Imagine for a second Blake really is innocent

[Jesus Saves]

He had to spend every dime he had, millions, to keep himself out of prison.

I guess he can write a book.

(I'm not saying he's guily, it's just that no one can say with metaphysical certainty that he is innocent. Legally he is innocent.)

[lenidog]

1. Its rather easy for me to do that

cause I really didn't follow all that closely and I just know the bare bones. The only famous case I can say one way or another was the OJ Trial and that was after I read Vincent Bugliosi's book that I can say whether they were guilty or not.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jdj]

3. I went to a website yesterday called "jewlicious".

I thought that was cute.

[imenja]

4. why?

It's his view. There is no saying you need to adopt it. I imagine some don't like the Rosetti painting that is my avatar either. Big deal. To each his own.

[lenidog]

6. Exactly

Just keep moving and ignore it if it bothers you. Someone may have a problem with me having a Godzilla avatar.

[mike_c]

8. I find it offensive, so I respectfully pointed that out to the poster....

It grates on me everytime I see it. I am NOT a christian and I do not like much of what chrisitianity does in the world. That screen name and sig pic are as annoying as "Bush/Cheney 2008" and their smiling faces are, IMO. I am happy to discuss religious topics whenever anyone wants to post on them, but I do not appreciate having EVERY appearance of that particular poster rubbing his religiosity in my non-believing face. DU is a diverse community-- that sort of evangelizing is just bad manners here, IMO.

[imenja]

10. but you need to realize people have differing views

This is not a state institution. It's a private forum. If you find it offensive, you may just need to deal with that. The first amendment and progressive principles of tolerance mean that we need to respect the views of others. His post is not directed at you. It is merely a reflection of his own views. Now if he said something like unbelievers are damned, god hates fags, or atheists are sinners, then I'd be with you 100%.

[mike_c]

11. I understand that, and was simply making MY views known....

And as far as I'm concerned, the statement "Jesus Saves" is cut from the same cloth as "unbelievers are damned, god hates fags, or atheists are sinners." Again, I repectfully object to having his religiosity waved in my face everytime I see one of his posts.

[imenja]

13. that's cool

making your views known is good. And while I myself am Christian, I respect your views. I never impose my religion on anyone. I myself wouldn't have such a screen name, but I'm generally a heathen. Actually, my screen name could have brought me up before the Portuguese inquisition in the 17th-18th centuries. Imenja is the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea.

[Jesus Saves]

14. Don't allow the right wing

to control your mind.

[Floogeldy]

15. Why do you always make a bunch of shit up?

What makes you think Mike doesn't realize that people have differing views? He obviously realizes that.

Did Mike say this is a state institution?

Did he say it was not private?

If you're so big on the First Amendment and tolerance, why are you ragging on Mike for stating his opinion, instead of tolerating it?

I'm so LMFAO at you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

}(

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Floogeldy]

20. Admin knows you called me an asshole before you edited your post

[imenja]

21. okay, so they know

I thought better of it and changed it. If you don't want to be called one, don't act like it.

[Jesus Saves]

22. It appears you are serious

And here I was about to give you major props for true nuanced piece of artistic sarcasm.

Bummer.

[Jesus Saves]

19. What about her point of view?

Oh jeez - I guess we all have to agree all the time.

}(

I actually read your post as sarcasm. But if it was, it was right on that line, where you're not sure if it's sarcasm or not.

[imenja]

24. he's mad because I don't want to see Nancy Grace executed

and is still carrying a grudge over that. It wasn't sarcasm. Apparently differences of opinion are unacceptable to some.

[wtmusic]

5. dude, that's about as innocuous as it gets

a screen name like jesus_is_a_lie is *not* analogous to Jesus_Saves. One is an attack, another is a belief.

Bigotry, intolerance and oppression were not Jesus' contribution to the religion, and no one is "rubbing anyone's nose" in anything. It's a big tent party.

BTW, I'm an atheist too.

[imenja]

7. good for you

I so appreciate your comments. I wish more DU atheists felt as you do. :yourock:

[mike_c]

12. no, in fact I do *believe* that jesus is a lie--

Using it the way Jesus Saves uses his belief as a screen name *would* be an attack, and I suggest that "Jesus Saves" is an equivalent attack on the beliefs of non-christians that jesus does no such thing.

[wtmusic]

17. fine, and I *believe* you're far too sensitive

if you consider "Jesus_Saves" to be an attack (unless your Mom was run over by a truck driven by Billy Graham or something).

Wasn't it you who brought up the word "intolerance"...?

[mike_c]

23. you're arguing by indirection now....

I was in fact raised in a fundamentalist christian household, which is perhaps the near equivalent to having one's mom run over by Billy Graham. Nonetheless, I've tried to make the point that I'm quite willing to discuss religious beliefs respectfully, and I'm happy to extend anyone the freedom to believe anything they wish-- I simply ask that they not evangelize in such a way that every appearance is an act of prosthelyzation.

[Jesus Saves]

26. An individual often brings their own preconceptions

and experiences to an idea or concept, or even to something as simple as a screen name.

I respectfully suggest that you open your mind a bit, and realize that words and concepts can mean different things to different people.

[Jesus Saves]

9. Look at this way

It's all about democracy.

A little cross pollination of ideas never hurt anyone.

I assume we're all free thinking intelligent adults here, living in a democracy.

on edit: I had to ixnay the 'healthy' democracy comment

[mike_c]

25. OK, I see that despite my comments being phrased respectfully...

...they have been deleted, presumably because someone wanted them censored. I'll not bring the matter up again. That doesn't change the degree to which I find "Jesus Saves" offensive to non-christians.

[Jesus Saves]

27. for the record

I have not alerted on a single post here on DU.

And actually I wish your post was not deleted.

[mike_c]

28. I appreciate that it was not you....

But it's clear that someone felt the easiest way to prevent my concerns from being addressed was simply to have them deleted.

[imenja]

29. that's wrong

your post should not have been deleted.

And frankly I don't think mine should have either. I can't respond to personal attacks but it's okay for someone else to make them. Though I can see a reason for mine being deleted. There is NO reason that yours should have been.

[alwynsw]

18. I figure he's as innocent as OJ. n/t

[Moderator]

30. locking

The thread is too full of back and forth snipes and personal attacks to be constructive to anyone.

Thanks for your consideration.

DU Mod