LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Monday, November 30, 2009

Disgusting Beyond My Words

We have become accustomed to non-news reporting and "breaking" news. We have become accustomed to hearing distorted versions of every political action, depending on which "news" network we watch.

It has been said by many experts that in our present media frenzied "reporting" there's no way a man in a wheelchair would be elected President of the United States. As for Abraham Lincoln? The "media" would forget his dramatic words and report these things:




Somehow we learn to take it all in stride...the bumper stickers that warn us we are "baby killers" if we support a woman's choice to make a dreadful decision; the ones that indicate that if we don't believe (insert favorite) then we're unAmerican, that every kid in the house is an honor student that you'll take their guns when you pry them from their cold, dead fingers. I am extremely tolerant about bumper stickers. I laugh at many of them even when I disagree with what they might say. After all...clever is clever. And while I may not agree with the bumper stickers, it seldom affects my feelings about the person. There is room for all opinions.


One can learn a great deal about another person by the bumper stickers on the car. My husband and I laughed a lot during the last election. One of us would point out a neighbor's car and the other one say, "Now, THAT's a big surprise." And we would laugh. We are friends with all kinds of people and as long as they don't say something racial or anti-gay, we can tolerate their views as only one part of their personality.



But there has recently appeared a bumper sticker that is far worse than any I've ever seen or imagined. You will likely see this one as it spreads into your area:



One the surface, this looks like yet another political/religious bumper sticker. Well...far from it.
Here is the Psalm and verse to which the bumper sticker refers:

Let his days be few; and let another take his office.


So what's so bad about that? How is it much different from the "Impeach Bush" signs? It's much worse because of the next verse. It is not specifically referenced, but when you read one verse of a Psalm, you automatically read the next one. Here is the next verse:

Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.


The reference to this verse can be ordered on a tee shirt or coffee mug in addition to the bumper sticker. Can you imagine drinking your morning coffee in a mug that asks prayers for the death of any person...much less the President of the United States?

Usually a person who "let's go" and doesn't dwell on things that upset me, I find this bumper sticker makes my blood boil every time I see it. I don't have words to describe the feelings I have, but I can tell you that if someone drove into my driveway sporting this bumper sticker I would likely tell them they are not welcome in my home.



29 comments:

Vicki Lane said...

Good grief! And these folks probably consider themselves Christians. Disgusting, indeed!

The Bug said...

It's so scary to me to believe that people REALLY feel this way! It's one thing to trumpet free speech - quite another to wish death on another person because they believe differently than you do. How does that make you different from terrorists?

Rae said...

It sickens me to read this. Regardless if a person likes this president or not, respect for the Office of Presidency should be maintained. To wish his children fatherless is so cruel. The people behind this are heartless. Using God's words to spread hate is vile and evil. The best that we can do is really pray for them - unlike the prayer they offer for President Obama.

Barb said...

Disgusting!

robin andrea said...

That is a terrible bumper sticker. Reminds me, though, of the great divide in our country. I'm afraid it is one that cannot be bridged.

Thistlebrooms said...

I do believe the 'Common Sense' SOME of us had at birth has totally escaped... I'm a pretty tolerant individual, it's how I was brought up, BUT what ever happened to
'LOVE THY NEIGHBOR?'...I think there are many more Loving Psalm's for Bumper stickers...
To wish that on any Family is just Heartless!!!!!

Busy Bee Suz said...

Wow, I would never have put 2 & 2 together on that one. Although I have not seen it yet, I will remember this. That is horrible..no matter what our thoughts are on the topic of politics, no one should ever go that far.
I am personally aghast at most of the bumper stickers I see...people seem so classless with them.

Rudee said...

Yes, it's appalling. So is showing up to his engagements carrying a weapon.

Dog_geek said...

Unbelievable. I don't care if people don't like the President, or disagree with his policies, or think that the plans he is trying won't work... but there is a difference between thinking that a plan for the betterment of our country won't work, and fervently hoping it won't work just because you dislike the person who proposed it. This bumper sticker, of course, carries that to the next extreme.

Cheryl said...

Oh my goodness.....that chilled me.......people like that aren't worth a second thought......

Kathryn Magendie said...

THat is indeed a cruel and horrid bumper sticker - *sigh*....I wouldn't want that for Obama, or Bush, or the Gov of South Carolina or anyone! - it's a terrible bumper sticker. I wonder how many people get that without knowing what it is...which is why we should be careful about what we stick on our cars or what emails we forward or ...etc...(I don't have bumper stickers, but like you, I like reading many of them-not this one )

Tina said...

I guess we all have to read between the lines these days on anything we see or hear!

Anonymous said...

I kid you not, this scares me every day. If people are willing to go after Lincoln, Kennedy, Ford, etc...well, I shudder to think. I shall pray for him, but most definitely not with that verse. Perhaps:

Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Psalm 24:14

Courtney at SL's No Ennui said...

