- Feb 28, 2009
- 19,373
- 5,583
Dear TruetotheCause:
(I only posted this in the Women's Forum so as not to detract/derail the other thread any more. This is my letter to you in hopes/aims to reach a better understanding of each other. We're both mature, intelligent Black women with different opinions/ideologies, but I'm sure we can “touch and agree” where we can and “agree to disagree” where we can not.)
First, I give you my appreciation for taking the time to respond to me by video. Yes, so often, the written word on a screen can be misinterpreted in context and, especially, INTENT. Very often, “Perception is Reality.” So, I do sincerely value your efforts in seeking to clarify any misconstrued perception on my part.
However, with that being said, I still must address/respond to some points you mentioned in your earlier posts and by video. Now, one thing we DO seem to have in common is a nature to “shoot straight from the hip” and not “bite our tongues.” So, since I am not able to respond to you by video so you can see me and my mannerisms/body language/or facial expressions, I do hope you receive my thoughts in a peaceful manner and not in any way combative either. This letter is my sincere attempt to also “clear the air” between us.
But, first, here's a little background: I made my first post here on 04/01 in the “Front Porch” introducing myself at 8:15 AM. My 2nd post was explaining my chosen screen name. Then, I discovered the Poetry Forum and made several comments there and made a few posts in the “Domestic Violence” thread as well as others across the board.
In NONE of those posts did I mention anything about Christianity nor did I state my religious affiliation in any way. In fact, I had been posting ALL DAY.
So, your conclusion that I ran straight to the Christianity forum is incorrect.
Later that night, about 10: 15 PM, I found the Christianity sub-forum and started a thread there. And THAT'S when all hell broke loose! LOL!
Now, here is my understanding of the relationship between me and you thus far...
1.You read my responses in the Christianity forum and decided that I came onto the site “waving my Christian banner.” Now, “banner waving” is an expression that, for me, would connote that I went ALL over the board proclaiming Christianity, that I introduced Christianity into EVERY post I made, in every thread I responded to. However, I think that description/judgement of me is an unfair assessment. Yes, I entered a forum set aside for Christians and defended my right to be there and my stance that others who were not Christian should stay out. But, YOU, upon seeing my exchanges there decided to “cut me a wide path.” And, then, when I responded in the “Christian Testimonies” thread, that too, was, seemingly, even more proof for YOU that I was “waving my banner.”
And, yes, rightly or wrongly, I took your initial response to me as “combative.” And, the rest, like they say “is history;” thus, here we are now.
2. Because I did receive/perceive your comments as “combative,” I then responded with a slight “chip on my shoulder.”
Now, you say that your premise for responding to me was to point out to me the “interesting” fact that the religion of Christianity, by its very teachings, is one of “superiority” because of the Bible verse “No one cometh unto the Father but my me.” And, yes, that is what it teaches; but I did not speak to YOU anything specific about Christianity.
So, I felt like you were, in a passive-aggressive way, “attacking” me through your statements about Christianity. The question in MY mind was “Why is she speaking of that?...Why did she go there?”
Now, because Christianity is not the ONLY religion which espouses “superiority,” I felt like your comments were a side-ways assault on me, so to speak. Other religions also intimate, if not overtly assert, that THEIR religion is the only way and that others are outside “The Truth.” So, yeah, I thought you were being “catty.”
And after I read your comments about the “banner” and the “shield,” then I REALLY felt like “Yeah, this lady has a problem with me from the GATE and she's not gonna be receptive to anything I say because I'm a Christian.”
So, there it all is.
But, I do hope from this point on that we can converse and dialogue without feeling that our respective faith beliefs must place an impregnable “shield” or an impassable DIVIDE between us.
Sincerely,
Cherry Blossom.
(I only posted this in the Women's Forum so as not to detract/derail the other thread any more. This is my letter to you in hopes/aims to reach a better understanding of each other. We're both mature, intelligent Black women with different opinions/ideologies, but I'm sure we can “touch and agree” where we can and “agree to disagree” where we can not.)
First, I give you my appreciation for taking the time to respond to me by video. Yes, so often, the written word on a screen can be misinterpreted in context and, especially, INTENT. Very often, “Perception is Reality.” So, I do sincerely value your efforts in seeking to clarify any misconstrued perception on my part.
However, with that being said, I still must address/respond to some points you mentioned in your earlier posts and by video. Now, one thing we DO seem to have in common is a nature to “shoot straight from the hip” and not “bite our tongues.” So, since I am not able to respond to you by video so you can see me and my mannerisms/body language/or facial expressions, I do hope you receive my thoughts in a peaceful manner and not in any way combative either. This letter is my sincere attempt to also “clear the air” between us.
But, first, here's a little background: I made my first post here on 04/01 in the “Front Porch” introducing myself at 8:15 AM. My 2nd post was explaining my chosen screen name. Then, I discovered the Poetry Forum and made several comments there and made a few posts in the “Domestic Violence” thread as well as others across the board.
In NONE of those posts did I mention anything about Christianity nor did I state my religious affiliation in any way. In fact, I had been posting ALL DAY.
So, your conclusion that I ran straight to the Christianity forum is incorrect.
Later that night, about 10: 15 PM, I found the Christianity sub-forum and started a thread there. And THAT'S when all hell broke loose! LOL!
Now, here is my understanding of the relationship between me and you thus far...
1.You read my responses in the Christianity forum and decided that I came onto the site “waving my Christian banner.” Now, “banner waving” is an expression that, for me, would connote that I went ALL over the board proclaiming Christianity, that I introduced Christianity into EVERY post I made, in every thread I responded to. However, I think that description/judgement of me is an unfair assessment. Yes, I entered a forum set aside for Christians and defended my right to be there and my stance that others who were not Christian should stay out. But, YOU, upon seeing my exchanges there decided to “cut me a wide path.” And, then, when I responded in the “Christian Testimonies” thread, that too, was, seemingly, even more proof for YOU that I was “waving my banner.”
And, yes, rightly or wrongly, I took your initial response to me as “combative.” And, the rest, like they say “is history;” thus, here we are now.
2. Because I did receive/perceive your comments as “combative,” I then responded with a slight “chip on my shoulder.”
Now, you say that your premise for responding to me was to point out to me the “interesting” fact that the religion of Christianity, by its very teachings, is one of “superiority” because of the Bible verse “No one cometh unto the Father but my me.” And, yes, that is what it teaches; but I did not speak to YOU anything specific about Christianity.
So, I felt like you were, in a passive-aggressive way, “attacking” me through your statements about Christianity. The question in MY mind was “Why is she speaking of that?...Why did she go there?”
Now, because Christianity is not the ONLY religion which espouses “superiority,” I felt like your comments were a side-ways assault on me, so to speak. Other religions also intimate, if not overtly assert, that THEIR religion is the only way and that others are outside “The Truth.” So, yeah, I thought you were being “catty.”
And after I read your comments about the “banner” and the “shield,” then I REALLY felt like “Yeah, this lady has a problem with me from the GATE and she's not gonna be receptive to anything I say because I'm a Christian.”
So, there it all is.
But, I do hope from this point on that we can converse and dialogue without feeling that our respective faith beliefs must place an impregnable “shield” or an impassable DIVIDE between us.
Sincerely,
Cherry Blossom.
