No Petitions at Giant Today
We have received word that Giant's corporate counsel has informed the local Giant stores that the Citizens for a Responsible Whatever do not have permission to collect petition signatures on the store's property today. If you see them at one of these stores, please go in and remind the manager to check his or her email.
posted by JimK at 11:44 AM
55 Comments:
Thanks so much to TTF, for working against the democratic process.
The citizens of Motgomery County will remember your efforts.
We don't tell Giant lawyers what to do. CRW got permission for the weekend, that's all. This is Monday, weekend's over.
You can blame us, but this is beyond our control. I imagine counsel heard from a lot of pissed-off managers who wanted to know what to do about these people who were hassling their customers.
JimK
Time to go grocery shopping at my bigot-free local Giant!
"You can blame us, but this is beyond our control."
Jim, you took the time out to call the headquarters of Giant and to urge your followers to go into the store and tell the managers to "check their e-mails."
If any managers were "pissed off" it was due to the ruckus you tried to stir up this weekend.
Your tactics are not only anti-democratic, they may be illegal. They are laws against trying to hinder and harass democratic processes. If you guys had maintained a reasonable distance and limited yourself to agrumentation, that's fine. Forming blockades around petitioners tables and refusing to leave them alone upon request as they tried to engage citizens in conversation may be voter intimidation. I'm sure we'll hear more but, due to your actions, a judge may wind up ordering the referendum on the ballot regardless of the number of signers.
"CRW got permission for the weekend, that's all."
Earlier, you were saying CRC didn't have permission this weekend. Were you lying?
TTF's actions were all perfectly legal Red Baron - too bad for you, why don't you go run away and cry.
According to you overturining the law against interracial marriage, allowing women to vote, and desegregating schools were all anti-democratic. If it were left up to people like you bigotry would reign supreme in the U.S.
Anon, I didn't call Giant headquarters and don't know of anyone who did.
Presenting the second viewpoint in a controversy is not "un-democratic" or illegal. Luckily for you guys, lying about what a petition represents is apparently not illegal, either, so count your blessings.
There were no blockades, and nobody told us to leave them alone, but nice try.
Finally, refresh my memory: where did I say the CRW didn't have permission? I was told at Arliss that they did. Almost all other Giant managers chased them away without any input from us.
JimK
They were at Westbard this morning, and I informed the manager that was in violation of their company policy. He said they would be removed.
Also, they did have permission to be at Arliss the previous weekend, but not last weekend -- a second weekend. Giant policy is to allow anyone -- shower nuts, Klansmen, whatever -- one weekend at any given store a month. They are also limited to two people per store.
So they violated two aspects of their agreement with Giant yesterday at Arliss, which may very well invalidate all the signatures they obtained there.
Anyone who sees them at any Giant in the county today should remind the manager of the store of their company policy, a copy of which they all should have received this morning.
I;m still interested in how the Anons know so much about how pedophiles think.
"Anyone who sees them at any Giant in the county today should remind the manager of the store of their company policy, a copy of which they all should have received this morning."
And why should they do that, Dana?
Because they are there illegally, Anon. You've been preaching about democracy and the rule of law, so why is it that you are encouraging your people to violate the agreement they have with Giant?
I have no problem admitting when I am wrong. You do. When I discovered that you had the right to be at the Arliss Giant for one weekend this month, I had no problem accepting that. It turns out you were there at least two weekends, and you had too many people -- both in violation of your agreement. Ruth is apparently not only a liar but in violation of contract with Giant.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4534
Ted
"Because they are there illegally, Anon. You've been preaching about democracy and the rule of law, so why is it that you are encouraging your people to violate the agreement they have with Giant?"
Actually, Giant headquarters doesn't make law. They have policies. Violating them is not illegal. If they are asked to leave, CRCers have always done so. That's not true of TTFers.
Oh, AnonFreak. Yesterday, at my church, I spoke about the CRW(eirdos) and, as real Christians, were are disgusted with your lies and hate-mongering tactics. We, as a church, will counter you lies with real Christian values. Our God, our Father, is a loving and kind Father full of truth. It is unfortunate that you CRW(eirdos) equate what you do with Christianity or God. You should be ashamed of yourselves, AnonFreak, Theresa, Ruth, et. al. We even prayed for you all and those you are hurting. You're misguided and we hope that our prayers will help you in becoming better, well-adjusted and true Christians at best.
Thanks for the prayers, Mr TM. Where do you go to church?
DOESN'T THIS REMIND YOU OF THE CRW(eirdos)????
Damage from U.S. extremists greater than from foreign terrorists: researchers (www.680news.com)
February 17, 2008 - 21:42
By: Randolph E. Schmid, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON - When it comes to fears about a terrorist attack, people in the United States usually focus on Osama bin Laden and foreign-based radical groups.
Yet researchers say domestic extremists, who commit violence in the name of their cause, account for most of the damage from such incidents.
The homegrown groups are seven times more likely than overseas groups to commit some kind of violence in the United States, a panel reported Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In many ways, actions by these domestic extremists can be termed "terrorist" cases, the researchers indicated.
"The typical 'terrorist' is an alienated guy, usually a young male," said Brian Forst of American University in Washington.
"They take comfort in like-minded souls and develop an idea they think will make a splash," he said.
They do not always carry it out but sometimes they do, he said.
"They are not lunatics."
More research is needed into domestic extremists and what leads them to commit violence, said Gary LaFree of the National Center for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism in College Park, Md.
"It's just as important to understand the bomb-maker as it is to understand the bomb," he said.
That is what Kelly Damphousse of the University of Oklahoma has been working on - where the extremists live and work, where they meet and build their weapons and where and when they strike.
Damphousse said right-wing extremists spend the most time meeting, preparing and planning before committing a violent act - some 480 "events," whether that is a telephone call or some other form of plotting.
On a smaller scale are environmental activists who commit violence. On average, it is just 59 preparatory activities, he said.
"Environmentalists don't need much. They need a spray can."
"They need a match. They don't have to build a bomb," Damphousse said.
Often, he said, they are simply frustrated by the political process and decide: "Let's go do something."
While some domestic extremists travel long distances, most strike within 50 kilometres of where they live, Damphousse said. Environmental extremists tend to strike within 16 kilometres of home.
Tuesday is the most common day for an attack, he said. Right-wing extremists tend to be early risers, striking in the morning, he said, while left-wing activists wait until evening and environmentalists wait until after midnight.
David Caspi of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City said domestic extremist groups tend to fall into three categories - political, religious and youth culture:
Examples of religious-based extremists include the white-supremacist Aryan Nation, founded in Idaho, and the Oklahoma Constitutional Militia, an anti-government, anti-Jewishc group; both are now closed down.
The National Alliance was a political-based white-supremacist group, he said.
An example of a youth group still operating is PEN1, standing for Public Enemy Number 1, which grew out of the punk rock culture to become a white-supremacist group, he said.
Forst said researchers need to learn more about what contributes to the longevity and lethality of such organizations, noting domestic extremists have far greater access to the United States than those from abroad.
Damphousse noted researchers have compiled an international Terrorism Knowledge Base - http://www.tkb.org - listing incidents around the world.
