Free speech and assembly or not

[piece-itpete]

As far as I know D you are absolutely correct, the GP folks did not actively insult the drunken Irish firemen.

I'd be happy to talk to the Phelps crowd.

Pete

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Other posters are more than tempted to mock Christians just for being Christian

I don't agree at all and, unless you believe these people's actions to be legitimate expressions of religious faith, I doubt that you do either.

I grew up in a house of strong Christian faith. Not one of the priest, nuns or laity I encountered, some of which I came to know quite well, would view these actions as anything other than expressions of hatred and intolerance.

I never heard any of these committed and dedicated people of faith ever utter a single word that was unaccepting and disrespectful of those of a different faith or the faiths that they espoused. All that has changed. Just as in our political mess, religion has become a team sport in this country. If you're on the "wrong" team, watch out!

John

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Actually, no. Dearborn is predominantly Arab but the majority of the Arab population is Christian. Same with Toledo, I believe.



Dave, did you see what these "Christians" were doing? Are you aware that this isn't the first year in which they've targeted this festival? This isn't about religious toleration, at least not from the Arab or Muslim side. These demonstrators are nothing but hate merchants, only slightly less horrible than the Phelps people. Do you believe that the Phelpses are deserving of any degree of "religious tolerance"?

John

Actually, as much as I despise the Phelps group.....yes, I believe they have a right to be idiots, even in public. So long as they don't break into or seek to incite violence. Oftentime other groups, such as veterans groups show up to stand peacefully between them and the objects of their ire. And, I am fine with that too.

I don't think we are as far in disagreement as you may think, John. I see them as "merchants of hate" who were only motivated by their desire to stir up some crap too. Anti-Muslim or Anti-Arab makes little difference to me. They showed up with the obvious intent to incite passions and violence, which some on the Arab side gave them, unfortunately. The police stepped in to quell the violence. That is as it should be.

However, to claim that there isn't any religious intolerance in the Muslim community is a bit naive, IMHO. I am sure there were some present who were more than happy to oblige the incitation to violence.

BTW, That Miss Arab America is pretty darn sweet lookin'.

Dave

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

If you read the article, it was a minority. The vast majority were not hate merchants, and I'm sure the vast majority of arabs aren't either. Of course in a great part of the ME the Christians would be jailed at best.

However I'll be happy to paint the entire left with the actions of a handful of kooks

John you are right, I believe they are 'Chaldean' (sp?) arabs.

Pete

I'll remember this for the next time we hear of some union members, or OWS zealots misbehaving.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

If you read the article, it was a minority.

The way I read it, the confrontational and disrespectful behavior was general and, most importantly, the purpose of the demonstration to begin with.

Of course in a great part of the ME the Christians would be jailed at best.

So what? Are we to hold ourselves to the same low standard?

John you are right, I believe they are 'Chaldean' (sp?) arabs.

Pete

Yes, and Maronites, Copts and numerous Orthodox denominations. There has always been a strong Christian influence in the Middle East, both through the work of the Evangelists and the Eastern Roman Empire.

Of course, that didn't stop the Crusaders from massacring them too. Given our treatment of them then and now, it astonishes me that there are any Christians left in the region.

John

[piece-itpete]

Thought you might like that Dave

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

...Oftentime other groups, such as veterans groups show up to stand peacefully between them and the objects of their ire. ...

I LOVE those guys, and have contributed to them.

John I understand. We see it more and more too. You can always tell the real Christians, they're quietly speaking to someone, anyone (regardless of appearance), not shouting foul slogans or holding decapitated pig heads (oxymoron? ). We wouldn't be TRYING to offend people! Great way to convert them I wonder if me calling them morons makes me bad?

The Big Guy did say we'd always be a little flock

I wonder, as society as a whole gets cruder and cruder, can violence be far behind?

Pete

[BlueStreak]

"Peacefully demonstrating".

Did you get a load of those signs?

"Muslims are nothing but BOMBERS and THIEVES!"

"WARNING: America is a CHRISTIAN NATION!............"

Yeah, that was simply meant to advance the teachings of Jesus Christ. Nothing inflammatory to be found there.

Dave

[d-ray657]

It was one group that was doing the hate spewing, and there were some folks proselytizing in a much more respectful manner. The article mentioned one person wearing a t-shirt that said I heart Muslims.

We are going to find dunderheads in all groups. I would imagine that there are even some Methodist dunderheads.

Regards,

D-Ray

[BlueStreak]

Still.

Consider this, concerning even the well meaning.

Your community decides to have a festival, you take your kids there for a day of fun and family time. A group of Jews, Muslims, Bhuddists or whoever, assuming everyone in the crowd is Christian because they're all white with maybe a few blacks, shows up to "prosletyze" and "save" everyone from Christianity..................

You're going to find this rather annoying (Not to mention; Arrogant.) at the least.....Aren't you?

Dave

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

It was one group that was doing the hate spewing, and there were some folks proselytizing in a much more respectful manner. The article mentioned one person wearing a t-shirt that said I heart Muslims.

We are going to find dunderheads in all groups. I would imagine that there are even some Methodist dunderheads.

Regards,

D-Ray

For Pete's sake I'll agree but far fewer Methodists are to be found being disrespectful of others, we walk on water...