Let’s Talk About What Happened Yesterday

I love this ❤️

“People are not their political beliefs”-
Thank you for your open-mindedness, and for defending/loving someone you don’t always agree with.
That’s very American of you.

Yes!! You said this so well and it’s very expressive of what I feel. Let’s not destroy others for not agreeing with us; listen, and you may be surprised by what you hear. By broadly painting all right wing people as fascists and intolerant, we don’t allow ourselves to connect with others, and inhibit ourselves from seeing the beautiful shades of grey that exist in all (or most!) people.

Thank you for this.

What do you mean we are not our political beliefs ? We are, absolutely, and that’s really the point of démocracy. From a european reader, your comments scare me.

I agree with Agnes. Don’t infantilize people. Trump supporters are their political beliefs. Think about how you want to treat them in light of that.

Tolerance doesn’t work if the other side is upholding intolerance. Did you see the pictures of the people storming the capital? Several people wearing shirts supporting the holocaust? This is the president’s base. These are the people that the president deems as “special,” and these are the people who your mother has chosen to align herself with politically.

Read Nicole’s comment. This is truly beyond “let’s just see what the other side has to say.” Clearly, they’re done talking and have moved on to bashing in heads with fire extinguishers. No, I will not give these people a platform, and your mother shouldn’t either.

I don’t have tolerance and diversity of thought for white supremacists and my relatives who have “gone there”. Nope.
Sometimes cutting people off for a time being is a way to set boundaries for one’s own mental health.

Hey Cristina, I agree with you. If it helps, I follow my congresswoman and am on her email list and receive updates that she sends to her constituents. I’ve also had the opportunity to sit in on calls she’s held for her constituents to ask questions of our health officials during the pandemic. Start with your reps maybe? Get on their lists and see what legislation they’re drafting or supporting?

If it helps, I am a conservative and my congressional rep is a very progressive Democrat (if she were younger she’d probably be part of the “The Squad”), so it’s pretty rare that I find myself agreeing with her. However, it has been eye-opening as I’ve seen her push for (and have applauded her for) common sense legislation. I otherwise wouldn’t have known about her work on this front since it wasn’t the kind of thing that would’ve been plastered all over the media. I’ve seen her working for her constituents. I believe there are elected officials who do work and who are truly interested in representing the people.

I am not Christian but I enjoy Christian teachings as a moral guidepost.
Such as this easy to understand animation about AGAPE love which I find quite relevant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slyevQ1LW7A
To skeptics, no I don’t think the point is that you should literally die for the sins of your enemies. But I think at least part of the point is that true love is such a powerful force for you to provide yourself and provide others which in turn fuels the world.

And as a side note, one I refer to often is this Bible Hub post “What is your Word Worth” :https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/naylor/what_is_your_word_worth.htm

Molly, thanks for sharing this. I’ve felt very similar! It broke my heart seeing crosses and Jesus saves signs as a part of this awful act of terrorism & white supremacy. I’m thankful that God is much more powerful than that and pray that people will know that He isn’t about that.

MK. These riots, and racism, ARE directly related to white “christianism”, which is evil and twisted. It is not true Christianity. But it is what white church people used to justify slavery. That’s what I’m trying to distance true Christianity from. If you could read the Bible apart from the bias formed in you, in part by these evil nutsos, I think you might see the true heart of the faith and that it in no way supports the motives of white supremacists. There have been wonderful books written in recent years, by Christians, lamenting what has been done by their own churches in the name of Christ. It is a good movement.

I am not evangelical but have been very impressed by some of the shifts happening within the evangelical communities. Lots of positive changes going on. May it continue!

Appreciate your post, Molly. I hope you weren’t censored for any comments like this. If a liberal Christian’s voice might be unwelcome, what about more conservative christian viewpoints? I hope so, so much that it becomes more normal to try to see things from other people’s points of view. Democrats (understandably!) don’t seem to be listening to yelling Republicans and, also understandably, Republicans don’t seem to be listening to outraged Democrats. I wish we all listened to each other more.