The section on the United States lists such organizations as Animal Liberation Front, Environmental Liberation Front, Anti-Castro Cubans and the Black Revolutionary Assault Team among others.
I go to any church that recognizes the lies of CRW(eirdos). :-) A church where true Christians follow a truth Christian life. Wow, I go to a lot of churches... :-)
I see. Well, what church were you at yesterday? You know, the one where everyone was praying for me.
Hahaaaaaa...hahaha. Riiiiight, AnonFreak.
I am not telling you because we don't want bigots like you around our children. We would never want to jeopardize their well-being by having mean-spirited 'individuals' like you around. Our members are good-spirited, loving people... I don't think you quite fit that profile. We, as Christians, accept everybody at our church... but when the well-being of our members is jeopardized, we need to take a stand and say "no". Sorry-- But it sounds like you already have a church to attend... However, it looks like it needs to be more Christian-like and less tolerant of those who hate their brothers and sisters. Maybe a good re-teaching of the Bible would work.
You're right, Giant doesn't have any "laws," they have policies. I misspoke. But Ruth had an agreement with Giant, and she violated that agreement.
You're going to split hairs with me?
The one time we were asked to step off the sidewalk we did so. Whenever you called the police it was you who was then asked to leave.
"Sorry-- But it sounds like you already have a church to attend... However, it looks like it needs to be more Christian-like and less tolerant of those who hate their brothers and sisters. Maybe a good re-teaching of the Bible would work."
I wasn't planning to go to your church, Mr TM. I was thinking about looking at their website to see what they believed.
Could you tell us what denomination it is, or is that on a need-to-know basis?
OK, Dana, I think I've harassed you enough for this week.
Seriously, I think you went too far with impeding the petitioners and you guys should have included a religious exemption in the law.
I'm off til May, guys.
Off until, May, AnonFreak?? I'll believe it when I see it.
Doing taxes anon?
Mr. Teacher Man said...
Time to go grocery shopping at my bigot-free local Giant!
--
LOL. That’s hilarious.
How many liberals in Montgomery County have perished over the weekend? Having been shut in, without food or soda, just waiting for this nightmare to end…
Andrea- not anon
You all saw my photo-so let's guess who was trying to intimidate who. Boo hoo, short baseball cap guy- you are a pathetic little liar and I'm guessing it is our own moron anon. Wouldn't give your name- would you, you coward? I was the only one there when you got scared-and you couldn't deal with it. I feel bigger and stronger today than ever and you are still the small little worm you always were.
What was the short baseball cap guy smoking in that pic?
A rather apropos article Ted. Thanks.:
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4534
TerranceDC said...
And here is this guy outside our grocery store, spreading fear and misinformation as part of an effort to repeal the bill, by the same group who attempted to stop our schools from implementing a gay-friendly sex-ed curriculum, that also addressed anti-LGBT harassment and bullying.
[...]
"People are dying." That's why I saw red. That's why my immediate reaction was anger. People are dying. More specifically, people are being killed.
--
It's an important read. They really are going out of their way to foment hatred to the point of it being deadly. This is serious.
"What was the short baseball cap guy smoking in that pic?"
What I wanna know is how many squeaks it took to get him to look at the camera.
Or did he just freeze when you flashed the car head lights at him?
He was very afraid of being photographed -- it was quite funny. He's a big, strong guy -- funny to think he was intimidated by me. Oh, and he admitted to one shopper that he was a Republican, and that the Republicans were the first party to support freedom.
"and that the Republicans were the first party to support freedom."
Oh that’s nothing. The Democrats are the one’s who secured the original right to breathe air. And really, what’s freedom without the right to breathe air?
[Video of Theresa Rickman interview]
From Pat Robertson's CBN news:
Md. Group Fights Bill for Co-ed Bathrooms
CBN News
February 18, 2008
CBNNews.com - Citizens in one Maryland county are fighting a new law that grants special rights to transvestites, cross-dressers and transsexuals.
Citizens for Responsible Government has launched a petition drive to repeal the measure that was passed by the Montgomery County Council.
Click the play button for a Newswatch interview with Theresa Rickman, a member of the Citizens for Responsible Government.
The group says the bill essentially creates co-ed bathrooms and locker rooms that would put women and girls at risk.
They also say it lets transgender advocates indoctrinate kids in local schools.
And it allows transgender teachers and faculty to be open about their sexual choices.
Andrea- not anon
Short baseball cap guy said to one woman who refused to sign and who was wearing an Obama button that she was a God damned Democrat. She told me that in the parking lot. Wow, he must be able to read! Since they Showernuts swear they aren't liars- I just thought they couldn't read the actual bill.
I just watched Theresa's interview; she seems quite nervous and is really, obviously, trying to chose her words carefully.
To be honest, the interview was poorly done on her part (the anchor was very well-pronounced, however) as she does not seem to most comfortable in front of a camera-- which goes to show she is hiding something. You can tell that she is afraid of being caught. Interesting... but not really THAT interesting.
Full transcript of Rickman interview:
NEWS ANCHOR: Citizens in one Maryland county are fighting a new law that grants special rights to transvestites, cross-dressers and transsexuals.
Citizens for a Responsible Government has launched a petition drive to repeal the measure that was passed by the Montgomery County Council.
The group says the bill essentially creates co-ed bathrooms and locker rooms that would put women and girls at risk.
They also say it lets transgender advocates indoctrinate kids in local schools.
And it allows transgender teachers and faculty to be open about their sexual choices.
Joining us now with more on this is Theresa Rickman of Citizens for a Responsible Government. And Theresa, first of all, were you able to collect enough petition signatures to fight this measure?
THERESA RICKMAN: Well right now we have between 25,000 and 26,000 raw signatures. We need approximately 30,000 raw signatures. They’re due tomorrow by 5 o’clock to the Board of Educatio--Elections. (sic)
NEWS ANCHOR: So you need 5,000 more, overnight.
THERESA RICKMAN: Well, when I say what we have between 25,000 and 26,000, that’s actually that we’ve got physically in our possession right now. The piles are still coming in, so, we’re hopeful.
NEWS ANCHOR: Well explain how this law would lead to co-ed bathrooms that would put women and girls in danger.
THERESA RICKMAN: Well the issue is, is they’ve taken gender identity, and added it to the public accommodations non-discrimination code. So the public accommodations, which essentially refers to not discriminating in access to facilities at public accommodations, and public accommodations in general -- was written over twenty years ago. To racially -- it’s racial desegregation law, and it’s already got sexual orientation in the non-discrimination code…
NEWS ANCHOR: Theresa, let me break it down. So you’re saying basically that a man who’s dressed as a woman, he’s fully a man, but he could be, you know, wearing lipstick and a skirt, could walk into a public, girl’s, woman’s restroom, and that would be ok under this new law in Montgomery County.
THERESA RICKMAN: Yeah. Absolutely. What they’ve done is they’ve added gender identity, to that desegregation code for public accommodations, and they’ve defined gender identity -- let me read you this definition -- Gender Identity means an individual’s actual or perceived gender, including a person’s gender related appearance, expression, image, identity or behavior, whether or not those gender related characteristics differ from the characteristics customarily associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth.
