Politics and Forgiving

[bunnyjadwiga]

The day after the Amish School shootings in Nickel Mines, an lj-friend of mine was unfortunate enough to post a link to a piece of religious-right propaganda about school shootings that's been going around for the past couple of years. (I was, to put in bluntly, rabid in denouncing that document.)

The religious right is still using that propaganda, claiming that it is the dissolution of the moral fiber in this country, especially as evidenced by the 'removal' of the Christian God from the schools, that causes these things. In fact, anti-abortion activist, and father of one of the Columbine victims, Brian Rohrbough went on the air at CBS in the wake of the Amish School shootings to advance that theory. I don't find any evidence that he ever apologized to those whose tragedy he had used-- the victims' families or the shooter's family. A flash presentation from American Family Radio still uses it: "We Kicked God out of the Schools" http://www.afr.net/newafr/wekickedgodout.asp .

But while they still talk on the news about Columbine, Virginia Tech, and a multitude of other schools, they don't mention Lancaster County or Nickel Mines. In fact, the Religious Right want people to forget the shootings at Nickel Mines. They don't fit the pattern, you see.

Not only were both victims and shooter Christian and Christian-educated, in a Christian community, but the families of the Amish victims did what Christians are supposed to do. They forgave. They supported and comforted the family of the shooter.

I just wish I could forgive what was done by the conservative media with the situation.

Comments

[bytchearse.livejournal.com]

Me too, hon. Me too. :-(

[thatpotteryguy.livejournal.com]

I, on the other hand, not being a "good Christian", feel no compulsion whatsoever to forgive. And I won't.

[spikywheel.livejournal.com]

I being a "good Christian" can't STAND what the far right wing does. there are so many places in the Bible that tell us to turn the other cheek, do unto others, serve, lead by example, etc.

Why does that always seem to be forgotten?

[luscious-purple.livejournal.com]

*nods*

MHO on your LJ ;-)

[bytchearse.livejournal.com]

I'd like to think that when Jesus does return he's gonna look at all these nutballs using His name and say "Who are you?"

JMHO/IMBFOS

BTW, you are doing a wonderful job by example. Hopefully see ya in a few weeks?

[susannaknits.livejournal.com]

Personally, I was appalled by the media coverage of the Amish school shootings - I remember seeing footage where the grandfather of several of the victims was outdoors at some ridiculously still-dark hour of the morning, and the news crew was pestering him with questions, despite his obvious discomfort with being filmed. And photos in our local paper of women with bowed heads along a fence next to the school - I remember being horrified that these women were there trying to grieve and had to hide their faces from cameras because of the media's blatant lack of respect for either their privacy or their religious beliefs.

But that's a different soapbox altogether. My personal opinion is that pretty much any religion can be taken to extremes, and those out there on the edges are rarely following the spirit of what they think they believe in. See also numerous examples of religious persecution throughout history.

[erikthedane.livejournal.com]

You know, it just makes me wanna throw up my hands.

"Fine. You self-righteous fuckers are absolutely, 100% correct. I'm going to Hell, but at least I won't be stuck with you prigs for eternity"

Organized religion....what's the point?

[northernwalker]

The Christian Right tends to inspire two reactions in me: "I don't like your God." and "Jesus is probably hiding under the bed wailing 'I died for *this*?!?!'"

More clogging :-D

[bytchearse.livejournal.com]

I like the belief that Jesus was a Teacher, like Buddha and Mohammed. "Here, let me show you a good path to follow, by my own example. No, wait...No don't follow ME, follow my example. Aw Crap."

The teachings IMHO are sound, it's the followers of these teachers who screwed it up!

bolts of lightening

[stefsoap.livejournal.com]

"It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightening." -- Calvin and Hobbes

I think the right wing Christians have studied at the Microsoft-Lord Voldemort school of marketing something so much better than the actual product.

And I maintain the hope that (though not an astrology expert) the Age of Pisces gives its final death throws and we move more into the Age of Aquarius.