As I expressed in a previous post, I believe the words “bigot” and “judgmental” have become seriously overused. These words are often used against anyone with whom a person simply disagrees.
On the other hand, as with the word “racist” there are times when there is no better word to describe a person who lacks understanding and is grossly intolerant. While a person who simply feels more comfortable among people who share his ethnicity is not necessarily a racist, one who has an ignorant antipathy toward those unlike himself certainly deserves that label.
This principle can be applied to the term “bigot.” There are occasions when people absolutely deserve this label. This couldn’t be more true than in the case of Texas vs. the Fundamentalist LDS church.
If I were an unbiased observer, detached from the culture and mores of 21st century America, looking down at our mainstream American culture on one hand, and the FLDS church on the other, I would be hard pressed to condemn the values and behaviors of that church as compared to the values and behaviors of our mainstream culture. Texas law enforcement, family services, and the legal system are clearly the aggressors. Further, it is somewhat disingenuous that a culture as corrupt as ours has the audacity to judge the culture of a religious body in a nation that purports “freedom of religion.” It is not as if this is a group of terrorists threatening the existence of this nation. This body is, in fact totally opposite – exhibiting a meekness rivaling that of the Amish.
Texas family services and the other accusers say the poor women have been brainwashed. By whom? The leaders of their church? Is this any less true of devout believers in virtually any religion? So, are the men of the church, their leaders, brainwashed, too? Or are they teaching what they teach just for the sex? - this is what our perverted culture would lead us to believe. Or do they teach what they believe based on their faith? Students of polygamist cultures will attest that having multiple wives is no picnic. The practice has a sustaining purpose and comes with a great deal of responsibility and difficulty. Ask any serial polygamist of our mainstream culture if this isn’t true!
At the time of this posting, there is some evidence that the anonymous "16-year-old girl" who filed the accusation was a hoax. If this is true, it becomes even more clear that there have been aggregious civil rights violations with the purpose of sticking the nose of the the fox in the hen house door. The state of Texas is going to have to float a huge bond issue to fund this legal debacle.
This is a situation where the prevailing culture lacks understanding (ignorance) and lacks tolerance (prejudice) of a religious group and seeks to disrupt and eliminate their religious system. This is fundamentalist bigotry.
Showing posts with label bigot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bigot. Show all posts
Friday, April 18, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Crying "judgmental" without being judgmental
That is an interesting trick.
Bigot: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.
Just about anyone who has an opinion about a person, a religion, or a behavior is called a bigot nowadays. Oddly, this phenomenon more often than not results in the name caller becoming as much of a bigot as the accused. Either that or the term is overused and misapplied.
For example, if you provide indisputable evidence that the preponderance of terrorist acts are conducted by Muslims based on their Koranic scripture, you will be called a bigot, intolerant, or judgmental.
If you point out Jeremiah Wright’s numerous racist, inflammatory, and anti-American statements, you will be called a bigot.
If a presidential candidate states facts to bring to light contrasting positions of other candidates that are believed to be inferior to his own, he will either be accused of being a bigot or, at best, a negative campaigner.
Expressing any critical opinion about an individual or group or about their behavior is more politically incorrect than any time I can recall in the past 50 years. Calling someone a bigot has recently overtaken the overuse of the word judgmental!
What has happened to the ability of people in this country to express intellectually honest statements and opinions? Name calling, whether referring to someone as a bigot or judgmental is chilling to free speech and legitimate communications. Since when has it become inappropriate to speak accurate opinions, facts, and truth?
If you have a strong opinion about someone or something, and express it, chances are you will be called a bigot or judgmental. If you say you will not tolerate an individual's or group's bad or threatening behavior, you will be called a bigot or judgmental. What is wrong with being distrustful of Islamists when 99% of all terrorist activity is conducted by Islamists? And the "moderates" among them barely denounce this fact. Historically, that "judgement" has been characterized as "wise discernment." But no, not in today's lexicon. If you are “discerning” about the actions of an individual or a group, and express the basis for your discernment, you will be labeled a bigot or judgmental.
Bottom line. Our rabidly politically confused (the word "correct" should be replaced by the word "confused") culture has declared that there is no distinction between right and wrong. We shall not bring to anyone’s attention any distinction between right and wrong. Anyone who attempts to draw such a distinction will be chastised as either a bigot or judgmental.