NEWS ANCHOR: And I understand this is already -- this law’s already been tested, so to speak.
THERESA RICKMAN: Yeah, there was an incident over at Rio Sport and Health where a guy dressed as a girl walked in the ladies’ locker room. So, you know on the federal level, when they added -- when they talked about, you know, putting a gender identity non-discrimination law at a federal level, Barney Frank, suggested an exemption for places of shared nudity. So, what we have in Montgomery County here, is, Montgomery County is more liberal than Barney Frank.
NEWS ANCHOR: So you’re saying -- but do the people of Montgomery County want this?
THERESA RICKMAN: No, actually the County Council received approximately 2500 emails and phone calls against this bill, at an 82% rate. And the County Council did not react.
NEWS ANCHOR: Alright. Theresa Rickman, we will be following this story and we thank you for your insights on the program today.
THERESA RICKMAN: Thank you for having us.
Well that's CBN to a tee. One sided and wrong.
Just for the record, did they even have anyone interviewed who challenged Rickman's assertions?
Jim, why are you trivializing the shear raw power of my femininitude? Less than 100 lbs.? A facetious “Very Scary?” I don’t think so! I weigh at least 134 lbs, and this summer, I even got up to 142 – but my friend Judy told me it was starting to look like I was pregnant so I went on a diet. In my usual heels I’m about 6’2” -- You bet I’m scary!
Note: I have capitalized certain words in the following text to make it easier for our friends to cut certain words out of context and add their own, as they like to do it on their website and literature.
You know I went out to Leisure World ARMED with printouts of Bill 23-07 that weren’t HACKED and SLASHED with new words added to make up whatever I wanted to say. Curiously I found NO copies of 23-07 on the tables of the petitioners I saw. Why is that? I also had copies of the list of other “MENTAL ILLNESSES” in DSM-IV, and section 27-14 of MD code showing the discrimination division does not apply to rental units where the owner is living and does not contain 2 or more rental units.
Didn’t you see how I BATTED my eyelashes at some of those FOLKS? DISSARMED them with my KILLER smile? KNOCKED them OVER with my charm, CUT them with my RAPIER wit, MERCILESSLY UNLEASHED WMD (Words of Mutual Discussion), and when I could see they were DOWN for the count, I went in and FINISHED THEM OFF with a GREAT BIG hug?
Is it really any wonder they’ve started their lawyers writing up a LAWSUIT for a CRIME that hasn’t been COMMITTED? After all WMD was involved! Let me repeat that WMD (Words of Mutual Discussion) were involved! We can’t wait for the proof of a SMOKING tranny to be a can of MUSHROOM soup!
Do you really think just 3 big burly men (who are sure they are men) are sufficient to deal with my UNCONTROLABLE gregariousness? I really doubt it.
Unfortunately, I had to work today, but I did check my local Giant when I went out to lunch – nobody there.
I would have liked to stop in at one of the businesses and paid them a nice little visit. I’m glad they recommended bringing camcorders – I look SO much better in full-motion living color than one of those cheap B&W, grainy, security cameras. Unfortunately I didn’t have the time.
Well, hopefully I’ll get a chance to meet some more of these folks in the future.
Go, Go! Super T Friends!
Peace,
Cynthia
You don't really expect the Christian Broadcasting Network to provide two sides of any story, do you?
Do you mean CBN should have interviewed someone to present the other side of the issue? Of course not! That would be too democratic for CRG, CBN, and the rest of the holier than thou types.
They think presenting both sides of an issue to the public is working against the democratic process.
According to information, Dana and Mary Ann are a bunch of transgender thugs interfering with a person’s constitutional rights to petition the government. You certainly have presented yourself exactly like you really are, a bunch of intolerant bullies. You didn’t score very many brownie points with the general public. After your preposterous demonstrations the other day, most people were saying there was no way they would allow you in the bathrooms with ladies. You may think you are girls, but you are not ladies. No wonder the cops were called and came to tell these bullies to cease the harassment and if it continued, the cops would return to escort you off the site. Why pick on grandmothers?
Ah, yes, Anon, I've been stopped three times today trying to go to the bathroom. The public is up in arms. We are such thugs.
How come that for the dozen or so times the police were called by you, you were asked to leave completely, and we were only once asked to move off the sidewalk? And that was at Arliss where the store manager had misread his communication and allowed a violation of the contract with Dr. Ruth.
Btw, Anon, you give your age away with the use of "girls" and "ladies." This isn't the 50's anymore, however much you'd like to believe it so. But I guess I should thank you for getting the gender correct, finally.
Anony, you sound very much like a frustrated 8 year old. I can almost see your lower lip trembling with helpless rage as you find you have nothing left in your arsenal except name-calling.
Teacher Man, he wanted to know what church I go to, also. Interesting.
In response to Anonymous's comment from 2/18/08 at 11:44PM -
I must post this - it is a repost from another section, but seemed entirely appropriate from what i can see here the continued spreading lies about me and Dana.
After you get done enjoying your crow pie from this posting, please also see the last entry i have made in the "Countering Petitions" section this morning.
That is the completion of the narrative about the man i supposedly harrased with Dana with our bullying.
You WILL like that one a lot.
No, seriously - please read these entries so you get BOTH sides, instead of the one side you have read from an innaccurate and completely disingenuous source.
Thanks,
Most sincerely,
Maryanne
**********************************
Maryanne Arnow said...
Theresa -
since i have seen you respond on this blog - i have something to say. I just read the ridiculous lies you printed about me and Dana in your latest release this morning...
You didnt mention that the older woman that you mentioned - the 61 year old-grandmother, greeted Dana as in a very friendly manner as if she knew her personally, and was greeted back by Dana in the same way. Dana ignored her the entire time she was there except for that greeting, basically ignored her, and talked with me instead. Then she left.
We did not "surround her", as you so aptly misharacteized it.
You also didnt mention that the other woman with her, was about my age, and probably a few inches taller than me. Since i am 5'9 and 1/2 - not even quite 5'10, and weigh maybe a whopping 155 if that when soaking wet, it kind of leaves the question, why would you lie about such a thing as my physical size, in order to get your point across ?
I have to look a full head height up at Dana myself, whenever i see her, so i know that you have lied about that.
After Dana left a few minutes later, and after exchanging pleasantries with the elder woman, i was then alone in that hall with two of your supporters.
Another decline to sign supporter, a VERY small woman stood outside and handed out her flyers very peaceably to potential signers of your petition.
It is not physically possible that one person - ME - then, could "surround" anyone as you have stated. one person cannot surround either one, nor two people at the same time.
that is simply physically impossible.
Since i know my own height and weight much better then you, you may wish to retract some of your assertions.
You also didnt tell everyone that even though i had a emotionally charged debate with your representatives, in which i was continuously insulted and disrespected by both of your supporters, they keot the debate going as much as i did. The elder lady even tried to psychoanalyze me and asked me very personal questuions about my family, my childhood, and told me there was something wrong with me and that i should go and get help to have it taken out of me. I notice no one mentioned any of this. You see, i was actually ther. You were not.you have printed lies, some of which were witnessed as much as you say you have your own witness. whatever.
