"My opponent is not a Christian"

[Baitball Blogger]

Apopka commissioner's Facebook attack: 'My opponent is not a Christian'

"HORRIFYING ALERT!!! IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, AS I AM, WAKE UP!!!" began a Facebook post this week by Apopka Commissioner Marilyn Ustler McQueen. "Much to my surprise last night, I found out that my opponent is not a Christian. She does not have faith in God and feels there is no heaven."

McQueen's opponent in the upcoming race for Apopka City Council Seat 2, Diane Velazquez, a first-time candidate for elected office, said she was surprised and sickened by the social-media blast, which she assailed as an inaccurate summary of her personal religious views.

"I have a lot of faith. That's what got me through my husband's lymphoma; my son's two deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan; and my dad's death," Velazquez said. "But everyone has different views in how they believe in God or don't. For me, it's OK to wonder and question."

snip

Though she has removed the post from her public Facebook page, McQueen, a member of Apopka City Council since 1996, reaffirmed in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel the accusations that she leveled at Velazquez on the social-media site, where she said Velazquez needs someone to "bring her to Christ."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-apopka-candidate-blasts-opponents-religion-20140226,0,7152046.story

[yuiyoshida]

1. As someone who is

Buddhist, (Jodo Shinshu) I can relate. On a website, I mentioned it, and I was assaulted by various people for belonging to a "Devil Worship cult.." I guess its obvious they don't know anything about it.. and so ignorance wins out.. The thing is, I am not a practicing one as there are not any Japanese style temples in this area. There other Buddhist sects, but I chose not to go.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I once attended alarge public presentation given by the Dalai Lama,

and it was picketed by fundamentalist Christians who thought he was there to try to make converts. The reality, of course, was quite different, and the Fundies were being driven by their own projected paranoid fantasies.

[yuiyoshida]

11. Some of them can get quite

belligerent. They feel threatened that something like this might spread.. I believe they were the same way with Islamic mosques in the country. I have a friend who works at Jewish Family and Children's Services, and they have very high security here. Cameras outside, you have to call before you go in and tell them who you are, and who you wish to see. They will buzz you in. Apparently they have been attacked before, so now the doors have special "bullet proof" glass.

Many of this stuff does not seem like what should be "Christian" behaviour... but I suppose people are taught to fear the unknown and assume for the worse.

[Drew Richards]

9. I love Jodo Shinshu...or as i like to say...do not try to bend the spoon that is impossible...

[yuiyoshida]

10. Sou Ka...

watashi mo!

[gollygee]

2. Anyone who would post that

is the last person I would ever vote for in any election for any position.

Sadly, I am aware that I am in the minority as far as that goes.

[Laelth]

5. Not for long.

Not sure how much exposure you've had to the Millennials and the generation that's following them, but, from what I have seen, they are incredibly and wonderfully tolerant.

-Laelth

[CrispyQ]

4. This actually makes me want to support the heathen candidate.

[Coyotl]

12. Indeed. Not being a Christian is a plus, if that kind of Christian is what being a Christian means.

Plus, the desperation is laughable!

[hobbit709]

6. To me that would be reason to vote for her.

There's an inverse relation between telling everyone how good of a xian you are and how much of one you really are.

[longship]

7. Somebody needs to familiarize her with Article VI.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Her constitutents are probably the type who are suspicious of anyone who can read

a legal document.

[Gendarme]

13. Don't Let Reality Hit Ya On The Way Out, Marilyn Pretentious Two-Name...

In most of the coverage of the story, it was noted that McQueen had many good comments on her Facebook page. It makes sense, since she has a total of three Facebook pages, none of which allow comments unless you're her "friend". This was a perfect metaphor for how she performed her job - only caring about people just like her, and not even wanting to hear from the rest of the town she was supposed to be working for. I'm thrilled that the shrieking harpy will be leaving her lofty perch here in the Podunk she's helped keep from being a better town, but I'm sure she'll fling a sour-grapes tirade or two on her way out. And she'll post more religious memes on her aren't-I-pious pages (with misspellings in most of them, Teabagger-style).

Someone somewhere was considering Christianity. Then they heard from this hillbilly banshee and thought, "um, no". People like her are part of the reason real Christians have an uphill battle convincing the world that they're not a psycho-cult. As long as they allow verbal terrorists like McQueen to be seen as spokesperson, the jury will be either out or back with a guilty verdict.

"Glad to see you go, go, go, go, goodbye." - The Ramones, "Glad To See You Go"

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Nice post. Welcome to DU.