{"id":471,"date":"2016-03-14T13:24:54","date_gmt":"2016-03-14T18:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thenakedjesus\/?p=471"},"modified":"2016-03-25T22:41:32","modified_gmt":"2016-03-26T03:41:32","slug":"free-speech-works-both-ways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thenakedjesus\/2016\/03\/free-speech-works-both-ways\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Speech Works Both Ways"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"NEW-TNJ-21.fw\"<\/a>I wonder if our Political Leaders are simply mirrors reflecting back\u00a0to us our images? When I hear people like Trump, or Cruz, I wonder if I\u2019m hearing their voices, or am I hearing the voices of those seeking to be in total control? Generally speaking I\u2019ve never been very political; I\u2019m political enough to know who I\u2019ll vote for, and what others stand for \u2013 but I just don\u2019t like the games \u2013 and I\u2019m not into the arguing, name calling, and race baiting. It\u2019s not\u00a0that I\u2019m not interested in politics,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0that I don\u2019t have the mind to keep straight all the lies, insults, and yes \u2013 violence,\u00a0being tossed around by those seeking my vote. This year, this election cycle, I think I\u2019m more disconnected [?], more disillusioned [?], more tired [?], more disgusted [?] \u2013 I\u2019m not sure what I am, and to be honest I\u2019m not sure there is a word I can use to express my feelings.<\/p>\n

This may take a bit of time, so walk with me on this. I\u2019m tired of all the hate, all the injustice, all the racism, all the dividing lines people like Trump and Cruz are using. I worry\u00a0about where we are, and where we\u2019re heading, as a Nation, and that people are actually supporting those who seek to divide. I\u2019m upset with \u201cleaders\u201d who claim to speak for all, but serve only those who fund their campaigns. I\u2019m disillusioned at a broken economic system that serves the rich, and pushes aside the poor. I\u2019m disgusted with a judicial system where people of color are seen as \u201csuper-predators\u201d because we are unable to understand, or deal, with the conditions of their lives. I\u2019m broken, because I hear people seeking to hold the highest political position in our nation speaking violence, and racism, while standing on some misguided, twisted view of what it means to be a Follower of Christ.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve spent decades dividing ourselves, decades\u00a0listening to others tell us we don\u2019t need to hear each other, decades of hearing voices of hate and separation lead us into a valley of a dark, bitter spirit. When we confront those voices of bitterness, anger, hate and racism we are pushed aside. Those who speak hate say that those of us who stand against them\u00a0are taking away their \u201cright to free speech.\u201d This may come as a shock, but your freedom of speech is not infringed because people disagree with you, or because they refuse to hear your stupid, hate filled, racist remarks. Free speech works both ways.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I wonder if our Political Leaders are simply mirrors reflecting back\u00a0to us our images? When I hear people like Trump, or Cruz, I wonder if I\u2019m hearing their voices, or am I hearing the voices of those seeking to be in total control? Generally speaking I\u2019ve never been very political; I\u2019m political enough to know […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2697,"featured_media":582,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4,5,8,9,11,12,15,16,17,18,20],"tags":[22,29,34,56,59,61,67,77],"class_list":["post-471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bad","category-christian-karma","category-church","category-good","category-grace","category-love","category-missional","category-peace","category-play","category-prayer","category-progressive","category-theology","tag-abuse","tag-care","tag-compassion","tag-jesus","tag-love","tag-mercy","tag-positive","tag-spirit"],"yoast_head":"\nFree Speech Works Both Ways<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I wonder if our Political Leaders are simply mirrors reflecting back\u00a0to us our images? 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