Postcards from the Fringe

Atrios has an alarming "letter to the editor" today where one of the Bush faithful wax despotic on the subject of why newspapers shouldn't print letters from liberals, and how everyone needs to get "on God's side" and support the conservative agenda.

The Founding Fathers were God-fearing men and never intended the first Amendment to promote other superstitious beliefs.

Ridgecrest used to be filled with right-minded, polite and decent people.

I can't believe the vicious slander of some people who have the nerve to portray or suggest Jesus behaved as a Liberal.

Jesus makes his position very clear. The wisdom of an "eye for an eye" would never occur to a Liberal.

Liberals are always talking about peace at any price, when Jesus said: Do not think I have come to bring peace, but a sword.

No one can serve two masters, either your are a good conservative with God or you are not with God. Remember: A bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

Fair enough. However, I think there are a couple of problems with this God loving Republican's logic chain. (Not to mention a lack of research.)

I often have to ask if any of these bible toting men of God actually ever READ THE DAMNED BOOK? This guy brings up one of my favorite old chestnuts. Whenever the holy rollers want to endorse Bush going to "kick some ass" they love to toss out that "eye for an eye" quote, and use it to call liberals pansies. The fact is, however, that they apparently weren't listening very closely to their God when He spaketh. I'm not even a religious nut and I remember that one. It comes from Matthew 5:38 and the full quote is as follows:

Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 5:39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 5:40 And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

So here's a nickel's worth of free advice for all of you bible belt folks. Stop using that quote. You make yourselves look like idiots. That was Jesus admonishing His followers to NOT succumb to the temptation of taking "an eye for an eye" but rather to leave the business of vengeance to the Lord. Crikey, people. Could you BE more wrong when quoting scripture to the godless liberals?

Well, perhaps our divinely inspired friend did better on his second quote. Ooops! Looks like we've got another swing and a miss. That one comes from Matthew 10:38. I'll grant you that it's one of the more frightening quotes from Jesus, but the letter writer again misses the mark by a country mile.

Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 10:35 For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: 10:36 and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

This is a warning to the faithful that Jesus expects devotion to God to be greater than the devotion that a son feels towards his father or a daughter to her mother. It says absolutely nothing about man taking up the sword against his enemies. Once again, it's God's business to do the sword wielding Nice try, holy Harry, but you yet again quoted the words of the Lord exactly 180 degrees out from the intention.

If you people are really sick and tired of having "elite liberals" looking down their noses at "God fearing conservatives" then you might want to stop talking like illiterate buffoons. Try actually reading the Bible before you quote it.