Ideas and People

There is a tendency in all of us to make the mistake of thinking that other people are like us. We question other people's actions, beliefs, choices, and opinions based on our own perceptions of the world. It is tough enough to deal with this form of projection sometimes, but add religion into the mix, and the problem becomes big and bold, often with the added touch that a deity approves of whatever is being judged.

In what is supposedly a free society that allows individuals to govern their lives as long as they are not interfering with others, it can be downright impossible to have a discussion about some beliefs and actions. Religion clouds the vision, snaps a chalk line on the ground and says one side is right, the other wrong with no nuance, and creates the illusion of some objective truth that is manifest to all.

One of the confusions I've seen is the way we treat an idea versus how we treat a person.

In the news lately there is great deal of chatter about respecting the flag. The flag is a great symbol. But it is just that. It is a symbol. It is not a being that is due any respect. There is a great tradition of freedom of expression concerning the flag: flying it upside-down, burning it, stepping on it. I may not agree with the reasons for the gesture, but I respect the person's freedom to protest in this way. Their treatment of the flag actually does not hurt anyone. We would have to evaluate the rest of their speech to see if there is some incitement to violence against people, but the flag treatment in and of itself does not produce any harm - except to some people's ideas about the way the world works.

Maybe it is because I left religion a long time ago, but to me there is nothing that is "sacred." No idea or symbol is due any respect just because someone says so.

On a side note, the people who are all about "respecting the flag" often don't know protocol about displaying the flag. I see all kinds of abuse of the flag that people seem unaware of.

Some people think the fact that football players are taking a knee in protest does cause harm. It disrespects members of the armed forces and first responders. This is ludicrous. It really has nothing to do with this at all. It is an idea that exists in some people's minds and they have no right to impose it on others. I would actually argue that illegal wars and underfunding the military and emergency agencies disrespects them much more than anything you can do to the flag, but hey, silly me!

The people uttering these platitudes, in many cases, don't seem to mind real harm being done to real humans - humans losing their lives in some arrest gone wrong, armed militia pointing guns at federal agents who are doing their jobs (Bundy family, anyone?), people denying others the right to marry the person of their choice... and we can go on.

For people that hold this view, the claim is that they are practicing their religion or that these are their beliefs. First off, what religion is being practiced by denying LGBTQ folks their rights? What part of your religious service is that? Assuming this is just your belief that this is wrong, does that grant you the right to automatically act on your belief?

This is flawed thinking: "disrespecting the flag" does no real harm - except to your idea of the way the world works - and "disrespecting people" does real harm, even if you disagree with them.