Birthday Parties, Are They Worth The Risk?
A recent study entitled “21st Birthday Drinking: Extremely Extreme” revealed that the vast majority of young Americans consume alcohol on their birthdays. The research, conducted by Dr. Patricia Rutledge of the University of Missouri, found that 83% of 21 year olds get drunk on this day. Doctors also discovered that a rite of passage known as “21 for 21” has lately become popular, further putting our young people at grave risk. According to the rules of “21 for 21,” a person drinks one alcohol beverage for every year of his or her life, thus 21 drinks at your 21st birthday, 22 for your 22nd, etc. This custom is leading to hospitalizations and even deaths across this country. It has also created the widespread crisis of college binge drinking and the possibility of lifelong addiction.
In the past, birthday parties were something held only for children. They were simple affairs, maybe a cake followed by some delightful entertainment that everyone enjoyed. This tradition draws its origins from Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ with prayer and an exchange of gifts. Sadly, the sanctity of Jesus’s own special day is not mirrored in how Americans are choosing to recognize their arrival into this world.
THE BIRTHDAY IN AMERICA: YOUR OWN PRIVATE HOLIDAY
Today, the birthday party has become a vile, offensive crime scene of indulgence where faith and love play no part. They are showcases of the very worst human emotions, cult-like indoctrination ceremonies forcing us into cruel lifestyle choices from which we may never escape. And Alcohol is not the only problem here. Lust, greed and narcissism dance upon the stage while God is crowded out of the room by waiters serving hor’dorves and champagne. Filled with colorful banners, paper hats and sugary foods, Americans celebrate their self-love in these events. They worship the individual at the expense of the community and common sense. They put their own egos in the spotlight, as if they deserve to be rewarded for simply living another year. Ultimately, they mimic and even ridicule the solemn occasion of Jesus’s birth by turning the birthday into an alcohol and sex-fueled version of Christmas.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.” –Psalm 20: 7-8.
Across America, young children have also gotten into the act of abusing their birthdays. Lately they have foregone their interest in traditional and gentle celebratory entertainments like balloon animals or Pin the Tail on the Donkey to rush right to the gift opening. Essentially, our children are using birthday parties to cash in on “friendship” for a mountain of expensive presents, charged to parents’ credit cards and then reciprocated as each attending child in turn has his or her own party, like some giant kiddie pyramid scheme. From video games to that “Sweet 16” automobile, children expect to reap financially from a day that should be about family. In truth, a child’s birthday should be about recognizing one’s parents for their dedicated involvement in your creation, a day when you reflect on the greatest gift of all given to you by the greatest of them all: the gift of Life given you by our Lord God.
Even the elderly can become inflamed by the birthday bug. They envision these days as narcissistic triumphs where large groups dress up and fete their special lives. They come to demand recognition for simply living a long life as if by their own free will, omitting any role that faith had in it. Is God invited to these events? Of course not, he would stand in the way of video montages and laudatory speeches. This is the “me generation” at its very worst.
How can we climb out of this pit of narcissism and alcoholism that has become the birthday party tradition? Maybe we should reflect back on the day of Jesus’s birth. Born on a quiet night with the utmost calm, the infant Jesus wanted nothing and needed nothing. He did not have 21 shots of tequila in that chilly Bethlehem barn, no tribute videos and naked women in cakes, no loud music. Jesus’s birth was not about him. It was about YOU! It was about giving YOU a chance for redemption for your sickest sins. His birthday was about sacrifice. Until we can take Jesus’s special lesson to heart, is there really anything to celebrate? Until we reform the American birthday party away from sex, addiction and excess, do we really have the moral foundation to have birthdays in the first place?
“For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.” –2 Corinthians 1:12.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/drinking-to-extremes-to-celebrate-21/
- Excited
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First. Let the retarded comments commence
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This one is hecka boring.
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Now you hate birthdays! what’s left that you don’t hate. Oh wait, NOTHING!
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you realy are a boreing lonly man that proberly want have a birthday party
of your own becouse you would be the only one there
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“In the past, birthday parties were something held only for children.”
maybe where you lived but not generally.
” This tradition draws its origins from Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ with prayer and an exchange of gifts.”
incorrect. quite a few christians actually opose celebrating birthdays because it’s a pagan tradition.
face it there is no tradition in the world that have origins from christianity…you stole it all.
