[Jacob-list] Sensetivity

[Chovhani]

I was talking to the girl at the butcher about cutting my lamb, and she said "Remind me, what are these 4-horned sheep called?". I told her "Jacob Sheep". Silence. "You know, like Jacob had white sheep with black spots...and how he........" (suddenly shut up, remembering I was talking to an Amish girl). Anyway, much as I see that (Jacob, and the spotted sheep story) as the only connection to religion that this list has, or is expected to have,  I'm all for community stuff on any list, helps people get to know each other. No, we're not all Christian, but here's a funny thing. Positive morals, like not discriminating, offering a welcoming hand, etc are not exclusive to Christians. In fact my more rather unpleasant experiences of Christians was of very discrimatory, prejudiced people who never lent a hand for anyone. I realize they are a minority. But while we're discussing OT things like offensive religious remarks, (and no, I'm not Jewish either), I just went off on a tangent there myself............

Melanie, a Pagan, in the Starhawk sense of the word, and very moral, thank you:)


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gary Tomas Fay 
  To: Black, Tiar and Jason ; jacoblist 
  Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2001 9:56 AM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Sensetivity


  Jacob List, 
  I see these posts going back and forth and I would like to take a moment to offer two observations. I will for the moment play devils advocate so please bear with me. 

  The first observation is this: We all live in this society, each of us has been hurt and disappointed by others in our lives. Sometimes these people are members of other groups and as we tend to do humans group things together in categories. All it takes is a few words or actions that are simmilar and boom we have a group we like or dislike and possibly rasism. Let us say at one point it time that I spoke with terms like that, and there was a group of people that I looked down upon. I am not sure how many people are Christians on the list but please here this. A member of this group, whom I did not view favorably was very patient with me and eventually became a good friend and help me refind Christ. Had he turned his back on me I would have missed an opportunity to find Christ and find a very good friend. I benefited from another's patience and for that I am grateful to him and to GOD. 

  On another note, (the second observation is this...) one does not always know the history of the one you are dealing with in any encounter. There is a neurological disorder called Tourette's Syndrome, please see www.tsa-usa.org for more details. Many people hook on the "Coprolalia" but this is a minor symptom for the whole spectrum of this disorder. It is a neuromuscular disorder and recent research has proven that it is a real disease with measureable diagnostic "clues." For the people who suffer from this the disorder can prove very isolating. I will say this is a trap that I fell into, the more isolated I became, the angrier and more isolated I became. It took someone stepping beyond their own desires and hurt feelings to pull me back and out of this isolation. 

  I ask you now,  as a Christian, is it better to isolate someone who is different or offensive, or extend to them a welcoming hand? 

  Gary Fay 

  "Black, Tiar and Jason" wrote: 

    Here I come out of the shadows again. I am not writing this to upset or offend anyone but I feel I need to say something also.   I was also raised in a family who would not think twice (or even once) about using those types of phrases. I was also an adopted child who was terrified that my adoptive parents would find out I was one of "those" people - like in the phrases they used. It has taken many years of getting over it but I have chosen to distance myself from people who use those phrases and to try to teach my children other ways of recocnizing differences in different ethinic groups. ie the beautiful color of some peoples skin, stature, clothing etc.... Hopefully my children will not use the phrases that my family (and others) use in their language - at least that is my goal. Maybe that is sheltering them but for now I feel it is important for them to make their own judgements and I do not need outside help in this matter. We all have the right to say what we like but when it offends someone this deeply it is also our right to walk away from further conversation with this person. I have enjoyed EVERYONES postings in the past and I will continue to read all of them as I am learning alot from you all but I am sorry - if this type of phrase were to be used again by the same individual I would choose to delete the post without reading it - this is my right. Thank you all for listening to my rambling.Tiar BlackZLazyJ FarmFriday Harbor Wa
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