Re: political correctness slops across the spectrum--whipping up strife in the season of peace...


"Timothy Travis" <qspirit@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ip1kn19s66mggi7pm09kf0ecdb8t3tgjbl@xxxxxxxxxx

[snip]

I think that Mr. O'Reilly sometimes says things in a very inflammatory way,
and I completely agree with you that he is being disingeneous when he
implies that he is reporting news. That said, an inflammatory style does
not imply that there is no truth underlying it. I do agree that our society
in general has become hypersensitive, particularly where public displays of
faith are concerned. It's one thing to be concerned about the government
endorsing such things. It's quite another when the government has nothing
to do with.

As a Christian, I do not become agitated by public displays of the crescent
moon or the menorah. It would be silly for me to do so, in my opinion. I
am aware of the fact that there are many people who do not share my
religious views, and I do not feel at all threatened by the existence of
such people or their expressions of faith. In this same vein, I do not feel
that non-Christians are justified in becoming so agitated at the tangential
mention of Christianity during a holiday that is firmly established in the
culture (to the extent that it is hardly a religious one anymore!) Next
thing we'll hear how offensive the public display of the word 'Easter' is.
We'll just call it the "Spring Festival' from now on...

I think there is among some Christians resentment in what they perceive as a
double standard. I do not agree with them, but I also feel that there is
some kernel of truth in their perception. I personally have been in a group
that goes out of it's way to be accepting to Buddhist expressions of faith,
Muslim expressions of faith, etc. That is a good thing. Unfortunately,
Christian expressions of faith, expressed in a completely non-judgemental
and non-presumptous way, tend to draw funny looks and sometimes even thinly
veiled hostility. That is not such a good thing.

Many people hold resentments (sometimes subconsciously) toward Christianity
in general as a result of unpleasant experiences with it in their personal
lives. This is certainly understandable. It is not, however, somehow less
wrong-minded than other forms of prejudice simply by virtue of it's target
being so culturally pervasive. For example, it is no better than harboring
ill-will towards all Muslims because of the actions of a few extremists,
understandable as such sentiments may be.

In my opinion it is evidence of an underlying prejudice against a group when
someone becomes offended by the symbols or expressions of that group. That
is usually a bad thing, regardless of whether the group in question are
blacks, Muslims, Jews, Irish, Christians, Buddhists, etc. I am morally
compelled to not hold malicious intent towards someone who is expressing
their prejudice, as I feel compelled in general to put away malice. I do
not feel morally compelled to be overly sensitive to other people's
prejudices, no matter what form they happen to come in.

Scott




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