Griping
I don’t usually get on the soap box about issues in politics and religion. I’ll probably get hate mail for this one. But one of the things that drives me up the wall is the hypocrisy I see on a consistent basis when it comes to tolerance and living amiably in a society full of differences.
I was really disappointed today in another blogger. I read her blog regularly and though she and I disagree on some issues, that has never stopped me from enjoying her writing.
Today, however, she wrote a post on how terribly offended she was by an online store that placed a Bible verse on the checkout page of their website. She went on and on, whining about how indecent that was for them to force their religion on her, and how she would never shop there again because of their lack of respect for other people.
And all I could think was, Oh grow up and get over it already. What, did your eyes shrivel up and fall out of your head because you SAW a Bible Verse?
If simply being exposed to another religion and just looking at a piece of their belief system, is that offensive to you, then a) your worldview is too small and your head is stuck up your own butt, and b) you have no business living in a country built on freedom of religion.
There is the misconception going around that freedom of religion equals freedom from religion. That is entirely impossible. If you are granting citizens the right to their religion, you can’t turn around and force them to censor it and keep it in their closets in case anybody else might SEE.
While you have the right to believe and practice anything you choose, you do NOT have the right to expect censorship of others, just to keep yourself from being exposed to it. To imply otherwise is absurd.
You have the right to choose your religion. You have the right to choose no religion. You do NOT have the right to be offended that other people are believing, practicing and displaying their own beliefs in a country that gave them that right, and it is not going to kill you to witness it every once in a while.
Nobody is forcing you to participate. By displaying a verse, nobody is shoving you down on your knees and pushing a Koran into your hand. You’re simply witnessing the fact that other religions exist and there are people who profess them.
It simply comes with the territory and if you don’t have enough tolerance to be exposed to that kind of thing, consider either moving to a country without freedom of religion, or one in which everybody has the same religion as you do.
If you choose not to shop at a store that hangs a Star of David in the window, fine. You certainly have that option. But don’t pretend to be the “Victim” and try to hide behind accusations of insensitivity and lack of respect, when the only real issue is your own narrow-minded intolerance and oversensitivity.
August 20th, 2006 at 6:10 pm
Does this mean you won’t read her blog anymore
You have the right to express your opinions, its your blog..the blogosphere can disappoint I’m afraid. Oh and I won’t pee on the changing table!
August 20th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
I doubt that I will stop reading her blog entirely. As I mentioned, I usually enjoy her stuff. I just think she’s a little misguided in her assessment of her own opinions.
August 20th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
I couldn’t agree more. Religion is everywhere and people have a right to express what they believe in. My family has no religion, and we expose our children to everything. She goes to church with my parents and we’ve begun taking her to different churches because she enjoys going.
Unfortunately, everyone is going to be rubbed the wrong way by something they read. I’ve offended a few people with things in my blog. It’s the nature of the monster, I’m afraid. I’m glad you’re going to keep on reading her blog. You never know what mood someone was in when they wrote. Sometimes people have a tendency to use harsher words than they realize!
August 21st, 2006 at 9:23 am
I totally agree. That is a little chi8ldish and I am really sick of things like that going on in our country. Grrrr. That makes me mad!
August 21st, 2006 at 10:13 am
Amen! People need to lighten up. It always bothers me when self-professed liberal bloggers get their knickers in a twist about the faithful expressing their faith. Whatever happened to “live and let live?”
August 21st, 2006 at 11:07 am
Amen, sistah! I can’t believe that there’re so many ‘adults’ out there practicing the “poor me having to be exposed to other’s belifs” crap. It’s infuriating to see and embarassing to watch them kick and flail about like this world is coming to an end because of it.
Tolerance is the only way we’re all ever going to get through this crazy thing called Life. Unfortunately not everybody gets it…
August 21st, 2006 at 12:18 pm
People take political correctness to extremes. Sometimes eveyrone just needs to relax.
August 21st, 2006 at 12:26 pm
They’re usually liberal but there is nothing liberal about it. I think we can learn from all religions but believing and learning are two very separate things.
August 21st, 2006 at 5:24 pm
I agree with everything you wrote… except the part about not having the right to be offended. I’m offended by stuff on a daily basis. I just don’t expect other people to change their beliefs because it might be offensive to others.
Political Correctors like to give the illusion that they are in support of personal freedoms. I see the movement, however, as a harbinger of a George Orwellian future where we are administered our Equilibrium style medications to suppress any extreme emotions as we munch on our Soylent Green bars while listening to John Lennon’s Imagine. Sounds like fun, eh comrades?
August 21st, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Truthfully, SMIT, I would say that this shows, more than anything else, how similar you and this other blogger are. You both care a great deal about your respective faiths, both of which have been around for centuries and have undergone a fair amount of harassment at times. Neither of you are afraid to say when something upsets you, and act on it. I seem to recall you disliking religious trends/sayings that happily blend Christianity with more new age worship of “mother earth” and “father sky” or that imply that all religions are really the same, whether or not you’re worshipping the traditional Christ, or also adding in an ultra-feminine Holy Spirit. Is this really all that different?
August 21st, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Jane, I think you’ve got me confused with someone else. I don’t think I’ve ever commented about that subject.
August 21st, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Oh, it was you, but it was 5+ years ago, so you may have changed your mind since then…
August 21st, 2006 at 6:44 pm
Ah, I see. I thought you were talking about something I said on my blog. It’s very possible that I said that 5+ years ago, you have a much better memory than I do
As for my views now, that’s another story that isn’t quite on topic here, so I won’t detour.
But to clarify, yes, I think there is very much a difference. I’m not saying that every one has to AGREE with every other religion. That would be silly. Of course I don’t expect her to agree with the Bible Verse when that’s not what she believes.
The issue I’m talking about is the fact that she feels so put upon because a store owner has displayed a religious article on his/her own property. And the fact that by visiting said property, and having that article shown to her, she feels that some injustice has been done to her.
August 22nd, 2006 at 8:05 am
I’ve never understood why people get so up in arms about other faiths/denominations/etc.
Here’s my opinion (and it’s like a nose, everyone has one)…
I affiliate myself with the Christian faith.
However, I’ve found quotes and text from other faiths that (in my mind) speak a universal truth.
To me, that doesn’t take away from my fundamental belief system whatsoever. It makes me more well-rounded.
Sharing your faith is a tricky thing to do, because you’re never sure how people will take it. But your comment is right - how another person perceives that display of faith can never be predicted. It’s just sad that all the arguing has to take place to begin with. There’s too much weirdness in life already, you know?
August 22nd, 2006 at 2:57 pm
While I agree it’s rather silly to complain about something we see everywhere, I do tend to think the store owner shouldn’t have put the verse on her site. Not because it offends, but because religion is such a touchy subject. Mixing religion with business is NOT a good idea, unless of course your business is related with a specific religion.
That said, I don’t think I’d ever make my buying decisions based on someone’s religion. It’s everywhere, and you aren’t going to get away from it. If it’s something I don’t believe in, I ignore it. Simple as deleting spam. I don’t think you should waste time complaining about it…life is just too short!
August 22nd, 2006 at 3:07 pm
AMEN! No pun intended, really. Great post and I agree with you 100%
August 22nd, 2006 at 6:48 pm
I think most every belief has something we can learn from, or be encouraged for the day. Not being open to stuff like that is being close minded, just like religious people are accused of being.
ps…I swear, I could just stare at this blog all day long. I love it to pieces!