Thursday, February 9, 2012

We interrupt the regularly scheduled posting...

I had my next blog post all written up in my brain and was going to put it down when I got home from work. Unfortunately, I looked at Facebook first and now I can't even remember what the hell I was going to write about because of what I saw. Talk about holy shit on the wall.

The big news this week has been about the repeal of Prop. 8. It's fanfuckingtastic news and I've been doing a little happy dance since I heard. But since I've stopped attending church and have surrounded myself with thinking, informed people, I'd forgotten how much insanity and misinformation is still out there. Well, I was reminded big time.

I have a young friend (he's on the far side of his twenties but he's young to me) who posted his take on the repeal of Prop 8. He's a member of the church but disagrees with the church's involvement and gently stated his opinion that everyone should have the right to marry. This is a kind, caring and non-judgmental man. But boy, does he have some self-righteous, bigoted and blind assholes for friends. With his permission I'm sharing some of the shit. The first comment to his post was this doozy:

I never question or judge the church and our General Authorities on any matter or decision they have made. I believe and have a testimony of our leaders and I will stand by their decisions because they are decisions from our Father in Heaven whom has a far greater understanding than I do of things pertaining to this earth. I also don't know why black men couldn't hold the priesthood for so long but there was a reason at the time. I will stand by our prophets decision always. I can't see them changing their stance on this issue ever. A big part of the decision is that we come here to multiply and replenish the earth and that can only be done between a man and a woman. There are so many arguments here but in the end it comes down to the one and only answer that I've repeated over and over here...if the decision comes from our leaders then it comes from God...and who wants to argue with the All Knowing!? *FYI- I don't mean to offend anyone and hope that I can post my opinion and not offend anyone!

The ignorance, it burns! Because nothing is more ignorant than completely blind obedience. "Who wants to argue, who wants to think? I'm just gonna do what they tell me while I pump out babies!"

The next comment was no better. And I copied and pasted it so all misspellings and typos are the asshole's not mine.

The reason why the church is perusing this so heavily is that if it becomes a civil rights issue, then a same-sex couple could sue to be able to get married in a LDS temple, because they think its a pretty building. Then the temples start closing down in states where same-sex marriage is legal and the work stops. Also, another thing that is central to the plan of happiness is eternal marriage and bringing kids here to earth. You need a man and a women to accomplish that. And the church isn’t saying hurtful things about people with same sex attraction… That’s stuff that has been assumed by the ignorant and words that have been stuffed in their mouths. Read what the apostles have said and what the official statements from the church have said. There’s no hate. Only love.

Oh, where to begin with that one? Even the most casual research shoots down the whole "suing to get married in the pretty temple" crap. And the church doesn't say hurtful things about same-sex attraction?! This guy must have been raised with his head up his ass. Read a church book, dude! Listen to a conference talk with your ears actually open. Hate said lovingly is still hate and it is spewed with abandon in doctrine and attitude.

Half a dozen times I typed out a comment and each time I deleted it. I'm not good at arguing, whether face-to-face or online. I'm reduced to a stuttering, muttering idiot that can't string three coherent words together and it's not pretty. Only one person responded with any logic and sanity. I have no idea who he is but I love him already. He was the lone voice of reason but was labeled a "faggot" and pelted with hate by the others. I "liked" each of his comments in silent support as I watched this fuckery unfold. And soon I realized my tiny contribution was noticed when a friend request from this man popped up on my screen. So in spite of being a chicken of the first degree I have an awesome new friend! The best kind of friend--the kind that thinks for himself.

14 comments:

  1. Awesome post! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who logs into facebook and can quickly get irritated and how stupidity and ignorance seems FAR MORE COMMON with Facebook to showcase it!

    I just began following you today, so I'm not familiar with when or why you left the church or if your leaving the church meant you are looking for another one or you've changed your religious views altogether.. Either way, leaving is full of symbolic importance and intelligence and growth :)

    At some point we realize the term "sheep" is used because the "sheep" are stupid and can be led by fear and brainwashing... and they accept it. As once a 'churchy christian' I was close to being molded into thinking the same way as the ignorant asses above... I'm a FREE GIRL now that stepped out of the umberella of learning the church 'okays' and you know what, it's soo much easier to smell the bullshit, aint it!

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    1. Pet, welcome the insanity that is my blog! I'm always shocked when someone reads my stuff. I left the church a couple of years ago and my views are now sort of agnostic bordering on atheism. I haven't really settled on anything yet, I just know I'm sick of organized religion. And like you I'm savoring the the freedom to think and do! It is delicious.

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    2. I finally had the courage to write the things I accept to be true (for me). I needed to so I could see them... If you're interested- here's where I am on my journey, I'd love to have your eyes on it :)


      http://considering-pet.blogspot.com/search/label/Religion

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  2. Just Zelda, I'm very glad that I can call you a friend now as well. I used to be a member of the church. The church claims to love all no matter what...love the sinner not the sin...that's what I was always told. But I can tell you that I didn't understand what it meant to truly love everyone until I left the fold and thereby the bigotry, vitriol, and hatred behind. And sadly I was reminded yesterday just how alive and well the hatred, and blind ignorance is. Thank you for your voice of reason.

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    1. Derek, you are my new hero and I'm very glad my friend has a friend like you!

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  3. I am familiar with the post you are discussing and I can promise you that it was no small act of courage to write the post and it took even more courage to share it on Facebook. The author expected to “stir the pot” but I promise he did not anticipate the nuclear fallout that quickly ensued. It is heartbreaking to see the blind ignorance that seems to plague the Utah bubble.

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  4. MJ, the author of that post has more courage that I have ever had. I want to be just like him when I grow up.

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  5. Several months ago I deleted or hid a large portion of my TBM friends for this very reason (and a few others). Now, if anyone posts anything sheeplish, I hide them. They are stupid. And I can say that because I used to be stupid too.

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    1. CD, I still find it hard to believe you were ever stupid because you're so very smart now. And I wish I could hide everyone ELSE'S TBM friends. They are everywhere! Like roaches.

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  6. I got a couple of lame responses on Facebook simply for posting the news story without any comment on it. The examples you posted are so classic. The first person pointed out that he can't disagree with the GA's. Then the others follow up with circular logic to support their stupid opinion. I may have to rethink my next post too. :)

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    1. Donna,you'll have to make it the topic of a blog post. You can make anything as funny as hell.

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  7. I still have a lot of TBM friends on facebook. (They are banished to the list titled "That church".) After prop 8 was overturned, I checked to see if anything was said from that list... Nothing. Not a word. These are the same people that changed their profile pics to Prop 8 signs a few years ago, and then when it was overturned (whenever that was), they talked about the end of the world. (Lightning storms in Utah at the same time a dude in CALIFORNIA chucked the prop. That totally signifies that God was unhappy...)

    It gave me hope. If those people are speechless, maybe soon the rest of the crazies will be speechless as well...

    I guess I just had quieter crazies than your friend did.

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