“Today, the birthday party has become a vile, offensive crime scene of indulgence where faith and love play no part.”
well where is your faith HUH? i have not seen you praise budah lately. oh wait maybe that’s because that’s no what you belive in? so obviously people who do not belive in chistianity does not have the christian faith with them even when at a birthday party. it’s not like they can’t hav ea good time without it. and love? there’s plenty of love. they just don’t show it in a manner you are used to and therefor you don’t understand and it and that = EVIL!!!!111!!!!oneone!!!!elleven!
“They worship the individual at the expense of the community and common sense.”
i’m sorry but how is the comunity hurt? they to is haveing part of the fun dumbass. and common sense…. well you threw that away when you picked up the bible so who are you to talk?
“Lately they have foregone their interest in traditional and gentle celebratory entertainments like balloon animals or Pin the Tail on the Donkey to rush right to the gift opening.”
NOOOO you don’t say that a matirelistic society has turned to be more intrested in the things they can get than the emotional expiriences. this is what capitalism brings fuckhead.
“a day when you reflect on the greatest gift of all given to you by the greatest of them all: the gift of Life given you by our Lord God.”
so the fact that we don’t belive in god doesn’t mean we can skip this step? sure but remeber to praise budah and allah on your birthday too then. just because you don’t belive in them doesn’t mean you get to not thank them aparently.
” They come to demand recognition for simply living a long life as if by their own free will, omitting any role that faith had in it.”
what the hell are you talking about? are you saying that the elderly doesn’t deserve a birthday celebration? yeah fucking nice compasion there man. and again what the fuck does faith have to do with anything? faith is a very personal thing. the christian faith is not needed to have a good life. here’s the thing. everybody have faith. everybody lives by it at all times. most of them do not have the christian faith. but they do have faith. just not yours.
“This is the “me generation” at its very worst.”
actually the worst is when somebody starts goin ” do like me because i’m perfect! love me because i’m awesome! your evil if your not like me and don’t love me” you don’t have to think i’ll think for you because i’m that good” or basicly anything else you normally write.
” Born on a quiet night with the utmost calm, the infant Jesus wanted nothing and needed nothing.”
yet he got gold and myra and other valuable shit.
“He did not have 21 shots of tequila in that chilly Bethlehem barn, no tribute videos and naked women in cakes, no loud music”
find me one case where any of this happened on the day of their birth and i’ll give you a million bucks.
“Jesus’s birth was not about him. It was about YOU! It was about giving YOU a chance for redemption for your sickest sins. His birthday was about sacrifice.”
so my birth was not about me but about you? is that what you are trying to tell me? i’m confused do you have a point?
“Until we reform the American birthday party away from sex, addiction and excess, do we really have the moral foundation to have birthdays in the first place?”
yes we do because most of us are not christians and as such do not use him as a moral foundation to begin with.
oh and you have birthdays no matter what. the question is if you celebrate them. again who are you to tell people how to live their lives if you refuse to listen to others? you are so fucking hypocritical and so fucking arogant saying that you know how we’d enjoy our lives better. feel free to live by your own rules but don’t drag us into it.
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Dear Jazze:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” –2 Timothy 1:7.
1) The tradition of turning a birthday into a present-giving holiday is indeed based on Christmas. If not, it is strikingly similar. That was my point,
2) Have you been to a birthday party lately? You’d be lying if you didn’t agree it’s all about booze and flirting. I find that irresponsible.
3) Yes, our society has become too materialistic. Parties should be about fun, sharing with your friend and family, sitting back and laughing as the clown you’ve hired does his magic tricks. But that’s not the case! Kids just want to rip apart their gifts and that’s it. How terrible.
4) You should believe in God and this site is for those who do. You will someday, I promise.
5) I think nice elderly people deserve birthdays but some get all crazy and demanding and guilt trip you into planning something for them and spending too much on liquor even though you don’t believe in drinking but because she’s your mom you feel obligated. That’s just wrong.
6) Here’s a case where a young man died after his “21 for 21″ birthday drinking:
http://www.examiner.net/news/law/x1306089341/21-shots-drinking-game-kills-Independence-man
Thanks for trying to understand, Jazze. I really do appreciate your hard work and yes, your writing and analytical style is improving! God bless you my young friend.
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“4) You should believe in God and this site is for those who do. You will someday, I promise.”
Stop being so goddamned arrogant! Saying something like “You will someday [believe in god], I promise” is not only arrogant, it’s downright disrespectful. If HE knows that he’s never going to believe in god, you’d better goddamned believe him, not try to convince him that you know him better than he does.
“5) I think nice elderly people deserve birthdays but some get all crazy and demanding and guilt trip you into planning something for them and spending too much on liquor even though you don’t believe in drinking but because she’s your mom you feel obligated. That’s just wrong.”
