I haven’t been writing much because things have been pretty good as of late, but today… today I saw something that irritated the living piss out of me and half of this post was written in my head as I drove home from work.
I got out of work an hour early, which was of course a wonderful thing. I ended up being behind what I can only imagine is the most annoying person in the world. I came to this conclusion based solely on the bumper stickers on his/her car.
The first one I noticed read “Smiles are gifts from God”. Ah, well isn’t that nice? A nice start to anyone’s afternoon off, thank you, Lord, for making me happy. This is not sarcasm. This is sincerity.
Then I saw the one that read “Terri was murdered” and I was reminded of how irritated I got about the whole Terri Schiavo thing. It irritates me that the woman got into her position purely through her own decisions, by choosing not to eat, and then when the feeding tube was pulled, it was a big deal. She was brain dead. Seriously. Yeah, yeah, some people say it’s murder, but honestly, I have to disagree. If she had died when she originally got into the mess, it wouldn’t have been murder, it would have been basically suicide. And yeah, yeah, we shouldn’t play God, but I don’t think God meant for us to have tubes inserted into our stomachs to sustain us, if He had, we all would have been born with little buttons to stick the tube in, and we were not. Most people have never seen someone living only because of the machines they were hooked up to. I hate to say this, but doctors dabble in playing God every day.
“Marriage is for a man and a woman”. Yeah, I’m not going to rehash the gay marriage thing either, just some basic points. 1. People don’t choose to be gay. 2. If you’re living your life according to the Bible, you’re not supposed to judge people and you should know that no one answers to you for their actions, they answer to God. 3. If you believe its wrong, they’ll go to hell, and if you’re that religious you should know that eternal damnation is punishment enough. 4. When straight people stop cheating on each other (often with members of the same sex), stop beating their wives and kids, and when the divorce rate isn’t quite as high as it is, maybe marriage will be scared again. As for now, we heterosexuals have messed it up enough. 5. Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones? Remember that? We’re all sinners. Period. And if we’re supposed to live our lives with Christ as our example, shouldn’t we follow that rule, too? I mean, I’m not sure if Jesus would be friends with gay people, but I know He hung out with a prostitue, so he seems like a pretty open minded live and let live kind of person to me. I, for one, can’t judge anyone as I’m guilty of several things, not honoring my mother and father, premarital sex, using the Lord’s name in vain… I hate when the Bible is used as an argument for anything because no one follows every aspect of it and I’m sure that if you are one of those people, somewhere in the Book is a passage that says something you’ve done in your life is wrong. Does that mean you’re less of a person? NO. Geez, let people live their lives, even if it is wrong, is it really our place to condemn them?
Then I saw one that read “Thinking about abortion? Call… ” and proceded to give a toll free number to call for help. Ok, I thought, women who are considering abortion may need counseling, someone to talk to about alternatives, you know, stuff like that.
It wasn’t until I saw the fifth and final bumper sticker that I felt like ramming this person’s car. “Abortion causes Breast Cancer”. Seriously? SERIOUSLY? In what world does abortion cause breast cancer? I seriously doubt that this person has any idea what the actual risk factors of breast cancer are — things like early menstruation, having a baby late in life, late menopause. You know, things we can’t really control all that much about our bodies? Like, oh, I don’t know, maybe the things that make us miraculous human beings created by a higher power?
I realize this will probably offend people, but in all honestly, I just don’t understand and I don’t know if I ever will. We all do things that we shouldn’t, most people pick and choose the things they follow and the sins they over look. But in the eyes of God, isn’t a sin a sin? And yes, we repent and ask for forgiveness, but don’t you think that any woman who has an abortion feels awful and repents? Don’t you think there are very very religious, God loving people who are gay and feel conflicted every day? I just don’t get it, and when someone’s unacceptance and small mindedness is advertised on their bumper, it kind of irritates me because, well, I’m pretty much 100% liberal and that means I’m not God loving and would let people marry animals if they wanted to, right?
