5 Most Absurd Christian Right Claims of Persecution

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/belief/5-most-absurd-christian-right-claims-persecution



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1) Gay people who want to give you their money. The past month or so saw a surge in bills racing through Republican-controlled state legislatures that would dramatically expand the protections for businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation, by basically making illegal for people to sue. Conservatives defended these laws by invoking images of bakers and wedding photographers being forced, over their religious objections, to provide services for same-sex weddings, but the truth is that the laws were broad enough that they would have permitted things like refusing hotel accommodations or restaurant service to people perceived as LGBT.

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2) Johnny Weir’s clothes. Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski made a splash as ice-skating commentators at the Sochi Olympics because of their insight and talent, but their often-coordinated and daring outfits also garnered a ton of positive press. Except, of course, in the right-wing media, where Weir’s willingness to wear bold, fun clothes aggravated Quin Hillyer of the National Review. Feeling oppressed by Weir’s preference for statement jewelry and vintage blazers, Hillyer whined, “The problem is not that he’s homosexual; it’s that he advertises his sexuality to the extent that it makes him (his choice of makeup, jewelry, and extravagant dresses or furs) more of a story than the athletes he is supposed to cover.” As if figure skating is a sartorially somber event with nary a sequin or bright color to be seen. Hillyer also felt oppressed by Michael Sam and Jason Collins being open about their sexuality, as if no straight athlete in history ever dared bring a girlfriend or wife around, much less ogle a cheerleader.

3) Paperwork. Christian conservatives have graduated past arguing that they are oppressed by women using their own insurance to buy contraception and have moved into saying that they’re oppressed by signing paperwork attesting that they feel oppressed by said women. The federal government allows some religiously affiliated organizations to get out of offering health insurance that covers contraception, but they do have to sign a piece of paper granting them that exemption. Some organizations have filed suit, saying the mere fact of the paperwork offends them, because it would allow their employees to get contraception coverage elsewhere. At this point, it’s becoming hard for the right to deny that they seem to think employers have some kind of ownership over their employee’s private sexual choices, and that any tactic, even throwing a fit over signing a piece of paper, is acceptable to keep that ownership. If only we could all argue that simply signing paperwork was some kind of horrible violation of our human rights.

4) Hipsters who think they are so cool. Greg Gutfeld is a “libertarian” and doesn’t hold himself out as a member of the Christian right. But he’s happy to pander to right-wing persecution fantasies anyway, with his new book Not Cool: The Hipster Elite and Their War on You. How are hipsters oppressing conservatives? Apparently, those meanie hipsters are being cool at conservatives and oppressing them by making them feel like they’re maybe not as cool. You may think your Fluevogs and vinyl copy of Chromeo’s new record are just things you like, but apparently, your mere permission of these items persecutes conservatives who prefer to wear Crocs and listen to bro country. Cool people are, according to Gutfeld, destroying America “from within,” because “each day they pass judgment on those who don’t worship at the altar of their coolness.” That, or they aren’t even bothering to spare a thought for their less cool conservative brethren, but ignoring them is probably a form of persecution, too.

[TexasProgresive]

1. As a believer in the redemption of Christ

These claims of persecution make me laugh. There has been persecution of Christians historically and in the present. It really doesn't exist in the U.S. Real Christian persecution is in Iraq now that the US destroyed the secular government. Christian are attacked and the ancient Jewish community has fled to Israel. There are other places where Christian persecution exists. Now THe US is not free of religious persecution, it is just not against Christians but perpetrated by self-styled Christians against Muslims, Sikhs, and just about any other non-Christians.

The Christians who were and are persecuted for their faith are generally not whiners. Ohhh they are all against us. Ohhhh make them stoooppp! No they live their faith and some heroically die for it. Those are the real martyrs. They do not complain and do not try to murder others in an unconscionable act of terror.

When people say that they are persecuted because of their Christian Faith I generally laugh and say, "Really, are they dragging you from your home, tar and feathering you, lighting you on fire to act as a moving street light? No, Then I guess not. Let me know when that's happening."

[1awake]

2. Christians absolutely are still presecuted in this day and age,

Just not so much here in the US... and especially those here on the right. They are a mockery to those actually being persecuted in the world, both Christian and non Christian.

[JoeyT]

3. Christian persecution in the US can largely be boiled down to

"Waaah! They won't let us oppress people we hate without challenge anymore! They're persecuting us!"