You know what I’m thinkin’? I’m thinkin’ that anyone who labels any of my comments as bigoted or judgmental can go stick it. Why? Without things we can believe in as right, true, preferable, and desirable, as compared to things that are wrong, false, to be avoided, or undesirable, we are in deep trouble as individuals, as a community, as a culture and as a country. Without deeply held, well founded values that are worthy of defending, promoting, and contrasting with competing and opposing values, we might as well roll up the sidewalks and turn off the lights. Not everyone who has an opinion is a bigot.
What about those who do the name calling? What about the Muslims who accuse those who point out the violent acts of Muslims of being a bigot?
What about defenders of Jeremiah Wright who accuse those who point out his many racist, inflammatory, and anti-American statements of being a bigot?
What are these name callers up to? Can you see through their name calling? Are they being intellectually honest? Are they so desperately committed to the indefensible that they lose touch with rational thought? Or don’t care?
Keep that great probability in mind the next time you either hear someone making the accusation of “bigot” or “judgmental” or if you consider making those accusations yourself.
In too many instances (not all) such name calling makes the accuser one.
And, by the way, these are just fact-based opinions we're expressing. No need for name calling, like "judgemental" and "bigot." Chill! A person can't open his mouth today without some overly sensitive ass complaining and name calling.
Oops. Did I just say that? Good. I feel better.
Bigot: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.
Just about anyone who has an opinion about a person, a religion, or a behavior is called a bigot nowadays. Oddly, this phenomenon more often than not results in the name caller becoming as much of a bigot as the accused. Either that or the term is overused and misapplied.
For example, if you provide indisputable evidence that the preponderance of terrorist acts are conducted by Muslims based on their Koranic scripture, you will be called a bigot, intolerant, or judgmental.
If you point out Jeremiah Wright’s numerous racist, inflammatory, and anti-American statements, you will be called a bigot.
If a presidential candidate states facts to bring to light contrasting positions of other candidates that are believed to be inferior to his own, he will either be accused of being a bigot or, at best, a negative campaigner.
Expressing any critical opinion about an individual or group or about their behavior is more politically incorrect than any time I can recall in the past 50 years. Calling someone a bigot has recently overtaken the overuse of the word judgmental!
What has happened to the ability of people in this country to express intellectually honest statements and opinions? Name calling, whether referring to someone as a bigot or judgmental is chilling to free speech and legitimate communications. Since when has it become inappropriate to speak accurate opinions, facts, and truth?
If you have a strong opinion about someone or something, and express it, chances are you will be called a bigot or judgmental. If you say you will not tolerate an individual's or group's bad or threatening behavior, you will be called a bigot or judgmental. What is wrong with being distrustful of Islamists when 99% of all terrorist activity is conducted by Islamists? And the "moderates" among them barely denounce this fact. Historically, that "judgement" has been characterized as "wise discernment." But no, not in today's lexicon. If you are “discerning” about the actions of an individual or a group, and express the basis for your discernment, you will be labeled a bigot or judgmental.
Bottom line. Our rabidly politically confused (the word "correct" should be replaced by the word "confused") culture has declared that there is no distinction between right and wrong. We shall not bring to anyone’s attention any distinction between right and wrong. Anyone who attempts to draw such a distinction will be chastised as either a bigot or judgmental.
You know what I’m thinkin’? I’m thinkin’ that anyone who labels any of my comments as bigoted or judgmental can go stick it. Why? Without things we can believe in as right, true, preferable, and desirable, as compared to things that are wrong, false, to be avoided, or undesirable, we are in deep trouble as individuals, as a community, as a culture and as a country. Without deeply held, well founded values that are worthy of defending, promoting, and contrasting with competing and opposing values, we might as well roll up the sidewalks and turn off the lights. Not everyone who has an opinion is a bigot.
What about those who do the name calling? What about the Muslims who accuse those who point out the violent acts of Muslims of being a bigot?
What about defenders of Jeremiah Wright who accuse those who point out his many racist, inflammatory, and anti-American statements of being a bigot?
What are these name callers up to? Can you see through their name calling? Are they being intellectually honest? Are they so desperately committed to the indefensible that they lose touch with rational thought? Or don’t care?
Keep that great probability in mind the next time you either hear someone making the accusation of “bigot” or “judgmental” or if you consider making those accusations yourself.
In too many instances (not all) such name calling makes the accuser one.
And, by the way, these are just fact-based opinions we're expressing. No need for name calling, like "judgemental" and "bigot." Chill! A person can't open his mouth today without some overly sensitive ass complaining and name calling.
Oops. Did I just say that? Good. I feel better.
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