Tolerating me (by Billy Coffey)
image courtesy of photobucket.com
The letter was from the American Civil Liberties Union, and the first thing I did was check the address to see if the nice lady who delivers our mail accidentally gave me someone else’s envelope. A letter from the ACLU? To me? Didn’t seem likely. I don’t consider myself to be their type, seeing as how I’m one of those backward country folks who clings to his guns and religion.
As it turned out, the letter was really a survey—ACLU PERSONAL FREEDOM SURVEY, it said—that warned “(my) decision to speak up is more important than ever, as the ACLU takes on a reenergized extremist movement determined to create an America where everyone is forced to live by that group’s narrowly-defined beliefs and values.”
Sounded scary enough, so I did my duty as a concerned citizen. I started filling out my survey. After all, they promised they were “vigorously working to protect” the things I believe in. It was the least I could do.
But then I came to the first question:
I believe that the separation of church and state is crucial to the health of our democracy and that government should stay out of Americans’ personal religious beliefs and practices.
Four choices were given—Do Not Believe, Somewhat Believe, Believe, Strongly Believe. Uh-oh. Really? I marked Do Not Believe. Even though I want my government out of my faith, I also want to know what the people in my government believe. Even if they believe in nothing. Because in the end, what we believe defines what we are.
Question 2: I believe that attempts to limit the rights of people to marry and/or adopt children based upon their sexual orientation not only hurts families but violates the most fundamental precepts of American freedom and must be resisted.
It was about this point when I realized these questions were written in such a way that if I disagreed, I would be made out to be an evil man. I marked Do Not Believe anyway. Because I have a right to think that, correct? That’s the whole point of the ACLU. Correct?
The other questions weren’t any easier—one about how “reproductive choices must be defended” and another about how wrong it is “for extremist advocates of creationism and intelligent design to impose their religious beliefs by interfering with the teaching of evolution in public school science classes.” One about how wrong it is “to use taxpayer dollars to fund abstinence-only education programs that promote a particular religious doctrine.”
I finished them all (Do Not Believe turned out to be my favorite answer) and decided that I would likely never hear from them again since I was pretty much the sort of person they seemed intent on scuffling with. Evidently, I was part of the “reactionary forces that want to create an America where everyone is forced to live by their narrowly-defined beliefs and values.”
(Not true, by the way.)
But if you ask me a question, the odds are pretty good I’m going to give you what I think is the best answer. If we disagree on that, well that’s just fine. I’ll have no problem tolerating you. But you’d damn well better tolerate me, too.
That means not calling me Islamophobic because I don’t think a mosque should be within a two blocks of where the Twin Towers once stood, and not calling me a racist because I disagree with someone who happens to be black.
It means not calling me narrow-minded because I stick to what I believe.
And not calling me reactionary because I’ll stand up for them.
To read more from Billy Coffey, visit him at his blog What I Learned Today and follow him on twitter at @BillyCoffey
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Here’s what I believe …
I believe I’ll stand right up alongside you, brother.
.-= Jennifer@GDWJ´s last blog ..The Gift of Faith =-.
Billy, you have my deep admiration for stating your beliefs so publicly on the internet with your name attached. You really do.
I bet it tickles your heart to imagine the look on the face of the person who gets to read and tally your answers. I know it does mine.
.-= Helen´s last blog ..The Green Police =-.
Thank you.
I agree with you and I think it’s very funny that the people who call others intolerant are themselves the ones who need to learn how to be tolerant. (not referring to you btw in case you misunderstood )
.-= susie @newdaynewlesson´s last blog ..Some Things Are A Constant =-.
you nailed it Billy. again. Christians are being more and more discriminated against and nobody wants to stand up for tolerating Christians like everyone wants to defend ‘those other groups’. It was very clear when visiting Mount Vernon, that home of one of the most godly christian charactered men that ever led our nation, that those that run it as a ‘historical’ place are set on inaccurately portraying him and are set on doing everything possible to avoid saying that his CHRISTIAN VALUES and his love for God influence all he did and WROTE and said. They avoided calling him a Christian like the plague on all the plaques and displays. Hmmmm… a bit intolerant of even the belief of our first president.
I don’t normally get political either but hey You opened the can of worms… thought you might want some company.
Thank you for not allowing yourself to be bullied into answering such pointed questions in the way they obviously wanted you to. It’s frustrating that an organization meant to protect our right to be different would attempt to channel you into a mold with such manipulative statements.
Amen! Amen! and…oh yeah! Amen!
Maybe Today.
.-= Rebekah @ It Only Gets Better´s last blog ..Macaroons and Iced Milk =-.
I get the seriousness of this post and I appreciate it.
But this reminds me of that one time at Hardee’s when I found a hair in my burger and then proceeded to fill out a complaint card.
But I wasn’t strong enough to put my name on the card.
I kept expecting that Hardee’s to get discouraged and shut down, but they didn’t.
Someone send me that form!
You know what I love? A good rant on the ACLU about their political agenda crap. Organizations like theirs are precisely why I proudly display a ‘God Bless America’ banner in my office at my public employee job.
.-= Annie K´s last blog ..An Excellent Use of Time =-.
Agreeing to disagree is a powerful concept, and a necessity for lasting relationships. It is sad that more people do not understand this.
.-= Posey´s last blog ..Child Amazement- and Other Things =-.
Oh, yes. Amen. Yup.
.-= Joanne Sher´s last blog ..Ive Redecorated Have A Peek =-.
