Should I be offended by what I saw yesterday afternoon?

[Jamastiene]

I was coming out of the grocery store. I saw this van pull out and happened to notice a sign on the door. You know how businesses post signs on the doors of their company vehicles? Well this sign looked like a picture of the Ten Commandments. Normally, I wouldn't think much of it, but Judge Roy Moore did speak here last year. I live in a red state. The sign had no words on it, just the picture of two tablets with Roman Numerals 1-5 on one and 6-10 on the other one.

Maybe I am just being paranoid. I hate living in a red state. I see too much and hear too much preaching about how George Bush should never be questioned. Who would have thought that someone who was born in the United States could be called "unAmerican?" If someone had told me that 10 years ago, I would have thought they were crazy.

[babylonsister]

1. And ironically, they probably think you're unAmerican. Go figure. nt

[Olney Blue]

2. Was there a guy driving it with a staff and long hair?

[RagingInMiami]

3. At least you know where you DON'T want to spend your money

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Why would you be offended?

THat person was exercising free speech using their vehicle....it's not a courthouse lawn.

Hang in there. Keep believing and knowing that you ARE an American :hi:

[aquaman]

16. No doubt....

No offense should be taken, you may not agree but this is America, kinda.

[EST]

5. As much pain is introduced into the world

when one takes offense as when one gives offense.

[QC]

6. Should a conservative be offended by a Kerry sticker?

If one was, I would consider him/her a bit over sensitive. Free speech sometimes means speech we personally do not like. That's the way it works.

[napi21]

7. No, of course not. If you don't like it don't look at it. That's what I

say when someone criticizes a sign on my car (it was a Howard Dean sign).

[Sparkly]

8. If it was a company vehicle

I'd just make a mental note not to do business with that company. (I realize I'm cancelled out by others who'd make a mental note TO do business with that company.)

I don't like proselytizing in commercial transactions, myself.

And I know all such things tend to carry heavier messages now -- certainly a far different message than back in the days of "GodSpell" and "My Sweet Lord" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Jesus is Just All Right With Me" and all those things. That message was peace and love; unfortunately, I'm suspicious of public preaching now, like decals on cars, because it strikes me as part of an attempt to merge religion with commerce AND with politics. So if you're too sensitive, so am I. I don't know if I'm "offended" as much as leery. And I imagine for many Christians it must be difficult -- it's similar to what this cabal has done to the American flag (loaded it with rhetoric and given it a bad image).

[Poppyseedman]

9. Let my understand this ???

You were offended by a van with a sign that looked like a picture of the Ten Commandments on the door ?

Nobody made you look at the sign, called you a sinner, preached at you, made you feel bad or slighted, threw a bible at you or came to your car door asking if you were going to hell if you didn't repent and accept Jesus.

You were simply offended by seeing it at a grocery store?

May I recommend, ever so gently to, get a grip or move!

[Minnesota Libra]

10. In a red state the sign probably referred to Bush but it would......

......be hard to prove that if there were no words on the sign. If you said anything and he/she was a neocon they woul yell all the way to the USSC too. We know how stacked that place is for the next few decades don't we??

Heaven knows I understand what you mean about this one. "Who would have thought that someone who was born in the United States could be called "unAmerican?"

You know, life in the US these days reminds me in some ways of 1930 Nazi, Germany, and in other ways of Joe McCarthy and his "UnAmerican Activities" investigations. Just think we've got another two years or so of this crap too.:wtf:

[pretzel4gore]

11. during the oscars, jon stewart had a satire of the criticism

of 'brokeback mountain' by running a series of clips from old westerns containing obviously homoerotic scenes: one scene contained a clip of a oiled and sculpted charleston heston (the rightwing hero) laying shirtless on a bed and talking to another cowboy by the door...stewart later said heston got the toned physique as 'moses' when god had given him tablets containing '20 commandments'! hahaha. the joke seems to have gone over like a lead ballon, cuz i haven't heard anything about it, but the rightwing mediawhores right on cue all dismissed stewart's work and mocked the oscar winners etc....the person you saw displaying the 10 commandment probably doesn't know there are 10 commandments for good people, but thousands of commandments for hypocrites, liars, bullyboys and mass murderers like the gopigs and mediawhores and phony xians who think the 10 commandments can be used to intimidate like a swastika or the jolly roger

[Jamastiene]

13. Why can't all people see things like you do?

I heard him make that joke too.

