I think maybe Protestantism has a way of making folks harder and colder. It is of the individual. Of the Head. Whereas Catholicism has a way of making people kinder and more warm. It is of the family. Of the Heart.
It’s all supply and demand. Basic economics. QUOTE="orangina, post: 498495, member: 6158"]Because they are artificially keeping prices lower now than the real market price of production and delivery, they cannot keep doing that for long. In your country, they are releasing strategic oil reserves; Biden did the same. But those reserves are meant for situations like war or natural disasters not for manipulating the market because of political mistakes and starting wars. Your total reserves are around 750 million barrels. Before the war started, the reserves were at about 500 million barrels, and below 200 million the military would never allow further use because that amount is reserved for their own needs. Around 7–10 million barrels are being released weekly. The U.S. imports about 10% of its oil from the Middle East by tanker; the rest is imported from Canada and Mexico. However, oil companies are not state-owned, and prices depend on the global oil market. Here in Europe, governments removed part of the taxes, and Australia did as well. But prices are still roughly twice as high. Inflation will spread to food and other necessities, and the government will not have enough money from taxes to keep up with salary increases in the public sector, healthcare, and the welfare system especially in Europe. That will lead to unrest. They may raise taxes on private businesses, which would again lead to social unrest.[/QUOTE]
Tell it like it is, PF. This is so well written. It's a comprehensive and sympathetic look at what has happened.
The greatest danger to your child is no longer outside the home, but inside the home when they are alone with their computer, phone, laptop... In the past, trends spread more slowly. Children from villages and rural areas were protected not only by a different upbringing, but also by the values of their community, unlike cities where individualism was much stronger. Movements that spread often came from universities, which in the West most commonly spread Marxist ideas, drugs, the sexual revolution, and so on. There was far more content, far more people, and far more options, along with fewer limits, fewer traditional families, and fewer strong social bonds like those that did not exist in cities. Today, however, it no longer matters whether you live in an urban or rural area, or whether you are in the heart of Europe or somewhere else. Physical barriers once created cultural differences, but that no longer exists because culture is no longer passed from person to person physically as it once was — it now spreads digitally. In the past, people in villages did not have much time to dedicate to raising children either. You grew up with your friends, and from your parents you learned a few important things: to respect your elders, God, family, and to be obedient. But because parents worked so much, as a child you mostly spent your time socializing with your group of friends. otected oasis of values. For many people, contact with the outside world only really happened once they moved to big cities. But by that age, many had already become fully formed individuals with clear beliefs and attitudes; unfortunately, the more unstable ones fell away. Today, however, you cannot even guarantee that initial protected environment, because it only takes one kid watching pornography — and sin, especially lust, spreads easily. It only takes one girl dressing provocatively and attracting boys to influence other girls who crave attention. It only takes one kid starting to use drugs, and for it to become a trend on TikTok, and so on. Life in the past was much harder in a physical sense — not only because work was exhausting and brutal, but also because of disease and hunger. Today, however, the struggle exists on an entirely different spiritual and psychological level, where protecting oneself from all moral temptations and spiritual challenges has become a huge Sisyphean task, and raising children has become even harder because dangers come from every direction.
I think living in the country, especially in remote places can be a huge trial for most people. We are so alone and it can be so very,very lonely. Even more so if we live alone ourselves. Priests who minister to people in Spain witness to this. I think the temptation to drugs and drink for rural people. is kind of mystical. It is to fill the lonely void. It is a kind of false mystical temptation to replace the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which should come with prayer. peace. joy, love with false gifts of the same kind from drugs. Although I suspect in places like Spain and Italy people are more ashamed of such things than they are in say places like the USA and Ireland and cover them up. But there is certainly a problem with drink with so much wine about, also cannabis is legal here to smoke, grow and own.
