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I recently noticed a seed by Newsvine user PJ Stuart, entitled, "Family Values Group Demands Florida's Governor Elect to Stop Selling Porn", that, of course, links to the actual article, Family group demands Florida's governor-elect stop selling porn | Raw Story
I then read a few other "seeds" and articles by PJ, and ended up making a comment at one of her articles: Just a Sampling of the Right Wing Christian Conservative Leadership and Their Legal Woes
I am somewhat ashamed to confess that I got carried away. I hope that PJ does not become angry by my possible abuse of my commenting privileges at Newsvine; and I would hold no ill-will toward her if she sensibly deleted my lengthy and rambling comment.
However, I do believe I made one or two valid points, and I have decided to re-publish my comment here for you, my fair reader, to judge for yourself.
I now reprint my comment to PJ in its entirety:
Hi PJ,
I've been checking out your seeds and articles and decided I would stop "lurking" and say "hi."
I'll try to keep this comment semi-organized, because, while I really just wanted to say "hi" and start an acquaintance with a fellow Florida resident, I've noticed your interests in politics and religion and (Florida and) I have a few comments that may grow complex and distracting … so, remember, you could stop reading right here and just say, "Hi, Grey Wolf" and I'd be more than satisfied. ;-)
As an aside, I chose to comment here rather than your current seed, Family Values Group Demands Florida's Governor-Elect to Stop Selling Porn, because 1) this is a "hand-written" article, 2) this article, to an extent, deals with the same issues as your seed, but from a national perspective, and 3) I wanted to stay off the "highway" and converse in this shaded corner from your recent past.
My [lengthy] comment about your current seed dealing with Rick Scott and the Christian Family Coalition (CFC): It doesn't, in my view, matter if Scott divests his shares in QuePasa, or repents for his multiple, previous, fraudulent, profit schemes… those actions would never change my view of his character, of the actual ethics that compose his heart. If he has stopped committing fraud, I still know his character is one that values money over truth and honor.
I don't believe that a thief who has mugged somebody in a dark, back-alley, somehow becomes honorable just by walking down main street innocently whistling. The character of the thief's soul has not changed solely depending upon location and current actions. Whether performing a back-alley mugging, or whistling innocently on main street, the ethics and character are still the same within him. Just because that character is hidden or disguised while he is innocently whistling on main street, I still know the truth that lies within.
The same with Scott. I already know the evil in his soul, and no disguise or current action could make me forget. But, I want to carry this analogy further… The character of the CFC is, in my mind, meritless, since they don't condemn pornography or homosexuality or fraud or profiting from any of those things, they explicitly condemn only currently doing those things in public. In other words, they approve of a back-alley mugging, they just require a thief to whistle innocently when anybody may be watching. They don't condemn Scott's past actions, they demand that he stop currently doing those actions in public. They have no concern about the character or ethics of his soul, they only demand that he disguise those venal flaws now, while people may notice, but the CFC approves of maintaining the lust for profit and fraud and women within his soul.
The CFC's values are, therefor, also on display, to me. The CFC doesn't value truth and honor, rather, they value deception, and the appearance of innocence. The CFC approves of venal fraud and profit and lust, but they demand that it be done in dark, back alleys, and not on main-street.
So, in the same way that I know the character of Scott's soul, I know the character of the CFC. I disdain both.
[Whew, sorry that took so long…] In this current article, you say, "It's also up to mainstream Christians to stand together and put a stop to this twisted teaching and outright robbery."
Now, perhaps you are familiar with an analogy I recently made about a thief in a back-alley. ;-) I am going to continue with that same analogy. "Mainstream Christians" are currently not condemning theft and, therefor, are allowing "this twisted teaching and outright robbery." Therefor, I already know the content of the ethics and character of the "mainstream Christians." If they suddenly denounce venal profit and scandals, if they start whistling innocently and had the character of their beliefs I will not suddenly forget what I know lurks within their souls.
I must pause and mention that I am somewhat concerned with the phrase "mainstream Christians." You, rightly, denounce the "T.V. Evangelists with their private jets, gated communities, multiple homes, huge salaries and a platform to sell their lies." You give a few examples and provide links to many more. After pointing out all of the individuals and organizations that shelter venal thoughts and intent, if we then seek out all who tolerate and condone these, and other, lies and fraud, I believe we will have corralled the majority. I see no evidence that there is a "mainstream" that possesses any purity. I cannot find the one without sin to be held up as an example. I see everybody tainted. I do not know who this worthy "mainstream" is.
Perhaps you will condemn me for my lack of compassion and forgiveness. So be it.
It is true, I should spend time meditating and seeking peace and enlightenment. I readily agree that there exists unhealthy hatred and anger in my soul; I agree that I should concern myself with mending my own soul, rather than making my views known in public and revealing my own shortcomings.
But, be that as it may, I am expressing my views, and the reality that I cannot accept any short-term repentance or thinly veiled disguise, from Scott, the CFC, or the "mainstream Christians." At the end of Scott's life, if he has consistently worked for the neediest of Florida's citizens, if he has shown much honor in his leadership, if he has spent as much time denouncing fraud and venal profiteering as he did engaging in those acts, then he will warrant forgiveness. [I intentionally did not say "my forgiveness," I intentionally left, and will leave, where the forgiveness will come from open to interpretation…]
If the CFC spends as much time denouncing hypocrisy as they spent engaging in hypocrisy, if the "mainstream Christians" spend as much time preaching love as they have spent in condoning evil, then they, too, may warrant forgiveness.
If I spend my remaining days seeking enlightenment, perhaps I shall find it.
But I currently carry little hope--for me, Scott, the CFC, the T.V. Evangelists or mainstream Christians.
[I truly apologize for rambling on for so long, PJ, I really only meant to stop by and say "hi" and voice a slight concern, but I got a little carried away... Take care.]