Thanks, Brenna. Don’t think I was censored. I think I was just nervous about my post so I checked way to frequently, as if reading and approving this thing is a simple quick task for Jo and her crew ?.
Also, I do sort of consider myself a conservative Christian. Maybe? I hate the baggage that comes with that word, but I hold to a pretty orthodox view of the Bible. And I have many many friends who believe what I believe and also cannot stand the Donald. I am strongly pro-life, but I don’t villianize folks who are pro-choice bc I realize it is a really sensitive and complicated issue to which there is no easy fix. And I roll my eyes at anyone who thinks that voting for Trump was a pro-life vote. Please. Anyway, I prob need to sign off. I am grateful to this community and the way *most* people read, listen, and consider other viewpoints. I just love Jesus dearly, I can’t get enough of His word – it is my lifeline. And I hate to see His name dragged through the mud by people who stand on a chopped up and piece-mealed version of His word that supports their racist agenda.
“Some say Christianity is a white man’s religion. And it is true that there is a long and ugly history of abuse of African-Americans at the hands of Euro-American Christians…. but racism is not inherent to Christianity.” -Glenn Usry
In fact, the Bible offers BY FAR the most compelling argument for equality that I know of.

Great conversation. Thank you for facilitating. The horror of the attack on the Capitol was earth shattering. It’s still scary as people continue to need to be on guard right now.
I just wanted to agree that I also think it is terrible and sickening when people (like some of these recent terrorists) claim they are espouse Christian values when they live and preach the opposite. It’s not just Christianity this happens to. Religion is often / has often been misused as a screen for evil, taking advantage of the situation. The snake in the Garden of Eden so to speak. I think it is right and good for people to say, No, that is Not religion, it’s simply evil trying to cloak itself in something respectful so it doesn’t get recognized for what it is. I am thankful for people calling it out. Godwilling, we move as a Country and people towards a healthier and kinder place. The outpouring in response to this has the potential to do much good.

EM, thank you for the Jesus and John Wayne suggestion. That is going to the top of my list. It’ll supplement my class well, particularly the very good book I’m currently reading, “Free at Last? The Gospel in the African American Experience” by my professor, Dr. Carl Ellis.

Roxana,

You aren’t pro-life. You are pro-birth. Those are completely different things. The GOP pushes “family first” and “Pro-Birth” agendas that don’t do anything after a child is born. The GOP Cuts Medicaid, SNAP, low income housing, healthcare, etc. what about the kids taken from their parents and put in cages? Is that Pro-Life? What about the millions of people killed in our invasions of other countries? Is that Pro- Life? What about the hundreds of thousands without work, homeless and food insecure while the GOP give tax breaks to corporations and the 1%? Is that pro-life? What about the Trump administration response to coronavirus— in the US we have over 372,000 deaths from coronavirus —more than any other country! How the heck is that Pro-Life? Maybe if the GOP and Pro-birthers actually cared about lives instead of “birth” and controlling women’s bodies this country wouldn’t be in such a mess.

If you cared about less abortions you would see with Democrats in power abortions go way down. We need better sex education (abstinence does not cut it) and free birth control for EVERYONE!

On Election Day on November 3rd there were approximately 232,000 coronavirus deaths in the US. Now it’s over 372,000. I believe those who voted for Trump and his lack of leadership were complicit in the 140,000 coronavirus deaths since election day. I ask you how is that pro-life?

Also, Planned Parenthood is wonderful. They gave me free or reduced care when I couldn’t afford it. Cancer runs in my family and they gave me the best care. When I was fortunate enough to get insurance I continued to use them. They do so much more than just abortions and are a lifeline to so many.

I say this as someone who was extremely Christian growing up and Pro-Birth as a teen. Own your vote for Trump and if you really voted for LIFE you wouldn’t have voted for him.

Be well!

I don’t agree with MKs comment trying to scold Molly…
A few days later I still felt this way.
As an American, and a fan of this blog, I don’t like to see (however low-key) religion-shaming.

