Update: The original post contained an ad that was obviously photoshopped. Not just in retrospect; the alleged ad text was blurrier than the web site address in the bottom right of the ad, the text clearly had a sarcastic slant that I just didn’t get at the moment (I thought “no color” was some sort of metaphor), and I should have caught it. Instead, I hit publish. I acted like a complete asshole and I apologize. You should expect better from me, and this isn’t acceptable.
However, I stand by my original rhetorical question, which was “Americans: How long are you planning to put up with these clowns?” because I’ve seen several actual examples where roughly the same message as in the alleged ad — not the real ad — is spread. The most infamous is Fred Phelps. If I hadn’t, the ad might have been incredulous enough that I might not have believed that the ad was authentic in the first place. (Even so, the verbage in the real ad is still irrelevant, divisive fear-mongering. But it’s still miles away.) I believe in free speech and not in mob justice, but that doesn’t mean that people should have to take this crap standing.
This is the original.
By Matt J · 2009.06.02 14:44
Two things: 1. Free speech is a double-edged sword. 2. Photoshop is amazing, isn’t it?
By Philip Regan · 2009.06.02 15:01
I normally don’t respond to posts like this, but I just can’t seem to get this one off of my mind. Are you serious? Your second paragraph betrays your “you should expect better from me” comment just above it. Why the hatred for Christians who do not buy into the myth of macroevolution? Why the hatred for Christians in general? Just because someone doesn’t believe the same way that you do or other self-professed “enlightened” people doesn’t mean that we deserve to be lumped in with Fred Phelps. Even secularists admit that Christians are easily more generous than non-christians. Adolf Hitler was an evolutionist (I’m hitting the evolution angle because that is what Answers in Genesis focuses on and was the organization that was attacked with this fraud), so by your logic all evolutionists must be supporters of genocide and bigotry. I don’t agree with the myth of evolution but I certainly don’t believe that everyone who does is rotten to the core. Maybe that’s why America puts up with “clowns” like us. Even though we don’t agree with every idea that is placed before us (sometimes read: shoved down our throats) before considering the arguments for and against it, most of us still don’t haul off on personal attacks against entire groups of people based on the actions of a very few.
By Joey Barkley · 2009.06.05 13:43
“These clowns”, when I wrote it, referred to people who thought like the first, made-up ad, which I mistook for real, and which does not represent what the Answers in Genesis site thinks. It also refers to people like Fred Phelps.
You’re right. You don’t deserve to be lumped in with them. (If the correction doesn’t make that clear, I’m hoping this does.) I contrast between Christians and people who profess violently that “god hates gays” and broadcast hateful, baseless tirades at every opportunity. The latter, as well as the imaginary group behind the more colorful, non-existant ad, is what the remark was aimed at. Not at you, or at Answers in Genesis. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I agree with you or with your particular debating techniques. But I’m not calling you names. I’m able to separate between people and their opinions; I hope we all are, and I hope you’ll keep reading.
I don’t very often “haul off on personal attacks” myself, but for some reason, I did when I published this. I regret it, but I think that it would be cowardly of me to take it down instead of explaining myself. (Furthermore I don’t actually think that taking it down would undo it happening in the first place.)
By Jesper · 2009.06.05 14:03