Saturday, 8 November 2008

My answers to questions that were asked (Part II)

There is a forum in the Internet called AnswerBag in which people ask questions so that others will give them answers they are seeking. What follows are some of my answers I recently gave.


What is Heaven like?

Answered on Oct. 30, 2008

Not to long ago, one of the popes announced that heaven is not in space and that it will be on earth at a time when those that believe in Jesus, will be in His and God's presence and that those who are non believers, will still return after death but not be in the presence of Jesus or God. If anything, this sort of raises the hopes of people who believe in reincarnation, doesn't it?

One of the murderers of British toddler James Bulger is reportedly set to marry — and his fiancĂ©e has absolutely no idea who he is. His case workers have told him to not tell her, in case of a later split. Do you think this is fair on the girl?

Answered on Oct 30, 2008

It is outrageous that the young man who murdered a small boy when he was a child should not tell his girlfriend who he really is and what he did to the little boy. Suppose she found out after they were married? She would be justified in divorcing him. If he tells her ahead of the marriage and she accepts him anyway, then that is fine but to keep it a secret from her is gross and unfair to her.

Is it OK for a 21 years old boy to have relationship with a 14 years old girl? What about the law?

Answered on Nov 6, 2008


In Canada, until recently, any man could have sex with a girl who was fourteen years or older providing he was not her teacher or employer or anyone else in which she was subservient too. The age has now been raised to 16. If the 16-year-old girl is still living at home and the adult entices her to leave her home, he can be charged with abduction.

Have you ever had to share your bed with a sibling?


Answered on Nov 5, 2008

When I lived in a small mining town called Wells in British Columbia, I and my brother and mother lived in a small three room house. My mother slept on the couch and I and my younger brother slept in a double bed in the bedroom. I was eight and he was four. Later, when my brother and I lived on a small farm with another boy, the three of us slept in a double bed. I was fourteen, my brother was ten and the other boy (who was not related to us) was eleven. Other than that, I slept by myself as child. From my experience, I can tell you that it is much better to sleep in your own bed.

Can you say something good about your childhood?


Answered on Nov 6, 2008

When I was thirteen and fourteen years of age, I was living with an old couple on a farm. He was eighty and she was sixty. I later learned that he was the youngest man in the world that was the captain of a large passenger liner. His ship was the Baltic and he was only twenty four years old when he was appointed to be her captain. Later he was offered the job as captain of the Titanic. He refused the offer. From our long talks together, I learned things like patience, motivation and self-sacrifice which helped me when I was growing up.

Could you forgive a close relative for molesting your child?

Answered on Nov 6, 2008

I was molested by my father. I never forgave him and I distanced myself from him to the day he died so why would I forgive a close or distant relative from molesting my child. When a close friend of mine molested my granddaughter, I helped put him in jail. To this day, I have never forgiven him and I don't socialize with him at all anymore. To molest a friend's or relative's child or grandchild is gross because it betrays a trust. This also applies when a parent molests his or her own child.

Is it legal to open a package left at your door with someone else’s name on it? There was no knock at the door, and no signing of anything.

Answered on Nov. 6, 2008

It is against the law to open the mail of someone else other than yourself without their prior permission unless of course, you are married to the person and the mail that is addressed to your spouse is mail such as your hydro bill etc. If a package is left on your door step and it is not addressed to anyone you know, then leave it there with a note to the postal delivery man that no one by that name lives at your house. Generally there is the name and address of the delivery firm that left it there so you can call them. Alternatively, if the sender's name is on the package, try finding their phone number and calling them. If the address of the recipient is nearby, deliver it to them. You could become friends after that. I remember once getting a letter that was addressed to someone else who was several miles away. I decided to deliver it myself as a courtesy. When I knocked on the door, a woman opened the window above me and yelled, "What the hell do you want, asshole?" I replied, "No you, that's for sure." Then I let her watch me tear the letter in half and drop it down the drain on the street. Was that act on my part, illegal? Yes it was. Did I like doing it? Oh yes. Whenever I think of it, I get all warm and tingly.

Do you think criminalization of homelessness is an unjust response to the problem?

Answered on Nov 6, 2008

There was a time in Canada when it was an offence to be homeless. That silly law disappeared about half a century ago. It should have disappeared long before that. However, many homeless people are beggars on the street and although there is no law prohibiting begging on the street or in a public place in Canada, it is an offence if the beggar impedes traffic on the road or pedestrians on the sidewalks. It is sad to see homeless people sleeping on park benches or in sleeping bags on a busy sidewalk. It is not an offence to do so providing the homeless person isn't impeding pedestrians which they generally are not. If a homeless person is begging right next to the entrance to a store, the owner can call the police who will tell the beggar to move on.

When can you use a jury?

Answered on Nov 5, 2008

In Canada, everyone who is charged with an indictable offence (What the Americans call a felony) has the right to be tried before a jury of twelve people if that is their wish. That right does not extend to those who are charged with a summary offence. (What Americans call a misdemeanor) We can have juries in civil cases but that generally only happens when the matter before the court is a very serious one. The juries in civil courts comprise of six people. A decision from five jurors is sufficient. In civil trials, the juries can rule on facts and the amount of the award of damages.

What is a freedom and what is a right?

Answered on Nov 5, 2008

In its simplest explanation, freedom is the ability to exercise a right. A right is something you automatically have when you are free.

Could you ever forgive someone who physically abused you?

Answered on Nov 5, 2008


That depends just how serious the abuse was. For example, if you have to be hospitalized, or you are disfigured, my answer is, leave him permanently and do not forgive him. If he slaps you or punches you once, tell him that you will forgive him that one time. If he does it again, leave him because if he does it a second time, and you don't leave him, you will be assaulted again and again and one of those times, you may never recover.

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