Billy, that. was. great! I used to be on the ACLU mailing list for a while. I don’t know why, but since I never responded, I guess they gave up on me. And it’s sad their questions were so leading and loaded. Seriously, what is up with that?
I suppose I’m a redneck who likes my guns and my religion. And I suppose I’m a muslim-hater since I think it’s insensitive to build a mosque near enough to Ground Zero that 9/11 victims are emotionally hurt, and I suppose I’m intolerant because I believe God said marriage is one man and one woman. But like you, I can sleep at night because I will stick to my beliefs. And even if they don’t reciprocate, I will love others even if they abhor what I stand for.
We’ve reached the point where in America you’re guilty until proven innocent if you don’t line up with a certain political agenda. Because of sympathetic media outlets (whether TV, radio, print or internet) all you need is a group to start calling you a racist or bigot or whatever-phobe and you’re expected to defend yourself against often baseless and misguided allegations.
I’ve often said the modern version of crucifying a Christian isn’t physical…it’s social & electronic. Brand you a bigot or worse, get people to not want to be associated with you because of the “label” on you, get you fired from your job because your company doesn’t want to be seen as “intolerant” (even if you’re not intolerant), etc. Get you to the point where you can’t pay your bills or afford to have a place to live, etc. just because you don’t line up with their agenda.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..Actual quiet time for a change =-.
*thumbs up*
.-= Annie McMahon´s last blog ..WriteOnCon Notes about Voice Part One =-.
way to go man, sounds like I would have answered the same way…… and it seems the ACLU is worried about everyone’s rights but the Christians
I sometimes participate in an online survey program (take 5-10 surveys, get $25). Anyway, these questions and the way they word them drive me crazy and sometimes (in my opinion) you aren’t even given a proper choice. It’s ridiculously frustrating, but they aren’t interested in accurate data. Either that or they really don’t see how slanted they are (but that seems hard to believe).
All that to say, glad you’ll stick up for your beliefs. I will not only tolerate you. I’ll admire you for that.
Thanks, Billy.
.-= jasonS´s last blog ..A Love That ReDefines =-.
I reckon the “do not believe” answer is best explained BECAUSE YOU DO BELIEVE! I have wrung myself through the wringer since about last Friday over my strong political stance. Am I wrong as a Christian to speak out against what is rallying against me–and my GOD? Why doesn’t anyone else stand atop their soapbox, even for a bit? Should I be more tolerant and understanding? Should I zip it and wait for the trumpet call and bowing knees?
Because I believe, I cannot be still or quiet or lay in the dirt whilst others trample upon the God of my salvation, my family, and my country.
As you once said to me after one of my soapbox moments, this bible-thumping, gun-toting, America-loving, saved by the grace of God, girl is standing shoulder to shoulder with you too. Thank you for speaking up at a time when I needed to hear it most. By the way, at the Tea Party Patriots meeting I attended last night, it was covered in prayer and so was the leadership of our country…
One more thing (cuz I always have one more thing to say), the ACLU really likes to get Christmas cards in the mail that remind them of the reason for the season…perhaps this year we can all send It’s Because We Believe cards.
Blessings.
.-= A Simple Country Girl´s last blog ..What if We are Wrong =-.
I like that idea! Put it out there again after Thanksgiving, would you ASCG?
.-= Helen´s last blog ..The Green Police =-.
Billy for President!
.-= Dayle´s last blog ..Monday Musings On Aging =-.
“extremist advocates of creationism” – is that the same as “one nation, under God?” Just askin’. And just … wow. All thumbs up, Billy.
.-= Candy´s last blog ..Tasty Bites- Toasted Israeli Couscous with Grilled Vegetables =-.
Right on Billy!!! I hope you didn’t send them any money, cause these types of letters usually want a big contribution with it.
.-= Hazel´s last blog ..Speak Words in Season =-.
Billy: I don’t believe in tolerating people or their views. Jesus didn’t tolerate folks — he accepted them. Even the ones he disagreed with. You and I don’t see eye-to-eye on everything but I damn sure don’t tolerate you — I love you and your mule-headed ways.
You can’t get into trouble for talking crap about the majority, the minute you say a word against a minority group (religious, racial, political, etc.) you’re in trouble.
I guess I have a hard time with all of this (the politics, not your post), because I really do think government should stay out of most things. Fewer laws are better. . . but with that, we have dudes trying to get married and adopt kids. That makes me worry about the children.
I’d rather see Christians working in the lives of their neighbors trying to love them and influence them than pass legislation telling them they can’t do something, but people are lazy and obstinate and that ideal just won’t take care of it all, so sometimes we have to pass those laws.
Nice post on a difficult topic. It seriously isn’t easy to share this with people because too many get butt-hurt over it and freak out!
.-= Jake´s last blog ..Freedom 3- Not to- but From =-.
Absolutely right on, Billy. We’re standing right alongside you – we do not believe in forsaking all morality on grounds that it might offend someone.
Thanks again!
Crazy day and weekend but I had to jump on here quickly and say Bravo!!
.-= Joyce´s last blog ..How not to be a blubbering mess and other stuff I learned this weekend =-.
Sigh. These are the reasons I don’t write about politics. Things just make me so. tired.
I’ll stand up for what I believe when I have to.
.-= Kelly Langner Sauer´s last blog ..about that opening of the mouth and speaking of the words thing… =-.
I find you tolerable, : ) , but I’m pretty tolerant! ; ) God Bless, and take care!
.-= cindy hanson´s last blog ..Car Crashes- Broken Laws- God and America the aftermath- part two =-.