"Demonizing the Opposition..."
That is a very old political tactic. Probably used because it is very effective. I've never seen a more blatant and literal use of it than through the invocation given before last Tuesday's City Commission meeting. It has upset me so much that is why I am up at 2:00am to post about it.
Before I state my feelings about the invocation I want to make something clear. I am a Christian. I believe in God the Father of Jesus Christ, and that the Bible as the true word and prophecy of God. I actually believe that we are living in the end times today. I believe mankind was created by God and not by a freak of evolution. I know that I am also a sinner. I also believe that it is wrong to try to capitalize on those beliefs or try to force them on anyone else, or to feel that because I am a Christian I am "holier than thou." I just wanted to make that clear before the local politicians and their whispering campaigns paint me as some kind of Satanic Demon from the pits of Hell whose goal is the utter destruction of Fort Scott. (That is much worse than the Drunken Malcontent tactic that they already are using.) These are my personal religious beliefs. I also believe that there is a time and a place for me to express them. I think the mingling of religion and politics creates a bitter concoction. This site was not created for evangelizing, nor to answer to any of the bile that has been put out by that certain "friend of the City." So enough of that...
Along with my personal convictions is my respect for the Law and the Constitution of the United States and the freedom of Religion, freedom of Speech, and the separation of Church and State. Do I have a right to feel this way? You Doggone right I do!
The minister stated in his invocation Tuesday night that the City commissioners are "ordained by God" to promote God's work to the community, and that should any man come forward with his "own agenda" he called for them to be "silenced" by God, and he asked all of this in Jesus' name. (And to think I thought the gavel was bad, now they are proclaiming to have the right to cut out our tongues in God's name!) I believe that anyone in Public Office in this country has the freedom to worship their God and the obligation to abide by the law and uphold the Constitution. They are "free" to express their religious values in Church or anywhere else outside their Governmental Role. The minister is clearly stating that if your view differs from the Commission's view (who are ordained by God) then it is against God's will, thus you are "demonized." If you are of any religion other than Christian then you have no right to participate in or express your views to your Government, because they would be of a "personal agenda" and subversive to those who have been "ordained by God." So what is next? Will it be necessary to affiliate yourself as a Christian in order to vote? Will residents of the Jewish faith be allowed to live in Fort Scott or attend commission meetings and speak to issues which affect them? Or will they be silenced by God for having a different view or religion than that of their elected officials. Does the minister have the knowledge that only the "sinners" of the community voted for those of us who did not win a Commission seat, and the infallible and righteous votes are the only ones that elected our present commissioners?
As a Christian I found the invocation offensive. Calling for the silencing of those with a "personal agenda" by God himself was to me, akin to calling upon God for a curse. What has any citizen done at a Commission meeting to call for that? Stating that Commission meetings are "not about us but rather about God" was wrong. That is what Church is for. If calling for accountability of public funds is a "personal agenda" than I hold a different view. I consider a "personal agenda" to be for the City Manager to take those same public funds and request a grant to make them available to his friend, and not expect the same accountability of his friend than that which is expected of other citizens. Now even the Commission has been informed of the facts and even that local building codes were violated, but they too condone the activity without calling for accountability or restitution to the community. I see nothing "personal" about calling for accountability of public funds, I see that as what is in the best interest of the community. The entire community, Christian taxpayer or not. That is because of my compassion for the hard-working citizens and the poor and underprivileged.
The Commission has already been enforcing their rules by not allowing any comment that is not considered "positive." They are already "silencing" any comment that is contrary to their views. They already will not allow citizens to critique their performance. They showed no respect for any petition of grievances. All of the things that are contrary to the Constitution. Now it is going so far as to claiming they have God on their side and if you oppose their views then you are ungodly and evil. If you are Christian and you've ever heard about Jesus preaching about the Scribes and the Pharisees then you know that he condemned them for their self-righteousness. I bet the Pharisees themselves considered Jesus to be very "negative" and one with a "personal agenda" back in those times. I am not trying to preach here, I am not ordained, nor claim to be, I do however find these particular scriptures to be quite ironic in these circumstances...
"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven." (Matthew 23:2-9 RSV)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!" (Matthew 23:23-24)
Well, I guess I will go back to sleep now. With just the usual anxiety about whether I live through the night or not that I have at my age. Not because I fear that God would permanently silence me for having a passion for the oppressed or my view of the Commission's double-standards, such as Nick Graham calling some members of the CAC as one's with a "Messiah Complex." Now that really is quite ironic isn't it?