I was even called a crude and hurtful name to my face - an older Chrisitan woman engaging in crude name calling nearly the moment we began talking.
When we were ALL finished and leaving me the bulidong at the very same moment, i reached out my hand to her, told her "no hard feelings, right - were just soldiers on the front lines - which she took my hand, shook my hand, in front of 2 witnesses, and acknowledged me with a smile.
She didnt happen to tell you i also admitted to her face that i got emotional with her, and apologized for any offense, did she ?
Little bit different than what you described.
How come you didnt show the photo of Jeff giving ME a hug ? Too human or too comapssionate to actually share such truth with your supporters ?.
That really stinks. I think what you did this morning was wrong, and dishonest and mispresentative. You have lied about myself and Dana both.
I would still once again like to extend my offer. You are welcome in my home or any other moderated forum of your choice, and expect to be treated with courtesy, hospitality, and mature intelligence.
Not lies, insults and distortions of people that you have never even met personally (me, for instance)....
This has already gone far enough. too far. I can take the insults, but not the very real lies.
At that point i must respond and ask that go about your goals in another way instead of printing dirty lying character assasinations of me.
Dont go acting all moral and then do something like that please. It's not right. You know it, I know it, and now, anyone that ever reads this blog, including yourself knows it.
Retract those please, and go about your business in an ethical manner.
I hold no grudge with you or any of your supporters - i dont agree with what your doing and i dont like being characterized as some illegitimate freak and all the other nice terms you and your people use to describe us instead of actually treating us with any form of civil decency and respect.
and as most of your people that have already met me will actually tell you - we have left in most cases, including with Dr. Jacobs on Tuesday Night - with very pleasant conversation under the circumstances, and a hug that SHE herself willingly gave right back to me as we parted copmpany that night.
She actually told me, in a very pleasant and non-comabtive manner, that she would be more than willing to continue dialogue with me, but that she had to get back to her practice due to things backing up on her like her billings (an exact quote, by the way) and that she agrees with me on mature intelligent dialogue instead of this constant childish rock throwing...
She said that maybe such dialogue would have to wait to take place until after all of this was over... I accepted that on the spot as she left, and thanked her very much for finally speaking to me with real decency and human acknowledgement.
Please do the same.
Another (Mr. Zhang at the chinese school) left me with a solid handshake and acknowledgement of no hard feelings or ill intent.
You should follow the example of some of your own folks that you have out here on the front lines.
Correct these lies please.
Thank you,
Respectfully,
I am,
Maryanne A. Arnow
AnonFreak, I thought you were "off" until May? I guess I should have, as per usual, expected less than the truth from you.
David- maybe he is asking what churches we attend so that he can get real dose of Christianity that isn't fueled by hate. :-)--However, we still don't want people that endanger our children (AnonFreak) at my church so I'm not tellin'!
Okay, Mary Ann is 5'10 and Dana is 6' something and this grandma is 5'1. Cythnia is 6'2 did she say in heels..
Again, this grandma is five feet 1' not 5'10. She is not tall. So you did tower over her folks.
Our male volunteer suggested the hug because he felt sorry for you Mary Ann. He is a little unhappy the way you twisted it around, he did feel intimidated with all 5 of you surrounding him, he doesn't read email very frequently so he didn't know to get the store manager or call the cops when you blockaded him. He recognized he wasn't going to get anymore signatures that day so he packed up and left. He got 132 signature the very next day at the very same place :-)....
He is a very nice man and cares about everyone. What you fail to acknowledge is that you are stepping on the rights of very man, woman and child in MC with this law.. the 99.something percentage of us who are positive which sex we are.
theresa
Uh Theresa, I'm pretty sure height is genetically determined. Do you think people are supposed to be segregated by height now? Like those over 5'9" can't talk to those under 5'3" now, is that what you're saying?
Theresa wants to continue to discriminate against transgenders and apparently she wants to begin to discriminate against tall people too.
Theresa,
I am 1000% positive which sex I am. It took me 6 years, $120,000, and half a dozen doctors to correct the fact that the basal nucleus of my stia terminalis (a part of the brain near the amygdala) did not match my anatomy. The proof that I was correct in my "belief" that I should have been born female lies in the fact that I no longer ideate about killing myself, and I no longer have a secret stash of clothes in the opposite gender (male, in this case) that I secretly wear to mitigate that severe (and sometimes fatal) incongruence of mind and body.
I actually ENJOY life now, and finally probably know something of what it’s like to finally feel “normal.” Frankly it doesn’t matter whether you believe I’m a woman or not, or even if I believe if I’m a woman or not. I am treated like woman wherever I go. Whether it is the simple act of addressing me as “Miss” or “Ma’am” in the grocery store, or the unrelenting and unwanted advances of a drunk guy old enough to be my father hitting on me for 40 minutes straight from the airplane seat next to me, I am treated like a woman.
Some of my colleagues at work new me before I transitioned, so it’s not a huge secret, however, a number of newer colleagues don’t know my medical history. For those that I become friends with, over a period of anywhere from 6 to 18 months, I may decide to tell them of my history. In spite of my height and a few other features un-modifiable by surgery, invariably the comment is on the order of “Oh my god! I can’t imagine how you ever could have been a guy!”
There are plenty of people who have told me that what I have done is an “affront to God” and proceeded to direct me to the nearest bible. My favorite quote from the bible is Mark 9:47: “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” Followed closely by Mark 9:43: “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.”
Well, guess which part offended me. :D I am no longer suffering in a hell fire that shall never be quenched.
Despite all the “offence” that I apparently have inflicted on devout Christians, they all still seem to have both their eyes. Is that because they are not devout enough?
Everyone is entitled to their beliefs. I’m not out to change those, I’m just asking to be treated by the golden rule: “Treat thy neighbor as you would be treated yourself,” especially when it comes to finding and keeping a job and a home in Montgomery County, where I have worked since 1989. (I’m not worried about the cable television provisions in 23-07, or the taxi service – I have a car, but PLEASE let me keep my job and home!)
If someone REALLY wants to show me how strong their “BELIEFS” are, frankly, they are going to be lacking some credibility with me until they start lopping off some body parts to prove it. After all, that’s what I had to do.
Peace,
Cynthia
From the previous thread:
Theresa,
You keep coming back to that one point with me, which is a point I have no problem with -- pre-op women in a common place of nudity. Fine. Had you asked for that language from the start you would have it, because none of us ever expose ourselves pre-operatively in a such a place. Never. There is no case on record, either, where that has happened.
However, over the past three days, I not once heard any of your circulators use that as the reason to get someone to sign. You've heard the litany, and I won't repeat it, because you trained them to say it. You trained them to use hate speech to discriminate against us because you -- YOU -- are afraid one of us might, during that small window of transition before surgery, expose ourself to you. That's ridiculous, and you know it.
OK, I accept you're a woman, and as such you know women are generally quite modest. Trans women are much more modest than you. So this has never happened, and will never happen. But FOX News today reported your lies, and showed women afraid that men would appear in the women's bathroom. Hey, I thought this was about areas of shared nudity? What happened to that?
And then there's the women talking about perceived gender identity, as if that is our feeling, when I explained yesterday and so many times before that it relates to how you perceive me, not how I perceive myself, so that you can't have me thrown out when my ID says "F" yet I look too masculine for you, or you too masculine for me.
