BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — In response to the growing migrant crisis, the City of New York is officially commandeering popular park recreation centers. At least two have been partially taken ov…
Gotcha. The flag’s not a false idol at all. Not sure where you live, but I’m in a fairly Christian conservative area, and it’s commonplace to see “kneel for the cross, stand for the flag” signs. Nobody worships the flag. It’s just a uniting symbol of our neighbors across the nation. When we say “love your neighbor”, the flag is the imagery that comes to mind for me. It’s not an idol at all, just a symbol of our fellow Americans, who we strive to love.
You don’t have to hate somebody to do something hateful towards them or say something hateful. Hate isn’t always intentional.
What a peculiar claim. Hatred is a feeling. I know what’s in my heart. You don’t. You can misinterpret my words, but you can’t rightfully ascribe feelings to my heart which I don’t feel.
The flag’s not a false idol at all. Not sure where you live, but I’m in a fairly Christian conservative area, and it’s commonplace to see “kneel for the cross, stand for the flag” signs.
They absolutely do, and you’ve done quite a bit of it yourself from what I have read from you. You treat is as a moral failure for not treating the flag with the utmost respect, and that is a form of worship.
What a peculiar claim. Hatred is a feeling. I know what’s in my heart. You don’t. You can misinterpret my words, but you can’t rightfully ascribe feelings to my heart which I don’t feel.
Hate can be a feeling, but it isn’t always a feeling. Hatred can be a cold unfeeling action, or speech. Granted, I think if this part of the conversation continues any further then it will devolve into semantics.
Semantics matter! So many of our disagreements are rooted in our using different definitions, and talking past each other, thinking the other side is crazy because we’re misinterpreting each other’s words.
You don’t have to convince me to change my personal definition of anything. But by defining yours, as you have, I can understand where you’re coming from. The fact that I don’t consider it hatred doesn’t much matter.
So @thepixelfox’s point (and I suppose your point too) that I am cold and unfeeling towards foreigners who break into the US illegally is absolutely correct. Again I want to emphasize that I don’t hate these people emotionally. But I don’t think they deserve an ounce of our sympathy either. They’re not our neighbors; they’re hostile invaders.
You treat is as a moral failure for not treating the flag with the utmost respect, and that is a form of worship.
I’d treat it as a moral failure to disrespect a neighbor, and the flag symbolizes our neighbors. Moreover, I believe the US is one nation under God, and that concept is represented in our flag.
Listen, I’m a sinner, and I don’t pretend to be even slightly perfect. There is so much I deserve to be judged for, and I’ll accept that judgment when the day comes. But one of the few sins I’m not guilty of, to the best of my knowledge, is idolatry.
And in my experience, it’s uncommon for others to worship the flag either. Treating it with respect out of respect for our neighbors and our nation is wholly different from worshiping it.
They’re not our neighbors; they’re hostile invaders.
They aren’t hostile though. They commit crimes at a lower rate than the general population. And they aren’t moving here out of malice, they are doing so to have better lives.
I’d treat it as a moral failure to disrespect a neighbor, and the flag symbolizes our neighbors.
Not everyone sees the flag that way. A lot of people see it in a negative light for a lot of different reasons. But that’s it’s own tangent.
My point is, regardless of what the flag represents, it is a symbol/image (idol) other than god that is worshiped.
it’s uncommon for others to worship the flag either
When Kaepernick kneeled instead of standing for the flag/anthem, people hated his guts ultimately because he wasn’t worshiping it, and worshiping it is often seen as the default. I won’t speak to how common it is, but it is definitely common enough to be noticeable. Another good example is how school children worship the flag every day with the pledge of allegiance.
Once somebody becomes an illegal, everything they do is inherently illegal until they retreat from American soil. How is it possible for them to be less illegal than a bona fide American when their entire state of being, and everything they do, is inherently illegal? It seems like you’re telling me I’d see that they’re actually good citizens if only I’d ignore the facts that they’re neither good nor citizens.
Anyone who has any kind of negative association with the American flag needs to get out of the US, ASAP, and I do support deportation for them. But you’re right, that’s it’s own tangent.
With regard to your position on idolatry, I do understand your viewpoint, and I don’t defend idolatry. Of all the various reasons one might refuse to salute the flag, I think a fear of idolatry is perhaps the only one I’d consider valid. I get why you wouldn’t want to touch it with a ten-foot pole. I only ask that you trust me when I say I don’t worship the flag.
