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When I saw this story on TV tonight my immediate thought was; “This is why I no longer refer to myself as a conservative”. The term just doesn’t mean what it use to…
From The Vancouver Sun;
“A typical street whore.” “A bunch of ghetto thugs.” “Ghetto street trash.” “Wonder when she will get her first abortion.”
These are a small selection of some of the racially-charged comments posted to the conservative ‘Free Republic’ blog Thursday, aimed at U.S. President Barack Obama’s 11-year-old daughter Malia after she was photographed wearing a t-shirt with a peace sign on the front.
The thread was accompanied by a photo of Michelle Obama speaking to Malia that featured the caption, “To entertain her daughter, Michelle Obama loves to make monkey sounds.”
Though this may sound like the sort of thing one might read on an Aryan Nation or white power website, they actually appeared on what is commonly considered one of the prime online locations for U.S. Conservative grassroots political discussion and organizing. (more here)
Filed under: News, Watching Signs | Tagged: Hate-Speak, Only in America, Political Conservatism, Racism
NOTE: A screen capture of the entire thread has been saved here
Disgusting stuff.
Utterly, utterly disgusting.
I got almost halfway through the thread before I gave up.
To be fair, these were comments, and we do not know Who they came from. Often, anonymous protesters are but shills that slur and instigate, in order to besmirch their opponents, feigning allegiance to them. Posing as a conservative, and then attacking the liberal with over the top ugly bigotry and disgusting hatred, is an age old tactic used in every political war there ever was….[ or vica-versa ] To be honest, I believe this subterfuge has actually been much more prominent on the left…with the attacks from ACORN and leftists pundits.
Just because it is a National conservative site that allows basically uncensored comments, does not mean that conservatives actually made the comments. Politics is a smoke and mirrors contraption that in the hardball realm, will destroy it’s opponent without mercy, using any and all options, including LYING, and INNUENDO and SLANDER. Can you believe it?
We have truth, and then there is politics. Politics subverts through PERCEPTION, and the substance of the truth is immaterial; only the end, which is the winning of power.
There are a number of web sites I frequent in which the blogger presents themselves as prophets. Many of the dreams/visions seem to be from God — I mull over them. But I stop short when they refer to President Obama as “Barak Hussein Obama” or speak of him in a reverential tone — same with Sarah Palin — I’ve heard her referred to as the new Queen Esther. It taints whatever the blogger is talking about — for me anyway.
If you’re examining Obama or Palin in a biblical light, keep your personal feelings about them out of it — I guess I’m a “just-the-bible-facts, ma’am” type of person.
Over the last few years i have shed terms that add to my being a Christian. Conservative, Evangelical, and Fundamentalist had to go.
Those terms in particular have taken on political meanings, so when used, others think ‘politics’ or ‘political views’ rather then Christian and/or Christ follower.
They may have indeed meant something else at one time, but no more.
Every right-wing radical in this country goes by ‘conservative’ today. I don’t want who i am to be associated with who they are, or their beliefs.
Vancouver? What’s a Canadian paper doing talking about free speech? Given the comments here of a supposed former member of the BC Human Rights Commission, I’d say that whatever Canada has, it’s not the same as free speech in the U. S.
I post on Freerepublic, using the same pseudonym there as here and elsewhere. It can get rowdy at times. That’s part of the nature of faceless online fora. Moderation at Freerepublic does come down, at the capricious whim of the moderators.
Drive by posting is conceivable. I’ve certainly seen it elsewhere. Usually you can, on Free Republic you certainly can, check a user’s history and posting history easily.
Lee Enfield, I have seen your comments on various reformed blogs where you seem to be fairly orthodox reformed. However, being reformed does not determine one’s ideas on politics or freedom. Yes, I WAS a former employee of the BC Human Rights Commission, and I am also a reformed Christian.
You are correct that free speech is not the same same in Canada as in the US. We believe freedom is not absolute, as my freedom should not deprive you of yours. Here Christians, including reformed ones such as myself have the freedom to support all types of political parties. Do you have the same freedom or must a Christian support only right wing causes? Anyway, I am very glad that God allows me to live in a free democracy, although my real citizenship is in His kingdom.
Perhaps if you were to learn something about your neighbouring country, you might understand that not everyone here should necessarily think like you do.
P.S., When I think of an Enfield I think of my motorcycle, not a gun — just another difference.
Let’s be unequivocal here and now. I know and am convinced of “Who” I believe and serve. He is in my heart. Apparently, at times, according to the door opened by the written Word, I push Him out at times so I need the assistance of the Holy Ghost and Scripture to get Him in and stay in my deceitfully wicked heart. Eph 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
I shake my head wondering at times why He would want to live in my stickin’ heart “knowing” now what it is all about?
That’s His greatness and glory and we should no longer not give Him the praise due the glory of His wonderful immeasurable Gracious Name! Period.
