To Rahiim, Forgiven, Fleetwood, and anyone else
Submitted by Dakota on February 16 2002 19:15:04
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I'm disappointed in recent events and don't quite know how to voice what I feel, but I'll try. I'm getting quite tired of people being called hateful, intolerant, homophobes, or whatever, whenever someone doesn't agree with someone else's views. For one thing, the responses to what Forgiven posted. I don't agree with everything he posted. My position on whether we all worship the same God is undecided. There is a lot in the Bible about Jesus being the only way, but I have to balance that out with the true sincerity of people following other religions. Frankly, I just don't know for sure if we worship the same God. But Forgiven has a right to post what he believes to be true without being labeled a hatemonger, just as Rahiim has a right to post his beliefs. Even the grand wizard of the KKK should be able to voice what he truly believes. From what I know of Forgiven, he wasn't trying to be hateful, just stating what he believes. Others have posted things that were unpopular and have been sometimes been labeled, also. Maybe you guys would prefer it if we all just talked about the weather so no one would have to listen to an opposing view. If a man came in here and posted that he sincerely thought all pedophiles were too much of a danger to children and we should all be imprisoned or put to death, if he was speaking of what he truly believed and not just out of hate, HE DESERVES TO BE HEARD WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED!!! If someone came in here and said all gays should be arrested for displaying affection, if he was speaking out of concern for society and not just out of hate, HE DERSERVES TO BE HEARD WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED!! I have talked with some Catholics that told me I was going to hell because I didn't go to confession. I know not all Catholics believe that, but these did. Did I get offended? No. Did I call them hateful? No. They were just telling me what they believed. In their eyes, they were trying to save me from hell. I've had Mormon missionaries come to my door. If I have time, we chat for a while. I listen to them and they listen to me. Did any of us change our minds about what we believe? No, but we didn't call each other hateful and intolerant. There are a lot of people who think I should be put away to safeguard children just because I'm a pedophile. (not me peraonally, but pedophiles in general) They don't hate me (well, not all of them). They are just trying to safeguard their kids. I don't consider people who have this opinion to be all hateful, just wrong. Sincere in their desire to keep kids safe, but wrong. So how do we tell the difference between voicing an opinion and just being hateful? You have to look at the intent of the poster. Do any of you really believe Forgiven was actually being hateful or intolerant? What do you consider intolerant? Must we all keep our beliefs to ourselves lest we be labeled intolerant? I don't believe Rahiim was being hateful or intolerant either. He was just upset with what Forgiven believes. What if someone posted that they believed pedophiles should have absolutely no contact with kids. Is that poster being hateful? Intolerant? Why? For having an opposing opinion? What about someone who said gay relationships should be illegal? Hateful? Intolerant? Homophobic? Why? Because you don't agree with him? You don't know what's in his heart. Does he say this because he hates all gays? Or is it just how he interprets his Bible? He could certainly be accused of being intolerant in that case because he is saying his beliefs should govern how others are allowed to live. But what about if he just says you can do what you want but he thinks gay relationships are wrong or questionable. Is that intolerant? Hateful? Well that exact thing has been posted here and anyone agreeing has been labeled as hateful and intolerant. So how could someone with this opinion not be hateful or intolerant in your eyes? Should he lie and say he thinks it's ok? Should he just keep this opinion to himself? Or is he hateful simply for having this opinion? And what exactly IS intolerance? Isn't it intolerant to bash someone for nothing more than having an opposing opinion? I find it very curious that people here have thrown around words like hateful, intolerant, and homophobic simply because not everyone agrees with their point of view. Yet AI Watcher has been treated with kid gloves. I have nothing against AI personally, other than I don't really like him. But if any posts have been filled with nothing but hate, it's been his. He hasn't merely posted his point of view, he's spewed more hate and viciousness than anyone I have ever read on this board. And as long as the administrators don't have a problem with that, neither do I. But what is curious is how he is treated like some lost sheep we are trying to reason with and bring back into the fold, yet other posters that just have an unpopular opinion are blasted. What are we all supposed to do here? Put flowers in our hair, wear love beads, and never dare say anything that might go against what someone else believes? Let's all just hold hands and tiptoe thru the tulips while we never ever give voice to any opinion that might be controvercial. You do your thing and I'll do mine, but please don't ever ask me what I think or believe. I don't mind telling you all, that this whole thing has me really bummed out. Intolerant. Hateful. Homophobic. You guys can take all your labels and shove 'em up your collective asses. How's that for being hateful and intolerant? Dakota |
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