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A Response to Open Arms, Very Important Please Read
11 years ago
I planned to write this journal days ago, so please excuse its lateness. Due to a rather severe cold and a case of dehydration I've been incapacitated for the last four days.
About four days ago, the LGBT Christian furry group Open Arms posted a journal I felt the need to respond too. Specifically this journal:
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5900421/
I know what you're thinking, that? It's a video clip of the BK Proud Whopper and one of the admins saying it makes him smile? How on Earth is that something to get annoyed about?
Well when I saw this, I found I was at odds with the group. Where as they saw something encouraging, I saw something cynical. Where they saw bravery, I saw cowardice. Now many people will say I'm making a big deal over nothing, but I disagree. Instead I felt I need to share my opinion, and why corporations taking a stand like this are not brave but cowardly.
Now for those who did not watch the video, let me give you the gist. In the OA journal, they included a Burger King commercial showing off the BK LGBT Proud Whopper. What is it? A whopper with a rainbow wrapper. Not a thing different, just a rainbow wrapper.
As I read comments about this video on youtube, I discovered people were thrilled with this. Finally a big corporation standing up with the LGBT community, showing their love and support! It is such a brave thing to do!
Except it isn't. LGBT rights are not a new issue. They've been a public issue since the 1970s, with them beginning to gain more attention in the 90s. Public support has been divided over the issue for some time now and lately, more people are showing their support for the LGBT community.
So Burger King bravely took a stand when the majority supported the LGBT community. In what universe is such an action bravery? Bravery is standing for what you know to be right when no one else will, it is not going with the crowd.
The issue in question reminded me, of all things, an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Now I hated this series for the most part, but the episode it reminded me of I hate especially. One episode of that series, titled The Outcast, was about homosexuality. It was about an alien race of no gender and one sexuality falling for a member of the crew, supposedly an analogy for homosexuality and how it is treated by society.
So how did the episode mess it up? By removing all mentions of homosexuality and making the no gender race all women, turning the episode into "Woman seeks cock despite lesbian overlords". The message became a mangled thing, with the episode proudly stating "We are taking a stand in support for...you know...that..."
Despite my rant, my issue is not really with Burger King, LGBT rights or any such thing. It is with us as a people. Far to often we find it acceptable to let evil things go by, to let people be oppressed without saying a word. We stand up for others only when we feel we will have support.
This is a terrible practice. This is not brave, it is cowardly. Beyond that though, when BK did this, it received accolades!
To illustrate my problem, I have selected four responses I got from commenting on Youtube, I will dissect each in order of fallacy, from least to most.
1. BK is doing a good thing: This one I heard the most. Burger King is doing a good thing, no questioning, they are just doing good. As I've already asked, are they? And if they are, can we question why they are doing this? Just because a person or group does something we agree with does not mean what they did, or why they did it, is good.
2. You need to shut up you homophobe: This one I also heard far to often. For some reason, being willing to question will rial people up against you. Just because I question why a corporation does something does not make me homophobic, and just because I think they are cowardly does not mean I hate my fellow members of the LGBT community. Sometimes we need to question people and groups we consider allies as much if not more so then enemies.
3. People doing stuff like this gives me hope: Burger King is not people. This goes back to that issue of questioning why they are doing this. Which is more likely, that a publicly traded company really cares about a small percentage of the human race? Or that they're doing this because they hope to make money? Most likely the latter, which is fine. They are a business, they should make money. We just shouldn't confuse making money for someone who cares about us. We should recognize actions like this for what they are.
4. You just need to not think about it: If I could fix any one problem in the human race, it would be this one. Why? Because this response horrifies me. We need to not think about it? Have we become so wretched a species that thinking is the enemy? Does thinking make something less special? Does thinking hurt us? No, thinking strengthens what we believe.
I own a copy of The God Delusion, which I bought a few years after converting to Christianity. I'd love to say why I bought it, but for the life of me I can't remember (most likely because I got it in a lot). I read it and I disagreed with most of it. But it did something important. The God Delusion made me question my views and got me to think. It got me to track down Thomas Aquinas' Quinque viae and read it. It made me ask myself "Why do I think the way I do?"
We absolutely should think. We should question. We should accept that other people do not agree with us, not because they're evil or stupid but because they don't think the same way we do. If you only take one thing away from this rant, take away that you should never feel bad for thinking.
