What Meaneth This?

A Pastor's Point

I think it is finally time to put some of my thoughts out into cyberspace. My motivation is simple - I have grown weary living in a society where a precious few have somehow decided that their voices alone champion the cause of truth and relevance based upon the narrow parameters of political correctness. The incredulous reactions from those who, I suppose, consider themselves to be socially liberal (et al) over the recent nomination of Sarah Palin as the next possible Vice President of the United States of America illustrate my frustrations rather well. I have often said that there are few more narrow minded than a liberal and few that are less tolerant than those who cry out for tolerance. At this point, I am open to clarification. As someone who is probably considered at the least as being conservative and on the extreme as being a right wing fundamentalist [certainly would not be how I describe myself] - I accept the reality that my position is inherently not going to be open to radically different points of view. However, if I were to consider myself as liberal, does that designation not lend itself to necessarily being open to all other perspectives ... no matter how different they may be?? Anyway, back to the purpose of my decision to venture into the ominous world of blogging, that is, to vent my thoughts. Most Americans have accepted the reality that we have become a nation that is sometimes divided by our thoughts, our convictions, our beliefs, our philosophies, our socio-economic statuses, etc. Or more simply, red and blue states. And up to this point - that is, this nomination of the Governor of Alaska to serve as the VP running mate to John McCain - our differences have mainly reflected diversity. However, we are now discovering that at a certain boiling point, that diversity becomes adversity ... and when it concerns Gov. Palin, it is adversity with an exponential factor of ten attatched to it! Certain individuals are no longer simply expressing differences of opinions that reflect the expected feelings of diversity - no, they have ventured well beyond diversity into the malicious domain of animosity. And it is an animosity that reveals a darkness of heart that is unbridled and unchecked ... an animosity that reflects an insatiable appetite to inflict injury upon the object of its hatred as deeply as possible.