Now, my assertion. My God didn’t say those words or think the thoughts that produced those words we read. Jesus didn’t. The Holy Ghost didn’t. And no truly saved, blood washed believer with Christ or the Holy Ghost dwelling in them did. Isn’t that plain enough? That narrows the field then, doesn’t it just who would write such stuff about the First Family of the United States? They didn’t. Why, Michael the Archangel, when disputing for the body of Moses, didn’t even rail against that lessor fallen demonic being, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you”.
As an aside and digression, that symbol on the girl’s shirt is an evil portrayal of “rebellion” against the Peace the Prince of Peace gained for us by the blood of His Cross and in my judgment, it is inappropriate for her, as the “first” daughter of the United States of America, to be wearing a shirt with that symbol in it. Having pointed out what the symbol means, I am saddened that her parents, either one would not know what the symbol means or would allow her to wear it, either privately or in public. It is an offensive symbold against True Biblical Christianity and what Christ came to produce by His sufferings, death, burial and resurrection! What would a Muslim do if she wore a symbol that insulted Mohammed or his religious practice?
Having pointed that out, by all means possible, then, the Church should rally around this sort of prayer that the Apostle teaches and prays for every family who is named in heaven and on earth these days:::>
Eph 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
Eph 3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
Eph 3:16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Eph 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
Eph 3:19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Once we have from the heart, where supposedly Jesus now dwells, prayed in earnest that kind of prayer, we then, as Paul, can turn our attention further to the revelation of God Himself and humbly ask for forgiveness for ourselves and those who indeed produced such wicked, vial vitrolic words posting them on a blog to incite wickedness and apparently without any recriminations applied and ponder these words of Paul as well:::>
Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Eph 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
And you might wonder why I say that we ought to repent and pray for our repentance and repentance to come to wicked and vial souls?
I learn so much from reading this prayer prayed by Daniel here and find that in this country it’s depth of meaning applies to us here as well, or not? You be the judge then?:::>
Dan 9:4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
Dan 9:5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.
Dan 9:6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
Dan 9:7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.
Dan 9:8 To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.
Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him
Dan 9:10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Dan 9:11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him.
Dan 9:12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.
Dan 9:13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth.
Dan 9:14 Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice.
aha…for those of my generation the peace sign is was just a symbol of peace or being anti-war.
The one she has on her tee was:
…originally designed for the British nuclear disarmament movement. It was designed and completed February 21, 1958 by Gerald Holtom, a professional designer and artist in Britain for the April 4 march planned by the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War (DAC) from Trafalgar Square, London to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston Christan in England[3]. The symbol was later adopted by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), and subsequently became an international emblem for the 1960s anti-war movement… link
Thomas, I’m afraid that that’s a quaint excuse used to justify the actions … but I don’t see FR squashing racists.
Frankly, I got banned from FR half a dozen years ago for suggesting that we were killing innocent civilians at roadside check points (which we were). The “that’s not a real conservative” excuse is really weak. Look at the number of not-anonymous people who attacked Gen. Powell the moment he stepped out of line. Suddenly, he owed his entire career to the Republican Party rather than having earned his rank and positions. He was accused of being an “affirmative action general,” “filling a racial quota,” and such. Racism is there, and the Right has to come to terms with it rather than just blame everything on ACORN.
Wickle: Of course racism is there , and what excuse to justify anybody?………”Thomas, I’m afraid that that’s a quaint excuse used to justify the actions … but I don’t see FR squashing racists.”…… What are the radical white supremacists likely to label themselves to gain credibility? “Worthless white trash Nazi Bigot slimeballs?” What are the radical socialists , who hate God and love most everything that permissive democracy will afford them, yet God Hates, likely to label themselves? Pagan Anarchial Socialist One Worlders?
That’s not the point. Do you categorize a movement by the comments of some who identify with it? Do you categorize an entire political party, and stamp everyone in it, because it grates against the grain of some of your social convictions? If you become a “political Christian, how are you much different than them all? Yes, these comments were disgusting, and ugly, but I don’t know if they did not come from a democrat, an ACORN, or a NAZI, and frankly, I don’t care. They certainly had enough political impact to be posted even here.
“Racism is there, and the Right has to come to terms with it rather than just blame everything on ACORN.”…Wickle
Huh? How do you know what the “right ” has come to terms with? Do you realize what a sweeping generalization this idea is? My post was simply directed at the idea that Slurs and Hate-speech has affects that are negative, and may originate from either side, as a well placed arrow, and often do. It is wise not to fall for the propaganda, from either side.
Neither side represents the Kingdom of God.
PJ,
I carry a similar philosophy with regards to the denomination that I belong to, or don’t belong to, depending on one’s perspective. My church is Non-denominational. I however try to refrain from identifying myself as a Non-Denominational Christian because in a twisted way it’s as if I’m actually saying to people that I do in fact belong to a denomination. I practice this to stay focused on Christ vs avoid religious discussions.
