I spent the weekend with my wingnut, racist in-laws. Kill me.
The weekend started with with one of my brothers-in-law prank calling the house, using a broad, African American stereotype voice that was well beyond Amos & Andy era black face. Who answered the phone? My 11-year-old. Who was confused. Horrified. Repulsed. Good kid.
The Sysmistress took the phone from him, heard the voice on the other end, and hung up. Which led to calls from other in-laws asking if, for Easter Sunday, they should bring over chitin's instead of a salad.
When told that they were not welcome in our house if they continued with that crap, we were told to lighten up. "I don't have a problem with black people," said brother-in-law #1. "That's just my Obama impression." The first statement is demonstrably wrong. The second shows the power of rationalization of hatred. It goes right back. I have grown to truly loathe these people. If I didn't love my mother-in-law so much –- who is nothing like her horrible children -- I would have opted out of participating in any contact with these people years ago.
These people brought this humor to their Easter Sunday. When none of them went to church. When none of them bothered to discuss their faith on their most holy day of the year. When none of them bothered to say grace before digging in to their meal.
Which leads me to my topic.
If you're a Christian, act as a Christian. If you're a Catholic, act as a Catholic. If you fail to do that, I am not going to take you seriously if you address topics of faith or religion.
For all of the uproar about President Obama speaking at the University of Notre Dame Spring commencement, due to his pro-choice stance, I ask - how many "good Catholics" are calling him out on this? How many parents of students aren't hoping that if their kids are sexually active, they're using birth control? How many of the commenters are divorced? How many have family members who suffer from debilitating illnesses, but are provided hope by advancements in stem cell research?
In my completely secular view, I find the President's concern for people on the lower echelons of society profoundly humanist. I don't for a second think that Christianity has any more overlap with a humanist viewpoint than any other religious or nonreligious worldview. But for "Cafeteria Catholics", there seems to be more in his approach that overlaps with the teachings of Christ - rather than the practices of organized religion -- to find agreeable.
3 comments:
...and if you're a Taurus, see your florist.
Sorry you had to deal with such fucktards. Yet if you set them on fire in a pit in the back yard, then you're the bad guy. Damn single standard.
It is facile, misguided, and dangerous to equate religious faith with morality. Some of the greatest hypocrisy comes from those who proclaim their faith most vociferously. Walk it like you talk it and you have credibility. Otherwise, pfffft.
As for your delightful in-laws, I'm sorry that your weekend was invaded by such sickness and filth. There is simply no excuse for that degree of ignorance and hatred. You possess far more patience than I, who would surely have been handing out dick punches at the door.
I guess that's not very Christ-like of me.
I know this is late.
This actually makes me tear up.
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