06.30.09

Napolean Bonaparte supposedly said:

Posted in Politics, Society at 11:22 am by JC

“Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent.”

Wow.

I was just thinking about this yesterday (before I saw the quote today), how every group is represented not by the best people, but by the loudest people. An example. I remember having a conversation once regarding homosexuality. The other person said something to the effect of, “Well, there must be something abberant about it; look at all those people marching in parades with leather thongs on.” And she gave a couple more examples of more extreme behavior. And while I don’t see anything weird about being gay, I have to admit, I think it’s weird to wear a leather thong in public. (Not that “weird” is an evil thing; if you have a desire to do something that I or anybody else considers “weird” and it’s not hurting anybody, get on with your bad self. Just, also, don’t be mad if I continue to think it’s weird. You can think things I do are weird. I promise not to get offended.)

So, anyway, her logic ran “I’ve seen lots of weird behavior by gay people. Being gay must therefore be weird.” Not terrible logic, but the flaw is exactly what I told her next. “You’re talking about a marginalized group. The people that don’t want to be perceived as “weird” are not marching. Or they’re in the center of the pack wearing sunglasses and a hat so that their number is represented, but their boss / family / pastor / whoever doesn’t see them. The people you see are the ones who don’t care what you or anybody else thinks. Those people are also more likely to wear a leather thong in public.”

Not everybody’s going to be as “you go with your weird self” as I am, and so the 10,000 are judged by the “socially unacceptable” actions of the 10.

I think Christianity lately has gotten a really bad rap for this same thing. (This is why I was thinking about it yesterday; my dad and I talked about faith for a little while while he was helping me tile my shower, and it was a cool conversation; my dad’s a pretty amazing guy. Anyway, back on topic.) Here we have a faith with millions of people doing Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels and going to church and living good, quiet lives. And then we have Jerry Falwell, the loud one, with his infamous quotes such as:

“I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped [9/11] happen.’”

I’m on that list like three times. All but the most extreme conservatives knows and likes somebody on that list. And then your average American, reeling from this attack promoted by blind, prejudicial, religious hatred (and I’m talking about 9/11 there… ) is gonna draw an easy comparison between “My version of Islam or die” and Mr. Falwell.

And then then 10,o00 look like zealots because of the accusations of the 10.

This is my rationale for going against most members of my faith regarding issues like prayer in school. I think we should encourage expression in all it’s forms, and instead of shutting it down, we should simply make sure that more forms get a voice. Pray at graduation. Just make sure there’s 3 or 4 short prayers, maybe a Christian, an Islamic, a Buddhist, and a humanist (I guess that wouldn’t be a prayer, but a “good vibe address”). Let people see a sample of the beautiful diversity of the school’s student body. Pray before a game, but each week let a different faith group lead it (and Baptist this week, Fundamental Baptist next week doesn’t count as different – and I realize that’s where the problem with my ideal is gonna come in). But the world needs to see this. The 10,000 must speak.

I’ve challenged myself to not be “in your face” about it, but to be more open about who I am and what I believe, not because I want to “convert” anybody to my way of thinking, but because the more we can be honest with each other about the fact that we’re all different, the more understanding and united this world can be. Remember the rule of 10. Don’t let the wrong people be the only ones heard.

So in that line of thought, now you know that I:

1. play paper and dice games. Yes, I’m a gamer. Though it’s not my favorite system, I have played Dungeons and Dragons many times, and playing a rogue/sorcerer is my specialty. Check out Eden’s Unisystem if you want to see something really cool.
2. am 32 and still afraid of rollercoasters
3. have never smoked pot, but would vote for its legalization
4. think babies are ugly (except Avery; she’s perfect in every way. Even Seas, my devil cat, likes her)
5. love Britney Spears and am developing a serious fascination with Lady Gaga (who also wears completely inappropriate clothes in public)
6. was a virgin when I got married
7. write romance novels!!
8. listened to Rush Limbaugh religiously when I was in high school (yes, you can do that and still grow up normal)
9. practice Eclectic Wicca
10. worked on George W. Bush’s original gubernatorial campaign and voted for him the first time he ran for president. It was the last time I voted Republican in a major election. (To clarify, YES, I voted for Obama. Don’t hate who I was, love who I am. I’m promoting honesty and diversity here. *sheepish grin**)

What’s your list?

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