I would like to comment on a letter written in the Aug. 15 Xpress by Shane Jenkins regarding the opinions and beliefs of Dan Cathy of Chick-fil-A [“Which Hate Is The Better Hate?”]. I don't believe Dan Cathy can be called the new face of "hate and bigotry.” He actively expressed his opinions and beliefs honestly when asked. This is a free country where we shouldn't have to be judged by others for our own basic right to share our own opinions and beliefs.
If anyone knew my real opinions and beliefs outside of close friends, I'd have no friends. Do you know your boss' opinions and beliefs, or those of your co-workers? Then you might as well start hating, 'cause I'm sure if you really knew, then that means you would be against your friends, boss, co-workers or anyone else for that matter who doesn’t agree with you or share your beliefs.
Everyone is their own individual person. We can't all share the same opinions or beliefs. It just doesn't work that way, and who's to say we'd really want it that way? Speak before you judge or turn yourself into your own worst "hater.”
— Irene Corey
Black Mountain
Thank you Irene, for a true voice of sanity and REAL tolerance, not the phony kind so common today.
Thank you for the voice of sanity and reason in the midst of this muck.
“This is a free country where we shouldn’t have to be judged by others for our own basic right to share our own opinions and beliefs.”
Nobody’s judging David Cathay over his “right” to speak his mind. And I don’t think this is merely a poor choice of words – I think this betrays a sentiment of this author and many conservatives. For years, I’ve noticed a growing defensive tactic on the right – “If you criticize me for something I said, you’re trying to silence me.” Like anyone who responds to some outrageous statement isn’t merely disagreeing, they are “attacking”.
Free speech doesn’t come with a “Get Out of Consequences Free” card. If you say something provocative, like Mr. Cathay did, you can expect a reaction. That’s how it’s supposed to work. Spirited debate is what this country was born in, thrives on, and needs. This “I get to speak my mind and then you get to say nothing” mentality is perversely anti-American.
“If anyone knew my real opinions and beliefs outside of close friends, I’d have no friends.”
Wow, I almost hate to ask.
There was nothing outrageous in Cathy’s comments.
“There was nothing outrageous in Cathy’s comments.”
Not to you maybe. It’s a curious attitude to say that if it doesn’t outrage you that makes it not ‘outrageous’ to anyone.
“I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about,” Cathy said.
To those who believe that God intends us to love and marry who our hearts lead us to, this was an outrageous statement.
It is only outrageous to those who despise orthodox Christianity. It is a common sense reflection of Christian faith to most people. Fortunately, the radical fake angst failed miserably in its intent.
Thin ice, my friend. As I’ve said here before, a close family member of mine is a Russian Orthodox priest, and several others are ordained Episcopalian, Methodist, non-denominational chaplain, or divinity scholars.
To say that if I am I outraged by Mr. Cathy’s divisive, hurtful and judgmental statements means that I am somehow anti-Christian or “despise orthodox Christianity”… Well, you are simply wrong, sir, and you are guilty of displaying some of your own “fake angst”.
Mr. Cathy was asked (asked), in an interview with a small Baptist magazine his views on marriage. He spoke them. He never referenced homosexuals, much less said anything derogatory about anyone. Cathy has a business openly run on Christian principles. They are closed on Sunday. Suddenly, people are shocked!–shocked! I tell you! And Mr. Cathy is viciously attacked, threatened, called every printable slur and some that aren’t…as are Christians in particular and anyone who doesn’t bow down to political correctness. THAT’s not ‘spirited debate,’ bsummers. It’s just more of the intolerance, slander and hatred so common from the Left, heaped upon anyone who doesn’t follow the rigid PC mandates.
“He never referenced homosexuals, much less said anything derogatory about anyone.”
“I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about,” Cathy said.
Claiming that we all need “God’s mercy” for the “prideful, arrogant attitude” of gays who have the “audacity” to want to marry? That’s a huge slap in the face to those who simply want the same right to recognize their commitment to those they love, as straight couples have.
I am offended by those who publicly pretend to fear for me or my soul or my “generation”, based on their religious beliefs. Don’t pretend to petition your God not to smite me, because I don’t feel loved at that point, I feel loathed.
Congratulations – Mr. Cathy & his ilk have driven more people away from Christianity, a religion that has less & less resemblance to Christ all the time…
Thrown to the lions they are. Those poor believers.
Yoda? You that is?
There you go bsummers, misquoting Mr. Cathy. He said “I pray for God’s mercy” (not We All Need God’s Mercy–your statement). He said “…on our generation” (not ‘gays’–your statement). Maybe ‘those’ you reference are not ‘pretending’ (your assumption)in ‘their’ religious beliefs (Why so offended?–what other religious beliefs would they reference than their own? Are you always this testy when someone disagrees with you?). I heard no mention of a smite or a loathed being directed toward you–except from you.