In my personal life, whenever I pledge my allegiance to the flag (which happens at least once per week), it’s always preceded by a prayer. That’s the same way it always was for school children too until SCOTUS banned it in '62. I believe that was a mistake, and saying the pledge without an opening prayer can certainly leave the wrong impression.
Gotcha. The flag’s not a false idol at all. Not sure where you live, but I’m in a fairly Christian conservative area, and it’s commonplace to see “kneel for the cross, stand for the flag” signs. Nobody worships the flag. It’s just a uniting symbol of our neighbors across the nation. When we say “love your neighbor”, the flag is the imagery that comes to mind for me. It’s not an idol at all, just a symbol of our fellow Americans, who we strive to love.
What a peculiar claim. Hatred is a feeling. I know what’s in my heart. You don’t. You can misinterpret my words, but you can’t rightfully ascribe feelings to my heart which I don’t feel.
That fits the bill:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idolatry
They absolutely do, and you’ve done quite a bit of it yourself from what I have read from you. You treat is as a moral failure for not treating the flag with the utmost respect, and that is a form of worship.
Hate can be a feeling, but it isn’t always a feeling. Hatred can be a cold unfeeling action, or speech. Granted, I think if this part of the conversation continues any further then it will devolve into semantics.
Semantics matter! So many of our disagreements are rooted in our using different definitions, and talking past each other, thinking the other side is crazy because we’re misinterpreting each other’s words.
You don’t have to convince me to change my personal definition of anything. But by defining yours, as you have, I can understand where you’re coming from. The fact that I don’t consider it hatred doesn’t much matter.
So @thepixelfox’s point (and I suppose your point too) that I am cold and unfeeling towards foreigners who break into the US illegally is absolutely correct. Again I want to emphasize that I don’t hate these people emotionally. But I don’t think they deserve an ounce of our sympathy either. They’re not our neighbors; they’re hostile invaders.
I’d treat it as a moral failure to disrespect a neighbor, and the flag symbolizes our neighbors. Moreover, I believe the US is one nation under God, and that concept is represented in our flag.
Listen, I’m a sinner, and I don’t pretend to be even slightly perfect. There is so much I deserve to be judged for, and I’ll accept that judgment when the day comes. But one of the few sins I’m not guilty of, to the best of my knowledge, is idolatry.
And in my experience, it’s uncommon for others to worship the flag either. Treating it with respect out of respect for our neighbors and our nation is wholly different from worshiping it.
They aren’t hostile though. They commit crimes at a lower rate than the general population. And they aren’t moving here out of malice, they are doing so to have better lives.
Not everyone sees the flag that way. A lot of people see it in a negative light for a lot of different reasons. But that’s it’s own tangent.
My point is, regardless of what the flag represents, it is a symbol/image (idol) other than god that is worshiped.
When Kaepernick kneeled instead of standing for the flag/anthem, people hated his guts ultimately because he wasn’t worshiping it, and worshiping it is often seen as the default. I won’t speak to how common it is, but it is definitely common enough to be noticeable. Another good example is how school children worship the flag every day with the pledge of allegiance.
Once somebody becomes an illegal, everything they do is inherently illegal until they retreat from American soil. How is it possible for them to be less illegal than a bona fide American when their entire state of being, and everything they do, is inherently illegal? It seems like you’re telling me I’d see that they’re actually good citizens if only I’d ignore the facts that they’re neither good nor citizens.
Anyone who has any kind of negative association with the American flag needs to get out of the US, ASAP, and I do support deportation for them. But you’re right, that’s it’s own tangent.
With regard to your position on idolatry, I do understand your viewpoint, and I don’t defend idolatry. Of all the various reasons one might refuse to salute the flag, I think a fear of idolatry is perhaps the only one I’d consider valid. I get why you wouldn’t want to touch it with a ten-foot pole. I only ask that you trust me when I say I don’t worship the flag.
In my personal life, whenever I pledge my allegiance to the flag (which happens at least once per week), it’s always preceded by a prayer. That’s the same way it always was for school children too until SCOTUS banned it in '62. I believe that was a mistake, and saying the pledge without an opening prayer can certainly leave the wrong impression.