Posted on 08/13/2004 9:36:00 AM PDT by IdaBriggs
Hello. I am hoping you can help me.
I am trying to "reach out" to your side of the world in an effort to help each side understand the other. I apologize in advance if I offend or upset any of you, because that is NOT my intention. I hope by putting my "real name" on this post, you will view what I am about to say in the sincere way I mean it.
I am somewhat frightened of you.
Again, I apologize if I am offending, but I thought you should know about it. I also know I am not alone in my feelings about you because I have talked with other people who feel the same way. We think you are trying to impose your religion and way of life on the rest of us.
I know most of you are good people. You are kind and generous with your friends, family and neighbors. You help strangers change tires, work as teachers, risk your lives in the service of others -- all things everyone admires, respects and honors. Those of us on "the other side" do the same thing.
But sometimes you talk in painful ways about “evil” as if to associate us with "demons" and "satan" because we don't agree with your path. That is very hurtful, and it makes us feel like you don't really see us as fellow human beings with different understandings of God. I am a gardener by hobby, and not always a very good one. My husband likes to tease me about "killing plants" instead of growing them because sometimes I over water or put too much fertilizer on them, yet every year I keep trying, and gradually, my garden is starting to become beautiful. I love roses in particular, and am reminded every day how wonderful God is because He made so many different kinds – I have three different red roses alone, and each one is perfect! I have seven different colors of Petunias, and use them to explain how God loves people of all colors to my neighbor's children. I guess that is why I believe you, who scare me so, really do have love in your hearts for all of us, even though sometimes it doesn't seem that way.
The worst times are when the topics of Abortion and Gay Sex come up. No one would ever force you to have an Abortion or indulge in Gay Sex in America EVER, yet you persist in making these topics of conversation as if they trump all other considerations. The only way I can reconcile this with a rational viewpoint is if I think you believe you are trying to SAVE those who don't believe the way you do from Hell. This seems to be a very loving action on your part, but feels rude and controlling in a not-positive way to the rest of us. Many of us do not believe these things will result in eternal damnation, but are simply part of God’s plan for each individual.
If you are truly horrified by the thought of these things, I don’t know what to say to make it easier for you to understand, but I will still try. I guess it would be like making everyone not wear jewelry or make up because some churches believe adornment is demonstrating vanity; it may end up being something we are all judged by, but it may also simply be a misreading or misinterpretation of the text. I am not saying your adherence to the tenets of your faith is wrong; I am saying other people have a right to love God in their own ways, and our civil laws should not be about defining “sin” but crime.
I say again, I am not meaning to offend. I have a very strong faith in God, and trust him to do the right thing. I don't like hearing people say that God is judging all of America based on who is President; both men have qualities worthy of admiration at some level, and both are interviewing for the job of enforcing our constitution. It demands we keep church and state as separate institutions so that we don't have wars in this country over religion (like they do in Ireland with Catholics and Protestants or in Iraq with Sunni's and Shiites). It demands I respect your right NOT to have an abortion if you don't want one, and NOT to indulge in gay sex if you don't want to, and to follow the teachings of your faith in the way you best understand them. It demands we all work "for the common defense, promote the general welfare and ensure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity" and on behalf of that, I am reaching out to you to find out how we can frame the debates on these things without heaping scorn and shame upon each other. No matter what the results of the November 2, 2004, election, I personally want all Americans to be proud of our country, and the way we run it.
I know I am already.
In Humble Sincerity, Ida M. Briggs
Why are you frightened? If you are principled and sincere, there is no need to fear. You certainly are in no physical danger.
Specifically, what makes you frightened?
I'm not going to get into any debates with you or with them about anything at this time; we'll see if you stick around or if you're just trolling for giggles to post over there.
