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I don't usually mention God on the DU to respect others beliefs, this is a very rare exception (Original Post) Omaha Steve Dec 2012 OP
Thank you for posting this. It touched me very much. hrmjustin Dec 2012 #1
very moving datasuspect Dec 2012 #32
That is nice my friend. hrmjustin Dec 2012 #36
K&R! sheshe2 Dec 2012 #2
Politics + religion = 9/11 blkmusclmachine Dec 2012 #3
Yes. DavidDvorkin Dec 2012 #8
+1 sarcasmo Dec 2012 #34
Yes---Bushco's worship of Mammon. WinkyDink Dec 2012 #41
That's beautiful, my dear Omaha Steve...n/t CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2012 #4
god, protect me from your followers! yortsed snacilbuper Dec 2012 #5
um.. im sure it wasnt meant likes this but... leftyohiolib Dec 2012 #6
I touch me very much NoOneMan Dec 2012 #7
TMI AlexSatan Dec 2012 #45
The "true nature of giving" has nothing to do with God Mr. Blue Sky Dec 2012 #9
Shouldn't need an invisible cloud being to teach it to you HERVEPA Dec 2012 #10
That's...pretty bad. Brickbat Dec 2012 #11
Am I missing the sarcasm? roody Dec 2012 #12
I have a lot of respect for you Steve but I think that is simply awful... Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #13
K&R. I thank God daily, for many things. No problem saying so. nt Skip Intro Dec 2012 #14
The wars his believers inspire? HERVEPA Dec 2012 #16
Nice to see I'm not... 99Forever Dec 2012 #15
I find this sort of thing ridiculous and offensive. MrSlayer Dec 2012 #17
+1,000! scarletwoman Dec 2012 #18
+1 n/t whatchamacallit Dec 2012 #20
I understand why this was posted. I also understand why it's taking a beating. nomorenomore08 Dec 2012 #19
Very well said. NT Democracyinkind Dec 2012 #27
what crap nt frankroberts Dec 2012 #21
Why not thank the individuals directly? NYC Liberal Dec 2012 #22
Almost as good as the one on Facebook with Santa kneeling at the manger Lex Dec 2012 #23
I remember now why I don't mention God on the DU Omaha Steve Dec 2012 #24
That's some dishonest framing that is beneath you. You did not 'mention God' you Bluenorthwest Dec 2012 #26
I made my reply first thing after I got up Omaha Steve Dec 2012 #29
I understood what you were trying to say, Steve. 11 Bravo Dec 2012 #47
don't let the assholes stop you from posting what you want dlwickham Dec 2012 #39
Some cannot see past their eyes sarisataka Dec 2012 #40
Steve, that is Skidmore Dec 2012 #25
That's some sick shit! GeorgeGist Dec 2012 #28
That is absolutely beautiful. Very deep meaning to me. jwirr Dec 2012 #30
That makes no fucking sense datasuspect Dec 2012 #31
You forgot an image of the Twin Towers, and a black velvet backing. nt msanthrope Dec 2012 #35
oh yes, definitely the twin towers datasuspect Dec 2012 #37
And the metal "cross" support beams. If only I could get the Franklin Mint to put that msanthrope Dec 2012 #42
Yay more praise for the military. Just what we need in this country. white_wolf Dec 2012 #33
God, Santa and the glory of war -- all three. LiberalAndProud Dec 2012 #38
I am losing my faith in humanity tkmorris Dec 2012 #43
While your intentions are good, this image is like Norman Rockwell on nationalistic acid... VOX Dec 2012 #44
I've generally love your posts. I roody Dec 2012 #46
 

leftyohiolib

(5,917 posts)
6. um.. im sure it wasnt meant likes this but...
Sun Dec 2, 2012, 10:43 PM
Dec 2012

this says to me that unless i die in combat for (the u.s. i asume) that im incapable of teaching my daughter the true nature of giving?( maybe not die although that's the impression i get since the person who was in those boot arent anymore) i know this is meant to be uplifting or feel-good and im sure the op meant it that way but i cant help feeling that this is at the expense of those who didnt enlist.

Mr. Blue Sky

(33 posts)
9. The "true nature of giving" has nothing to do with God
Sun Dec 2, 2012, 11:06 PM
Dec 2012

Santa Claus, patriotism or sacrifices by the armed forces. Most people who feel a connection or empathy towards other people are quite capable of giving when the circumstances warrant. "The true nature of giving" can't be taught... it's part of our humanity. To give credit to God, the military or Santa Claus is selling ourselves short.

Luminous Animal

(27,310 posts)
13. I have a lot of respect for you Steve but I think that is simply awful...
Sun Dec 2, 2012, 11:23 PM
Dec 2012

Do we have to drag the military into everything?

99Forever

(14,524 posts)
15. Nice to see I'm not...
Sun Dec 2, 2012, 11:41 PM
Dec 2012

... the only one who finds this graphic to be insulting. Both from the perspective that it glorifies war and that magical beings are required to teach us what the true nature of anything is.

