Soapboxing

It has come to my attention that I needed a place to vent about the world. I don't mean the little things like the kids on the bus who won't move to the back (seriously, why is it always so difficult?) or the tool at McDonalds who complains loudly about the slow service after getting in a line 20 people deep (because THAT's going to move the line faster buddy). No, I needed a place to vent about religion and politics mostly. Ok, yes and the occasional McDouche.

What sparked my sudden need for a soapbox? Well many things, but mainly Rob Ford being elected as the new mayor of Toronto and this article about burning down homes

It's not so much the fact that Rob Ford is mayor that irks me (actually that does irk me...) as much as it is the people who live to complain about it. Yes, I've found it quite clear that (sadly) Rob Ford has little regard for developing community services, effective transit (sorry bicyclists) or the arts, fortunately he is only one man, and fortunately he's been elected the mayor of Toronto, not the leader of the free world. Also fortunate for us, we had the opportunity to vote and elect representatives from our neighbourhoods to champion homeless shelters, Transit City and Caribana.

So until I see where the gravy train actually stops, I will have to postpone my judgments on Rob Ford's reign for another day.

Now about those assholes in Tennessee.

Full disclosure: I consider myself a Christian. Not just a "Sunday Christian" but a full fledged, realistic, functioning, everyday Christian. Sometimes we use inappropriate language when irked (like calling someone well deserving of it, asshole) and you should know we are all different. We all have different takes on what the Bible says, and we all have different interpretations on how we should live our lives.

Ok perhaps "asshole" is a strong word here, but I must completely disagree with the sentiment.

As a Christian, I've been raised to help those on the fringe. People in need, those who don't belong, and even the "heathens".

I'm not going to lie and say helping the people on the outskirts is easy, because it's not. It's difficult to look at someone who is so incredibly different from you, and offer assistance, even if it's just an ear to listen, or the seat next you.

Sure $75 dollars seems fair in the grand scheme of things to have the fire department give you a hand if your house is burning down. We pay for ambulance rides, it only makes sense, especially in a small rural area. What really irks me, is this quote in the article

[...] Christians who believe the house should have been saved have “fallen prey to a weakened, feminized version of Christianity."

What this quote says to me is "because you have compassion for another human being AND because you are Christian you are a lesser Christian", the best part of the quote is the use of "feminized" to diminish the value of the noun.

I'm not even going to further address the Feminist issues within the quote, as that's a whole other rant for a whole other day.

I am going to address the rest however. I believe (and I'm sure many others do too, although my father may disagree) that the sentiment of Christianity is not about being hardcore and all tough-love. The sentiment is love, forgiveness, compassion. If it wasn't 2am, I might have even thrown in some supporting Bible quotes for you, however I will leave you with Galations 5:22-23 which comes to mind

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

This particular passage (taken from Paul's letter to the Galations) implies that as Christians we are to embody those 9 "fruits of the spirit" (which are not multiple choice btw), among which we do not find fairness nor tough-love.

I hope that was somewhat coherent for a 2am rambling...