I think many of my blogs may have come off as anti-Christian or anti-religious. Frankly that’s the wrong impression. I really respect many people of many different faiths. I think religion can provide strong morals, such as ‘love thy neighbor’, and other wisdom to live by. In fact if I were surrounded in a world of practicing Christians, I wouldn’t be so bitter all the time. The fact is though, there are a lot of people in America who, under the guise of religion, spread hate and discrimination. That is what I cannot stand. If you’re going to say you believe in something, actually take the time to know what you’re believing in and practice it.
Why were women so restricted 200 years ago? Because people used the Bible to justify the housewife position, women only existed to serve their husbands and procreate. They could not do ‘a man’s job’. Perhaps that is why our country was founded on the principle of women not being allowed to vote for their own president, they didn’t have as much going on up in their heads as men. Then the Bible was used to defend slavery. There are extensive topics regarding the subject, all pointing to the absolute obedience of a slave to his master. White supremacy ruled over our nation and churches did nothing to stop the vast injustice. Now we come to a new century. One in which two people in love aren’t allowed to get married. The World Health Organization has already ruled that, no, I do not have some medical illness. No, more likely that I won some sort of genetic lottery. Or, as current science is looking into, was affected by a mix of hormones while I was developing in the womb. A little less sin, a lot more born the way I am.
So. There are a lot of Christians in my life whom I love and do truly respect. Please note that any bitter rants about religion are not directed at you. But the great thing about America is that you can choose whatever religion you want. And I can too. This isn’t some system where beliefs are stifled. This is a country that is fertilized so that its population can believe what they want. That is the absolute beauty of our system here. Why some conservative right wing [neo Nazis] want to push THEIR views on a multicultural, multiracial, multireligious nation is up in the air. Would I ever want to push legislation banning religion because I personally am agnostic? No. In fact I find the timeless quote going along the lines of ‘I may not believe in what you say, but I’ll give my life so that you have the freedom to say it’ outstandingly true.
A lady came in to Guest Service on Monday and talked to me for 20 minutes. It was a complaint. Why? Because we sell the Fischer Price dolls that apparently say ‘Islam is the Light’. Ok, yes, if you listen and are looking for words out of baby gurgling, you can hear that. Or you could hear ‘Salami is so Right’. What do you think the media is going to sensationalize though? Anyways, she sits there and very seriously says how awful this is that we still have it on our shelves. KMart and Wal Mart have apparently taken them down. Then she drops a political bomb on me:
“This is America”
REALLY?! You’re going to sit here and tell me that you don’t want a product sold because you don’t agree with what it’s saying? IN AMERICA? In a land that was founded because a group of people were persecuted for their religion? There are millions of Muslims in America. They are AMERICAN. They are no better and no worse than anyone else in this country. That is OFFENSIVE to them. That is one of those ‘beyond-words’ its so offensive. It was offensive to me, not as a Muslim, but as an American. A patriotic American who believes in freedom for all, even if I’m not going to agree with them. And she has the FREEDOM to believe that America has to follow HER rules and bow to HER will. But it is not, in any way shape or form, her right to impose her beliefs on anyone else.
Really? This is over a toy. She’s going on, threatening to talk to churches boycotting Target stores, etc. I don’t care. If people want to discriminate against another religion, I don’t want them anywhere near me. Grow up lady. Grow the hell up.
The real kicker about all this? I held a straight face. I was sympathetic. I assured her that I would pass the complaint on internally and that I could see where she was coming from. She actually told me that I was much better than workers at ANOTHER Target who had treated her rudely. Not just a worker, the manager of toys. Then when the store manager was called over, apparently they were rude to her too. Wow, I wonder why.
But I stuck by the points I’m making here. It was by no means my place to tell her that, no, I thought she was dead wrong and ought to be hung out to dry by real and honorable Christians throughout the country. She can have her beliefs, I can have mine. The difference is that I use a personal blog to express myself and she tries to change what a store sells so that she can feel comfortable and secure in her religion.
I don’t consider her a Christian, and I don’t consider anyone else who is willing to use their religion as justification for pushing their beliefs onto other people. I’m hoping that people reading this will see the difference between expressing yourself and your opinions vs trying to graft your will onto a nation with a diverse population.
The picture above is Sally Kern, who got re-elected to senate in Oklahoma or something. Her and her husband want me to be sent off to a “Re-Education Camp” (direct quote from Mr. Kern) because the way I am does not fit with their beliefs.
It is better to give more freedoms and let people take advantage of them on an individual level than for a majority to withhold rights from a minority because they may not agree with them.
Good photo editing though, right? All the Devil horns ‘n stuff look superb. Photo-realistic if I must say. Then taking a Zombie head and putting it on her “pastor” husbands head…wow. No one could tell that was a human beforehand. Those people are not Christians in any sense of the word. They can say they are, but honestly, according to their own beliefs, it will be Jesus who decides that. And Jesus has preached nothing but love. Spreading bigotry and hate was not part of his gospel.
PS- If anyone wants to read the article that finally made me write all this out, it’s here. Remind me not to ever vote for a politician just because they’re KERN-servative.
PPS- I’ve always wondered why Muslims don’t do more to discourage radical behavior like terrorism that draws so much hate their way. Now I’m left wondering how Christians are any better when their base is rallied to vote in the embodiement of hate into our government.
PPPS- This article was written by a Christian. Are you the same kind of Christian as him? Comment on this post. Is he really the voice of today’s Christians?