Good-Night, and God Bless.
Before I state my feelings about the invocation I want to make something clear. I am a Christian. I believe in God the Father of Jesus Christ, and that the Bible as the true word and prophecy of God. I actually believe that we are living in the end times today. I believe mankind was created by God and not by a freak of evolution. I know that I am also a sinner. I also believe that it is wrong to try to capitalize on those beliefs or try to force them on anyone else, or to feel that because I am a Christian I am "holier than thou." I just wanted to make that clear before the local politicians and their whispering campaigns paint me as some kind of Satanic Demon from the pits of Hell whose goal is the utter destruction of Fort Scott. (That is much worse than the Drunken Malcontent tactic that they already are using.) These are my personal religious beliefs. I also believe that there is a time and a place for me to express them. I think the mingling of religion and politics creates a bitter concoction. This site was not created for evangelizing, nor to answer to any of the bile that has been put out by that certain "friend of the City." So enough of that...
Along with my personal convictions is my respect for the Law and the Constitution of the United States and the freedom of Religion, freedom of Speech, and the separation of Church and State. Do I have a right to feel this way? You Doggone right I do!
The minister stated in his invocation Tuesday night that the City commissioners are "ordained by God" to promote God's work to the community, and that should any man come forward with his "own agenda" he called for them to be "silenced" by God, and he asked all of this in Jesus' name. (And to think I thought the gavel was bad, now they are proclaiming to have the right to cut out our tongues in God's name!) I believe that anyone in Public Office in this country has the freedom to worship their God and the obligation to abide by the law and uphold the Constitution. They are "free" to express their religious values in Church or anywhere else outside their Governmental Role. The minister is clearly stating that if your view differs from the Commission's view (who are ordained by God) then it is against God's will, thus you are "demonized." If you are of any religion other than Christian then you have no right to participate in or express your views to your Government, because they would be of a "personal agenda" and subversive to those who have been "ordained by God." So what is next? Will it be necessary to affiliate yourself as a Christian in order to vote? Will residents of the Jewish faith be allowed to live in Fort Scott or attend commission meetings and speak to issues which affect them? Or will they be silenced by God for having a different view or religion than that of their elected officials. Does the minister have the knowledge that only the "sinners" of the community voted for those of us who did not win a Commission seat, and the infallible and righteous votes are the only ones that elected our present commissioners?
As a Christian I found the invocation offensive. Calling for the silencing of those with a "personal agenda" by God himself was to me, akin to calling upon God for a curse. What has any citizen done at a Commission meeting to call for that? Stating that Commission meetings are "not about us but rather about God" was wrong. That is what Church is for. If calling for accountability of public funds is a "personal agenda" than I hold a different view. I consider a "personal agenda" to be for the City Manager to take those same public funds and request a grant to make them available to his friend, and not expect the same accountability of his friend than that which is expected of other citizens. Now even the Commission has been informed of the facts and even that local building codes were violated, but they too condone the activity without calling for accountability or restitution to the community. I see nothing "personal" about calling for accountability of public funds, I see that as what is in the best interest of the community. The entire community, Christian taxpayer or not. That is because of my compassion for the hard-working citizens and the poor and underprivileged.
The Commission has already been enforcing their rules by not allowing any comment that is not considered "positive." They are already "silencing" any comment that is contrary to their views. They already will not allow citizens to critique their performance. They showed no respect for any petition of grievances. All of the things that are contrary to the Constitution. Now it is going so far as to claiming they have God on their side and if you oppose their views then you are ungodly and evil. If you are Christian and you've ever heard about Jesus preaching about the Scribes and the Pharisees then you know that he condemned them for their self-righteousness. I bet the Pharisees themselves considered Jesus to be very "negative" and one with a "personal agenda" back in those times. I am not trying to preach here, I am not ordained, nor claim to be, I do however find these particular scriptures to be quite ironic in these circumstances...
"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven." (Matthew 23:2-9 RSV)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!" (Matthew 23:23-24)
Well, I guess I will go back to sleep now. With just the usual anxiety about whether I live through the night or not that I have at my age. Not because I fear that God would permanently silence me for having a passion for the oppressed or my view of the Commission's double-standards, such as Nick Graham calling some members of the CAC as one's with a "Messiah Complex." Now that really is quite ironic isn't it?
Good-Night, and God Bless.
posted by Thom Prue @ 10:07 PM
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