LikeTheDew.com

Okay, so I have no political affiliation. I am not feeling any of those fools personally. But I do know from studying history that government in at least this country was founded for the “good of man.” All opinions were welcome. All opinions were part of the “great melting pot.” By refusing other opinions we are also going against the origins of our country. I also know that this is supposedly a Christian nation. Again, I have no affiliation with any religion either. I find them all very interesting, just don’t get it. I know that I can say I act more Christlike than most Christians I have encountered. So when did we lose all semblance of honesty, good of man and common mother frigging courtesy???

It should not be “us” against “them.” It should not be a vitriolic non-debate of “my opinion is better than your opinion.” This is indeed OUR government!

I have noticed in the past two years that people are so full of hate when they post their opinions. And those of us that refuse to become hateful are considered Pollyannas. I ain’t no Pollyanna. I have been married for almost 15 years and my husband can count on half his hand the number of times he has seen me cry. I literally challenge a person to call me a Pollyanna to my face and see how quickly I will kick that person in the face (and I am not violent or easy to perturb either). I am pretty strong though. And that is precisely why I do not spit hatred and vile at others. I have come to realize that hate is a product of fear. So could all of you cowards just look around and see that an opinion is simply an opinion. It is not a mandate or directive. We all come from different experiences in life; therefore, we all have different opinions. Perhaps you would learn something from a different opinion if you would drop your snideness and yellow cloak.

Or perhaps this digital age has created this animus; so easy to spew your hate when you are an anonymous cyber user. That is precisely why I have my picture online. And always publish my email (runjulirun@aol.com). If you have a dispute with me, contact me directly. You may find that we think alike or that we can at least enlighten the other; I am always open to knowledge. But please, please, please, never consider me a Pollyanna. I think I mentioned the awesome crescent kick I could land to your head.

1. Matthew Wright says:

   February 7, 2010 at 2:47 am

   Nice Read Juli. I promise to never call you a Pollyanna.

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2. Meg Gerrish says:

   February 7, 2010 at 9:36 am

   [sigh]…not a Christian nation. Popular misconception, but not true. That aside, you won’t hear “Pollyanna” from me, either. I’m way too old and tired to recover from a crescent kick. Although it might knock some sense into me!

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3. Greg Mitchell says:

   February 7, 2010 at 11:23 am

   You’re right, of course. The right to give an opinion is a Constitutional guarantee. However so is the right to have your opinion raked across the coals. I think that every opinion is valid. Remember that Thomas Paine wasn’t expressing the views of the general public. At its height of popularity, the ‘rebels’ of the Continental Congress and General Washington only enjoyed the approval of about 20% of all colonial citizens. The rest were fairly content to remain British subjects. And all that over a 3% tax on tea!
   The fact that people today are so polarized over political issues is the main reason for all the extremist views being shared by both the conservative and liberal pundits at large. I don’t think it ‘Pollyanna’ at all to refuse to give in to extremism, but think a more centrist attitude is preferable. …. and I don’t want to be kicked, either.

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4. Larian LeQuella says:

   February 7, 2010 at 1:54 pm

   Again, I hate that people say that this is a christian nation. It is no such thing… It’s a nation full of christians, but that is not the same thing. Heck we have historical documentation clearly stating it’s not a christian nation (Treaty of Tripoli, Article 11, 1797). http://larianlequella.com/2008/12/not-christian-nation-just-nation-of.shtml

   Not only that, there are parts of the Republic and our way of government that goes directly against what the christian bible teaches: http://larianlequella.com/2009/10/guess-what-your-god-hates-us.shtml Sort of hard to be a christian nation if we are violating the bible. ;)

   I think it’s part of the christian persecution complex that makes them think there is hate, and they react with actual hate. They mistake disagreement for hate and intolerance, because it’s so closely tied to the way they think, never being able to imagine that people can be good and ethical without their jewish sky zombie: http://atheism.about.com/od/atheistsrespectreligion/a/Disagreement.htm

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5. Juli Ward says:

   February 8, 2010 at 8:49 am

   I think the “christian nation” comment is just a matter of semantics. I think most propound to be christians (I don’t). And that is precisely what I meant by that term and also precisely why I don’t understand the hate and vitriole that sometimes spills from the so-called christians. I am open to any thoughts.

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6. Brenden says:

   February 8, 2010 at 12:29 pm

   I love it how libs froth and drool at the notion that a rational person might have an opinion informed or influenced by a Christian background. You guys can’t stand that! It’s hilarious! The Christian doctrine is the most manifestly influential in American history and culture. There are still tens and hundreds of millions of followers whose members actively lead the top strata of politics, sports, business, social movements, etc. Bear in mind that statement says nothing about the validity of the doctrine, merely pointing out that it is obviously very influential.

