Ronn!Blankenship wrote:
> What's fair about the "others" contaminating a symbol I > respect with things > I don't believe in?
Nothing. But then again, there is nothing unfair in it either. It's *their* interpretation of the symbol. You may challenge it if you wish to but that doesn't mean that they are being unfair in interpreting it their way.
> IOW, why should I "fight fair" in > defending the good > aspects of a symbol if others do not fight fair in contaminating it?
Only one reason would make sense: that you believe in fighting fair and do not wish to pattern your behaviour on other people's less than stellar behaviour.
"Nice guys finish last," hunh? ;-)
> Many non-Christians are offended by the use of the > cross as a > symbol (and some Christians are offended by some of the uses > others make of > it because some seem to use it in ways they do not find > respectful of its > meaning)
The use of Om and Vedic Hymns in the orgy scenes of Kubrick's last movie [_Eyes Wide Shut_? Can't recall the name but it was something like that and starred Kidman and Cruise] would fall in the latter example. I recall a lot of people got offended over here.
Yes, that was the title. I did not see that film, so I didn't know about the music used.
> Does that mean that those who believe in those > things and the > positive meanings of those symbols must not display the symbols where > anyone who may be offended (or claim to be "offended") has a > chance of > seeing them (e.g., only display the flag inside one's private > home or wear > a religious symbol under one's street clothes)?
I think that would be silly. Display and interpret any symbol the way you wish to. If others get offended, it is their problem, not yours.
Unfortunately, it may be more than just an issue of "offense": sometimes it may be a safety issue.
For example, a couple of years or so ago in some town in either Kentucky or Tennessee, a man was shot and killed while driving down the street in his truck which had a sticker in the window with the logo of the local high school football team on it, which logo included the Confederate flag. Whether or not the team should change its logo because some people find that flag offensive, should someone have been murdered for having it on his truck?
And then there have been any number of cases when a Jewish boy who wore his yarmulke to school had it ripped off his head and stomped into the ground by a group of bullies who then proceeded to beat him up simply for being different . . .
-- Ronn! :)
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