I'm new to FB. I find it very entertaining. In the way that a junkie loves his/her next fix...very addictive. But my new form of free entertainment has brought up some interesting thoughts and questions. Thoughts about myself. Thoughts about others. Questions about my place in the world. I understand that it is just a fun and easy way to connect with people, but here I am being a little too deep for my own good.
Since I grew up in Texas, most of the people from my past are in Texas. I wondered where the 28% of Americans were who thought George Bush was a great president. Guess what? They are in Texas...on FaceBook...in my "web" of friends.
When I first joined FB, I noticed that I was still the odd man out. I had to go searching for my current Liberal friends because I was out numbered by all the Conservative Christians (a term that is on the verge of becoming an oxymoron). But as I started reading more about their profiles and their current lives, something struck me as odd....they "seemed" like they were having a much better life than I am. Are they really happier? Do they really have the perfect lives that they portray on FB? There are so many of them that are "all up in there" with their form of worship, that they have to regurgitate their love all over their pages. That is OK with me. It is all in a positive light. Nothing negative about that.
But then, you get the "honest" Conservative, Sarah Palin adoring, Right Wing..."Christian" who decides to use FB as a forum for her hate speak and racism against....Muslims, of course. They are the current group to show prejudice against. And there is me...and one other girl who spoke out against her in a very subversive way. I didn't want to get into it with this girl, but I did not want to stand for it.
So one of my status entries last week on February 24, 2009 said simply: "Marla is wondering if Racism became one of the 10 commandments while she slept last night." That was all it took. My old friend from HSchool asked what the matter was. I shared what I knew and before you knew it, the offensive discussion had disappeared from the board. It had disappeared from the offenders wall as well.
But then, she managed to let her hatred get the best of her. She commented on my status with a "I don't know about Racism, but I'm tired of being tolerant of others who are not tolerant of us" or something to that effect. She deleted it quickly after I replied to her "truth" with my truth, "I'm not here to judge you or your beliefs. Your beliefs are yours and I'm glad you have them. They make you, you. However, I don't like checking on my friends and seeing a hate filled conversation on the wall. Save your hatred for your Bible Class." And of course my old friend added, "If we are intolerant, what makes us any better than others who are?"
I was very thankful for the backup. But I really didn't get on FB to be controversial. I save that for this blog. I am trying to keep the blog separate from FB and my other business blog and my business websites. For me, FB is a place to visit with friends and share light observations. This blog is my place to vent.
So, in conclusion, I know I'm out numbered most of the time. Mr. I and I have friends of all different faiths, political beliefs and races. We like the diversity. We try not to offend anyone, even though they have no problem offending us.
I guess there is a reason they said way back when...in polite society NEVER talk about politics or religion.
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