You are fear-mongering and hate-mongering because of your own personal discomfort about a group of people, small in number, who've never posed and never will pose a threat to you. That's disgusting.
As for my height, I'm 5'11", thank you, and I am not intimidating to anyone but a liar.
As for that Giant, I know full well, having spoken with corporate headquarters, you were there in violation of your agreement with Giant, both because you were only granted one weekend and we saw you there the previous weekend, and because you had three, and not two, people there, again in violation. So stop this nonsense.
As for never having called me a pedophile -- every time you highlight me to your minions as the leader of the trans community, and then go on to rant about men in the ladies room, you make that association in people's minds and you make me a target for a hate crime. You think your Obersturmfuhrer makes a distinction you're willing to make on this blog? You think your circulators, who kept pointing at me and calling me "He," were telling people I could use the women's room but it's those pedophiles lying in wait who are a threat, and not me? Your little buddy, baseballcapsmoker guy, who sure sounded like he knew a lot about pedophiles, told shoppers that I shouldn't be able to use the bathroom. That's personal enough for me, and since he was your guy, you are responsible for him and his actions.
And that says nothing about calling us "abominations" and the like. These are your people, doing your work -- you are responsible. I had no problem taking credit for my (limited) role in this affair, yet you're the coward here for not standing up for your ignorant crowd and the hate they engendered.
So you should very much be ashamed of yourself.
As for having a good day, no, the past few days were not good days. Had you had to stand and defend your human rights to a crowd of lowlifes like many of your circulators, you would not have had a good day, either. As for the numbers, I have no idea, because I rarely believe anything you say. If the numbers you've reported to CBN and in your email are correct, then, no, you won't make the valid numbers. That's just the way it is. Our lawyers will see your lawyers at the Board of Elections.
Dear Theresa,
At last we almost directly exchange a little dialogue.
A pleasure to meet you at last.
If you go to the "Countering Petitions Section" where i have just given another full narrative, you will see where i have used quotation marks as much as possible to document as much of what i can remember that i actually heard and saw during these days.
It would be better if Jeff actually were able to tell me himself what you claim he has said about dealing with me.
It's just not possible that since i just published that report, within the last 45 minutes or so, and as long as it is, that you were able to read it, call him, tell him to read it, get this response from him, while you were still posting in other sections of the blog, and then write this in.
I found that highly questionable.
I am a very empathic and sensitive person. I have to be. I have always been.
The only way that someone like me can get past the minefield of various forms of disrespect, misunderstanding, abuse, and humiliation, is to have a good emotional radar, and know what is going on around you.
If someone has extended true genuine heartfelt gladness when they see you, or talk to you, or earnestly say EXACTLY the things i quoted him on, i have to take that at face value.
I have twisted nothing about him or about the things he has said to me or, about me, in the presence of others.
I have 5 people that saw and heard exactly the same things - no excuse me - Seven. Mr.TeacherMan and your petition driver Max also witnessed those exact same kinds of words come out of his mouth, the same genuine expression of warmth, and the same hesitancy about supporting your position that was becoming more and more clear in him the more we talked together.
People don't warmly give real BIG hugs, and often, just because they feel sorry for someone.
He gave me respect and compassion exactly the same things i gave to him. You have created another lie in front of the world and i am calling you out on it right now.
This man talked about his real, unforced, and genuine feelings.
Another thing i just noticed. It was obvious from the photo of him hugging me that if you actually look very carefully, you can see that the very top of his head is slightly taller than mine as we hug each other and are standing on even ground.
You are correct that he is, in fact, taller than me.
I did honestly appreciate that retraction by the way.
But now im pissed that you would turn right around and tell me everything i witnessed in this man, including everything i actually quoted directly from his own words that other people heard him say and tell me and everyone here, that it was what ?
fiction ? fallacy ? lies ? that i just invented it ? that my and everyone eles's radar was so off that we were actually all mistaken ?
and this guy - this humble and gentle and soft spoken guy - one of the most genuine people i have met this entire week - was making it all up just because he felt intimidated by me ?
Let's talk about photo analysis, OK ?
If you look at the picture of us taken through the glass window, you see from left to right, Cynthia (far left), Christine(near left closest to the camera), me (in front of the big pole), Dana, and Jeff at far right.
Let's look at body language, first of all.
There is very obviously what appears to be a comfortable distance between us all - exactly as i described in my narrative depending on who was talking to whom and at during what time. Not a "blockade" as you have described. At no time did he ever indicate that he was uncomfortable with me or our proximity. He is a smart man. Samrt enough to be out ther in the cold and working hard for a cause he deeply belives in - even if it is based in hatred and bias and misundertsanding and fear. certainly strong enough and smart enough to simply walk into the store and tell a manager that he felt harassed if that was the case fior even a moment. Since he was right by the only doors, he could not have been "blockaded" as you describe ie, because in order to do so, we would have had to block traffic flow in and out of the store - which we duid not ever do for one moment. You are trying to get your supporters behind you in using such distortion and i hope that by the end of this mail at least some of them will realize just whi you are and how you really do things that are so subtle, and so underhanded, it might just slip by many that actually want to hear more of your message, and that support you - you can use words like "blockaded" to bolster your support in the minds of your supporters - because you know you can get away with it. It's actually a very subtle psychological trick, therefore completely disingenous.
I KNOW you now. You have shown me your hand, i now i have shown you mine and you now know me.
you did this because you know you can get away with it with the people that support you...they should honestly be insulted by the way you use their minds and prey on their fears and their patriotism and anythign else that suits the ends of your will...
In this picture, no one single person is within what is regarded as anyone else's "personal space".
If you look at everyone visible (except Dana - you cant really see her clearly) - you will also notice what any expert on body language would also agree with me on - relaxed body language. Not only relaxed, but very comfortable. Very obvious.
Christine is relaxedly leaning back. Cynthia is squinting into the Sun, but she is also smiling - her body is tilted back and away from the group, indicating she is resting most of her stance on her hips and lower spine, indicating a relaxed and comfortable posture that one must assume when standing comfortably in that position for a while.
My stance is almost exactly like hers, but you can see it very much more clearly. My head is tilted slightly to one side, and you can almost see that i have a very pleasant and relaxed facial expression. Smiling. My stance is comfortable and indicates true self-confidence.
Just as an aside that must be directly related to a person's expression of genuine self confidence and self comfort as will always be belied in their body language, movement, and stance true self expression.
This is a VERY difficult thing to hide in body language because there are always very subtle or not so subtle indicators about how a person A.) feels about themself and B.) feels about others they are in the company of --
all of that As specifically regards your childish, mean, and very nasty and very subtle underhanded little slap about
" 99.something percentage of us who are positive which sex we are." -
You actually defeated your own argument in this one simple sentence.
