Saturday, December 15, 2012

Freedom



To co-opt a phrase from The Princess Bride:  Freedom ... "I don't think that word means what you think it means."

People need to stop using the word "freedom" to justify a political agenda. Using the word to justify one (right to bear arms) while forgetting another (freedom of religion) is disingenuous at best, heartless and calculating at worst.

There are people who are virtuous and helpful:

Conn. shooting: Principal died lunging at gunman

And then there are Christian blowhards:

Mike Huckabee: Newtown Shooting No Surprise, We've 'Systematically Removed God' From Schools

AFA: God Did Not Protect Connecticut Shooting Victims Because Prayer Banned In Schools

"There is in every village a torch: The schoolteacher. And an extinguisher: The priest" -- Victor Hugo

And don't tell me this is a time for praying. It doesn't bring those children back. Praying is one of the most selfish acts there is. It makes YOU feel good while doing absolutely nothing for anyone else.

6 comments:

CyberKitten said...

It would appear that the Freedom to Kill is much more important than the Freedom to Live.

...and the idea that GOD *allowed* this to happen because of lack of prayer in schools certainly goes against everything I think about Christianity. You really have to wonder what kind of God these people supposedly 'worship'.

wstachour said...

Yeah, this kind of tragedy brings out the very worst in us (and the best, I suppose, in some). I'd like to believe that these folks are becoming more and more strident because they're being pushed further and further to the margins of society, but their numbers are still much too high for my liking. The person who would defend their right to own an automatic weapon at a time like this is a person I wish did not exist.

dbackdad said...

CK -- Yeah, the whole "God allowed" or didn't allow line by religious leaders is so tired. God allowed something bad to happen to punish us ... "God's will", as it were. But if something good happens, it's by "God's grace". How convenient it all is. With this reasoning you could explain away anything. As long as the people you are explaining to are morons, which I'm beginning to believe is the case.

Wunelle said, " ... folks are becoming more and more strident because they're being pushed further and further to the margins of society." -- I really hope you are right. I have been surprised in the last few days by some people that I consider very conservative who agree something needs to change.

CyberKitten said...

Being the cynic that I am this whole Assault Rifle Ban thing seems very much like a con. My alarm bells went off when even pro-gun people started backing it. It feels like they are willing to 'sacrifice' assault rifles so that they can keep everything else - and of course they have the hope and expectation that this too will lapse just like the last time.

I don't think that it will have any impact on anything but will, in most peoples minds, give them a feeling that 'something' is being done. Smoke and mirrors I'm afraid.

CyberKitten said...

Being the cynic that I am this whole Assault Rifle Ban thing seems very much like a con. My alarm bells went off when even pro-gun people started backing it. It feels like they are willing to 'sacrifice' assault rifles so that they can keep everything else - and of course they have the hope and expectation that this too will lapse just like the last time.

I don't think that it will have any impact on anything but will, in most peoples minds, give them a feeling that 'something' is being done. Smoke and mirrors I'm afraid.

dbackdad said...

CK -- I fear you are right. There is always an ulterior motive with the right.