18/01/2007 at 3:43 pm Permalink
Well, when I read the title of your post I thought maybe I shouldn’t read it…but I did. And I wasn’t offended in the least. The thing I think is funny is the closer I get to God (or at least the closer I feel to God) the more accepting I become of other people. It’s not my place to judge, period. As a Christian my job is to be as much like Jesus as possible. He is the goal I’m supposed to work for. And like you said, Jesus hung around with the lowest of the low because THEY were the ones that needed Him. The people who already believed didn’t need Him like those who didn’t yet believe. I think the Bible is a living thing that breathes the word of God and I believe in every word in it. Have I sinned? Absolutely and I continue to sin every single day even though I try very hard not to. I am, by nature, as a human being, born a sinner. It’s when I KNOW I’m sinning and have no problem with it and try not to correct that I fall away from God. But once again, it’s my eternity that I’m concerned with. I’m not going to try to change anyone’s mind because honestly, it’s just not my job. Living through example is the biggest way to change another person. Saying I’m a Christian and actually living the life as a good, moral person is the biggest example that God is amazing. There are radicals in all religions. Those radicals give that religion a bad name. My dad is an atheist for this very reason. He was pushed and pushed and pushed by religion in his face every single second of every single day and when he got to be an adult he shunned it. Ran like hell away from it. He hates religion and doesn’t believe in God. I just can’t stand it when I see a car with crazy bumper stickers because that DOES NOT make people want to believe in God, whether the stickers are true or not. It makes people angry and gives Christians, true, loving, accepting Christians a bad name.
I’m sure people think I’m a Jesus Freak. Honestly, I don’t care. And I’m a conservative and people hate that too. Oh well. But I don’t have crazy bumper stickers on my car. I don’t march in rallies against gay marriage or abortion. My goal in life isn’t to tell everyone that what they’re doing is wrong. It’s to love people and accept them like Jesus accepted me…a very flawed sinner.
18/01/2007 at 9:14 pm Permalink
So, does your newfound tolerance extend to illegal immigrants now, or is it just for the good white suburbanites? i seem to remember you wanting the “mexicans” to get shipped back to where they came from a few months ago. Veerrrryyyy Jesus-Freakish.
el Bucknero
18/01/2007 at 10:00 pm Permalink
Oh geez…here we go again. I was expecting a comment from you actually.
No, I still think ILLEGAL immigrants are illegal. Period. They should stay in Mexico unless they can become a LEGAL citizen. I said I was trying to be a moral person, not a pushover. Laws are laws for a reason.
18/01/2007 at 10:57 pm Permalink
Didn’t Moses lead a bunch of illegals across the Red Sea that time? I wonder if those people had their papers in order. Turns out, Moses probably broke the “Law.” His ass should’ve been shipped back too I guess. Could Moses part a barbed wire fence, or did that trick only work with water? Hmm…
I’m glad you are so moral, and you certainly are not a pushover. Its blindingly clear as to what you really are though: just another hypocritical born-again alleged christian that uses their religion to make themselves feel better while looking down their nose at people that are poor, destitute, or in “illegal.”
At least you are open about your bigotry this time, and not blaming it on pregnancy. If you really want to be like Jesus, you would see people as people, not as “legal” or “illegal.” You would be sympathetic as to WHY they are here, and understanding of their plight. Jesus wouldn’t turn these folks away or build a fence or allow them to starve…but apparently you are OK with that. Keep telling yourself you are a good person, but understand that lies make baby jesus cry.
Its also nice to know that your American Indian heritage puts you in the position to evalutate who is supposed to be here or not. I’m sure if those pesky Mexicans had a real choice, they would stay at home and starve instead of making life easier for your fat ass.
Keep on prayin!
19/01/2007 at 7:24 am Permalink
Yes, I am a bigot. And a hypocrite. And hateful.
God knows my heart and decides my fate.
I have peace in that.
19/01/2007 at 5:18 pm Permalink
Nice comeback!