Alright, now what has my point been? That if you are going to take a stance on an issue, no matter what, take a stance. What's the worst that can happen, people will disagree with you? You will live. It's far worse in my mind to take a stance only AFTER you are sure people will agree with you.
When I wrote this, one passage from the Bible came to mind. Rev. 3:16 - "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth." I believe that to be true with all issues. Do not be lukewarm, be brave and take a stand. Even if you end up being wrong, you can take pride in standing for something.
Even if you disagree I hope you will glance over this. And if you do disagree, do tell me so.
About four days ago, the LGBT Christian furry group Open Arms posted a journal I felt the need to respond too. Specifically this journal:
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5900421/
I know what you're thinking, that? It's a video clip of the BK Proud Whopper and one of the admins saying it makes him smile? How on Earth is that something to get annoyed about?
Well when I saw this, I found I was at odds with the group. Where as they saw something encouraging, I saw something cynical. Where they saw bravery, I saw cowardice. Now many people will say I'm making a big deal over nothing, but I disagree. Instead I felt I need to share my opinion, and why corporations taking a stand like this are not brave but cowardly.
Now for those who did not watch the video, let me give you the gist. In the OA journal, they included a Burger King commercial showing off the BK LGBT Proud Whopper. What is it? A whopper with a rainbow wrapper. Not a thing different, just a rainbow wrapper.
As I read comments about this video on youtube, I discovered people were thrilled with this. Finally a big corporation standing up with the LGBT community, showing their love and support! It is such a brave thing to do!
Except it isn't. LGBT rights are not a new issue. They've been a public issue since the 1970s, with them beginning to gain more attention in the 90s. Public support has been divided over the issue for some time now and lately, more people are showing their support for the LGBT community.
So Burger King bravely took a stand when the majority supported the LGBT community. In what universe is such an action bravery? Bravery is standing for what you know to be right when no one else will, it is not going with the crowd.
The issue in question reminded me, of all things, an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Now I hated this series for the most part, but the episode it reminded me of I hate especially. One episode of that series, titled The Outcast, was about homosexuality. It was about an alien race of no gender and one sexuality falling for a member of the crew, supposedly an analogy for homosexuality and how it is treated by society.
So how did the episode mess it up? By removing all mentions of homosexuality and making the no gender race all women, turning the episode into "Woman seeks cock despite lesbian overlords". The message became a mangled thing, with the episode proudly stating "We are taking a stand in support for...you know...that..."
Despite my rant, my issue is not really with Burger King, LGBT rights or any such thing. It is with us as a people. Far to often we find it acceptable to let evil things go by, to let people be oppressed without saying a word. We stand up for others only when we feel we will have support.
This is a terrible practice. This is not brave, it is cowardly. Beyond that though, when BK did this, it received accolades!
To illustrate my problem, I have selected four responses I got from commenting on Youtube, I will dissect each in order of fallacy, from least to most.
1. BK is doing a good thing: This one I heard the most. Burger King is doing a good thing, no questioning, they are just doing good. As I've already asked, are they? And if they are, can we question why they are doing this? Just because a person or group does something we agree with does not mean what they did, or why they did it, is good.
2. You need to shut up you homophobe: This one I also heard far to often. For some reason, being willing to question will rial people up against you. Just because I question why a corporation does something does not make me homophobic, and just because I think they are cowardly does not mean I hate my fellow members of the LGBT community. Sometimes we need to question people and groups we consider allies as much if not more so then enemies.
3. People doing stuff like this gives me hope: Burger King is not people. This goes back to that issue of questioning why they are doing this. Which is more likely, that a publicly traded company really cares about a small percentage of the human race? Or that they're doing this because they hope to make money? Most likely the latter, which is fine. They are a business, they should make money. We just shouldn't confuse making money for someone who cares about us. We should recognize actions like this for what they are.
4. You just need to not think about it: If I could fix any one problem in the human race, it would be this one. Why? Because this response horrifies me. We need to not think about it? Have we become so wretched a species that thinking is the enemy? Does thinking make something less special? Does thinking hurt us? No, thinking strengthens what we believe.