Molly, I appreciate all of what you say. I’m not judging you for your vote. I totally get it. I mean, I think I see who Trump is (I’d have to be completely blind not to). As I said, I have many fellow brothers and sisters who could not stomach voting for him, despite alignment with his conservative policies. Again, I appreciate all that you say and especially this:

I am grateful that our hope will not be found in finding the right leader for our nation. Hopefully we will find a better one in the coming years. I pray that we will. In the meantime, I feel that I voted for “the lesser of 2 evils” and hold to the hope that the One who really rules will make his truth known. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders… Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” Isaiah 9:6-7″

AMEN! That passage from Isaiah legit makes me cry. (insert a big heart emoji ;)

I appreciate the hopefulness in what you’re saying and the important changes ahead for the U.S. Forgive me as I may be looking at this the wrong way, but it really seems that voting was not the simple solution when we consider that over 70 million Americans did vote for Trump and an angry mob infiltrated the Capitol building. This is a grassroots issue, a very undermining of the underpinings of democracy, and it does not seem that it can be fixed by the results of a run-off election in one state or the inauguration of the first female VP, as exciting as these results may be. The damage is done and it looks as if things will continue to unravel as the virus and misinformation continue to spread uncontained. I am especially worried for black Americans in this climate, moreso than ever.

This is a really valuable piece of history and insight. Thank you for sharing it. This seems very much a part of how we got here — through many who knew or should have known better looking the other way at Trump’s danger and hatefulness because of some policy, political, or personal advantage he offered (be it tax cuts, regulatory rollbacks, conservative / pro-life judges, etc). We would not be here without the many enablers who voted/funded/endorsed/excused/held their tongue etc for Trump.

Thank you.

Absolutely agree, Ava.

I came to the comments to say the same Ava. Thank you for putting so eloquently.

I agree. I am Molly from TN as well;) And I am a Bible-believing, evangelical Christian. I feel like the word “evangelical” has been hijacked by these crazies. A friend wrote this article and it was very helpful.
https://www.rootedministry.com/blog/what-do-we-tell-our-children-about-the-storming-of-the-capitol/

Thank you Joanna!

Joanna andd staff, THANK you!

Thanks COJ !

Love this policy! Thank you, Joanna!

Debbie, please get your news from sources other than Facebook.

Go Joanna!

Yes :)

Laura, this is wonderful!!! From a Californian, thank you. The MAGA fools yesterday are furious that the tide is turning and they really can’t do a damn thing about it. They are pathetic. Thank you, Georgia!!! Revel in your victory!!!

Naseem,
I agree. As a white woman, I have heard racism out of the mouths of those around me who make the assumption that I share the same beliefs. I don’t.
Also, a few years ago, my 18 year old white daughter got a $50 cash bonus from her boss. She went to Nordstrom and was trying to buy something with that $50 bill, that ended up being counterfeit. The clerk politely told her she couldn’t take the bill because it was fake and handed it back to her. No security was called. No police were called. Nothing. We talk about that day a lot. My kids know that if she had a different complexion, she would not have been treated that way. The George Floyd case proved that.
We, as white people, must stand up against racism.

As were the rioters that were looting and burning cities. If you didn’t say anything then, you shouldn’t speak up now.

They were indeed terrorists. The only thing that kept them from being called so is that they were white and carried Trump flags. BLM protestors burning down/looting a few business isnt the same as storming the Capitol building while the legislators were inside. Do you know what would have happened had armed people threatened and then stormed a Macys or Nordstrom while shoppers were inside? Especially if they happened to be POC? The police would have been there very quickly and neutralized the threat. Here the capitol police took selfies with the terrorists.

Wait, Debbi Finchum do you know the great yet elusive identify of The GF?!?!?! Stop it.

Debbie Finchum: conversely, if you did speak up then you should speak up now.

?

That’s just brutally horrible

That is awful. Sending thoughts and prayers. I would really love to see more coverage of antisemetic racism on this blog (although I pray that it is never needed in the future) I was truly puzzled and disappointed when major incidents such as the Pittsburg terrorist attack and the Jersey City Jewish grocery shooting were not given the coverage and empathy that other racist horrors are.

Awful! Makes me want to scream and then throw up for days. I‘m so sorry for you and your daughter!