Wow, someone sounds a little bitter, eh? You’ve got some mommy problems, haven’t you?
“Thanks for trying to understand, Jazze. I really do appreciate your hard work and yes, your writing and analytical style is improving! God bless you my young friend.”
He doesn’t want to be your friend, dude.
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Don’t make fun of my mother. SHe is ten times the women you will ever be. I just wish she partook in my love of Jesus but she’s under the spell of liquor and tv game shows (gambling).
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“Don’t make fun of my mother.”
I was making fun of YOU, not your mother, dipshit.
“SHe is ten times the women you will ever be. I just wish she partook in my love of Jesus but she’s under the spell of liquor and tv game shows (gambling).”
Whatever, dude.
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If by ten times the women, you mean ten times the woman, then yes, but only in weight.
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“1) The tradition of turning a birthday into a present-giving holiday is indeed based on Christmas. If not, it is strikingly similar. That was my point,”
just further prooves your research is shit doesn’t it? the orgin of brithday parties was the pagan ritual of gathering your friends and family on the day of your birth because on that day evil spirits was most likely to take you and you needed them to protect you. and doesn’t change the fact that christmas too is pagan aswell so double loss for you.
“2) Have you been to a birthday party lately? You’d be lying if you didn’t agree it’s all about booze and flirting. I find that irresponsible.”
actually yes i have and i’m going to have my own soon. i have never seen anyone been drunk in 10 years. maybe this is because i don’t drink and don’t hang out with people who do and i firmly belive that if you wanna drink go ahead. do what ever you fucking like with your life just stand up to the consequences of your actions.
“3) Yes, our society has become too materialistic. Parties should be about fun, sharing with your friend and family, sitting back and laughing as the clown you’ve hired does his magic tricks. But that’s not the case! Kids just want to rip apart their gifts and that’s it. How terrible.”
so you aprove of capitalism but not what it brings? hypocrit. you taught kids that material goods are worth more than love so don’t start crying when they live by that belif.
“4) You should believe in God and this site is for those who do. You will someday, I promise. ”
that’s exactly what i won’t do. are you seriosuly saying i should beliove in god for your sake? fuck you. that’s the most arogant i have ever heard how do you keep toping yourself like that? you basicly just said “i’m more importnat than you”. i have a belif system. i’m agonistic. i’ll belive in god the day he talk to me face to face. and come then he better have a damn good excuse for haveing been such a fucking douche. untill then fuck him.
5) I think nice elderly people deserve birthdays but some get all crazy and demanding and guilt trip you into planning something for them and spending too much on liquor even though you don’t believe in drinking but because she’s your mom you feel obligated. That’s just wrong.
6) Here’s a case where a young man died after his “21 for 21″ birthday drinking:
http://www.examiner.net/news/law/x1306089341/21-shots-drinking-game-kills-Independence-man
yeah i never said that’s a good idea. if you can’t diferinciate between “going to a birthday party is dangerous” and “drinking 21 items is bad for you<2 you have the problem. act responsibly. deal with the root of the problem not the symptoms.
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“5) I think nice elderly people deserve birthdays but some get all crazy and demanding and guilt trip you into planning something for them and spending too much on liquor even though you don’t believe in drinking but because she’s your mom you feel obligated. That’s just wrong.”
don’t know why i missed this one.
haveing more mommy isues?
if you don’t want to buy alcohol for your mother know what? too bad she’s your mom and as you said on your own facebook page “you’r allways someone’s child” meaning obviously your mom knows best. shame on you for defying her isn’t that a sin?
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Then why won’t she share with Bible study with me? Anyway, I don’t want to turn this into some diagnosis of me and my parental problems… How is everything in your life Jazze?
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because mommy doesn’t belive in god(or if she does she belives she has been forsaken by him i mean she got you what curse could be worse?) and since mommy is right that proves the bible is wrong. you say it yourself : honor your elders and parents yet you refuse to do it because you disagree with them? hypocrit.
also how is my life the least bit relevant? don’t you you try twist this away.
your mommy siues are extreamly relevant. if you don’t want to have people talk about your mommy isues don’t share them on the internet. we have free speech right? we can make fun of your isues as much as we like.
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“1) The tradition of turning a birthday into a present-giving holiday is indeed based on Christmas. If not, it is strikingly similar. That was my point,”
Jesus’ birth had gift-giving. It was his birthday. Gift-giving has been done since BEFORE the birth of Our Lord Jesus.
“2) Have you been to a birthday party lately? You’d be lying if you didn’t agree it’s all about booze and flirting. I find that irresponsible.”
