(no subject)

[camper4lyfe]

I'm not going all religious on everyone, but I saw this and it made me think. It was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

"My confession :

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creshe, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,"

-- Ben Stein

Comments

[motomuffin.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this. I *heart* Ben Stein. :-)

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

Yes, he rocks very muchly.

[skyes.livejournal.com]

He said it perfectly, as per the norm for him.

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

I just wish America could get over this whole "me" thing and get back to "we".

[chrsmoos.livejournal.com]

I agree. WIthout going all religious either I think the bible and other ancient religious texts have valuable lessons and do provide some very good basical moral guidance. We have become greedy and disrespectful to ourselves as human beings and really need to get back to doing things for the collective good rather than individual gain.

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

the problem is, I think it's going to have to get a lot worse before people realize what they're doing, and how bad it's effecting life in America as a whole.

[skarygrl.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with people participating in whatever brand of spirituality fits them best. What I DO have a problem with is evangelical and fundamental sects who believe that their way is the only "right" way to do things. Those groups are most likely to attempt to shove it down your throat. I will always respect a person's decision regarding spirituality, but that respect is forfeit the instant they try to convince me that I need to change what I'm doing and follow their way.

As for Ben Stein, I agree with his view about tolerance and respect for others' beliefs, but I don't think that bringing christianity back into work and school is going to make people act better. That's up to the people raising the children and what they, personally, choose. Me? I'm going to spank my kids, and teach them right and wrong from whatever religious source I feel best demonstrates the point. I'll let you know how it goes.

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

You want the ultimate extremist group? Check out the Westboro Baptist Church. They make me sick to my stomach to listen to.

[skarygrl.livejournal.com]

Man, i live in the south now. Every quarter mile there's a baptist church. it's pretty crazy. Every time someone buys something from me at the gas station, they say "Have a blessed day". I hear the word "God" more times in a day than I can count. Yippee bible belt :P

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

The Westboro Baptist Church isn't your normal group...trust me on this. This "church" is why the Patriot Guard was formed. I should also note that the website for this "church" is www.godhatesfags.com. Real holy, huh?

WBC:
http://www.youtube.com/results?q=westboro%20baptist%20church&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=w1

PGR:
http://www.patriotguard.org/

[skarygrl.livejournal.com]

Oh! You're talkin about the Rev. Fred Phelps' people. Yeah, I know of them. I've even had confrontations with some of them. They're vehement and set in their ways of spreading poison and hate. They're about the furthest from christian values that I've ever seen. Bah. Hatred has no place in religion, or anywhere else for that matter.

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

This is one instance where freedom of speech should be revoked.