Posted on 05/18/2013 9:42:08 AM PDT by ducttape45
I got an interesting port on my Facebook page. Yes, I still have one that I use to keep up with friends and family, but it is quickly becoming very adversarial. I'll let the comments below speak for themselves.
Let me know what you think.
I have all my family, including all my in-laws on Facebook because I want to stay close to everyone while I'm far away. Please remember, when you're posting dozens of political articles on Facebook, that every member on Kayla's side of the family sees it, and we live in a world of many different opinions. It's very uncomfortable for me. The lack of moderation. I mentioned it before, you know as well as I, the old saying about keeping religion and politics on the hush around coworkers and extended family. Well it means even less nowadays, but the point still has merit. Please keep helping me maintain a courteous atmosphere. I like to see us all joke and stay fun, not getting edgy with clashing opinions flooding the news feed every day.
You know, Im reminded of the picture of the ostrich sticking his head in the sand. Come to find out that old adage is not true at all. According to Dr. Karl from the ABC Science website (http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2006/11/02/1777947.htm)
The ostrich is, now found only in parts of Africa, is the largest known bird. It stands up to 2.4 metres high and 155 kg in weight. Ostrich farmers are attracted to the durable ostrich leather, lovely saleable feathers, lean meat and extremely high feed-to-weight-gain ratio (3.5 to 1, much better than cattle at 6 to 1). If scared, the ostrich can run at up to 65 kph. Its kick is powerful enough to bend 10 mm steel rods into right angles, and can easily break a human leg. The ostrich uses its wings for balance (when running) and for courtship and display, when its not batting its thick black eyelashes.
Ostriches have three main strategies when attacked. They can run away, they can kick, or they can try to hide (eg, when nursing the eggs). When hiding, they will sometimes lay flat on the ground, with the long neck and head also on the ground. In the rippling heat haze of their native Africa, they can look just like a grassy mound.
There is one interesting ostrich behaviour that comes close to burying their head in the sand. When ostriches feed, they sometimes lay their head flat on the ground to swallow sand and pebbles. The hard grit helps them to grind their food in their crop. From a distance, the ostrich looks like its burying its head in the sand.
Hence, the myth about an ostrich sticking his head in the sand is just that, a myth. And just an ostrich doesnt stick his head in the sand when danger approaches, neither should we. You dont want me to post articles that have political or religious content because youre afraid of what relatives and family members will see and think. Youre afraid that they will probably be offended, and that politics and religion are two subjects that are best not broached. They are live hand grenades waiting to go off. Am I too far from the truth?
Yet, both topics are of the utmost importance in this day and age. Religion has become a joke, and politics has become an even bigger joke because of the unbridled corruption now taking place on Capitol Hill. Its bad enough that the current president has lied in every way imaginable and is the worst president ever to step foot in the White House (see article entitled The Worst President Ever, http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/55287) but the leaders within the so-called Christian community who are supposed to be warning us about the impending doom of the nation are totally silent, with the exception of just a few (Brannon Howse, John MacArthur, Usama Dakdok just to name a few). This is in direct opposition to Biblical teachings as found in Ezekiel 33, and is embodied in the Sadducees and Pharisees talked about in Jesus discourse found in Matthew 22:23 23:39. Jesus even went so far as to refer to those religious teachers in Matthew 23:33 in this way, Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? The words serpent and viper literally mean poisonous snake, and even allude to their allegiance with Satan.
Matthew, no matter what, I am duty bound to tell the truth about the current social, political and religious environment of the USA. Your future, and the future of every person I know and love, are at stake. With politicians purposely putting over 11,000,000 people out of work because of socialist policies, with religious leaders purposely putting untold billions into hell because they sold out to a more pleasing, non-confrontational teaching, and to elementary, junior high, high school, and university teachers tearing down the proud Judeo/Christian standards upon which this nation was built, the people we know and love are at a crossroads, and so is the nation. Do we continue to be non-confrontational on social interaction websites because we want everyone to be all lovey dovey, or do we try and steer them in the right direction, back towards truth, honor, integrity and lovingkindness yet all the while not compromising truth? I opt for the latter.
