Richard says I get far too worked up when I talk with people on social media.

Perhaps he is correct.

This morning a student from more than a decade ago posted about how people shouldn’t mock religion because his being religious doesn’t affect anyone.

I read it…  thought about it… and responded as follows:

 

 

Comments

 

 

Will I ever learn?

 

The following hour long conversation began.  I blocked out the name of the other person because I don’t even know who s/he is…  but I pasted the comments exactly.

 

Why so much anger?  Why couldn’t there just be a conversation?

 

COMMENTER:   Um how are out beliefs pushed on you thru government? If I’m not mistaken it’s y’all that have taken God and prayer outta school. This country was built by religious men and on the basis of God, that’s what made this country great. You don’t like it move to the Middle East and then talk about people imposing/forcing their beliefs on them.

 

 

Tamara Hanford Scholtz There are restrictions placed on body through religion. I am not allowed to buy a car on a Sunday (or Saturday depending on the dealer’s choices) , based on religion. I am not allowed to buy alcohol on a Sunday based on religion. I do pledge “under God” in school every day based on religion. I’m not sure why you’re angry with me. I didn’t say that I was angry with religion. I said that religious laws do affect me. I also don’t choose to move to the Middle East if I am unhappy with decisions made by my government. I love the government and The Constitution of the United States. That Constitution does not say “If you don’t like it leave.” It says, to paraphrase, If you don’t like it, you should go through the appropriate steps to amend.

And just to clarify… God and prayer are still VERY MUCH in schools. Prayer is said during graduations and at baccalaureate. There are organized religious groups in schools including FCA and STAND. It’s just that the schools themselves cannot be the organizers of those religious groups unless we chose to do one for ALL of the religions in our school, not just Christianity. Just last year, my students got together in a group before their AP test and held hands and prayed to God for His support. I thought it was lovely.

 

COMMENTER:

Again the constitution was based upon religion which this country was built off of. Sunday can’t buy a car and no alcohol till noon is not based on religion. There are car lots open on Sunday. My frustration is the fact that in schools kids have gotten in trouble over prayer. God had been taken out of everything and God is what this great nation was founded on. For you or anyone else to try and change that it means to change the nation. So go change someone else’s nation that doesn’t like it the way it was.

 

Tamara Hanford Scholtz But the Constitution doesn’t mention God except in a date. “The year of our lord.” God is not mentioned anywhere else. Please prove me wrong if I am.

And you are right… car lots have to choose a Saturday or Sunday based on religion. It’s called a Blue Law. No alcohol is also religion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_laws_in_the_United_States. I am glad that you have learned to trust in the one true lord. I am glad that you have accepted Christ as your lord and savior. I am happy to know that you will spend your eternity in heaven. I simply said that religion does affect laws. That is a fact. Kent’s post said religion doesn’t affect me. I said it does. That’s all. I am sorry I have upset you. Go in peace.

 

 

 

COMMENTER: You must ride the short bus. Religion doesn’t say a car lot has to choose what day it’s open. It’s the owners decision. Just like chick fillet chooses to be closed on Sunday and McDonalds is open everyday.

 

Tamara Hanford Scholtz I’m sorry. You are incorrect. It is a “blue law” in Texas. Car lot owners have to choose Saturday or Sunday. http://www.autonews.com/…/the-battle-over-sunday-sales. They may not be open both days according to state law. This is called a “blue law” which is based on religion. I am not unintelligent. I appreciate your passion, but I’m sorry you chose to result to insult in a discussion.

 

 

COMMENTER:  You’ve missed the short bus again. You have options other states in this country have open lots on Sunday. Texas issue was with car lots and banks not being able to perform business since banks are closed on Sunday’s.

 

Meme in which he called me a “retard.”
get your friends back home safely please.

 

 

Tamara Hanford Scholtz So you are saying the articles that I posted above are incorrect? Thank you. Can you point me to a source which will show me that religion is not a factor. The two articles I posted say that it is. I realize that Wikipedia is not always a reliable source. I would be interested to see your source as well.

Tamara Hanford Scholtz This one indicates some of the reasoning may have changed: https://www.texastribune.org/…/why-cant-i-buy-a-car-or…/

 

 

 

Here’s the thing.  Wouldn’t it be great if that could have just been a learning experience for both of us?  Wouldn’t it be nice if I could have talked about how I felt and that individual could have explained how s/he felt without getting so emotional?

I’m sure I probably came off as smug.  I tried to remain kind, controlled, empathetic, understanding.  I mean, really… does it TRULY affect me that car dealerships have to choose a day of the week?  Not really… That’s not what my argument was about.

My REAL argument was that government shouldn’t try to tell people which restrooms they can use and I don’t like bakeries telling people they won’t make a cake for them…and s/he knew that was my real argument… deep down inside…and s/he vehemently disagrees with me.

For the commenter… I KNOW that his/her real argument was that we would go down a slippery slope if we lose our moral compass.  S/he truly believes that acceptance is bad for the country and for his/her family and is concerned about what will happen as the country becomes less and less religious as a whole.

So… I mean… I get it.  I understand where s/he was coming from.  I just disagree.

This is what I wonder… is it better to ignore or is it better to engage?  This morning, the conversation did nothing.  It helped nothing.  Should I continue to have those kind of conversations?  I don’t know.