Eric, I still do not understand where you come up with my behavior being hateful simply because I used my knowledge and experience to make a judgment to be alert. Actually, at that particular time I believe a school bus filled with Israeli children had been blown up and backpacks were used to hide the bomb. I have studied communications, body language, and various psychological pathologies, etc., so whenever I observe certain behaviors, I am on the alert since I have no wish to become a victim nor allow anyone else to become victimized if I can prevent it.
I think it is too bad that you consider my behavior/thinking hateful. However, I feel secure in my love of my fellow beings so will note your observations and let them pass. Some of the main principles I use to guide my life are: Be impeccable with your word - Don't take anything personally - Don't make assumptions - Always do your best. Namaste, Alice ________________________________ From: Eric Vought <evou...@gmail.com> To: missourilibertycoalition@googlegroups.com Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 4:00:08 PM Subject: Re: Tolerance and Profiling, which should it be? On Dec 10, 2009, at 1:30 PM, alice rainbolt wrote: > What am I missing here? Who is talking about hating an entire > group? Are you saying I should sacrifice my "situational awareness" > because someone might interpret my alertness for hatred? I do not > hate Muslims - I have worked with physicians who happen to be kind- > hearted, courteous and very competent individuals, grateful to be in > America. I have also worked with a few who enjoyed the > opportunities and wealth of our country offered them as they > disparaged our culture and politics. I tended to ignore them when > possible because to listen would be to give power to their poisonous > words. > > All that being said, several years ago I observed several young > middle-eastern looking men checking out at a department store with 4 > back packs each. They could have been Arabic or Jewish or neither > one but since the Sept. 11 bombings were still weighing heavily on > my mind and heart, I observed them as closely as I could in order to > describe them in case anything untoward happened in the area. > > Do you interpret my actions as "hateful" and unjust? Yes, IF AND ONLY IF your 'situational awareness' does not extend to Christian radicals, hispanic criminals, white trash hoodlums, government agents, poor drivers, used car salesmen, tornados, and every other category of threats that we deal with MORE OFTEN than radical Muslims. I have not experienced a shooting rampage by a Muslim extremist, but my school was shot up by a Catholic of Oriental descent. But I do not watch Oriental Catholics out of the corner of my eye... more than I do everyone else. I carry a gun most days, but it is not out of fear of Oriental Catholics. It, and the bits of First Aid implements I also carry, is so I can be prepared for ANY emergency in ways that I was not in the past. The 'quiz' was very obviously slanted in the incidents that it chose to cover. I could create a quiz just as easily to justify fear of the number twelve. The fact is that your chances of being murdered by a Muslim extremist are miniscule compared to other threats. As a farmer, for instance, my number one threat is apparently MYSELF, as suicide has topped the charts for farmers in Missouri and I get a double-whammy being disabled as well. But I do not carry a mirror around with me all day to keep an eye on myself or insist that my wife tie me up (well... anyway... :-) ). Yes, I am being ridiculous, but it is to point out that the situation as a whole is rather silly. And, incidentally, I am in communication with the Oriental Catholic who shot up my school. Now that he is no longer a threat (he is still in prison), I TRY not to bother hating/fearing even him, though I admit me it has taken me a shameful number of years to get to that point and it is still hard. 16 years and 361 days later, I have an unfinished letter sitting here which I am having a lot of trouble with. Fortunately there are interesting online discussions to keep me distracted. But the point is that this is not easy, but it is something we are supposed to do. In fact, one might argue that we have a greater duty if they really ARE out to get us. You know, "Do good to those who persecute you..." and all that. Yeah, I have trouble with that one, too. Sincerely, Eric Vought "Faith does not absolve us from trying to understand our world and make moral distinctions with the eyes and brain given us. Religion is as much responsibility as direction: Duty not Distinction." -- This is a Free Speech forum. The owner of this list assumes no responsibility for the intellectual or emotional maturity of its members. If you do not like what is being said here, filter it to trash, ignore it or leave. If you leave, learn how to do this for yourself. If you do not, you will be here forever. -- This is a Free Speech forum. The owner of this list assumes no responsibility for the intellectual or emotional maturity of its members. If you do not like what is being said here, filter it to trash, ignore it or leave. If you leave, learn how to do this for yourself. If you do not, you will be here forever.
