Politics, Religion, and Phyllis Burgess
This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD1AITHS2Wc&feature=related) disturbed me, and it should disturb you too.
This woman was peacefully demonstrating, but those at this gay rights rally attacked her physically and verbally, knocking out of her hands and stomping on her styrofoam cross. It was the mob against her. Whether or not you're a Christian, whether or not you believe in gay marriage, human beings treating one another in this manner should upset us all.
There are a whole host of reasons why I'm troubled by this, and have been for the last 24 hours. I'll name just a few here.
The gay rights movement claims to be fighting for equal rights. They are exercising their right to demonstrate. Wouldn't equal rights mean that Phyllis Burgess has the right to demonstrate and express her views too? To act in a way that suggests anything else (as this angry mob did) is blatant hypocrisy.
Mainstream media would have us believe that the socially left are all-inclusive, peaceful folks and the socially conservative are a bunch of fear- and hate-mongering vicious folks. I'm sorry, but when I look at this brave woman being attacked and screamed at, the hate-mongering viciousness looks like it's coming from the left. This is not to say there aren't vicious folks on both sides--because there are. But seriously--these were not the rainbow carrying Kum-ba-ya singing folks I've been reading about who've been "victimized" by a fair vote in their state.
A friend of mine suggested that the gay rights issue is a moral issue on both sides--and I absolutely agree. Even though I do not get behind their cause, I can see how painful it is for these people to not be allowed to marry like heterosexual couples and I can see how and why they feel it is morally wrong. But can the people in that mob honestly say they're fighting for a moral cause and then treat another human being with such hatred, disrespect and contempt? Where were their morals when they trampled on Ms. Burgess's cross?
Finally, I am sick and tired of tolerance for everyone and every religion--except Jesus and those who follow Him. Why is Buddha ok but Jesus is not? Little children in elementary schools have colored pictures that say Jesus Loves You and it turns into a lawsuit?? Last time I checked, the first amendment of our constitution guaranteed us the freedom of (or from) religion and the free exercise thereof. Those pictures don't hurt anyone. If this society would do a better job of practicing what we preached, maybe these kids would grow up to have productive friendships and discussions with those different from them instead of being taught from an early age that religious differences divide.
And seriously--holiday trees? Will I even be able to buy Christmas cards in 10 years or will they all say Seasons Greetings? Our society is taking Christ's name out of his own birthday--it originated as Christ-Mass. The Mass that celebrates the birth of Christ. Tolerance seems to mean that I shouldn't wish anyone a Merry Christmas for fear they'll be offended if they celebrate a different holiday.
But shouldn't tolerance mean that if I wish someone a Merry Christmas they should accept it as an expression of sharing happy greetings? I am not offended if someone wishes me a Happy Hanukah or a Happy Festivus for that matter. I accept it as an offer of happy greetings, wish them the same, and just move on.
As my close friends know, I am not Barack Obama's biggest fan. There are many views and policies of his that I wholeheartedly disagree with. However, I read a speech of his today that dealt with religion's role in politics and I have to admit that I was impressed. Still skeptical, but impressed with his...balanced view of the role that religion plays in the public square. It is my hope that since this man is so popular and has such influence over folks that more Americans would take his lead--on this issue, anyway--and maybe we won't have to see such scenes and discontinuities in the future.
Now let's hold hands and sing Kum-Ba-Ya.
This woman was peacefully demonstrating, but those at this gay rights rally attacked her physically and verbally, knocking out of her hands and stomping on her styrofoam cross. It was the mob against her. Whether or not you're a Christian, whether or not you believe in gay marriage, human beings treating one another in this manner should upset us all.
There are a whole host of reasons why I'm troubled by this, and have been for the last 24 hours. I'll name just a few here.
The gay rights movement claims to be fighting for equal rights. They are exercising their right to demonstrate. Wouldn't equal rights mean that Phyllis Burgess has the right to demonstrate and express her views too? To act in a way that suggests anything else (as this angry mob did) is blatant hypocrisy.
Mainstream media would have us believe that the socially left are all-inclusive, peaceful folks and the socially conservative are a bunch of fear- and hate-mongering vicious folks. I'm sorry, but when I look at this brave woman being attacked and screamed at, the hate-mongering viciousness looks like it's coming from the left. This is not to say there aren't vicious folks on both sides--because there are. But seriously--these were not the rainbow carrying Kum-ba-ya singing folks I've been reading about who've been "victimized" by a fair vote in their state.
A friend of mine suggested that the gay rights issue is a moral issue on both sides--and I absolutely agree. Even though I do not get behind their cause, I can see how painful it is for these people to not be allowed to marry like heterosexual couples and I can see how and why they feel it is morally wrong. But can the people in that mob honestly say they're fighting for a moral cause and then treat another human being with such hatred, disrespect and contempt? Where were their morals when they trampled on Ms. Burgess's cross?
Finally, I am sick and tired of tolerance for everyone and every religion--except Jesus and those who follow Him. Why is Buddha ok but Jesus is not? Little children in elementary schools have colored pictures that say Jesus Loves You and it turns into a lawsuit?? Last time I checked, the first amendment of our constitution guaranteed us the freedom of (or from) religion and the free exercise thereof. Those pictures don't hurt anyone. If this society would do a better job of practicing what we preached, maybe these kids would grow up to have productive friendships and discussions with those different from them instead of being taught from an early age that religious differences divide.
And seriously--holiday trees? Will I even be able to buy Christmas cards in 10 years or will they all say Seasons Greetings? Our society is taking Christ's name out of his own birthday--it originated as Christ-Mass. The Mass that celebrates the birth of Christ. Tolerance seems to mean that I shouldn't wish anyone a Merry Christmas for fear they'll be offended if they celebrate a different holiday.
But shouldn't tolerance mean that if I wish someone a Merry Christmas they should accept it as an expression of sharing happy greetings? I am not offended if someone wishes me a Happy Hanukah or a Happy Festivus for that matter. I accept it as an offer of happy greetings, wish them the same, and just move on.
As my close friends know, I am not Barack Obama's biggest fan. There are many views and policies of his that I wholeheartedly disagree with. However, I read a speech of his today that dealt with religion's role in politics and I have to admit that I was impressed. Still skeptical, but impressed with his...balanced view of the role that religion plays in the public square. It is my hope that since this man is so popular and has such influence over folks that more Americans would take his lead--on this issue, anyway--and maybe we won't have to see such scenes and discontinuities in the future.
Now let's hold hands and sing Kum-Ba-Ya.