

"and the unlimited capacity to empathize with, feel for, care, and love one's brothers and sisters" - I'm leaving this together as a complete thought, although it could be divided, I'm sure.... firstly, all aspects of being human are confined by limitations... we do not have the unlimited capacity for anything. Think about that for a minute if you believe an example of unlimited capacity for something exists. Does it really? Under any circumstance? Please reply and convince me... Empathizing with others is very natural, and is far easier toward those we "feel for, care, and love". ie. Family and friends, those we can relate to, our neighbors and colleagues, anyone we have something in common with or recognizable circumstances, that they cannot control... We empathize as civilized people. I believe that is innate. In times of turmoil or emergency, a lot of people still come together to the aid of others. Nevertheless, action from that empathy is sorely lacking. All this being said, with the previously alluded to "separation and subversion" being present, and the complete lack of an overarching culture that we can all be proud of, the typical American does not feel that everyone around them is their "brother and sister", anymore.

I think to expound upon this quote, and to further criticize the Gayle quote, I refer to Ayn Rand's theory of "The Virtue of Selfishness." First, a word of warning, if you know nothing of the Virtue of Selfishness, don't chime in, those who don't know will see "selfishness" in the negative connotation, and that is not what Rand is talking about. In Rand's virtue theory, no person should ever be forced to be charitable, it should only be voluntary, it can only be voluntary. Otherwise, the taking from another and giving to someone less fortunate (by their own doing or otherwise) is nothing short of theft. Rand would see today's welfare issue as being the cornerstone of a loss of liberty and the best cut and dry evidence of government theft of their own people. Yes, it is impossible to have unlimited capacity for anything, but to further drive this idea home empathy cannot be shared unless one is in a position to. This goes with the virtue of selfishness, the key is that one cannot help another if they themselves require help. Action from empathy, care, feelings, or love must be completely voluntary, not required. If I do not wish to care for another person, I am not required to. If I do not wish to love another person, again, there is no obligation to. To force upon people these things and not allowing them to do so voluntarily, is worse than refusal to care, love, feel, or empathize when it is justified.

[waxthis]

[JM Ver. 2.0]

Wanna share?

[sniper7]

wont be much going on in here

[Sawin]

wont be much going on in here

I tried to bring it back to legitimacy didn't I? Just wish the OP would come back to play.

[10mm-man]

I tried to bring it back to legitimacy didn't I? Just wish the OP would come back to play.

Maybe this thread along with his profile should be deleted. Obviously he didn't come to contribute anything of value! Or was that valuable and i missed it?

[Whistler]

I am aware of the strength of the .45 ACP culture, 9x19 mm culture, 5.56x45 mm culture, 7.62x51 mm culture, .357 Magnum culture and many others. My capacity to empathize with those cultures and my brothers and sisters in each of them is limited only by my magazine or cylinder size and the boxes of ammunition I have in storage. At the end of the day, I and all my brethren have true power enabled by our abilities to defend our homes, our families and our beliefs from the defunct self-inflating racist diatribes of dead literary critics.

Hell I thought ^this^ was the end of it. It's a stupid quote because it doesn't really mean anything useful outside it's original context which defines the author's usage of the word "power". "Make Love not War" is just as stupid and easier to remember.