You would not make such a statment if we were talking about politics, art, music, food.
I would if we were talking about your loved ones though.
And then you call in the issue of LOVE?
And then I QUESTION the issue of love. Because I don't know what it is that would have someone trash something so important to someone else, or someONE so important to someone else.
I realize that it is hard to grasp. Because some think that God is imaginary, and so it does not matter.
So you tell me what it is. I am asking.
I can't trash a food you like or I do not love you? I can't trash a band you love, or I do not love you? How about a political candidate? Can I come out and trash a candidate you love, or does that mean I don't love?
Come on now. This is not the same. If you want to make a more equitable comparison, then this would be it:
If you trashed one of my loved ones, then I would question your respect or your love for me. Especially if you mock my love for my loved one, as well.
It is a fine line though, I admit. Because I know that some people will speak against and perhaps even trash something that someone loves, if that thing that they love is harmful to them.
But you mistake my words earlier, because I am not judging you... I am at a loss to understand some of the attitudes, intolerance (and admitted bigotry) shown. Truly at a loss. And every comment I read, I just seem to see it growing.
And that's where is makes no sense. You can't be nice about what I believe, even if what I believe is so beyond ridiculous to you, and that means you don't love/respect/care about me.
It is not about nice. It is about respect. There is a way to disagree with someone without being disrespectful. Without showing contempt for something that is important to someone. I think if you respect or care about that person, you would attempt to disagree in a respectful manner.
I am thinking that frustration plays a part in this as well... in trying to get through to someone, or because you have also been treated with disrespect.
But it doesn't hold for any other opinion. Only religion.
Religion? Perhaps for some.
But for some it is more for the person that they love: God, Christ, Mohammad, whomever.
And it does hold for things like family, friends, and loved ones.
Well some of us don't think that religious opinion needs to be handled any differently than any other opinion.
Fine. But you are fooling yourself if you think there is not a difference between trashing the God that someone loves, and trashing a favorite sport.
And some of us think that respect can still be shown in disagreement, and in such a way that talks and tolerance COULD happen... whereas mockery, and 'poking a hornet nest' lead to the opposite.
Would I deny a job, help, programs or rights to those with these differing opinions? NO! And you can look at my posts on this thread to see that. But that's not enough is it? I must also respect those beliefs or I don't love other people. And it's ignorant statements like this that just drive us crazy.
You turned my pondering, my questioning into this statement of fact. That drives me crazy too, lol.
You do not have to respect the belief.
But you can still treat a person with respect, and i do not see how mocking and deriding their faith is showing them respect.
Like I said, there is a fine line. There are people out there who DON'T care or respect someone simply on the basis of their faith. Regardless of what their faith teaches them. Which I think is a dangerous place to be.
Now, I don't think you're a person who doesn't care... but there are people who don't care. There are people who don't even see the person past the faith. That, too, is a dangerous place to be.
Peace,
tammy