Look at what my brother Chris just said in response to one of my posts! Hes reveling in the fact that Obamas IRS is attacking conservative and Christian organizations while letting liberal organizations that believe in their agenda get off scot-free! Hes become what Lenin called a useful idiot, which is a derogatory term for people perceived as propagandists for a cause whose goals they do not understand, and who are used cynically by the leaders of the cause. (Hey, sometimes Wikipedia gets it right!)
Im going to close with this scripture from Galatians 4:1-16, "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Ask yourself that question. Have I, your father who is very proud of you and Kayla, who loves you more than you could ever know, now become your enemy because I dare to speak the truth???
I cancelled my Facebook account three months ago for this reason. Facebook and Twitter have become liberal cesspools for angry people with too much time on their hands.
Politics on family Facebook feeds is horribly annoying - unless everyone is in agreement. If your family has widely differing views, maybe just use an email list for anything that’s bound to cause family strife. Or have another account for politics. There is a time and a place for everything.
Ditch facebook. If you have to censor yourself it’s just not worth it. The left certainly does NOT censor themselves on facebook or twitter or any other social media. They just want YOU to shut up.
I know for a fact if I turned lefty my dad would call the lawyers and disown me in a heartbeat. Why leave me stuff knowing i’d just use it against his beliefs? Makes no sense.
5.56mm
Speak the truth to your relatives, and you will lose them as friends. In their eyes, 0bamao can do no wrong. He is perfect. He is holy. To speak anything against him or any of his administration is blasphemy of the highest order. To reject 0bamao’s handing the Medical Industry to the IRS and the unions is a sacrilege for which you shall be shunned, at the very least, and perhaps reported to the IRS by your own family and neighbors.
They will not listen.
They will never blame 0bamao, even if they are marched to stand in front of the long trenches for their mass executions. They will never get it. Many loyal Nazis and Communists died in exactly the same manner, believing in the Cause, right to the end, even though it was costing their very lives and the lives of their loved ones.
Always be yourself and speak the truth — some may learn from it and the ones who don’t are beyond reach.
In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
I had a pretty intense set of discussions with a lot of folks on gun control legislation. What I did was made sure all the articles I posted were really factual, but not what the MSM was discussing. I would then add (with links) studies or specific legislative language and point out the real world problems with the proposed gun control legislation. Whenever I got left wing talking points, I would take the time to research them and respectively point out (with links for documentation) why those positions really didn't seem to hold water.
I also when out of my way to “like” and agree with some comments, say that I would like the objective of reduced gun violence, but that I could not support this legislation because off what it would do and because it would not reduce gun violence and the money required could be used elsewhere to make a difference in people's live.
Ultimately, I turned a couple of people's opinions around, I gave a lot of folks reasons to understand why some would object to a universal background check as a caring human being and not some evil “gun nut.” I did have one friend “unfriend me.”
In addition to adding facts to the conversation and going out of your way to like and complement people on good points, my suggestion is to make sure your Facebook comments are “balanced.” For every heavy political articles have two article on science or medical breakthroughs that are interesting and important. Also have a couple of posts of things you are doing or pictures.
People look to Facebook not as a news-filter like Free Republic, but as social media, where they keep in touch with people who are important to them. They don't want to be lectured, but if they respect you, they do want to know what you think is important.
So the third key is balance. Good luck.
I would suggest in the interest of family leaving the last part out - besides, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Better to say that the IRS scandal is one example of exactly why so many conservatives want the scope of government power limited to the powers enumerated in the Constitution, and nothing else. Something like:
"Imagine President Sarah Palin or President Rand Paul using the IRS to attack those who oppose their values, starting right after the 2016 election. Those who react differently to that hypothetical than to the reality of Obama attacking conservatives, Jews, and those who are pro-life should consider whether the current situation might set an undesirable precedent, not to mention considering whether human rights should depend on whether the individual agrees with the views favored by the White House."
I got blocked on FB(by a 30 year family friend, no less) just for liking and commenting on conservative pages.
I still have face book but I know all the lib friends have blocked a long time ago. I’ve had so called friends and family drop me but I still keep posting my thoughts and news articles. Screw them, I won’t back down.
