11-17-01 @ 3:04 am EST

A year ago I saw acceptance. A month ago I saw guarded tolerance. Yesterday I saw suspicion. Today, I finally see the beginnings of hatred and bigotry. "We are the only good. Everyone else is out to get us. We must get them first, always."

I've an idea. Let's just proclaim one thing good, everything else bad. That's the way this sort of thinking works, after all...right?

Wow. My impressions of people a year ago were WAY off based on how they act today!

Blame me for being gullible.

This was written after seeing something posted by someone else on another site. A year ago I considered this person my friend. (At least, I THOUGHT she was.) A couple of months ago (after Sept. 11) I made the mistake of disagreeing with her when I thought she was more open minded. Aside from thrashing me out, she has not written to me since. Back then, at least, though, she still insisted that not "all Muslims" etc. were bad or should be persecuted.

Her latest post: talking about how Islam may very well take over the world just because some poll (yes, polls are VERY scientific) said most of them identify with their religion more than their country, CHRISTIANS don't think that way, therefore Muslims are bad, Islam is bad, Jesus is good, Christians are enlightened, Christians should snuff out everybody else who says the wrong thing or has a differing opinion or looks funny.

...No, she did not say any of that last part. But she did post the article, with her own bit of commentary. So it's obvious what thoughts are starting to float around in certain heads.

"Hm...well, I tried the tolerance bit, God, really I did...but then the bad heathens went and did this...I still tried to be tolerant...but now I learn most of them hate us! So...should I keep tolerating them, God? Because if they hate us, who knows what else they'll do? Or should I prepare myself for holy war? Well...better to be safe than sorry...right, God? Okay, God. It's them or us. I choose us. Because we're the winning team...aren't we, God?"

All right. The Muslims today. Who tomorrow? The Jews? Okay. And after them, the Hindus. All right. Then, hm...the Buddhists. Oh! When we run out of different religions, then let's start in on the different sects. What sect are you? Methodist? Baptist? Well, whichever one you're NOT, let's get them first. Wipe 'em clean out. If they hate us, or disagree with us (according to some poll)--who knows what terror may befall us tomorrow! And then the rest of them. So that your kind is the only kind left. One world in complete harmony. Ahh. Just what God wanted. Well...you DO seem to think you know what God wants...right?

IMO, the person who claims they know what God wants is a fool. But I've been thought a fool for a long time, so my opinion is not valid...right?

Live for the day you have your one world in complete harmony. Everyone conforming through fear of death (you really thought faith ALONE would keep them faithful?), everyone the same, no disagreements, no matter how rational. I'm certain the screams of the billions of others in the Hell For Those Who Didn't Agree With You will lull you to sleep at night.

Comforting thought...isn't it?

It's very easy to say "I'm tolerant, I'm a good Christian, I believe in equal rights for everybody"...so much more difficult to get it right in your heart. I've found that out from others recently. I can easily see the hatred and ignorance and prejudice in their "tolerant" words.

"Turn the other cheek" now applies to disagreers only.

Once in a while a little light shines through, and I'm actually *glad* the church rejected me.