I have discovered the joys
of “blogging;” although, being a linguistic purist, the term does
not fit well on my keyboard just yet. (Is not “weblog” or, even
better, “web log” preferable?) However, I digress.
Earlier this week, I came
across, via a relative’s web log, a link to the log of someone,
with whom I had a religious discussion years ago. Back then, we
agreed on some religious aspects but disagreed on others. Still yet,
I found the young man polite, objective, lucid in thought, and
willing to consider other viewpoints. Despite our disagreements, we
had a hearty respect for each other. Therefore, having found his web
log serendipitously, I looked forward to stirring the pot again, by
having the type of direct but open-minded exchange that we had years
before.
To my disappointment,
however, I discovered sadly that this good man has boiled in the stew
of liberal opinion too long, for the vital nutrients of discussion
(i.e., objectivity, courtesy, and logic) have evaporated in the
steam.
Please feel free to visit
his site yourself (www.daffodillane.com).
He has a lovely family, and many of the postings, by his wife and
him, are on that topic, but they careen recklessly down the road of
political opinion also.
For example, the following
is a sample of my friend’s current ingredients, referring either to
Republicans or to the Republican Party. To him, Republicans: are
“amoral monsters,” “hate America,” are “without values,”
seek to “destroy our Constitution,” wish to bring about
“slavery,” cause “tyranny,” are not “real Americans,” are
“godless Republican animals,” “seek America’s destruction,”
are “hypocrites,” have an “amoral Republican ideology,” are
“radical America hating Republicans,” are “dumb,” are a
“disgraceful people,” are “vile,” have a “simplistic view
of the world,” are “evil,” are “worthless cowards,” are a
“racist hate group,” are “morally bankrupt,” are “moronic”
and “stupid,” and, finally, “[undermine] our way of life.”
He also adds that
Republicans (1) seek to “allow children to starve to death and want
to throw the elderly out in the streets;” (2) ”are too weak
morally and mentally to be allowed to hold office in this country;”
(3) “are [sic] danger to our way of life;” (4) “[work]
night and day to destroy the country;” (5) “only represent a
narrow group of radical extremists;” (6) “hate Americans and
especially the poor;” and (7) seek to “[eliminate] the freedom of
the press.”
Furthermore, he adds that
“corruption is the core defining value of the Republican [sic]
party” and that “there are no limits to Republican incompetence
and ignorance.” Finally, he concludes, “the Republican [sic]
party is the devil's concubine.”
In addition, he labels
Christians, by his definition, as a “radical religious minority”
(emphasis his). He states: “The
Republicans have capitalized on [their agenda] by working within the
most radical of the churches and encouraging the new version of the
Christian Identity movement to flourish which has labeled itself the
born again movement.”
Obviously, my friend is
good at casting insults and engaging in ad hominem attacks, but his
postings are woefully lacking of logical reasoning and objective
proof to support his comments.
I feel as if I should
apologize for placing this smelly stew on your plates, for I should
have just tossed it into the garbage. I decided to write about this
man’s web log, however, to illustrate the digression of the liberal
mind. Years ago, the ingredients for the stew were there, but they
were fresh. The young man was courteous, well reasoned, and open to
divergent dialogue, despite his liberal, secular leanings. Now,
having boiled in the liberal pot for years, the ingredients have
putrefied. The man is blinded by his bias and closed to disagreement.
Such is often the destination of the liberal journey.
Granted, we conservatives,
too, can be closed-minded and biased. We cook our own stews at times
also. The striking point of contrast, however, is that the secular
liberal takes pride in his tolerance. “We must be tolerant,” he
says. This tolerance, however, often ends at the border of his own
views and agenda. Tolerance means that you must accept his belief,
not that he is willing to accept yours.
Instead of using
intellectual reason, the secular liberal often looks down his nose
with disdain at the “unenlightened and ignorant” conservative
before him. Emotion, not reason, holds sway, as the secularist
brushes aside facts to affirm his own perceptions.
In conclusion, biblical
conservatives have nothing to fear in secular liberals, such as my
friend from years ago. They will only persuade those with whom they
already agree.
I suggest that my friend
learn how to eat from his own kitchen, before he tries to serve his
stew to others.
What say you?
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