You thought it was cute, highly intelligent, subtle, maybe even a little cunning - you defintiely intended it to be cutting, in fact, it's one of the single most nasty and intentionally rude things you could ever say to someone like myself - and you know that as perfectly well when you wrote it....
even though you actually surprised me very much earlier this morning by apologizing to me and Dana for misrepresnting our physical stature in your earlier missives to the general public - -
Anyway - to continue - For those of us that do feel compelled to risk our lives, give up our careers, lose family and friends that we dearly love, and face the constant rdicule, gossip, rudenss, judgement, humiliation, abuse, and general torment involved in the radical and difficult change in one's biological gender from one to the other - one has to be as sure as it gets, my dear - you would certainly have to know this -
Dr. Jacobs would certainly also have to know this - by the very same standards which you and others define this as a "disorder" as listed in the DSM IV classifications, the same standards are used for testing of potential gender change candidates in this country.
Meaning, simply, that one had better be darned sure - so sure in fact, that there cannot even be the slightest doubt of their actual gender by all psychological and psychiatric standards for testint that ccurrently exist in this country.
those tests (such as the MMPI exhaustive battery)( a series of progressively eliminative testing to reveal disorders in such a way that the answers and result cannot ever usually be faked, fooled, or cheated on even if you lie while taking it...
By many accepted standards, this eliminates the possibillity of any other major mental, and even a vast number of physiologic disorders - before the person can be passed thru without any question whatsoever -
so the answer to your little slap, where you just defeated yout own entire argument and made mine without me even having to try (but i am going to do it right here so that everyone else can see it in plain sight, and in clear terms) -
- is that - exactly the same standards that you and many detractors use to continuously denote deeply negative connotations, that use such terms as "mental illness" and "disorder",....
- are exactly the same standards that most of us will have to pass so rigourously that we had better be DARNED sure, my dear.
So had the therapists, doctors, surgeons, endocrinologists, personal physicians, and anyone else involved in the transitional process.
We are probably some of the MOST sure people about our gender on the entire planet, and that case is made by exactly the same psychiatric standards that you yourself have used to negatively define us by.
OK - back to the photo - basically it's pretty easy to see that anyone that looks at this photo can see that almost everyone's posture mirrors everyone else's.
Relaxed and very comfortable in that snapshot in time. Jeff and i are talking, and our postures almost exactly mirror one anothers'. Self assured, comfortable, confident, and very relaxed in almost every way.
I'll do the other pictures too, if you want, but i dont think that is necessary at this point. Any reasonably straightforward person could have figured past your lies and distortions by now.
I DO understand, though. You are playing politics against opinion, as am i. You must do this to support you aims, so must i.
YOU HAVE to stand on it now - you made your position but dont want to seem mean or too rude or vicious- public opinion really counts here as do the opinions of your supporters and allies -
you CAN'T back down all the way because they still have to be made to believe somehow that we are a bunch of bullies and thugs -
so you fabricate another distortion - a very subtle one - just enough to be effective but not too over the top as to seem you have really given much ground at all... really sucks and is kind of sad.
I still think he should have spoken for himself. Maybe he will sometime. That would be nice.
If you really respected him as a person, you would let him speak for himself, in repsonse to my assertions and descriptions of what has happened.
That way, there could be no mistake and no doubt as to accuracy one way or another.
You are a horrible liar.
Next, we go to your statement about HE suggested the hug. Anyone on the face of this planet that knows me, knows that i have intitiated 99% of all the hugs going on in these pictures and in my narratives -
- and you are going to tell me, that as visibly happy as he was to see me again that day,
- and him, telling me not once, but twice "how much he really liked me", and not only accepting my hugs but giving them back in just as much force of nothing but plain and sheer warmth between people that are comfortable with each other - ?
- and you are still trying to twist it into words like blockade and intimidation. You are a liar. Dont waste my time.
I know you have made yourself my enemy, and that you are committed in your heart to my destruction and tearing me and anyone like me down and out of the human race if you could.
I can see and feel the burning rage of hatred and disgust and contempt in you, that you have in your belief for people like me -
i can see it in your eyes. Your shot shows a fearful expression - lines of all too often felt anger and bitterness in your face - your body language looks tense and very insecure with yourself.
That's part of the reason why you hate others that actually ARE so secure and truly happy with themselves.
A.) we ARE closer to actually living the full truth and potential of ourselves than many people will ever be able to accept and
b.) you live in lies and hatred and gossip and untruth and contemptous sneers at anyone that dosent fit your view of the world.
Quite sad. you are brilliant, and probably could be so much more beautiful, but the bitterness inside of you shows all too clearly on your face.
Unable to resolve what ever has placed such horrible insecuity within you and with anyone else's expression of genuine humanity,
you dont even recognize genuine unconditional passion and compassion when you see it - you think it's an agenda.
You look down your nose and villify and sneer at people like me but it's really not me or anyone else.
If you weren't so bitter inside of your own self - you wouldnt hate others so much. It's called projection.
The idea of gender expression that flies in the face of everything you have ever been taught - and i am sure - especially sexuality - makes you so uncomfortable it just had made you crazy and dark with rage and hatred for anyone that is actually that comfortable with themselves or their own gender, or sexuality.
just like all the kids i grew up with that picked on and hated anyone that was different than what they thought was "supposed to be normal".
You say you are working for the forces of light and goodness, but you use the darkest means possible to do this. You use lies and fear and spite and hatred and distortions to do it.
You are a desperate person, Theresa. It shows on your face in that picture. I honestly hope you find a way to become joyful again -
my gut instinct is that you havent been that way for a long time - either since a teenager or a very little girl - thats the last time you knew real joy and laughter - true unconditional passion and self- expression withour fear or judgement.
Someone or something ripped that away from you when you were very young, and you will either beome a tool for the darkest evils in the world, disguised as good, or reconcile yourself and find what actual joy, and true loving kindness and unconditional compassion is really all about again.
God gave you the capaciity to do either, you can still choose something other than darkness and hatred and madness.
I m not mad at you, i just think if you are going to hate - then DO it. Show yourself and dont insult my intelligence by couching your hatred and insolence and contempt in fake graciousness.
that is even worse than directly insulting someone to their face. You couldnt even find the courage to insult me in a straightforward and decent manner.
At least the Elder woman and her friend did that to my face.
It hurt my feelings and was unecessary. It made me angry. But i did not insult her in return at that time.
She left that day, after taking my hand, and giving me a smile - kind of sad smile though.
Either both things were entirely disingenous - which would fly in the face of being a Good Christian Person - being that disingenous, or, she really did know that i meant her no harm, nor hard feelings and that we met in the "heat of battle" for what we both believe in.
She and her friend made it personal. I just made it difficult for them to succeed in their goals and did not resort to those same means.
She was very nice - really - she is a sweet lady - but is judging me and everyone else like me - exactly the opposite of what the scriptures tell her to do. Literally told me to my face i could not give witness to my own self awareness because i am so broken that i really need to be fixed, By whom ? YOU ?
You talk about imposing my will on others, but if some of your supporters could find a way to make gender change illegal, they would and you know it.
Some would ike to see us all killed or locked away from the rest of society and you know it. You would gladly deprive me of every ounce of freewill to enforce your version of spritiual correctness on us.
Impose MY will unfairly ? why dont you just go and be happy or something. Take a vacation and actually have some real joyful fun with someone that you truly love.
Her friend was the very first to raise her voice and engage in anger that day. I see you still never indicated that she was my age and taller than me.
