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Termyn8or -> RE: Heritage or Hate? (9/18/2007 12:37:09 PM)
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I am a racist, but few know what that means. Everybody thinks it means bigot, it does not.
I am absolutely non-religious, but few know what that means either. People think that means I am an athiest, but again, that is something different.
The Bible is full of wisdom, of that there is no doubt. To read it yourself, instead of the canned responses by preachers out of context, or quotes who knows where, you get an idea. It was written by some very wise Men. It condemns idolatry. With that I agree. In fact I agree with all the commandments, except that one should read "Thou shalt not murder". Except for that one word, they have a pretty good plan.
And you thought there were only two sides to the story. I have always conciously avoided pledging allegiance to the flag, because it is a piece of cloth, nothing more. If enemy forces reach our shores you won't have much doubt where my allegiance is.
The confederate flag is the same, nothing but a symbol. The problem is distinction, because really every time I hit a letter on my keyboard it produces a symbol on your screen. But then if I hit the "n" and then the "i" and then the "g" twice and then.....
We live in a world of highly emotional, unstable people with false egos. This means that those of us with intelligence and sensitivity must conciously avoid offending others. That is the proper message for the kids. For them to understand that the high road is to live peacably with others is paramount. This should be explained in detail.
In other words, the consequences imposed by authority figures is not the reason you try not to offend, the point is that one should give a damn about others' feelings and just not do certain things. The earlier they learn this the better.
Another point, few know that the peace sign is actually a Rune turned upside down. The Rune was the symbol or flag of some of the northern races who practiced Odinism. It was adopted by the National Alliance and is now considered a symbol of hate, which it is not. The National Alliance, while imploring members never to get violent, has a few problems. They extoll the virtues of the White race, which is fine, but they put down just about everybody else. That is why I am not a member.
What's more some stereotypes used to be true, but all that has faded away. We still have a long way to go. I would like to tell N_____ jokes to a Black person, Jew jokes to a Jew and so forth, but people are not yet ready for that. Perhaps I am superior in that I can enjoy a good Polack joke, really. Not too fond of the punch bowl one, but there are some good ones out there.
When someone is real, and has real worth, it is very hard to offend them. A symbol will not do it. There are exeptions to that as well, some feel so strongly about racism that any tinge of it sends them into a tizzy.
However we live in a society, and that means there are other people around. It is that simple. Does the kid wish to offend people ? Some do. It's a phase I guess.
But symbols, I dunno. The Nazis ADOPTED the swastika, they did not invent it. The National Alliance ADOPTED the Rune, they did not invent it. Both are seen as symbols of hate. Not that they are, they are just seen as symbols of hate. But when I type the letter "A", if you know English, your brain will interpret it in a certain way.
So there are more than two sides to this. Be it known that I shun symbolism almost totally. I have a small Confederate flag on my knickknack shelf, but not flying in front of my house. The term "good taste" comes to mind. When the north won, they fucked the south over really bad, and a southerner who has lived it has every right to teach his kids about it, and they have every right to fly whatever flag they want. To some, flying the US flag is flying the flag of the enemy. The thing is, some will be offended.
I was offended by a swastika once. The Nazis were a very proud bunch, what they did was and remains a milestone. Germany still reaps some benefits of that movement. What offended me was at the time I was riding a bus, and this teenager all duded up with Nazi garb and symbols didn't have the fare and wanted a free ride. What's more the bus driver was Black ! Come on, what kind of fucking stupidity does it take to........ never mind, it's regular stupidity. Needless to say the kid walked :-)
What about a shirt with a picture of a hand giving the middle finger ? That should offend everybody equally. I remember years ago there were shirts with a picture of a shit stain.
I do not engage in idolatry nor symbolism. I do not wear shirts nor any clothing that says anything. There are no symbols, trademarks or anything of the sort on any shirt I wear.
It's sad we have to have these guidelines because people are too thin skinned. Perhaps the Shamrock will eventually be considered offensive because back in the twelfth century or something they kicked someone's ass.
Boils down to this, if you wear a symbol you have made a statement without ever opening your mouth. These days, just don't do it. If there's anyone I hate, it is those who made it this way. No specific race, gender, orientation, anything of the sort. The only thing I have that resembles hate is for those who took our freedoms away.
Symbolism is wrong, that should be the message, not just SOME symbols are wrong.
T
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