Grace and peace be with you.
In addition to not agreeing with the President’s policies on abortion, my other concern appears to be coming true, a step backwards for racial harmony.
Stating the obvious here,: I’ve felt that regardless of how well the President “might” serve, race would be the one thing that gets played up and on, in a negative light. I fear that invariably racial tensions will be reinvigorated.
I hope I’m not being paranoid, I forgot to take my meds today
, however I can’t help but see this thing play out with Barak Obama being a scapegoat. A scapegoat that will be the catalyst for escalation of racial hostilities. Please do not read into this as me being an apologist for President Obama or his policies, far from it.
To close, I’ve always contended that we (all races of America) are not ready for a minority president; we’re just not that far removed from the Civil Rights Movement yet to believe and live as though we truly are the United States of America. Then again, maybe the problem is that we don’t really trust in God as a nation either.
Grace and peace be with you.
I don’t think you’re being paranoid Christopher.
My take on what i personally have been seeing, where it relates to President Obama and race, is that his election to office (and even before, being the democratic candidate) has revealed a lot of old hidden racial tension[s] in peoples hearts, which they would have (a year ago) vehemently denied being there. (And believed they were telling the truth!)
We’re seeing the same thing concerning immigration.
In this sense, i believe God is using President Obama, especially as its to do with the body of Christ.
We can be unaware of hidden feelings until the Spirit of God reveals them to us–
Obama has been a catalyst in bringing these hidden things into the light.
Regardless of what people want to think, God placed the man in office. I say that most assuredly because of the number of Christians who contrary to those who prayed for one party or the other to win the election, instead prayed ‘God, your will be done’..
Some will never accept that. But its as you wrote:
PJ,
Thanks! I’d been beating myself up recently over the fact that I didn’t vote during this past election until I had an epiphany from those timely words:
Yes indeed, one way or another the Lord is always in control of the situation!
Grace and peace be with you
Grace and peace be with you too Christopher…
Your addition to the topic was very thought provoking, and i prayerfully hope it causes some of us to think.
Stop back again soon!
Tom…
And there in lies the problem.
There are many groups today which stick the word ‘conservative’ in their bio’s, and people who claim to be conservatives in politics, the news media, and even on the Internet. Many of these groups and/or individuals are extreme radicals, and yes, even racists and hate-mongers. I could post a list, but it serves no purpose.
The thing is it is these that the world perceives as the ‘walking, breathing, definition’ of a ‘conservative’…is that fair? Probably not, but its the way its played out over the past 10 years [at least]
They are the loudest voices on the Internet, the ones we hear or see in the media. And not in a good way either.
There is no ‘one’ definition of conservative today, there are many. And because of that there are a lot of Christians like myself, who no longer associate themselves with any group which uses the tag conservative.
I realized for me personally, it was one way to immediately turn the lost off, cause their ears to close up, before i could even tell them about Jesus and salvation found in Him!
If those who still consider themselves Christian conservatives (which to be honest, i don’t even know what that means anymore–we’re either Christians or we’re not) had really wanted to preserve that word to mean what it use to, they needed to stand up and AGAINST all those in politics, the media, and elsewhere, who stole it from them, for their own agendas years ago.
But they didn’t. And we know why..
It can’t be helped Tom, we as Christians are judged by the world (and sometimes, other Christians) by who we associate ourselves with–and sometimes that association can be a tag like ‘conservative’.
You recall the book and film, ‘The Ugly American’? Well, in the world today the term conservative has become ‘ugly’..
Lee: As a Canadian evangelical, I find your comment offensive.
I see Wout has spoken to you. Thanks Wout.
Canada is a parliamentary democracy and while we are dealing with HRC and HRT free speech issues across provinces, many Christians work on and through these commissions and tribunals; which were set up to help people who cannot afford court for things such as rental disputes, employment disputes etc.
The Vancouver Sun employs a religious writer who has been recognized in the US for his outstanding work. His name is Douglas Todd and I suggest you take a look at his blog The Search and read some of his articles in The Sun.
I’d like to suggest that if you are going to opine about our media, our faith communities and our politics, a basic understanding about who and what you are talking about and to would be appreciated.
Canadians believe as other parliamentary democratic countries do – free speech is not an absolute when the larger community or minorities are targeted and harmed.
You don’t have to like our laws, our country, or us, if you make the decision to speak about your neighbour, do so with at least a modicum of basic knowledge.
Section 2b in the Canadian Charter of Rights addresses free speech.
Speech is a human rights issue. Speech which promotes genocide, publicly incites hatred against people based on their colour, race, religion, ethnic origin, and sexual orientation is not acceptable.
I stand with Wout.
I am grateful I live in a country where our political choices are not limited to two parties, where Christians are free to serve in all parties without labelling, derision and condemnation.
hello. i’ve been skimming this forum several times; Finally needed to connect to the community