 

MrSlayer

(22,143 posts)
17. I find this sort of thing ridiculous and offensive.
Sun Dec 2, 2012, 11:59 PM
Dec 2012

Santa genuflecting (worshipping?) to the military teaches the true meaning of giving?

The idea that some poor kid dying just to make some rich asshole richer teaches us anything worthwhile is ludicrous. That we should be thanking a supposedly loving deity for teaching us this is offensive.

You probably should have stuck to your original way of doing things.

nomorenomore08

(13,324 posts)
19. I understand why this was posted. I also understand why it's taking a beating.
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 12:13 AM
Dec 2012

In my case, both having had family in the military - including an uncle who died in Vietnam, 17 years before I was born - and believing that nearly every American military engagement post-WWII has been a mistake, I feel an ambivalence toward the subject that can't be captured in soundbites or snark.

Lex

(34,108 posts)
23. Almost as good as the one on Facebook with Santa kneeling at the manger
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 12:23 AM
Dec 2012

with tiny baby Jesus inside. I forget the caption on that one but I missed that part in the Bible where Santa was there.



 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
26. That's some dishonest framing that is beneath you. You did not 'mention God' you
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 09:12 AM
Dec 2012

posted an image in which Santa is bowing to a military alter and words which imply that God supports war and in particular OUR wars while also stating that the only act of giving is to die in a war under command from folks you are coloring with the rights of the divine.
Really self serving to say that was simply 'mentioning God'.

Omaha Steve

(99,071 posts)
29. I made my reply first thing after I got up
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 01:32 PM
Dec 2012

The OP was a simple reminder of those that have died in service to the US at this time of year. Nothing else to me. Santa is a myth. Sorry Virginia. War dead aren't a myth.

I didn't support the invasion for the weapons of mass deception. I do support the troops that go where they are told to serve. I don't believe our country does enough for those in the service. Things have gotten better for them since Obama was elected. Ask Tammy Duckworth.

Besides war dead there are those that die of training accidents. Or simple car accidents. Happened to a friend of mine from high school over 30 years ago in Cuba.

It wasn't intended to imply God supports our wars. There were plenty of endless wars mentioned in the bible. And it was certainly implied god took sides in many of those.

To imply the only true gifts are those in war was certainly not my point. I didn't realize this would be so misunderstood. If I had a Delorean that goes 88 MPH, I'd not make the post.

OS







11 Bravo

(23,922 posts)
47. I understood what you were trying to say, Steve.
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 09:40 PM
Dec 2012

As for those who either don't get it, or simply need to pretend to be offended in order to maintain their "hipper-than-thou" righteous lefty cred, well ... fuck 'em.

sarisataka

(18,220 posts)
40. Some cannot see past their eyes
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 01:59 PM
Dec 2012

I understand your message perfectly. Thank you.

Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.
George S. Patton

Skidmore

(37,364 posts)
25. Steve, that is
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 08:39 AM
Dec 2012

a little much.

Why not a picture of something with symbols of those who give without participating in endless wars? A lot of what makes us free involves prosocial behaviors within our nation--the willingness to reach beyond disagreements to work together for a common good. Being a soldier in the post-Vietnam War era is a choice for a career. It is the same sort of choice that cops, firemen, and EMTs make. The same choice that a teacher, a healthcare worker, a counselor or therapist, or an prosecutor/attorney makes or even the person who walks down a dark street to get to work at a local store. These people all help preserve the social fabric of our nation. This warrior class notion is hyperbole, in my honest opinion. We are all parts of the whole--those who fight on the front lines of education, healthcare, civil rights, or just to keep the utilities running.

Just also want to note that my response is not about you mentioning God but I really cringed at that picture for other reasons, some of which I have articulated above.

 

datasuspect

(26,591 posts)
31. That makes no fucking sense
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 01:47 PM
Dec 2012

they need elvis on horseback in the background plus a crying eagle with the american flag superimposed on its head.

i would love to smack the living shit out of the moran who came up with that.

 

msanthrope

(37,549 posts)
42. And the metal "cross" support beams. If only I could get the Franklin Mint to put that
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 02:08 PM
Dec 2012

on a Collector's Plate--we'd be rich!!

tkmorris

(11,138 posts)
43. I am losing my faith in humanity
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 02:20 PM
Dec 2012

You posted a graphic depicting two myths and a shrine to gratuitously worshiped exploited kids. Worship we usually only engage in BTW because it deflects attention from the sick, perverted ways in which we abuse them. And you think the negative feedback you received is because you were "misunderstood"? Because you "mentioned God"?

Fuck me raw...

VOX

(22,976 posts)
44. While your intentions are good, this image is like Norman Rockwell on nationalistic acid...
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 02:22 PM
Dec 2012

Of course the sacrifices of our troops everywhere are appreciated, sometimes beyond words.

But an image that merges Santa Claus with war and death, AND the flag? Sorry, but it's a vulgarity on multiple levels. In fact, it cheapens the contributions of those who gave everything.

roody

(10,849 posts)
46. I've generally love your posts. I
Mon Dec 3, 2012, 09:31 PM
Dec 2012

firmly believe in the separation of church and state. My now right-wing fundamentalist wacko dad used to believe in it too. The photo blends church and state.

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