I really enjoyed this column, so much to the point that I created a user account just to comment. Although that probably doesn't mean much.
I'm a New Jerseyian and most of the people in my state, or at least most of the people I have political discussions about, point to the Midwest and say that it's the part of the country that's holding progression back the most. I think this is a wrong view point to take. I've spent time in the Midwest, my mother grew up there, my Grandmother lived and died in Kansas. As a child I planned on attending school in the state. I know there's a mix of people there, even though the state leans extremely far to the right compared to the people here in the North East. I think you'd be wrong to leave the state, unless employment opportunities are better for you elsewhere. I think staying and helping to spread tolerance would be a better move. There have to be more like minded people there and you can probably find them with the most ease and least social persecution here on the internet. Mike from Portland, Oregon probably did have the best words of wisdom for you though. Get out and see the world, go back if it's where your heart is. But, leaving because you can't cope with the minds of those around you isn't the best answer. Changing the minds of those around you passively is.
"I don’t care how Christians feel about homosexuality. They should love homosexuals because they are people whom Jesus himself loves."
This really said it all for me. I don't understand the intolerance. (Also, Christians bomb and blow up abortion clinics. To point again would be what was the faith of the man who was behind the Oklahoma City bombing?) To say that one religion is devoid of it's extremists is wrong. To think that Islam is comprised of extremists is wrong. Here in New Jersey I've had the pleasure of meeting Pakistanis, Jordanians and Lebanese. Who are all practicing Muslims, their faith is just as peaceful in its aspects and teachings as Christianity is.
I've spent a bunch of time in parts of the bible belt. Texas is also very Christian. The trick to talking about politics is to make analogies that are simpler to understand and take the abstracts that politics make them, into real life scenarios and see if people's opinions change. You're no longer talking about the murky ether of never never land, you're talking about an incident that's really had an impact on your life. Pro-Life, Pro-Abstinence aren't going to be impacted because someone in Power is allowing them to happen. If the values at home are strong enough they can persevere. Although, I honestly hope they don't.
Posted on December 2 at 9:44 p.m.Suggest removal
I really enjoyed this column, so much to the point that I created a user account just to comment. Although that probably doesn't mean much.
I'm a New Jerseyian and most of the people in my state, or at least most of the people I have political discussions about, point to the Midwest and say that it's the part of the country that's holding progression back the most. I think this is a wrong view point to take. I've spent time in the Midwest, my mother grew up there, my Grandmother lived and died in Kansas. As a child I planned on attending school in the state. I know there's a mix of people there, even though the state leans extremely far to the right compared to the people here in the North East. I think you'd be wrong to leave the state, unless employment opportunities are better for you elsewhere. I think staying and helping to spread tolerance would be a better move. There have to be more like minded people there and you can probably find them with the most ease and least social persecution here on the internet. Mike from Portland, Oregon probably did have the best words of wisdom for you though. Get out and see the world, go back if it's where your heart is. But, leaving because you can't cope with the minds of those around you isn't the best answer. Changing the minds of those around you passively is.
"I don’t care how Christians feel about homosexuality. They should love homosexuals because they are people whom Jesus himself loves."
This really said it all for me. I don't understand the intolerance. (Also, Christians bomb and blow up abortion clinics. To point again would be what was the faith of the man who was behind the Oklahoma City bombing?) To say that one religion is devoid of it's extremists is wrong. To think that Islam is comprised of extremists is wrong. Here in New Jersey I've had the pleasure of meeting Pakistanis, Jordanians and Lebanese. Who are all practicing Muslims, their faith is just as peaceful in its aspects and teachings as Christianity is.
I've spent a bunch of time in parts of the bible belt. Texas is also very Christian. The trick to talking about politics is to make analogies that are simpler to understand and take the abstracts that politics make them, into real life scenarios and see if people's opinions change. You're no longer talking about the murky ether of never never land, you're talking about an incident that's really had an impact on your life. Pro-Life, Pro-Abstinence aren't going to be impacted because someone in Power is allowing them to happen. If the values at home are strong enough they can persevere. Although, I honestly hope they don't.
Sam
New Jersey
On