Re: the sign on the door and what it REALLY meant... In a nutshell, you nailed it with words I couldn't express. Thank you.

[pretzel4gore]

19. one commandment is to 'not take the name of lord in vain'

regardless of what the displayer intended, in georgebushamerica showing something not usually displayed in such a time and place says intimidation, even if unintended. anyone knows anything about religion, theology and soon knows that people have been killed for saying things the wrong way in certain societies at certain times - galileo famously ran into this when he confronted popular perception of how the universe worked; popular perception being managed by some rather narrow minded doods, whom today jokes are made of. nevertheless you were right-if you displayed the hammer and sickle on your window, undoubtedly you would feel pressure to remove it, cuz there are people who think their world is under attack, so they think they are 'fighting back' by vainly doing what they are doing
btw the almost unanimous disagreement with your concern we see here says some DUers need time in a reeducation camp (just a friendly suggestion :)) correct thinking needs correct posture as miss gundy once said

[Jamastiene]

22. So true.

I have no problem when people display crosses, bumper stickers with a simple nonpolitical mention of "God" or "Jesus" per se, but the sign in question has been a hot button issue because of the Judge Roy Moore case and has never been used quite the same way before from what I have seen. Had the sign been something of a more peaceful loving tone, like for instance, had it said "Jesus Is Love" I wouldn't have had to ask the question. That would obviously NOT be offensive, but the Ten Commandments displayed in this particular way in a red state leaves me wondering. Are they preaching to the choir or are they trying to offend those of us who don't agree with what Judge Roy Moore did down in Alabama? That is why I asked the question.

What you said about the unanimous disagreement is so true, btw. It amazes me how in some cases on DU, I see an attitude that is quick to judge as opposed to asking for clarification first. Thank you for your positive response.

[Peanutcat]

12. Why should you be offended

OR paranoid? Did they do something to you? Say something? Look at you funny? What? Have they really gotten you THAT scared you're seeing plots everywhere? I'm not getting what your problem is.

[Freedom_Aflaim]

14. Do you need someone to tell you what to be offended at ?

Generally its pretty clear to me when Im offended.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

15. Maybe it was a delivery van for "Moses' Appliance Outlet"

Where THOU SHALT NOT PAY HIGHER PRICES IS COMMANDMENT NUMBER ONE!!!!!

[RB TexLa]

17. No, why would you?

It's just someone putting their beliefs on display in a public yet non threating way. I don't wear mine on my sleeve, but if they aren't condemning people to hell through a bullhorn, I'd just say "oh, the Ten Commandments, hope they got the order right." And even if they are a fundie, not all fundies push it in your face, I have worked and known some that were way, way out there, and had many a stimulating debate with them. I have seen the ones shouting through the bullhorn, I just ignore them.

[NuttyFluffers]

18. nah, perhaps they give guided tours of the holy land

must be a pain driving over the ocean, though. :+

[Peanutcat]

20. HEY!

You gonna tell us why you thought you should be offended at what you saw or are you just gonna leave us hanging?

[Jamastiene]

21. I asked a question.

I did not know whether or not the intention of the sign was to offend people who did not agree with Judge Roy Moore, who put the Ten Commandments on government property in Alabama. I merely asked a question.

[Peanutcat]

23. I still don't know why anyone would be offended

I'm not offended by merely seeing anything religious like that; it's when they try and put there religious stuff where it doesn't belong, like in public schools or govenment property, is when it offends me. Just seeing it on the side of a truck or posted in someone's own yard I don't give a fig about.