THE BEST POLICY
It’s always better to level with people than to lie to them. As I mentioned in an update to my post on Tom Ehrich’s latest psychotic reaction*, the very first comment to it, written by an individual named John Williams, reads as follows:
When even reasonable thinking Southern Baptists (practically an oxymoron) fear the Tea Party and Extremists Nutbags, you know you’re witnessing an American Taliban growing right before your very eyes. Is there anyone with the courage to lead a crusade to destroy this anti-American movement?
I can’t tell you exactly what I wrote since I didn’t copy it anywhere but when I tried to post a comment last evening, I said something to the effect that I hoped Tom got professional help for his shrieking, hysterical paranoia. And I thanked Mr. Williams for keeping things civil and not letting his rhetoric get the better of him.
As far as I was concerned, my comment didn’t rise anywhere near the level of Mr. Williams’ vitriolic name-calling but Episcopal News Service apparently didn’t see it that way. Because this is the very next comment in the thread.
Good article until you got to the false equivalency part. Unlike people on the right, who rage against those who disagree with them and take political actions they oppose, the anti-police anger is from being beaten, harassed, imprisoned in cruel conditions falsely, and seeing fellow citizens murdered with impunity. Furthermore, the perception you state sounds like something that came from the mainstream media, not what’s actually happening. Most in the Occupy Movement remain dedicated to non-violent protest. They also are aware that the attacks by the police are part of a cynical tactic by the powerful to foment intra-class anger. Occupiers try to keep their focus on the real culprits, but it is hard for them to 100% ignore the police when they are being shoved around, beaten, or dragged away for exercising their First Amendment rights.
True courage here would not be criticizing them for not always behavior, but standing beside them in solidarity as they fight for all of our freedoms. The more people they beside them, the more successful non-violent will be, and the less the police will be able to suppress Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
As you argued, it is time for courageous action. You are in NY, so I hope to see you in the streets with those who are also concerned about the way the rich and powerful are corrupting our democracy.
It’s helpful to know that ENS has finally dropped all pretense of objectivity or adherence to the tenets of the Christian religion, for that matter, and I thank them for officially coming clean. I don’t care one way or the other about the Anglicans any more but ENS’s honesty will make things a lot easier for me from here on out.
*High praise to the first commenter who can identify the band who did that song.
When even reasonable thinking Southern Baptists (practically an oxymoron) fear the Tea Party and Extremists Nutbags, you know you’re witnessing an American Taliban growing right before your very eyes. Is there anyone with the courage to lead a crusade to destroy this anti-American movement?
I can’t tell you exactly what I wrote since I didn’t copy it anywhere but when I tried to post a comment last evening, I said something to the effect that I hoped Tom got professional help for his shrieking, hysterical paranoia. And I thanked Mr. Williams for keeping things civil and not letting his rhetoric get the better of him.
As far as I was concerned, my comment didn’t rise anywhere near the level of Mr. Williams’ vitriolic name-calling but Episcopal News Service apparently didn’t see it that way. Because this is the very next comment in the thread.
Good article until you got to the false equivalency part. Unlike people on the right, who rage against those who disagree with them and take political actions they oppose, the anti-police anger is from being beaten, harassed, imprisoned in cruel conditions falsely, and seeing fellow citizens murdered with impunity. Furthermore, the perception you state sounds like something that came from the mainstream media, not what’s actually happening. Most in the Occupy Movement remain dedicated to non-violent protest. They also are aware that the attacks by the police are part of a cynical tactic by the powerful to foment intra-class anger. Occupiers try to keep their focus on the real culprits, but it is hard for them to 100% ignore the police when they are being shoved around, beaten, or dragged away for exercising their First Amendment rights.
True courage here would not be criticizing them for not always behavior, but standing beside them in solidarity as they fight for all of our freedoms. The more people they beside them, the more successful non-violent will be, and the less the police will be able to suppress Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
As you argued, it is time for courageous action. You are in NY, so I hope to see you in the streets with those who are also concerned about the way the rich and powerful are corrupting our democracy.
It’s helpful to know that ENS has finally dropped all pretense of objectivity or adherence to the tenets of the Christian religion, for that matter, and I thank them for officially coming clean. I don’t care one way or the other about the Anglicans any more but ENS’s honesty will make things a lot easier for me from here on out.
*High praise to the first commenter who can identify the band who did that song.
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