I have never used Facebook, so I’m unfamiliar with how it works. Generally speaking, however, I would continuing speaking the truth, but I’m just that way.
A man like Obama could not be president, indeed a party like the modern Democratic party could not even exist, if we, as a individual citizens of this nation, were faithful to the Scriptures. And, as much as I hate to say it, were we faithful as a people, the GOP would not look much like it does either. At the root of every one of the issues that have so divided our country is sin and theological rot, so I stand up for biblical truth. I am circumspect about my approach, but I will never cower and pretend all is okay when I know it’s not. I’m sure not going to pretend to support a man like Obama (or even Mitt Romney). For the sake of family harmony I am unwilling to pretend to support the agendas of wicked men.
Thankfully, my immediate family believe as I believe. They are born-again Christians who share my worldview, or that of Brannon Howse and John MacArthur. But we have relatives involved in post-Christian mainline denominations and even cults. It’s not surprising that they have been sucked in to the things of this world and the systems of this world. They are easily duped by politicians and media. Their way of thinking is a product of their lostness. Romans 1 speaks of men who deny God until they are given over to a reprobate mind. I know many like that, unfortunately it appears some are in my extended family. I pity them and I will never stop telling them the truth just to make them comfortable in their sin, in their lostness. I won’t pretend everything is fine. I just can’t. Often silence is an indication of tacit agreement. And feigned agreement is a lie. I have worked hard on telling hard truths with tact and grace—I’ve got a long way to go.
I’m reminded of what the Apostle Paul said to the Ephesian elders. He told them that he had held nothing profitable from them and that “I am innocent of the blood of all men.” I can’t influence all men, but I can sure speak to those in my family, the people I love, so I speak up, even when they don’t like it. In the end I would rather be divided by the truth than united by lies.
I can’t tell which part of this is your son’s and which part is yours. If it is your FB page, say what you have to say, and let others take it or leave it. But remember that someday they may change their minds about the Won. Make sure you give them the space to do that, both for their sake and for yours.
Whenever Rush gets a “conversion” call, he always says “Welcome to the family.” For you it might be “welcome back” or, better, “were you gone?” Just don’t close the door.
Will they understand scripture used in your response? If not, then perhaps tuning it with words that mean the same but understandable to the ignorant.
Yes, tell them the truth, it will be best in the long run. After the word wounds heal, they may learn something or spark something in their souls that has been laying dormant for years.
I post a lot of stuff on my page and I get complaints. I just keep doing it.
My guess is that when your son and family begin to read your long message, it will be like the Peanuts characters hearing wanh, wanh, wanh when adults speak to them. I’m a truth teller, and I am direct, but sometimes it becomes counterproductive. What is the point, if the result is throwing more bricks on the ever-widening wall between you?
I suggest a change of strategy. Be a pragmatist. Do what works. Surprise them with brevity and a change of tone. It will be an act of respect for your son. I believe he poured his heart out to you as an act of love. He wants balance between you and his wife and her family. If forced to choose, he will choose her.
Meanwhile, continue your study of issues, and be prepared with verifiable facts when a “teachable moment” arises with your son, preferably in person. Listen, then teach. He’s beyond the point where a lecture works, if it ever did.
Short and sweet is best in such a situation in my experience. Tell him you love him and nothing will ever change that, but he has to know that you politely disagree with the political postings, and likely many other family member do, too. Maybe the overtly political stuff could be routed through a different channel and you’ll agree to do the same?
So he is essentially saying “I love the thought of the one dimensional you - the one I can imagine to please meself. The real you is an affront to me. Please keep you beliefs and opinions to yourself.”
Why all the drama and hand wringing? Its your page, post what you want. If others don’t like it, they can block you. Anyone who tries to pick fights or “gets offended” is just being a bully pure and simple. Best way to deal is just stand up to them. No sense in crying because the “unfriended” you, they weren’t your friend to start! My friends post all kinds of crap, but it doesn’t bother me, I just keep scrolling. Anyone who can’t manage that doesn’t need to be on facebook, or be your “friend”. Tell your kid to grow some balls and stand up to lib bullies. If its hard now on facebook, it’s not going to get any easier.
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