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That old saw ("GOD helps those who help themselves") pisses me off to no end, insofar as how the term's taken out of context. Essentially, it means the fella upstairs isn't oblidged to hand you miracles if you're not accountable for your actions. Treat other people like shit, and point fingers elsewhere, the onus is still on you. Every person you snub, step on, or fuck over is akin to personally slapping the boss's face and shitting on his lap. The statement wasn't intended to be a Horatio Algeresque, "get a life, you filthy bum" form of dismissal.
I totally agree and thought the post was disgusting. I don't think it's a good idea to assume that the universe has some personal stake in your survival. That was probably the original point of the cliche, not "God helps those who help themselves, so we don't have to and by the way they're lazy bums" which is both incoherent and selfish.
It was kind of like being on a train and some old bloke's colostomy bag explodes covering a bunch of passengers in shit. You know, kind of sad, horrible and funny all at the same time.
One thing I would have liked to add to either the closed blue thread or the closed grey thread is a reply to those who were saying "Get used to it. This is how most of America thinks." That is just not true. The proof is in the enormous outpouring of donations.
I'm sorry Princess Lara has such a poisonous outlook, but her views are NOT the view of most Americans.
It should have been edited down and not deleted IMO. I don't agree with it, but for someone, this was best of the web. Meanwhile, I'm left with the feeling that self linking is now perfectly fine.
There's nothing like a consistent attitude to censorship editing, and this is nothing like a consistent attitude.
Smart Dalek, so are you basically saying that the correct way to parse "GOD helps those who help themselves" is "God helps those who are themselves helpful"? I'd never thought of that before.
What teece is saying is that instead of individuals taking the initiative to do something for themselves, they should wait around for the Compassionate Cavalry to gallop over the hill and rescue them.
How many more generations will pass before you guys get around to ordering the horses?
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