Friday, June 17, 2016

I Didn't Say It ...

President Obama, on Orlando:

"In the face of hate and violence, we will love another. We will not give in to fear or turn against each other. Instead, we will stand united, as Americans, to protect our people, and defend our nation, and to take action against those who threaten us."

And that’s why he’s our President.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, accepting a Tony award last Sunday, talking history and Orlando:

“When senseless acts of tragedy reminds us that nothing here is promised. Not one day, This show is proof that history remembers, we live through times when hate and fear seem stronger, we rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer....Love is love is love is love is love is love is love, and love cannot be killed or swept aside. Fill the world with music, love and pride.”

Don’t let evil win; don’t let hatred rule the day.
Love is love is love is love …
Anderson Cooper, interviewing anti-LGBT Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi about Orlando:

 “Do you really think you’re a champion of the gay community? You used language accusing gay people of seeking to do harm to the people of Florida. You argued that in court. The hotline that you’ve been talking about on television, which allows family members and spouses of the dead to get information…had there been no gay marriage, you do realize that there would be no spouses. Isn’t there a sick irony in that? Isn’t there a sick irony that you, for years, were fighting that very idea?”

Andy, my Husband-In-My-Head, taking no prisoners and holding Pam Bondi accountable for her hate.
Frank Langella, accepting a Tony award last Sunday, on Orlando:

"When something bad happens, we have three choices: we let it define us, we let it destroy us, or we let it strengthen us. Today in Orlando we had a hideous dose of reality. "I urge you Orlando to be strong because I'm standing in a room of the most generous humans on Earth and we will be with you every step of the way." 

We all stand together against hate.
Jim Himes, Democratic Congressman from Connecticut, on "thoughts and prayers" for the dead:

"I will not attend one more 'Moment of Silence' on the Floor. Our silence does not honor the victims, it mocks them. The 'Moments of Silence' in the House have become an abomination. God will ask, 'How did you keep my children safe?' Silence."

Finally, someone who realizes that a quick ‘Amen’ will not solve anything.
Robert Lynch, the Catholic bishop of St. Petersburg, Florida, on Orlando:

“Our founding parents had no knowledge of assault rifles, which are intended to be weapons of mass destruction. In crafting the Second Amendment … which I affirm, they thought only of the most awkward of pistols and heavy shotguns. I suspect they are turning in their graves if they can but glimpse what their words now protect. It is long past time to ban the sale of all assault weapons … If one is truly pro-life, then embrace this issue also and work for the elimination of sales to those who would turn the weapons on innocents. Second, sadly it is religion, including our own, that targets, mostly verbally, and often breeds contempt for gays, lesbians and transgender people. Attacks today on LGBT men and women often plant the seed of contempt, then hatred, which can ultimately lead to violence. Those women and men who were mowed down Sunday were all made in the image and likeness of God. We teach that. We should believe that. We must stand for that. … Third, responding by barring people of Muslim faith from entering the country solely because of their stated religion until they can be checked out is un-American, even in these most challenging of times and situations. There are as many good, peace-loving and God-fearing Muslims to be found as Catholics or Methodists or Mormons or Seventh-day Adventists. The Devil and Devilish intent escape no religious iteration. Will we ever learn?”

What a breath of fresh air to  hear a Catholic bishop lay some of the blame for this kind of hate at his religion's own feet.

5 comments:

  1. I am glad to see at least some bishops following the lead of Pope Francis when it comes to treating human beings as human beings.

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  2. Lots of good thoughts. :-)

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  3. Papa Frankie could do a lot worse than propose Bishop Lynch for canonisation even while the latter is still alive. The required miracle is before is - a Catholic Bishop speaking sense! Anyway, isn't it about time we had a Saint Robert? - or even a Saint Bob ;-)

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  4. I believe in the decency of the majority; it is the selfish minority who, by default, allow those lacking basic decency to get away with their hatred. Why should one man (or woman's) hatred and desire to kill anyone who stands in their way or fails to agree with their ideology be able to so easily access weapons of mass destruction?

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  5. Oh, Bob, thanks so much for sharing all these messages of enlightenment, hope, love, intelligence... I needed to be reminded that the ignorant are not the only ones with voices.

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Say anything, but keep it civil .......