Apparently god doesn’t guide you to any sort of independent thought or ability to defend your hypocritical stance. You typed, and I quote:
“Saying I’m a christian and actually living the life as a good, moral person is the biggest example that god is amazing.” (I took the caps out because its annoying…god probably wouldn’t care if his name was capitalized or not, considering that he CREATED grammar. And also letters)
Maybe its my Atheist upbringing, but a good moral person doesn’t categorize people into “legals” and “illegals”, whine and bitch about what social services they may or may not be getting, and want them shipped away because their poverty is nuisance. A good moral person wants to help the poor, not shove them away. Maybe jesus was way off base on this one, but I could be wrong. Us Atheists often are.
You made a nice bible study speech with your first comment, but as usual with you, you don’t back it up or explain yourself, especially why you claim to be so pious when in reality you appear very very petty. Is a “good, moral” life obeying the speed limit, paying your taxes, getting to church every sunday and putting a quarter in that salvation army bucket? What exactly IS this “good, moral” life? What are we missing? Why are you not trying to save me? Or Jen for that matter. She needs all the help she can get…she actually wants EQUALITY among people…how radical is that? She is almost al-Quada!
It seems your brand of selective christianity is what chased your father into being an Atheist. It also seems pretty clear (and I am going back a few months to your xenophobic rant about Mexicans) that you are only inspired by god just as long as it benefits you and yours. Well that, and your inspiration does empower you to capitalize the letter “h” in Him.
Any thoughts?
20/01/2007 at 10:14 am Permalink
Okay…I was being sarcastic. You seem to fight like a child and play dirty so I was playing into your game.
I am not perfect and I don’t pretend to be. I don’t pretend that I have all the answers either. My faith is a way of life for me. I live it every single day. It’s not just something I pull out when I’m debating with someone. So think what you like, but know that you don’t know me, only what you take out of context on blog comments. I don’t think the poor, destitute, or illegal immigrants are any less of a person than I am. My problem with the illegals is that they are breaking a law entering this country, so why would be think that they will obey any of our other laws? I agree that they need a better life than what they have where they’re at. No one should have to live that way and something should be done for them. I don’t have the answers, Buckner. I am not a politician and never aspired to be one. I have no idea what the correct answer is.
My “good, moral life” is trying to be the best person I can be. Trying to change myself everyday and learning to accept things outside of my own little world. Raising my children the right way, being a good wife, respecting others, reading the Bible, learning about Jesus, knowing that I have someone to answer to for everything I do. I know, I know …laugh all you want. I don’t care. You may think I’m naive, fake, stupid, whatever. I am inspired by God every single day of my life, not only when it benefits me. It’s a struggle everyday to do what the Bible teaches instead of what my own stupid human brain tells me to do. I’m sure to you that’s idiotic as an atheist. But it’s my faith. Faith is letting go of what you are a person and putting your belief in something higher than you. It’s a hard thing for a human to do because we’re so wrapped up in ourselves. I struggle everyday.
I know you will never understand where I’m coming from, but really, I’m not a hateful person. I really am not a bigot. And I’m sure you’re going to take this comment out of context, make fun of everything I’ve said, and laugh at me.
When I argued with you a few months ago I wasn’t using my pregnancy as an excuse for my opinions…I was saying that I was getting much too upset about the whole thing because I was so hormonal. And that’s the truth. I was sitting in front of my computer crying because some guy named Buckner was saying nasty things to me. I’m not ashamed to admit that you made me cry…so put that on your list of things to brag about, my dear. You made the hypocritical bigot cry. LOL Now that I have (some) of my wits about me, I’m actually not upset by you at all, which is shocking to me. Maybe you’ve helped me grow, Buckner. Just maybe you helped me grow in my faith. *gasp*
Anyway, I’m done debating with you. Call me a wuss, coward, whatever you’d like. I cannot debate with someone who is so good at debating and ripping someone else to shreds. You are good at what you do.
22/01/2007 at 9:50 pm Permalink
Ignorance is not a religion.
24/01/2007 at 10:49 am Permalink
So here is my question: would you support the abortion of the children of illegal immigrants? It seems like a logical progression from what I have read. Sending people en mass back to their nation of origin where there are few jobs, no governmental support for the unemployed and rampant crime will certainly lead to many more deaths, hunger and increased criminal activity (especially those drugs that baby jesus hates) in those nations. So why not just kill there unborns while they are here or create some kind of sterilization program? That will solve the problem.