I'm not a big Obama fan, but that makes MY blood boil too. That's a perverse and disgusting misuse of the Bible and terribly irreverent to our current leader.

I'm a big believer that everyone should show respect to the President-- even those who disagree with his policies.

That's sick. It should be considered a misdemeanor because of its maliciously hostile message, in my opinion!

Sam said...

That's pretty sad. Regardless of your political affiliation, it is deplorable to wish something so bad on someone..

I never liked bumper stickers, either. Perhaps there is good reason for that!

troutbirder said...

He sighs. Shakes his head. And thinks "God help our beloved country."

D.K. Wall said...

For the longest time, I had a bumper sticker on my car that said "My Siberian Husky is smarter than your Honor Student." Most people laughed at it. But I had one woman come up to me at a gas station furious because I was making fun of honor students.

So I try to take all bumper stickers with a grain of salt and laugh at many of them (even those I disagree with). But this is too far.

Disagreement and debate is absolutely right and just. Disrespect - by either party toward either party - is wrong.

Fay Campbell said...

That is beyond sick, it is evil.
Religious people!
Personally, the only bumper sticker I'd consider would say,
"Honk if you've nuked a gay whale for Christ" It saves so much space.

KGMom said...

How sad--I have not seen this one (yet) in central PA--hope I don't but I won't bet on not seeing it.

Ruth said...

I cannot understand the open hatred expressed for your president. If someone is going to quote scripture let it be the verses which ask that we pray for those in authority and live peaceable lives with respect for the governing bodies. I cannot identify with those who call themselves christian and then display this kind of evil.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

You are so right about the MEDIA, Carolyn. They jump on everything and try to make the worst possible thing out of it...Lately--look at the media response to the Tiger Woods thing, the response(on and on and on) to those idiots who 'crashed' the White House dinner, OR whatever they can report on --just to get a story.... We don't get news any longer. We just get opinions ---and ugly ones at that... It's no wonder people in this country are so angry these days... I hear it constantly --and have, for a long time. That's why it's hard to watch the news these days.. I'd rather be hiking in the mountains...
Hugs,
Betsy

Jeannette StG said...

No kindness, no grace, no mercy - that's an America I don't know! (remember I'm a Dutch citizen)
This really makes me sad. (although I don't think that sticker intended to refer to the next verse...)

KB said...

That is so very scary, awful, and makes my blood boil too. I'd toss anyone who showed up at my house with that bumper sticker back out on the streets just like you.

I'm not a religious person but I also think that using religious references in such a hateful way is just plain wrong.

I haven't seen that bumper sticker yet... even in the more conservative parts of my state, and I hope that I don't.

Janet said...

I agree with you, 100%

I have one bumper sticker on my vehicle. It simple reads: Thank You President Bush.

Myu son enlisted under President Bush and I am appreciative of his efforts to keep us safe after the attacks of 9/11/2001.

I keep how I feel about the current administration to myself. I owe the Office that much as an American. Only my votes should know my choice in politician.

Janie said...

I haven't seen the bumper sticker, and I hope I don't.
How completely disgusting.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments and concerns. Yes, I agree that folks who sport this bumper sticker do indeed believe they are Christian. The depths of the divide in this country are of grave concern to me. I've never seen it this bad, nor this ugly and hateful.

Squirrel said...

Yes, the bumper sticker would be disgusting if it said Psalm 109:8-9, but it didn't. As you pointed out, verse nine is the verse that states "May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow". Since they didn't care to include the 9, it's clear verse eight is the desired sentiment.

I wouldn't put it on my car, but to avoid even more divide, it's probably best not to jump to conclusions.

Anonymous said...

I have to disagree with the last comment. When you use a Biblical verse, you're going to drive viewers to the corresponding text and the larger context to which that verse belongs. The context behind this verse is what the post aims to discuss, and probably what most readers - myself included - have issue with.

Political opinions are one thing, but personally it burns me to see religion thrown into the mix in such a distasteful way. That's the kind of practice that causes divisions.

Squirrel said...

"I have to disagree with the last comment. When you use a Biblical verse, you're going to drive viewers to the corresponding text and the larger context to which that verse belongs. The context behind this verse is what the post aims to discuss, and probably what most readers - myself included - have issue with."

Then consider it in this context, someone is flipping through a catalog or a website and they see the bumper sticker shown above, and below it, the words "Let his days be few and let another take his office." They laugh because, good gravy, doesn't that express their feelings, and then they purchase it. More than likely, that's what happened.

"Political opinions are one thing, but personally it burns me to see religion thrown into the mix in such a distasteful way. That's the kind of practice that causes divisions."

Division is caused by many things these days, and we readily condemn the other side with little excuse. How many people became incensed after reading this post? Yet no one stopped to consider the alternative.

I encourage everyone to be patient and to give others the benefit of the doubt. Let's take a lesson from the divisions that occurred in these mountains during the last civil war and work together to stop it from happening again.

Thanks for hearing me out.