To: jim35
No, it's rude for other people to prohibit Christians from publicly espousing their religion. Do you believe that it is appropriate behavior to discuss your religious beliefs with perfect strangers, at any time, in any place? Common courtesy dictates that you do not use your power (such as the power held by this pilot) to espouse your views to a captive audience, especially when a reasonable person would know that people are nervous about flying these days and that anything out of the ordinary might really frighten people.
If this had been a muslim, I would have been very shocked about it, because we're at war with muslims. That would have been inappropriate on a completely different level, one of patriotism. Any other religion would have been ok, though.
That's the inherent weakness in your position- you have no problem with hearing this pilot's Christian message because it does not bother you. You are bothered by a Muslim message, however. What about those passengers on the flight who might be bothered by a Christian message?
I'm not against what this guy said, I'm against the context in which he said it.
146 posted on
02/10/2004 11:46:58 AM PST by
Modernman
("When you want to fool the world, tell the truth." -Otto von Bismarck)
To: Modernman
I'm not against what this guy said, I'm against the context in which he said it.Several people have tried on this thread to point out this concept to jim35, but I don't think he's willing to accept this as a plausible explanation as to why this event shouldn't have happened.
149 posted on
02/10/2004 11:55:30 AM PST by
Born Conservative
("Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names" - John F. Kennedy)
To: Modernman
"...Do you believe that it is appropriate behavior to discuss your religious beliefs with perfect strangers, at any time, in any place?..."
Just what is it about religious speech that frightens people so much? That makes them so uncomfortable? If he'd started talking about his house, or his furniture, would that have been prohibited also? After all, it doesn't fall under the category of "accepted pilot speech" either. I'm amazed that Freepers, of all people, can't see the secularist movement to eliminate free religious expression from the public dialogue, or you even openly advocate it. Sure, the company can prevent your religious speech to a degree if you're an employee, but the fact that you're on board with this loss of a basic freedom is quite disturbing. "Any time any place...?" I hope when your particular type of speech is squelched, that you take it this well. And you, modernman, now espouse the belief that ANY person should keep mum about religion, except at some particular time or place. So who decideds what time or place? Business? Governmental speech police? The ACLU?
"...What about those passengers on the flight who might be bothered by a Christian message?..."
There is a simple matter of right vs wrong. Just because both would be a type of religious speech, doesn't mean that they are equal. Muslims are at war with America, Christians are not. The difference is easy to see. Any religious speech in public that is not the utterances of our blood enemies is acceptable. Before 9/11, it would have been ok for muslims, too. But now we're at war. Remember? You seem to be in the camp of those who believe that their right not to be offended supercedes the right of others to speak freely. This is a very dangerous precedent.
"...I'm not against what this guy said, I'm against the context in which he said it..."
Sure, sure. That's what they always say when they take away your right to speak out. The reasonable voice of the judge of all men will soothe your fears, until it's your ox that's being gored.
184 posted on
02/11/2004 10:08:56 AM PST by
jim35
(A third party vote is a vote for the DemocRATs.)
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