I will say this: The vast majority of DUers claim that we are a hate site and have used the most vile insults, profanity and slander against us. I see no reason to speak to those people; they are beyond contempt. They play their infantile games at making up nicknames for Bush and comparing him to Hitler. They think every tragedy in the world was engineered by the BFEE or Karl Rove or Ashcroft. They are so bitter that they have, frankly, stopped being Americans a long, long time ago.
I once registered and posted on DU...one single post. It wasn't mean or mocking or insulting. I was instantly banned and flamed. To Hell with them all, they don't deserve civil discourse. If you want to hang out with them, more power to you. They suck. We don't. You are what you eat.
A sincere welcome, Ida. How can I contact you?
You are doing fine. You should not be banned ... nor should Ida as far as I am concerned. In fact, I'm wondering if JimRob should create a forum that allowed both sides to interact. I say that with some trepidation since some people (one both sides) clearly cannot.
Actually the problem arose from me punching-in whatever butchured form of the word that we both know I meant into Google as a spell-check (I'm the worse speller you'll ever know). Well...It came-up with what you see, and obviously, I didn't notice.
Can't win for losing!!!
That's all fun stuff. The troll stuff gets old. It's nothing but a bullying technique.
if you're unable to respond to this issue without making yourself look stupid, then don't respond...
Truth.
Welcome to FR, troll.
that analogy did not exist. if you saw it, it's because you wanted to see it.
umm... i think you meant "neutered"
neither homosexuality nor abortion are government-funded programs, so no problem then?
Hi, Ida. Nope, sorry, I can't "help you" out there. I have absolutely zero interest in having a "dialogue" with leftists of any stripe, particularly the DUmmy version. That filthy little sewer is the canker sore of the Internet, and is populated by the most hateful band of intellectual eunuchs you'll ever witness congregated in one place. You might seriously want to consider the loony company you're keeping over there--in particular check out the "LIHOP" and "MIHOP" threads; they're a classic example of paranoid imbecility. BTW, although your stay is apt to be a short one, welcome to FR.
Ida,
Not everyone that calls themselves a conservative is a fire breathing bible thumping maniac, regardless of what all your bretheren over at DU think, or what they are trying to brainwash you into believing.
I read DU daily and if I can convince you of any thing at all, it is that most of us conservatives are hard working red blooded americans,probably much like yourself.
If we were able to not label ourselves as liberal or conservative we would probably care much more about each other.
Unfortunatley, most of us can't get past the label!
I am an outdoorsman of the highest order and have voted Republican most of my life because they have always supported my hunting, fishing, shooting, and gun rights.
I worship the outdoors, the mountains and streams are my church. I know some of you will say the republicans are destroying the environment,but I think that statement is greatly over-egsagerrated! I feel the threat to me is greater from the anti- consumption crowd,the animal rights/Earth First bunch.
This issue is really the foremost reason I vote Republican!
I really don't care about the gay thing, I just think people need to keep their sex lives private.
the abortion thing? It is tragic when this is the final alternative. I however lean toward pro- choice.
Thank you for posting.
There NEEDS to be more Dialog!
Read down and laugh.
Gail, that was an incredible post.
May I copy it and use it to explain the conservative opinion to some in my own life that don't understand?
I couldn't say it better.
If it's okay, I will be certain to credit you with it.
Applying reverse psychology.
Rude? Make it a practice? Intimidate? Strong words.
Truth.
Truth, eh? "Make it a practice"? Look up my posting history. See if I make it a practice. No rude comments, or intimidation used. Just saying whats on my mind.
I gotcha pegged.
Posted by Mister Blond to O.C. - Old Cracker
On News/Activism 08/12/2004 3:41:34 PM CDT · 106 of 150
Trying to intimidate the newbie into submission by calling him a troll.
Bully ------> Old Cracker
That's all fun stuff. The troll stuff gets old. It's nothing but a bullying technique.
Interesting.
Sure, go ahead. It took me a long time to puzzle it out, but once I put it down here on FR it was just so simple. No high brow words, only simple ones any one can understand.
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