   But rather than respect others’ beliefs — in this case, the beliefs of the overwhelming majority — and deal with Christians constructively, you want to paint them as ignorant rubes whose opinions are formed by “their jewish sky zombie.” My Gawd. This is exactly why no one takes you seriously and mocks your ridiculous opinions. And then you again, ironically, wonder why you’re mocked and ignored.

   This is yet another ridiculous lib hipocrisy. You want the rights, beliefs and expressions of all manner of fringe, fly-by-night (and in some cases, highly destructive) cultural subgroups respected and revered. Yet should anyone utter an expression about one of the most widely followed religions in the world, you want that person publicly flogged. I mean, can’t you see how patently ridiculous you are?

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   • Juli Ward says:

     February 8, 2010 at 1:17 pm

     I hope you were not replying to me; rather the commentor that said something about “jewish zombie sky”. I have no problem with christians. I have no problem with anyone of any faith. And people do not mock my opinions. I just see people do it all the time-christian, non-christian, liberal, conservative, right wing, left wing, etc. My point is that we all come from different backgrounds and thus have different opinions. It makes more sense to me for people to have rational discussion rather than calling each other names or being snide. Peoples’ opinions can actually be “swayed” by rational and honest discussion. They rarely change as a result of snideness.

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     • Meg Gerrish says:

       February 8, 2010 at 1:55 pm

       Brendan likes to brush with the broad strokes, Juli. One person said a negative thing, ergo, we’re all “froth and drool.”

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       • Brenden says:

         February 8, 2010 at 2:54 pm

         It does strike me as mighty presumtive to say, “I know that I can say I act more Christlike than most Christians.” That statement is intentionally derisive. If your stated goal is to engage Americans in hightened level of debate, why hurl backhanded comments about members of country’s largest religion — or at least imply your moral superiority to them? My point is that whenever someone mentions Christians on this website, it’s to cast aspersion. And, of course, you also ignore the historical and cultural importance of the faith — an act of willful ignorance. Christians are the foils to your vast right-wing conspiracy. When, in fact, a respectful and thoughtful recognition of the faith’s importance and doctrine could well serve draw more people into a fruitful discussion.

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7. Juli Ward says:

   February 8, 2010 at 3:12 pm

   I said “than most christians I have encountered” which is not by any means a blanket statement. And is also my opinion, not a statement of superiority. Perhaps I have only met 2 christians in my life. Perhaps I have a different view of what christ like means. You seem to be the one quick to judge and point fingers. I am not sure how a post about trying to get along has riled a person so. And I also do not know what makes you think I am a liberal. I really don’t know what that word means. I general I hate the government and believe it has essentually been hi-jacked by career politicians and special interests.

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8. Juli Ward says:

   February 8, 2010 at 3:21 pm

   P.S.

   I realized a few moments after replying that you think I was calling out christians as being the hate mongers. I certainly was not. I did not specify as I believe all sides of issues have been guilty of being snide and uncooperative. I simply spoke of the christian nation we are supposed to be-among other things.

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9. Brenden says:

   February 8, 2010 at 3:24 pm

   OK… your full statement:

   “Again, I have no affiliation with any religion either. I find them all very interesting, just don’t get it. I know that I can say I act more Christlike than most Christians I have encountered.”

   If you have no affiliation, where do you get off declaring yourself more “Christlike” than a follower of the actual religion? And c’mon: I think it’s dishonest (un-Christlike) of you to suggest 1) that you were only referring to “2 Christians” you met in your in your life 2) that this statement was not deliberately dismissive and insulting on your part and 3) that you fail to understand how a post so flippant and insulting about millions of Americans’ core beliefs “has riled a person so.”

   Here you are holding forth about the need for civil discussion, but you open by hurling insults at the country’s largest religion. That’s, well, pretty ridiculous.

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10. Juli Ward says:

    February 8, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    Please re-read the post. I apologize if you believe I was insulting christians. That was not my intent. I said “people” seem to spew hate. I merely stated that a country that purports to be mostly christian and further a country that was founded with ideals of the “good of man” seems to have a problem getting together to have meaningful discussions. I think you are reading something unintended in my post. I apologize if you are offended.

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11. Cliff Green says:

    February 8, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    Juli, my dear. You say you have no political affiliations or religious beliefs, yet you claim to be superior to all politicians, right and left, and you assert that you are more Christlike than the two Christians you have met in your life.
    I am trying to say this as gently as is humanly possible, but until you get your shit together, Brenden is going to whup you like a borrowed mule. And he won’t even have to break an intellectual sweat to do it.

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    • Juli Ward says:

      February 9, 2010 at 9:00 am

      I made no claim to be superior to anyone. And I also did not say I had only met two christians in my life-I simply stated that perhaps he had not experienced the same things I have and thus we have different opinions and often variations of definitions. I typically give the disclaimer that I do not have a political affiliation or religious affiliation. It is merely a disclaimer and not a statement of superiority. I have found that people that are used to being attacked or attacking others often believe that everyone else is attacking them as well. That is not the case here.

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