What birthday parties have YOU been to???? I have never had a party, nor drank. If my friends have a get-together for their birthday, it’s about sharing food, playing board games (we consider ourselves to be extended family), sharing time TOGETHER since sometimes we don’t see each other for months at a time. You would enjoy our get-togethers. There is so much joy for all of us to just be together for a few hours to celebrate the life of someone we care for.
“3) Yes, our society has become too materialistic. Parties should be about fun, sharing with your friend and family, sitting back and laughing as the clown you’ve hired does his magic tricks. But that’s not the case! Kids just want to rip apart their gifts and that’s it. How terrible.”
Never seen a clown at any of the get-togethers. Nor anyone tearing up gifts or expecting a gift. Shoot, I’ve never received a gift. Are you sure you were at a birthday gathering?
“4) You should believe in God and this site is for those who do. You will someday, I promise.”
Just as you will someday not be a pretentious bigot? Unlikely.
“5) I think nice elderly people deserve birthdays but some get all crazy and demanding and guilt trip you into planning something for them and spending too much on liquor even though you don’t believe in drinking but because she’s your mom you feel obligated. That’s just wrong.”
Say what? Granny’s drink??? Actually, the reason older people guilt trip anyone, is to see them for quite possibly the last time. Many children and grandchildren ignore their mother/grandmother and they become lonely. Would YOU want to die alone? A guilt-trip is good. It means you still own a conscience.
“6) Here’s a case where a young man died after his “21 for 21″ birthday drinking:
http://www.examiner.net/news/law/x1306089341/21-shots-drinking-game-kills-Independence-man”
I had a coworker die from drinking himself into a stupor. Alcohol poisoning and drunkeness are definitely an issue. HOWEVER, most of the time, drinking does NOT occur for a person’s birthday. I know I did not drink for my 21st, so many years ago…
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You are a retarded christian cunt
/end rant
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“the vast majority of young Americans consume alcohol on their birthdays.”
No shit, Sherlock.
“a person drinks one alcohol beverage for every year of his or her life, thus 21 drinks at your 21st birthday, 22 for your 22nd, etc. This custom is leading to hospitalizations and even deaths across this country.”
My philosophy is that anyone stupid enough to do that deserves to wind up in the hospital. And if they die, well, we’re just weeding out the stupid people off the face of the earth. I know that sounds harsh, but I lost too much sleep last semester thanks to the drunken antics of the students next door.
“Lust, greed and narcissism dance upon the stage”
Those last two apply to you, Billings.
“while God is crowded out of the room”
As much as I hate alcohol-drinking partiers, you do realize that they have the right to not be religious, right?
“Filled with colorful banners, paper hats and sugary foods”
Sugary foods, eh? Okay, Mr. Chocolate Ice-Cream.
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You wouldn’t say that if you were a mother. Adults need to guide the young to a good life and protect them from vice.
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Billing, you twat. I refuse to believe you are a mother either so don’t fucking think you can lecture people about motherhood. Besides, what’s being a parent got to do with anything?
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Bob, I say that because Claire shows such nonchalance about childhood alcoholism. She doesn’t give a wit about her peers but if they were her children, of course she’d be angry if she caight them drinking. Get it?
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“Bob, I say that because Claire shows such nonchalance about childhood alcoholism.”
Where did I show nonchalance about it? I’m fine with adults who have, say, a glass of wine after dinner every night, but underage drinkers piss me off. It’s foolish, obnoxious, and quite frankly I have lain awake night after night in my dorm room, hoping that the drunk partiers next-door either get alcohol poisoning or fall down the stairs. I know that sounds cruel of me, but I have a hard major that requires sometimes getting up at 5 AM for kennel duty, and the last thing I need is to be kept awake until 2 in the morning by the drunk airheads next-door who think that it’s fun to blast music and scream for no reason at all.
“She doesn’t give a wit about her peers but if they were her children, of course she’d be angry if she caight them drinking. Get it?”
Considering how I don’t like and don’t want kids, you can’t say that.
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Bless you Claire, I am excited we can have a meeting of the minds on this issue.
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yet you refuse to listen to the teachings of your mom?
say itwith me all : FUCKING HYPOCRIT!
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“You wouldn’t say that if you were a mother. Adults need to guide the young to a good life and protect them from vice.”