Also very unstable and easily enraged.
She left in utter confused rage. even told me to stop talking about it, because i was "confusing her"
How is it, that one of your supporters, so sure and certain of her cause, would be so easlity enraged and "confused" after only 5or ten minutes of debate with a freak like me ?
She Left her post in rage and confusion an hour before the older woman finally did because i kept calling her out on every false assertion she tried to make about people like me.
I actually tried to discuss the issues of gender identity and human sexuality with her and she just totally freaked out.
I would actually genuinely love to sit down with both of them again and just talk with them.
I publicly apologize to you, and to both of them if they were offended or discomforted by me in any way whatsoever. I mean that and there is no insult behind it.
I could probably get along well with both of them under other circumstances and we were just sitting and talking - debating our points when not so deeply involved in the political fight with each other instead.
If you think that is just an empty or meaningless offer, then try me on it. I'll still sit down with you, her, both of them - anytime, anyplace, and try to have a civil discussion with all of you.
I could be dead completely wrong about you. I honestly hope that i am. Meet me in any forum of your choice and we will see where it goes and let witnesses on both sides be the judge.
Meet me for coffee. I dont care. I might just surprise you. I might hate what you do, but i dont hate YOU. i think that may be one of the differences between you and I.
That's enough. I am sure you will hate me and do eveything in your power to destroy me.
You may even succeed, but not before you are exposed as a truly lying, and hatred-filled person that you may have become in this life.
Let go of it, and learn somehow to truly love and be joyful again - unconditionally accept all others without judgement just like the father would - just like he told all of us to do - truly love again, once again be the joyful little beautiful girl that you once were, or it will destroy you for sure.
i get angry, i judge. i say stupid things out of raw emotion sometimes. When i do, i am genuinely sorry for it. I am human, just as you are.
Just dont say you are sorry with one hand, and then slap me in the face with hatred and underhanded blatant spite at the same time with the other.
You yourself showed more about a person's character than i ever possibly could with my own words.
Thanks for writing to me more directly.
I did appreciate that, even if i was not so pleasant to you in return. I hope to see or talk to you again sometime in the near future.
Sincerely,
Maryanne
David Weintraub said... "Teacher Man, he wanted to know what church I go to, also. Interesting."
Wyatt asks that of everyone who disagrees with him.
Dean
Andrea- not anon
So where is my answer? You saw my photo- I am 5'1", weigh 131 and will turn 55 this year. The creeps at Arliss were intimidated by me- so stop with the bs about big women surrounding your poor little volunteers. Calling me a fascist and saying I should be aborted- I think we know what kind of bums these guys were.
The Showernuts are thugs and bullies- and I stood there to prove it. Sad little baseball cap guy kept trying to get in my face and yell at me and shove me thinking that would do something. What a loser!
Isn't smoking a sin? Baseball cap guy, you obviously need to be 'fixed' so that you don't burn in the depths of Hell for your sinful actions. Just pray... maybe you'll be able to quit smoking.
Maryanne: A brilliant analysis of the evil intent of Thresea and her minions at CRC/CRG. I was reminded of a favorite author of mine, M. Scott Peck and some of the brilliant books he wrote such as: "The Road Less Traveled", "The Different Drummer", "A World Waiting to Be Born: Civility Rediscovered", and the one most pertinent to our dealings with this fringe-element of the population, "People of the Lie: Hope for Healing Human Evil". In that book he focuses on those individuals whom he identifies as "evil". They exhibit the following traits:
(1) "Consistent destructive, scapegoating behavior...
(2) Excessive, albeit usually covert, intolerance to criticism and other forms of narcissistic injury
(3) Pronounced concern with a public image and self-image of respectability, contributing to a stability of lifestyle but also to pretentiousness and denial of hateful feelings or vengeful motives
(4) Intellectual deviousness, with an increased likelihood of mild schizophrenic like disturbances of thinking at times of stress" (p.129)
They are people who, in his words, "are utterly dedicated to preserving their self-image of perfection, they are unceasingly engaged in the effort to maintain the appearance of moral purity. They are acutely sensitive to social norms and what others might think of them. They seem to live lives that are above reproach. The words "image", "appearance" and "outwardly" are crucial to understanding the morality of 'the evil'. While they lack any motivation to be good, they intensely desire to appear good. Their goodness is all on a level of pretence. It is in effect a lie." (p.75)
"Since they must deny their own badness, they must perceive others as bad. They project their own evil onto the world. The evil attack others instead of facing their own failures. Spiritual growth requires the acknowledgment of one's own need to grow. If we cannot make that acknowledgment, we have no option except to attempt to eradicate the evidence of our imperfection. Strangely enough (he continues), evil people are often destructive because they are attempting to destroy evil. The problem is that they misplace the focus of the evil. Instead of destroying others they should be destroying the sickness within themselves." (p.74)
I have given a lot of thought to who and what these people are who so fervently want to make the lives of so many other people so miserable. I came to the same conclusion that Peck has reached: "Since [narcissists] deep down, feel themselves to be fautless, it is inevitable that when they are in conflict with the world they will invariably perceive the conflict as the world's fault. Since they must deny their own badness, they must perceive others as bad. They project their own evil onto the world. They never think of themselves as evil, on the other hand, they consequently see much evil in others."
That is, in a nutshell, precisely what we are dealing with as represented by CRC/CRG (or CRWhatever): People of the Lie
RT
Re: “People of The Lie”
A few paragraphs from The Epistle of Thomas to the Creationists
http://www.incentre.net/tcantine/epistle.html
"Herein lies the most obvious moral danger of religious faith. In taking themselves to be guided by divinely ordained commandments, theists may be tempted to relax the rigor with which they scrutinize their actions, and are thus capable of the most unspeakable atrocities. That is, secure in the faith that God wills a certain course of action, they may be prepared to disregard any suggestion (even from their own consciences) that this may not in fact be the morally correct thing to do. This is not to say that God may on occasion will us to do immoral things, but rather that we may, as fallible humans, sometimes be misled about exactly what it is that God expects of us. Unfortunately, it is also often a tenet of faith that to question God is itself an immoral act, and so it can become especially difficult to correct a moral error once it has been made on these grounds. This is because the difference between questioning a command of God and questioning one's own understanding of that command is a subtle one, not at all easily recognized, and harder yet when any doubt is seen as weakness of faith and therefore sinful in itself.
So, on the one hand, we see how a blind acceptance of putatively divine commands can lead one to commit acts of unthinkable evil, for the assurance of divine sanction may even provide the strength of will to suppress one's natural sense of revulsion and horror. There is a more subtle sin of pride, however, which is independent of the moral character of the acts performed. The duty of morality is the duty to make one's own choices and accept responsibility for them, not to pass off that responsibility to another decision maker (real or imagined). Christians, perhaps more than anyone, must not take comfort in the belief that their faith will preserve them from moral duty (and its attendant and inescapable possibilities of failure), but rather are to be confronted with the difficulties of moral responsibility, most difficult of which is trying to figure out what really is the right thing to do.
