DC Mayor paints "Black Lives Matter" on street leading to White House

[Hammster]

Sounds good to me.

Are we going to let Muslims, Buddhists and Satanists in on the fun too or is Christianity the only acceptable religion?

We let BLM in on it, so why not?

 

[Hammster]

Not good enough; there are other things the Christian right want us to believe which have nothing to do with the Gospel.

How does that invalidate my opinion?

 

[istodolez]

.....

 

[istodolez]

Repent and believe the gospel.

Can we include repentance for being complicit in a racist system that has, for too long, kept minorities at a systemic disadvantage?

 

[Hammster]

Can we include repentance for being complicit in a racist system that has, for too long, kept minorities at a systemic disadvantage?

If everyone repents and believes the gospel, it takes care of the sin problems. Even imaginary ones.

 

[istodolez]

If everyone repents and believes the gospel, it takes care of the sin problems. Even imaginary ones.

Well, let me take a moment here to point out that if you believe a sin is "imaginary" and hence not really to be attributed to the sinner, then it is pointless to "repent".

Let us for a moment say I'm sitting in front of the Throne of Judgement and God says "Istodolez, you stand accused of the sin of lust for your neighbor's wife! How do you plead?" will God grant me grace if I say "Hey, dude, sure, yeah, whatever you say. I mean I didn't but if it gets me into heaven then yeah, I'll repent!"

Would that count as repentence?

Just curious. (In case I need it on Judgement day, ya know).

 

[Hammster]

Well, let me take a moment here to point out that if you believe a sin is "imaginary" and hence not really to be attributed to the sinner, then it is pointless to "repent".

There are enough real ones, though. So don’t worry about the imaginary ones.

Let us for a moment say I'm sitting in front of the Throne of Judgement and God says "Istodolez, you stand accused of the sin of lust for your neighbor's wife! How do you plead?" will God grant me grace if I say "Hey, dude, sure, yeah, whatever you say. I mean I didn't but if it gets me into heaven then yeah, I'll repent!"

Would that count as repentence?

Just curious. (In case I need it on Judgement day, ya know).

No.


And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
— Hebrews 9:27

 

[Mountainmanbob]

If the streets are now a public forum I want to put some religious writings on it.

Me too.
M

 

[istodolez]

There are enough real ones, though. So don’t worry about the imaginary ones.

Can I ask you if your variant of Christianity believes in "original sin"?

How is the idea that you might have gotten advantages from a racist system and by simply enjoying those advantages been complicit in that system's racism so hard to handle in comparison?

I am not going to point out that it is so very easy for so many people to see "sin" in OTHERS and hence identify the sin, but it is so very hard to see the beam in our own eye.

I'm going to tax your nerves with this bit, so buckle up, buckaroo:

I know for a fact that I have enjoyed so many things that I got solely for showing up "white". I can't point to any one thing in particular but I know I'll never be stopped for driving through some random neighborhood. Likely I won't ever be followed around a store by the theft control officer. My encounters with police will be just peachy keen! Even if I have a bad day and get a bit snippy (I wouldn't dream of it because I tend to be overly pleasant with people in authority), but even if I had a bad day and the cop pulled me over for a minor thing there is about a 0.00000...0% chance that I will end up on the ground, in cuffs or in the squad car.

Basically I move through the world like a fish moves through water. The fish doesn't notice the water. But if you throw a panda in the water the panda WILL notice the water. It will feel the difficulty of breathing.

I am merely pointing out that statistics and the personal stories of COUNTLESS people of color indicate that there's something they experience that I have never even thought was there.

I listen. I read. I see. And I realize that that "water" I've been swimming in is very hard for the panda to exist in.

Am I to deny that the water exists? Just because I don't notice it?

 

[Hammster]

Can I ask you if your variant of Christianity believes in "original sin"?

How is the idea that you might have gotten advantages from a racist system and by simply enjoying those advantages been complicit in that system's racism so hard to handle in comparison?

I am not going to point out that it is so very easy for so many people to see "sin" in OTHERS and hence identify the sin, but it is so very hard to see the beam in our own eye.

I'm going to tax your nerves with this bit, so buckle up, buckaroo:

I know for a fact that I have enjoyed so many things that I got solely for showing up "white". I can't point to any one thing in particular but I know I'll never be stopped for driving through some random neighborhood. Likely I won't ever be followed around a store by the theft control officer. My encounters with police will be just peachy keen! Even if I have a bad day and get a bit snippy (I wouldn't dream of it because I tend to be overly pleasant with people in authority), but even if I had a bad day and the cop pulled me over for a minor thing there is about a 0.00000...0% chance that I will end up on the ground, in cuffs or in the squad car.

