I just wanted to give online applause to you. While I don't agree with all of your opinions expressed you made a heartfelt and intelligent post about the election that didn't resort to "we have to move to Canada/Europe" or vicious name calling that I have seen EVERYWHERE else. I agree that the only way to effect change is to stand and fight. Running away and pouting is the only "un-American" thing to do.
And this is not just simple-mindedness. This is a deeply felt, deeply held belief for many well-educated, culturally aware people. The idea that we are God's country is so ingrained in our culture that most folks here in the Bible Belt don't question this line of reasoning. In fact, most of them probably don't even realize that they think this way, that's how much a part of them it is.
Matt Your entire post is an incredibly well thought out analysis. The paragraph I italicized really sums it all up.
As a lifelong Methodist, faith for me has always been about more than just blind trust. Faith has included doubting and questioning. I think for many in the evangelical movement or for many Baptists words like doubt and question are somehow faithless.
The other thing that concerns me about basing our country's future on faith is that it is that exact thing which we accuse our "enemies" of doing.
That is exactly what concerns me about this course of action. I don't think we've committed the atrocities that the terrorists have against us, but it's getting harder and harder to tell the difference between the rhetoric, and that should be a warning flag if there ever was one.
Re: the mcdonald's analogy is perfect.troubadour76November 6 2004, 13:53:29 UTC
Indeed. I've always loved living in the south, but this election has altered my perception a bit, at least for the time being. I feel very out of place in a region where he is so loved.
But then I have to remind myself that he lost in Davidson County and Nashville, and that he only got just over 50% elsewhere. So maybe all is not lost.
I really like this post, and wish it wasn't cut or locked, so that more people would and could read it.
I think the first step is for democrats to redefine the word "morality" for the American people. I don't know about that, because you then go on to say:
These folks don't see that sending our young men and women to fight in an unnecessary war is immoral. They don't realize that lining the pockets of big business at the expense of the American public is immoral. They don't realize that pushing legislation that further harms our environment is immoral. They don't realize...
and to me, the only reason for all of that is ignorance, and the only solution for all that ignorance is education. It shouldn't be up to the democrats to educate the ignorant, because it can't be done. If these beliefs ARE so engrained as part of who the Souther/midwestern people are, then no amount of lecturing or badgering by the "opposition" (democrats) will change that
( ... )
It is in part about ignorance, but it is also because they've been mislead and misdirected. The conservatives have done an excellent job in the past 20 years of defining morality for the American public. My point was that it's up to the democrats to put a stop to that sort of manipulation.
And we do what we can down here, but honestly, it is difficult when everyone thinks God is on their side. It's hard to argue with "because God said so," even if the point of view is obviously flawed. Many religious types (and not just Christians) seem to throw logic out the window when God is involved.
By the way, I unlocked this entry if you'd like to link to it. Force of habit, I meant for it to be public:).
I guess my whole point (which I didn't make well) was that nobody can change peoples' minds about God. Or politics for that matter, usually. When you say it's up to democrats to stop manipulating information, I say you could charge republicans with the same. and besides, how likely is anyone to have their mind changed by the opposition in such a passionate, personal topic, especially when, as you say, God is "on everyone's side." It feels like we're at a standstill, because we are.
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but other than that, you are so, so right.
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I agree that the only way to effect change is to stand and fight. Running away and pouting is the only "un-American" thing to do.
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Matt
Your entire post is an incredibly well thought out analysis. The paragraph I italicized really sums it all up.
As a lifelong Methodist, faith for me has always been about more than just blind trust. Faith has included doubting and questioning. I think for many in the evangelical movement or for many Baptists words like doubt and question are somehow faithless.
The other thing that concerns me about basing our country's future on faith is that it is that exact thing which we accuse our "enemies" of doing.
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But then I have to remind myself that he lost in Davidson County and Nashville, and that he only got just over 50% elsewhere. So maybe all is not lost.
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I think the first step is for democrats to redefine the word "morality" for the American people.
I don't know about that, because you then go on to say:
These folks don't see that sending our young men and women to fight in an unnecessary war is immoral. They don't realize that lining the pockets of big business at the expense of the American public is immoral. They don't realize that pushing legislation that further harms our environment is immoral. They don't realize...
and to me, the only reason for all of that is ignorance, and the only solution for all that ignorance is education. It shouldn't be up to the democrats to educate the ignorant, because it can't be done. If these beliefs ARE so engrained as part of who the Souther/midwestern people are, then no amount of lecturing or badgering by the "opposition" (democrats) will change that ( ... )
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And we do what we can down here, but honestly, it is difficult when everyone thinks God is on their side. It's hard to argue with "because God said so," even if the point of view is obviously flawed. Many religious types (and not just Christians) seem to throw logic out the window when God is involved.
By the way, I unlocked this entry if you'd like to link to it. Force of habit, I meant for it to be public:).
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