I own a copy of The God Delusion, which I bought a few years after converting to Christianity. I'd love to say why I bought it, but for the life of me I can't remember (most likely because I got it in a lot). I read it and I disagreed with most of it. But it did something important. The God Delusion made me question my views and got me to think. It got me to track down Thomas Aquinas' Quinque viae and read it. It made me ask myself "Why do I think the way I do?"
We absolutely should think. We should question. We should accept that other people do not agree with us, not because they're evil or stupid but because they don't think the same way we do. If you only take one thing away from this rant, take away that you should never feel bad for thinking.
Alright, now what has my point been? That if you are going to take a stance on an issue, no matter what, take a stance. What's the worst that can happen, people will disagree with you? You will live. It's far worse in my mind to take a stance only AFTER you are sure people will agree with you.
When I wrote this, one passage from the Bible came to mind. Rev. 3:16 - "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth." I believe that to be true with all issues. Do not be lukewarm, be brave and take a stand. Even if you end up being wrong, you can take pride in standing for something.
Even if you disagree I hope you will glance over this. And if you do disagree, do tell me so.
Actually I don't like the pride parades at all...How is a parade of nearly naked cross dressing men supposed to make me feel more "accepted", exactly? It's all an excuse for shops and bars to make more money, they aren't supporting because they are " tolerant".
Of course, people who express the opposite opinion, even if done quietly years before, will be run out of town by the same folks patting themselves on the back for being so brave.
Dominus tecum
Bravery should be expressing your opinion and loving those who disagree with you. But I suspect few will agree with me.
Dominus tecum
What do you disagree with? If you have the time, I'd love to hear. Whole can of worms.
I faithfully follow the teachings of the Catholic Church in this regard and so do not believe any sex is licit outside of marriage (and Christ Himself stated that marriage was between one man and one woman with no possibility for divorce). I note that it took me years to stop being prideful and start listening to the Church in this regard. Of course, I will be (and have been) accused of being a hater and a bigot for this.
Dominus tecum
Even if their is none in the PC world, their will always be with me. Disagree with me on issues, I'd love to hear it. Here you will not be a bigot or hater.
Dominus tecum
This lack of time commitment means our reasoning descends to herd-behavior levels. If someone says something that goes against "BK is awesome!" or "LGBT pride is awesome!", then we assume that they don't love BK or LGBT pride as much as we do. We don't think long enough to make an effective counter-argument; we are so enraptured by the prevailing message, we just tell them they are wrong and we repeat it. "Well you're just pessimistic about BK, BK is awesome for making this".
What other sins do we stoop to, caused by our herd behavior? We attack the naysayer directly, bruising their ego or denigrating their character. We try to outshout the rest of yaysayers, wanting to be the most outspoken crusader. We get angry at anything that confuses us, and outraged by anyone ahead of us. We ignore anything that doesn't threaten us, and only favorably nod when we see something that supports us, without bothering to analyze either.
Those who are brave stand as rocks against the stream of popular opinion. Sometimes, the popular opinion is too much and the individual is destroyed, but other people will have seen this bravery and become angered at the loss of this person and will stand together, eventually fighting against the worst excesses of those who are popular.
It can take much to rally people. Sometimes there's much loss of life, but nothing lasts forever. The key issue is that when those who were oppressed gain power they end up becoming like those they deposed. Can we ever rise against this? Can we ever think for ourselves? Or is it just that much easier to let others think for us?
The really, really tricky part is in determining who to let think on our behalf. There are a lot of people who pretend to think on our behalf, but really have their own agenda. (Pretty much everyone, in fact.) The key, I think, is to find the people whose agenda matches your own. And then the question becomes, how do you sort out the honest people from the fakers? How do you verify someone's authenticity?
Of course, another big problem is that people change, and their agendas change, but people don't believe that other people can really change; once someone's agenda is publicly revealed, it sticks with them regardless of whether they rethink their agenda and even speak out against it.
This is why I think it's very important to be able to think for yourself. It is always a good thing to have a bit of curiosity and enough skepticism to take anything said with a grain or so of salt. It's important to be able to question so that you can make those determinations and verification and not just go along because someone seems to know what they're doing.
The problem with the herd mentality is that once you're no longer with "us" then you automatically become against "us" and everything else is irrelevant. The human brain, unfortunately, runs on binary: it can only handle two categories of things successfully - trying to nuance things only confuses and leads people to ask whether something is good or bad even if it's really not one way or another.