Basically I move through the world like a fish moves through water. The fish doesn't notice the water. But if you throw a panda in the water the panda WILL notice the water. It will feel the difficulty of breathing.

I am merely pointing out that statistics and the personal stories of COUNTLESS people of color indicate that there's something they experience that I have never even thought was there.

I listen. I read. I see. And I realize that that "water" I've been swimming in is very hard for the panda to exist in.

Am I to deny that the water exists? Just because I don't notice it?

I listen. I read. And systemic racism isn’t true.

 

[istodolez]

I listen. I read. And systemic racism isn’t true.

I like your straightforward approach of simply writing people off without needing to support your position. It is refreshing.

So how do you explain the facts that black people have a statistically lower median income than whites and it has been so for decades? How do you explain the fact that black people will statistically have harsher sentences for the same crimes committed as white people? How do you explain the fact that black unemployment is higher than for whites? (That's just three off the top of my head, there are many, many, many, many others).

I only ask because there is something wrong in our nation. I think we can all agree to that. We simply disagree over the drivers for those issues. You say systemic racism isn't true. Then what is the cause?

I like this quote from MLK as it sums up so much of our current discussion.

“And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? ... It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.”

(Emphasis added)

 

[Hammster]

I like your straightforward approach of simply writing people off without needing to support your position. It is refreshing.

So how do you explain the facts that black people have a statistically lower median income than whites and it has been so for decades? How do you explain the fact that black people will statistically have harsher sentences for the same crimes committed as white people? How do you explain the fact that black unemployment is higher than for whites? (That's just three off the top of my head, there are many, many, many, many others).

I only ask because there is something wrong in our nation. I think we can all agree to that. We simply disagree over the drivers for those issues. You say systemic racism isn't true. Then what is the cause?

I like this quote from MLK as it sums up so much of our current discussion.

“And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? ... It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.”

(Emphasis added)

We have sin in our nation. There’s no doubt about that. Hence, repent and believe the gospel.

And to show that I listen and read, here’s this.

Does Systemic Racism Exist?

 

[istodolez]

We have sin in our nation. There’s no doubt about that. Hence, repent and believe the gospel.

And to show that I listen and read, here’s this.

Does Systemic Racism Exist?

Thanks for passing that along. I'm sure it is a comfort to lay the blame at others' feet. Like "fatherlessness" (even when most black fathers DO live with their children). But, facile excuses help absolve us and it help us, as MLK noted, maintain our "tranquility".

The sleep of the just. We have effectively found the mote in our neighbor's eye (even when it isn't really there!)

 

[LostMarbels]

This is probably how it had to go, given free speech principles. I'd have to consult a lawyer to pin down the details of what kinds of speech a government is allowed to endorse and refuse to endorse, but I suspect that allowing "Black lives matter" to be painted on the street opens the door to having opposing opinions also painted on the street, and nobody wants to see that ugly battle play out.

The idea of MAGA 2020 written beside BLM is funny, but it opens a can of worms. I would agree that we do not want that played out, but instead want BLM removed.

 

[LostMarbels]

I know for a fact that I have enjoyed so many things that I got solely for showing up "white". I can't point to any one thing in particular but I know I'll never be stopped for driving through some random neighborhood. Likely I won't ever be followed around a store by the theft control officer. My encounters with police will be just peachy keen! Even if I have a bad day and get a bit snippy (I wouldn't dream of it because I tend to be overly pleasant with people in authority), but even if I had a bad day and the cop pulled me over for a minor thing there is about a 0.00000...0% chance that I will end up on the ground, in cuffs or in the squad car.

Where do you live?

 

[istodolez]

but instead want BLM removed.

I wish I understood why the simple acceptance that black lives matter has proven to be the most terrifying concept to white America.

 

[istodolez]

Where do you live?

America.

(I've actually lived in the midwest, northeast, south, southeast, southwest and northwest. So I've been around. A lot)

 

[Hammster]

Thanks for passing that along. I'm sure it is a comfort to lay the blame at others' feet. Like "fatherlessness" (even when most black fathers DO live with their children). But, facile excuses help absolve us and it help us, as MLK noted, maintain our "tranquility".

The sleep of the just. We have effectively found the mote in our neighbor's eye (even when it isn't really there!)

You’re the one laying blame at others feet.

 

[Hammster]

I wish I understood why the simple acceptance that black lives matter has proven to be the most terrifying concept to white America.

It’s not the statement. It’s the Marxist organization.

 

[istodolez]

You’re the one laying blame at others feet.

...my own.