Homo-Hater’s Hubby Gets
Outed in Phone Call–
Gay Men Need “Education Programs”
________________________
Mayor and Public Library Commission
Going on the Homo-Hating Warpath?
by James Nimmo
(OKLAHOMA CITY) The anti-gay forces of the Oklahoma GOPer Party and their religious fundie faction are making plans to further suppress the civil rights of Oklahoma’s gay and lesbian taxpayers.
Having knocked out our marriage options with State Question 711 in 2004, that outlaws same gender marriage as well as straight common law marriages, next on their revenge agenda is taking over the Oklahoma County Metro Public Library System (www.metrolibrary.org) by packing the 28-member board (http://tinyurl.com/5ozooo) with religious extremists who, caring nothing for the Constitution, believe that their private religious practices should be followed in selecting and maintaining the public library system’s collection of books.
This is not the first time Oklahoma County library services have been targeted as easy pickings for the politically challenged. Remember the Tin Drum video seizure (http://tinyurl.com/6ges4j) and Rep Sally Kern’s first foray into the public light of day (http://tinyurl.com/675xs9)?
An Oklahoma City-based gay/lesbian news website (www.Gossip-boy.com) has made public that Mayor Mick Cornett of Oklahoma City is planning to pack the public library Commission of Oklahoma County with more of his favorite fundie friends in order to prove to ultra conservative Oklahoma voters and out-of-state contributors that the Ten Commandments is his Constitution, and not the one on display in the National Archives, when he announces his run for governor of Oklahoma in the near future.
The civil rights of gay and lesbian taxpayers as well as the tax money of all the County’s citizens must be subverted to further the political shenanigans of a repressive, regressive snake-oil salesman.
Let me suggest that the word “public” has a different meaning to religious fundies than it does to you and me. As we’ve seen in the eight years of the Bush Administration, words are given a facade of meaning which disguises the true purpose the words will effect. Words for them are wolves in sheep’s clothing, a shell game of meaning.
The article at (http://tinyurl.com/6dcsaz) on the Gossip Boy website has just been posted and reveals much that I’ve suspected was going on behind the cloak of righteousness that deeply deranged religious people like to wear.
Among some of the blockbuster revelations in the article are Steve Kern’s remarks, husband of infamous YouTube Queen and gun slinger Rep.Sally Kern (http://tinyurl.com/yr63qo), that have been transcribed from a phone call wherein he uses derogatory language about gay men, thinking he’s talking to one of his brothers-in-Christ. Steve Kern says gay men should be forced by law to go to “education programs”.
As you recover from that breath-taking idea don’t even think of using the “Nazi” word; instead use a new comparison–Pol Pot of Cambodia.
Just what would the syllabus of this “education program” contain? Anatomical drawings of humans in various states of arousal used for stimulus in shock therapy and aversion demonstrations?
Would Ted Haggard be brought in for a power point presentation?
What would be the final “exam” (final solution?) to this “education program”? Doses of Viagra administered to the “students” with naked, supine, voluptuous women brought in to make sure the men have learned their “lessons”?
Who would do the “grading”? Steve Kern? Sally Kern? Would there be a grading curve? Would re-testing be allowed? Just what would be considered failure?
The Gossip Boy (www.gossip-boy.com) article is excellent and reviews the background people will need to know who have either forgotten, are new to the situation, or are just now getting involved in the issues of religiously propelled suppression of civil rights. I’ve been a 16-year observer of the Oklahoma County Library Commission and this is exactly the article I wish I could have written. Though I had no hand in its writing I will vouch for the accuracy of the background material provided.
This year the Oklahoma Legislature is dominated by a GOPer majority in both Houses for the first time in state history. There is now no parliamentary way for bills injurious to civil equality to be killed in committee by a friendly Democratic chair.
I don’t see any assistance on the horizon; it’s going to be all our fight, sink or swim.
We gays and lesbians are in for a tough ride in Oklahoma that will test the resolve of our commitment and the strength of our character to ensure our birth right as American citizens.
I just thought you should know, that you’re not alone. As a christian I struggle having to hear the bad name some people give to other christians. Not only is it annoying a lot of the time but it’s also very discouraging. I’m glad that you mention you don’t think all christians are haters or judgemental. I don’t ever want to be that way.
I’d like to apologize for the people that stray from the true meaning of christianity. I know most of them are ignorant or cruel but some have truly just forgotten God’s message and have made it into whatever fits them at the time. Maybe one day they’ll remember what christianity is supposed to be.
How can:
Because people used the Bible to justify the housewife position, women only existed to serve their husbands and procreate. They could not do ‘a man’s job’. Perhaps that is why our country was founded on the principle of women not being allowed to vote for their own president, they didn’t have as much going on up in their heads as men. Then the Bible was used to defend slavery. There are extensive topics regarding the subject, all pointing to the absolute obedience of a slave to his master. White supremacy ruled over our nation and churches did nothing to stop the vast injustice.
happen to people that are truly godly. Well first of all they’re not truly godly and it’s kind of like what happened to David when he slept with another man’s wife. He forgot about God for a moment and everything fell apart
I thank you for not being predjudiced against christians as i hear a lot about how terrible of a thing christianity is now a days. Maybe the world that God imagined will happen someday.
That’ll be when everyone loves their neighbor as their self. Its not the golden rule for nothing XD