I'm a muller. For those of you who may not understand this, it means I tend to mull things over, think about them before I speak. Which is partly why I am just now writing about this post from the Lovely Cats. But partly, it's because so many people have been so offensive recently that every time I thought I was ready to post something, I'd have more to mull.
As anyone who has read this blog for any length of time or has known me for longer than about three minutes can tell you, I'm big into freedoms. Big. I self-identify not as a part of any political party but as a Constitutionalist. Have you ever read the Bill of Rights? It's damn good stuff.
And it's also tricky. See, it's easy to extend freedoms to people with whom we agree and who are smart enough, wise enough, intelligent enough, whatever enough to agree with us. And it's easy to put up with people with whom we don't agree and who aren't enough those things to agree with us so long as they keep their mouths shut and only mutter under their breaths or talk in private.
But is that freedom?
The Lovely Cats has brought freedom of religion to the forefront so I'm putting aside the other issues (for now ~ you may have noticed this is "Pt. 1") and looking at that.
Amendment One of the Constitution of the United States of America: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... Commonly known as "freedom of religion."
Somewhere along the line, this freedom of religion has come to mean sanctioned atheism. Now, obviously, as a Pagan, I don't want to live in a country where everyone must be Christian. But the truth is I don't want to live in a country where everyone must be Pagan, either.
The sticky part is that phrase "the free exercise thereof..." Yep. That's the killer. Honk Twice If You Love Jesus. Would I honk? No. While I have nothing against the man, he's not my prophet nor my Lord and Savior. Is the sign offensive? Obviously, it is to some people or the complaint wouldn't have been made. However, it doesn't call for violence against people who don't love Jesus. It doesn't state or even imply that not honking will get you run out of town or even the woman's shop. It is, plain and simple, a public expression of faith. And forcing it to be removed because it is offensive is an even greater offense. Because if I want to wear my pentacle, the Lovely Cats should be able to honk twice since she loves Jesus, even if we do offend.
That's the difference between freedom of religion and sanctioned atheism.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
9 comments:
cluck-cluck. To tell you the truth it doesn't offend me at all (the bumper stickers). I tend to only get offended when someone is trying to ram their ideology down my throat. I actually applaud people who do have faith in some higher power. If you can't even have faith in a perfect, all powerful being...how do you have faith in your next door neighbor who, being human, is inherantly flawed. For those who do not believe in any sort of god, well I wouldn't kick you off the planet either, I'm not that kinda gal.
*clap, clap* Well put! I might not honk twice, but I don't think that I should tell anyone what they should believe in. I think that I only get offended when religion is thrust upon me. Like a religious chorus who decided to practice all of their songs in our atrium in our hotel. I understood that they might need to practice before their performance, but I didn't think it was fair that I was forced to listen to a series of hymns and Christian songs for almost an hour without any escape. (Catholic school and strict religious parents took their toll on this girl). Maybe a few Christian songs sprinkled with something from the Broadway musicals would have worked better for me. With a dash of Hindu, Muslim and Jewish songs thrown in. Not that I know any.
Hi Pobble
You could just ask the satanists not to diplay their satanistic tatoos in public because you are offended by them...or get "Honk twice for Jesus" tatooed on your body...I can't help but find the thought of a satanist being "Offended" as quite comical... She has a right to display her sign and be offended by them, they have a right to display their tatoos and be offended by her sign, and I have the right to laugh at them and think them silly...
Well Said. I guess I am a 'muller' also. I tend to have a 'poison pen' when I get upset with some issues but I do think and wait a day before I mail or press send. thanks for the visit
PS my husband thinks the horn is the most useless item in a car!! He Hates when people beep for no reason
I like being a muller, although I prefer a ponderer personally, but that's neither here nor there.
This one is challenging, and I easily believe that there's plenty of room for bumper stickers and anything on the opposite end of the spectrum as long as you don't drive over me with your sticker until I accept whatever it is you're espousing.
I'm personally not offended by bumper stickers or persons who love Jesus.... He was, after all a great teacher.
As for honking a horn for Jesus or anything else, for that matter; this is where I have a problem. I read this week that most states have regulations regarding horn blowing.... "no person shall sound, or permit to be sounded, any horn, gong, bell or siren, fitted to or carried on any vehicle unless in a time of danger." The reason being, DUH... that it could be a distraction, leading to accidents!
Nuff said....
DON~
dondon009: you sound just like my husband. the horn's purpose is to alert people of a danger...
to funny
"Honk twice if you love Jesus, honk once he's just a friend." (My mother would be most upset with me for writing that....)
Satanists getting offended....dear me, I think in the old days they used to pride themselves on being made of tougher stuff.
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