Quote:
Originally Posted by graciegirl
You know I respect you Tal, and know that you have a level head and a fair mind, but here is my response to your post.
Most of us have intermingled with Jews and Christians or have been raised a Jew or a Christian, we all certainly have good friends who are Jews and Christians and many of us know people who are Hindu and other Eastern religions because we all INTERMINGLE. (That is my new word, I heard it last night from someone who lived for several years in Paris and said that the Muslims there did not intermingle.)
We know about Jews and know that many push the value of education to their children because they have been taught by their parents that owning land is iffy because of being targeted by groups historically. We know they circumcise their baby boys and it is a religious ceremony and we know that they have bar and bat mitzpah at around 12 at it is a big deal socially and for religious reasons. We know that this works because you don't see many Jews asking for anything other than a very wise business deal. We know that Catholics are baptized as infants and then are expected to say they stand for the faith at nine or ten in confirmation. We know they teach only one marriage, no birth control and no abortion and we know hardly anyone who goes along with some of that and they go to Mass every Sunday. We know that Protestants range from very conservative Christians who don't dance to very liberal Christians who don't get married. It seems that the middle are Lutherans, Episcopalians and Methodists. Most of us can say personally that no Jew or no Christian they know personally wanted to kill anyone and martyr themselves for religion. We may not all agree about the nuts and bolts and don't understand completely but only very radical Christians want to kill people who perform abortions. I have NEVER met anyone personally who voiced that opinion. And I really intermingle.
I don't get the sense that Muslims want to share their views unless you come to join. I don't think they feel at all ecumenical. I hear a few say they think it's horrible the killings, but I don't hear what I wish I would hear from big groups of them and that worries me. A few liberal ones maybe, but they aren't the ones with the robes and the beards and the ones I hear saying stuff are women and I am really sure they aren't the religious person in charge. It is a lot like there are no women priests.
Please read between the lines that I am worried and that I have my suspicions that being kind and fair and accepting and doing all the things that good Americans and good people are taught and expected to do may be putting most of us in a very dangerous position, maybe not tomorrow but next year and in ten years.
I won't be here probably in ten years because I am 76 but I treasure my grandchildren like we all do and love many of my friends grandchildren as well. AND I really love this country. And I love many liberal and conservative people who go to a lot of different places to worship and I love a lot of folks who don't believe in God.
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Gracie - I read your post out loud to my partner, Phyllis (as I was so impressed with your thoughts here).
I ended (reading your post) it by saying
"AND FOR THAT REASON I AM THROWING MY HAT IN THE RING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"!
Phyllis laughed - and I said Gracie would have a wonderful following - and probably do a better job in the Oval Office, using her deep experience and level head. Can you handle the yearlong campaign? Go Gracie.
Your post was absolutely perfectly right-on!!! LOVE IT.