And Billings, YOU can’t say ANYTHING because you can NEVER be a mother. Also, adults vs mothers is an entirely different sentence. As an adult, ANYONE can help guide youth. So what does being a mother have to do with being an adult and guiding the young? I’ve guided young people to choose better choices when they ask for my advice. I’m not a mother, nor will I ever be. However, that doesn’t leave me, Claire, or anyone else challenged or unable to guide others. And even then, becoming a mother doesn’t necessarily come from the womb. No one should be like lambs to the slaughter in believing that the only way to help is through motherhood, via relations.
Besides that, this is not about children drinking. You only talked about 21 for 21. Where does the children drinking part even come from?
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“This tradition draws its origins from Christmas”, which, in turn, draws its traditions from pagan rituals/culture. Funny, other than guilt the Christians don’t really have any traditions of their own.
If people stop holding children’s birthday parties, Stevie, how ever will you prey on young boys since you’ll no longer be needed as a “children’s party entertainer”?
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“When the kids are at the park I like to go watch them ride their bicycles. Unfortunately, I’m not married so I watch them from a distance to keep parents from getting nervous.”
(Stephenson Billings’ comment on the Focus on the Family facebook page)
I’m considering flagging that comment. Billings is a pedophile and that comment is further evidence of it.
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Claire, you really need to stop obsessing over me. I’m nearly three times your age and I find your behavior questionable.
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“Claire, you really need to stop obsessing over me. I’m nearly three times your age and I find your behavior questionable.”
What does your being nearly three times my age have to do with me trying to discredit your “journalism” and have “To Catch a Predator” hunt your ass down?
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The next thing Billings will hear is:
“Hi, do you know who I am? I’m Chris Hansen with Dateline’s “To Catch a Predator.” Please have a seat.
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The next thing Billings will hear is:
“Hi, do you know who I am? I’m Chris Hansen with Dateline’s ‘To Catch a Predator.’ Please have a seat.”
I would definitely watch that episode.
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“Why are the Jews always ruining everything?”
(Stephenson Billings’ comment on the Focus on the Family facebook link – http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=51405613519&share_id=118907671480357&comments=1#s118907671480357)
Flagged and reported as offensive to individual or group.
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That’s an offhand comment that you’re taking out of context. There’s nothing there, Claire.
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Well, it’s been reported.
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You’re nosy.
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I’m not the one sticking my nose into the sex lives of homosexuals and then writing horrible articles about them.
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Ah, continuing your crusade against all thing fun, I see. Mate, it’s one day of the year. Let them have their fun. If they’re hospitalised because they drink too much then yes, they are complete eejits. That still doesn’t give you the right to tell them how to live their lives.
Jazze is right, by the way. There are no Christian traditions that haven’t been nicked and changed slightly to fit their beliefs. Christmas, in fact, was originally a Pagan holiday celebrating the “Birthday of the Unconquered Sun”
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you know what? it’s gotten old to tell them that the celebration of the birth of their saviour isn’t their tradition.
let’s start explaining that easter is a pagan tradition too(where the fuck did you think the bunny came from?)
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“Bless you Claire, I am excited we can have a meeting of the minds on this issue.”
Congratulations.
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I bet if your boytoy Abe was there you would love Birthdays
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Please don’t post that here. This is a family website.
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“Please don’t post that here. This is a family website.”
Really? I’m sure Abe and Dan would disagree with you, considering how 95% of their articles carry the ridiculous “no women and children” disclaimer.
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Haha I’m just thinking about their reaction when they read something by a woman without realizing it until the end:
“Scandalous!” “Harlot!”
Oh, I’m sorry… Did my opinion hurt your feelings? Did I just troll your sub-intelligent blogs into the ground? xD
Or maybe they are like, “O M G! A woman on the internets! They DO exist!” almost like how online gamers get once they find out one of the best players in their guild is a chick.
Giggity.
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A family website that is full of douchebags?
how could that work?
You are not a good christian sir.
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Another good show!
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I wonder how many people on this site actually know that Christianity originated from Judaism… >_>
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And that Christian holidays are observed on or around pagan holidays
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Scott, each and every Christian understand the Israeli origins of our religion.
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YAY!!!
[img]http://douggoff.com/blogs/media/blogs/new/b-385482-funny_birthday.jpg[/img]
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Thanks to this article I might have to go buy a quart of rye and drink it just to celebrate people like you are irrelevant and aren’t capable of restricting my good time and the ability of some legitimate corporations to generate economic activity.
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Anyways, Jesus obviously wouldn’t have drunk on his birth. You said it yourself:
//a person drinks one alcohol beverage for every year of his or her life//
I’ve always had birthdays and never drunk alcohol, nor my friends; and neither do I expected anything from them.
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Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people think about worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
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