Dear Brother Blackbird:
Admittedly, your recent postings/activity have illuminated your own personal reflections during your absence from Destee.com.
Upon your return, you have felt compelled to SHARE your "epiphany" with others whom YOU deem to be "guilty" of the same "transgressions" you once participated in yourself.
Now, no, I am not so narcissistic to think that all of your recent posts are "solely inspired by ME."
However, again, ADMITTEDLY, it was MY post in a 22-page thread (started by a Muslim) about cults and false religions referencing Islam that YOU deemed as an "attack" on Islam.
ADMITTEDLY, that post of MINE is what "SPARKED" your MOTIVATION to SHARE your newly discovered CAMPAIGN/"HOLY WAR" against INTOLERANCE.
ADMITTEDLY, it was MY POST, the "FRESHEST in "IN A STRING" of intolerant behaviors you have observed that MOTIVATED you.
*But, I do find it interesting that NONE of those OTHERS along the "STRING" did so; but MINE certainly did.*
However....Brother, yes, you have been gone for some time.
And, now, upon your return, you want to come in, perhaps CHERRY-PICK a few posts and share your thoughts/feelings based on what YOU have observed and deemed as "INTOLERANCE."
Well, I also have some QUESTIONS:
Even applying another of your musings about "right vs wrong," are you not also applying a "supreme absoluteness" to "INTOLERANCE?"
Upon your return here, have you not used some immediate examples to "show and prove" your differentiation between tolerance and intolerance?
Now, these are just questions that came to my mind in light of these recent events.
You don't have to answer them in this forum; but I ask that you please ask/answer them to the best of your ability, even if in private.
But please know, that I do not view you as my "enemy." I very much agree with you that our many differing opinions and views do not and should not define nor shape our respect for each other as a People.
Thank you for your time.
Cherryblossom
Is every thing always broken down into right and wrong?
Black vs. white?
Gods vs. goddesses?
Christianity vs. heathen?
Islam vs. infidel?
Conscious vs. unconscious?
Capitalist vs. Socialist?
Democrat vs. Republican?
Hero vs. sell-out?
Can there ever be multiple answers or paths?
Could Clarence Thomas be as Black-minded as Bro. Chinelo?
Could Alan Keyes be as conscious as Bro. Infometry?
Could Condelezza Rice as nation-building and loving as Sister Destee or Sister Bootzey?
Some people insist on showing and proving but can everything be shown and proven?
Perhaps cherry-picked to fit a certain argument but is supreme absoluteness a reality and even more an ideal?
Some are saying, that Blackbird.... why he come back? He's all about questions, but doesn't want to answer them himself. These are all questions I've asked myself recently. You don't have to answer them publicly in forum, but I ask for you to please ask and answer them to the best of your ability, even if in private.
Thank you for your time.
Sister,
Hopefully, this will not be personalized. I'm not trying to personalize it. However, I will admit what sparked my posting was when you posted something about Islam being a cult. I saw that as an attack against Islam. I will not allow anyone to attack Christianity without saying something either. Yes, I did respond to your post by asking if Christianity was a cult, too. You highlighted some characteristics of a cult and I offered my thoughts on how Christianity fits the bill.....
Sister CherryBlossom,
Don't give yourself so much credit. None of my posts were solely inspired about you. I was very introspected about my own contributions in the past and those of other members, some even recently. I apologize personally to you if it seemed like I targeted you out of the pack. That was definitely not my intention. The only reason why I brought up about the Christian reference to Islam being a cult was that was the freshest incident in a string of intolerance I have either witnessed or participated in myself.
I am not casting stones here. I have no need. I am not without sin.
Oftimes, we approach each other as the enemy because we don't agree with each other or approve of another's tactics. I am just tired of us beating each other down. That goes across the board. How does it benefit us?
I will champion any Black person's efforts to help Black folks regardless of their means because I now understand they are only doing the best we can with what we have or know. That includes me, you and every self-respecting loving Black person. Thank you.
Sister Cherryblossom,
We never have to agree, but what we all deserve is respect. I respect yoou for being you. I love you for who you are. A strong knowledgeable Black woman who stands firm and hard by what she believes. A testament of fortitude. When people can respect each other and their differing positions, an argument elevates to debate and from to dialogue. This is when true unity is achieved even in diversity like the two headed crocodile.