Here’s a rant for your morning joe.
I try to remain tolerant of divergent opinions. And while I am far from blameless on many issues, I’ve learned a bit over the last 54 years (heck, I’ve learned a lot over the last ten). Still, there are some inalienable truths for everyone:
- We are entitled to believe what we want to believe — about people, rules, government, politics, fashion, food, religion, entertainment, literature, philosophy, medicine, and whether or not the Browns will ever see a Super Bowl other than on TV.
- When we believe in a thing passionately, it’s hard — actually, well nigh impossible in many cases — to sway us from our conviction about it.
- It is relatively safe to say that, where politics are concerned, no minds are changed.
And yet, the social media battles wear on. Yes, I’m talking Twitter and Facebook. Facebook: a place I frequent to see photos of my friends, “talk” to them via posting and message, and basically catch up on what everyone’s up to, and enter into an engaging discussion or two. You know; the no stress type of stuff. And then…
Send in the clowns.
Never in my life have I ever seen such vile, vicious, personal attacks on an elected official — by CHRISTIANS, who by any other measure are kind and gentle people. But bring up the government shutdown or the Democratic Party, and some of them turn into ugly, unforgiving, relentlessly cruel trolls, looking for the next internet drainage to post as truth (“Obama refuses to close his favorite golf course! Pass it on! Make it viral!”) How do I know this? Because I saw it, just this morning — not only on Facebook, but on several news sites.
Now Guns ‘n God folks: before you go gettin’ yer dander up, I’m mad at President Obama, too. I’m disappointed that he crawled away from the Common Core debacle. I’m angry that he hasn’t seriously addressed the student loan crisis. I hate the ongoing wars, and what they have cost our government and our families in lives and livelihoods. And there are other things I’m not happy about, but this, as you know, is not a place to discuss political issues. I’m not on about that; rather, I’m on about mean people, who, on one side of their Facebook wall, quote endless bible verses and share memes about faith and preach the gospel of Christ and peace and love and kindness, and minutes later, spew poison about how Obama the Muslim should be assassinated, and wouldn’t that just do us all a favor, or how maybe a cruise missile should be aimed at the White House.
I’m not saying that Christians can’t get frustrated and mad, or can’t choose to dislike someone. I consider myself a person of Christian faith, and I’m mad as a wet hen right about now. I’m mad at Governor Kasich; he needs to leave office in a big fat hurry, before his policies destroy what little is left of neighborhood schools in Ohio. But some of the rhetoric I read about him — people lobbing horrible, personal insults at him and wishing him bodily harm — makes me cringe. Not when faithless people do it, mind; rather, when self-professed followers of Christ do it. I mean, go ahead. Be as nasty and profligate as you like to another child of God. But don’t stand in church on Sunday with your hands raised and your head back, singing “Open the eyes of my hearrrrrt” and expect me to think of you as anything but a contemptible hypocrite.
There. That’s said. Now…what’s for breakfast?
Caveat: I love reading comments! But be advised that any policy-oriented rants will be deleted. No one wants to read yet another partisan diatribe about how the Republicans are ruining Ohio, or how the Democrats have mortgaged the nation. This is not the place where anyone gets on their high horse. ‘Cep me, of course.
Perhaps this is not the arena but all I will say is that I am surprised you were so easy on them…you are such a softie Ms. Fink.
As one with a wee bit of experienced being skewered by the righteous I applaud this particular rant and say “Amen, Sister preach it Baby!” You the Babe!
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Haha — yeah, you know me, D. All puppy kitten ballerina cute and cuddly.
And I know you have experience on the barbie as well. I think it makes us more tolerant as time goes on, don’t you think??
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Without doubt…the tolerance comes from recognizing the right and responsibility of individual beliefs and opinion. I acknowledge all have the right…the line gets crossed when there is an attempt to shove their opinion down my throat or other orifice. When that happens I defend my heart with all that I am; when it is done under the guise of Christianity I weep.
Love your ballerina cuteness in all its glory!
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Well said. I’m struggling with a similar concept in my online class this semester. Not to necessarily change the subject, but the book we’re reading is called “Leap” this month… and our professor CLEARLY states that for whatever book we read, we are only to comment on “craft”, writing techniques and the like. Not only are others not following the instructions, but every person in the class (sans myself) all but wrote reviews on the Morman religion and the book itself, hammering the author instead. So, I refused to comment, since it was no relevant, then I got nailed for… Read more »
Love you, Rae Rae — thanks for the kind words. And I can’t imagine the frustration of dealing with bigotry in a writing class! You handled it perfectly, I thought. In the online graduate course I teach, if that would ever happen, I’d feel it was my responsibility to redirect the conversation; get it back on track. Where was this guy, you know?
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I was thinking about this same issue all week, and thought about making a similar post on FB. I’m so INCREDIBLY tired of the hypocrisy from these right-wing “Christians” – first & foremost pointing fingers & judging anyone NOT on “their side” as not being a “true Christian.” Like they have a corner on what is true, what is patriotic, and what is right for EVERYONE in the country. I think the American people are getting sick of this “Christian In Name Only” sect – seeing other groups now calling this faction of which you speak the Christian Taliban (which… Read more »
I read your second paragraph twice — it’s that good. To get off-topic a bit: I was discussing the “Pilgrims” issue with my music history class (how there wasn’t this lovely sit-down meal with mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies), and the point was made that many of the people who escaped Britain were in fact *not* Puritanical, but rather the misfits, criminals and miscreants who couldn’t get along in British society. Where some Americans get their ideas on how pious and righteous the “founding fathers” were baffles me. Hello…a great many of them were almost *everything* that most Americans now… Read more »
Wow, great post Fink. I love this. I am also sorry that you had to say it…but you did. The idea that anyone who subscribes to a belief that emphasizes love, while defending that love by fending off others with hate and words about death…it has long boggled my mine. I have seen this without and within my own family. I have seen it in family who’s other ideas I agree with a great deal. But if the word “hypocrisy” exists on any level of your subconscious or conscious vernacular…should it not be apparent? Disagree all you want, oppose all… Read more »
there are typos above…you can parse it…your a teacher!
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AM, you summarized it well: The idea that anyone who subscribes to a belief that emphasizes love, while defending that love by fending off others with hate and words about death… We are all guilty on some level at certain times, like you said. And when I’m guilty of it, I certainly don’t trumpet it across the land to all and sundry. It’s my hope that I would apologize to those I’ve offended, and redouble my efforts to never do it again. I’ve often heard it said that Jesus “triumphed over hate.” Talk about incongruity. You’re right on for bringing… Read more »
AAAAAARRRRRGHHHH!!!! “you’re” a teacher.
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Great verses Fink. Right on on all counts. There are many real christians…or real believers of many faiths who do their faith justice. Unfortunately the loudest ones tend to blow things up…or blow up peoples facebook feeds with hate.
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