[…]
This pride is uniquely difficult to identify, for it is well cloaked in the garb of pious humility. What makes it so elusive is that it appears as a faith in God, when in reality it is a misplaced faith in one's own judgement. It may well be that God is just and perfect and incapable of error, but we most certainly are none of these things, and to act with the firm belief that one is in perfect harmony with God's perfectly just wishes is to lose sight of that truth. Indeed, the person who acts in this way is guilty of the greatest pride, for she puts her moral judgement on a level with God's. She claims to know with absolute certainty that which can be known only to God. The faith here, then, is not in God at all, but in the individual's own reliability in knowing God, and if we understand idolatry as the sin of ascribing divine significance to a human artifact, the pride involved is idolatrous when the individual believes her knowledge to be perfect in this regard."
----
So if you think about it, it’s no wonder that idolatry is the #1 sin in both the Old Testament AND the New Testament.
The FIRST commandment in the Old Testament, Exodus 20:3: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Then in the New Testament, God as Jesus, says it like this: Matthew 22:36-40: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."
Notice the sentences after that: "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
It makes perfect sense if God truly is unconditional love. If one's first love IS Love, then we automatically "love God," and would by extension, love other's as ourself - thus, the second New Testament commandment "is like" the first.
Idolatry then, is believing in one's own ability to define God as anything other than Love itself. To claim such an ability is the definition of pride, and the "worship" of one's own ego (as one’s first love), the most selfish and conditional love there is, and certainly not something a God of infinite Love had to come down here to teach us.
It occurs to me that maybe the reason for screaming so loudly about “deeply held religious beliefs” and “religious freedom,” is that they are trying to convince themselves.
If one is to judge by their actions, they appear to be the most faithless people on the planet. Even most of the atheists I interact with online have “faith” in the morality of the Golden Rule, the common good, what is best for all, etc.
These people don’t even believe in that. They mistake supremacy for Christianity, and have the morality of a career criminal.
And to be clear, I’m not talking about what people believe necessarily, I’m talking about the way they go about implementing those beliefs into society. To be sure, there are many who believe that GLBT people are confused, but they don’t then shout it from the rooftops as fact, slander every GLBT person on the planet, demand that their beliefs be coded into law and taught in schools, and then shriek of religious persecution when the red carpet isn’t rolled out for them.
By mistaking supremacy for Christianity, these career-criminal-morality “Christians” confuse the survival of the fittest drive, as a mandate from an all powerful god of love. Just call that mentaility Christianity, and voila, all the basal human responses to feelings of fear and faithlessness become "deeply held moral beliefs." Now that’s confusion!
They behave as though they fear there is no afterlife and thus, fear no consequences for any of their immoral actions, except getting caught.
Materialism becomes “prosperity gospel.” They have condoned EVERY congressional measure to steal from the poor and give to the rich, and howl in protest when Democrats want to help the poor - in any way.
And 9/11 is the quintessential example of their fear of death. Every lie about the “war” in Iraq is acceptable for their desire to exact vengeance. The fact that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 doesn’t matter, on top of that hundreds of thousands of innocent civilian Iraqi deaths is of no consequence, on top of that, a $1 trillion price tag to accomplish it all is also acceptable. But when it comes to spending more money to prevent global warming, they react with smug disdain: “we’ve got families to feed.”
Every stem cell and fetus is a soul with only one life to live. ‘Where they go if not born, nobody knows,’ their “in control of all” just God apparently had no contingency plan for these poor souls.
And technically it’s true if their god is their own ego, look at their views on euthanasia and insistence on keeping the brain dead alive. Had there been laws to enforce euthanasia, Terry Schiavo could have been given a shot and her death would have been done with. Instead, because of them, she was tortured to death by dehydration.
Same with abortion, they’d rather teach and fund abstinence only education than fund research for and teach about birth control. So they contribute to increased unwanted pregnancies too.
At every turn their concern seems to be with the quantity of life, not the quality of it. And to hell with our wounded veterans, they cut their funding too. And we certainly wouldn’t want to fund stem cell research which might grow back those limbs, eyes, ear drums, and spinal cords, etc.
So it’s not just about their behavior, they’re not intelligent about the way they go about trying to get their way. Short sighted to the end.
That’s enough of a rant, but their faithlessness, fear of death, and worship of pride can be seen in almost everything they do. I am loathe to call them atheists though, that would not only be an insult to atheists, but to atheism itself.
Emproph:
Reflecting your comments, Peck said this of the evil people of the lie: "The evil of this world is committed by the spiritual fat cats, by the Pharisees of our own day, the self-righteous who think they are without sin because they are unwilling to suffer the discomfort of significant self-examination. It is out of their failure to put themselves on trial that their evil arises. They are, in my experience remarkable greedy people."
It is a shame that the CRC/CRG/CRWhatevrs have to inflict their evil on the citizens of Montgomery County...but I have every confidence that their evil will be overwhelmingly rejected.
RT
Hi again all -
It's been a long week - long days, and longer nights, spent writing my thoughts, feelings, and narratives, and then day after day of standing directly in the line of fire to fight for what i know to be true with every ounce of my heart and mind and passion.
It has been difficult, traumatic, and often verging on the anguished,
because of the tide of such misunderstanding that i feel so acutely.
People like myself must face this harsh reality every day, in a world of many that simply may not care, or not care to care, or that may despise me, or believe the despisement of others, for no other reason than the very nature of my existence. So be it.
I have been thinking a lot about things i said this morning to our most determined of opponents in this struggle to do what we ALL believe is right, no matter which view you share.
I must admit my error and my own wrong, as my conscience will permit no less.
I felt i had every right to refute what i percieved as lies and distortions, being spread about myself and other people i deeply care for, and deeply respect, such as Dana, and others.
The other night, i wrote a prayer, and sent it to a few certain people that i felt could understand.
It talked about peaceful engagement, and the unconditional expression of true kindness without judgement or exception.
In this, i have failed miserably today.
I allowed myself to be baited into responding with passive agressiveness, spite, insult, and harsh anger in the same manner it was given to me.
The very same things that i have villified others for, themselves.
I do not doubt that many of my words and actions in the last week have been lied about and distorted, as well as the words and actions of others on both sides of the argument.
I have refuted this and documented this to the best of my ability, but there is no excuse for me to resort to the meausres that my emotions allowed me to this morning, in dealing with Ms. Rickman and her supporters, in this very section of the blog.
I owe everyone an apology on both sides. You all deserve better, and so do i.
If i allow myself to act in the same way that i accuse others, then what good am i to anyone else, especially myself and those that i love and respect the most.
I am sorry. I can only learn from these mistakes.
I have been harshly characterized as a thug and a bully, and these things are difficult to hear.
I responded to Theresa in anger and spite, and the same kind of passive agressive nastiness that i railed about myself, this morning, in this very section.
This has been brutally difficult and exhausting..
The fight for this legislation is not over, i am sure, and i will and must continue to stand for what i believe in within my own self, and in any way i possibly can.
I believe i am doing the right things for the right reasons, and that i have been wronged deeply, but that still does not excuse my acting in the same way as i have been treated by others here.
i must always remember to do so in a way that cannot be percieved in the same negative manner that i have percieved as others doing to me, or by those i also support and believe in wholeheartedly.
I am sorry.
May God bless us all.
Most sincerely always,
Maryanne
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