February 14, 2007 11:04 AM
Thanks anyway - but I will not be censored or patronized
Interesting that since I posted that I’d be sharing a little more about my take on political issues/current events, I've started getting "helpful" comments from people who've never had a helpful or encouraging word to say here - comments warning me to stay within certain parameters or telling me flat out what I shouldn't say.
This is the kind of patronizing BS from the left that I am absolutely fed up with. One commenter said "If you are concerned about losing readers, please don't make posts with titles like...."
Hunh? And what if I’m not concerned with losing readers?
I've been thinking about this and here's what I've decided: I've tried very hard to stick to common ground here, but I can't stand this kind of role anymore where I am supposed to be some kind of domesticated pet for the liberals who deign to read this blog. Many of you who read here in spite of your politics do so because – well, let's face it: I know my stuff when it comes to raising and educating children.
What you don't realize is that that's part of the package that comes with my beliefs and values. You'll never be able to duplicate what I’ve done with my kids unless your values and character change too.
I have recently become aware that my blog has been monitored for some time by a local watchdog group that now claims I am "homophobic." I won't even dignify this small sad group who has spent a decade trying to eradicate any Christian influence in our county by direct identification. But this over-the-top reaction - this constant effort to censor and corral conservative opinion while screaming hyperbole at the top of your leftist lungs has put me over the edge.
I am finished being nice. And what finished me finally were the insidious and patronizing comments "warning" me to stay within the confines my leftist readers want me to observe.
There is a time and season for everything under the sun. I have run MommyLife in a fairly neutral way for two years. But when I continue to see my brothers and sisters in Christ slandered and maligned by the left - as Dr. Dobson is, for instance (see below) - and when heretofore-anonymous readers start telling me what I may and may not say - I give up hope of any kind of real communication. I'll tell you one thing - if it weren't for Dr. Dobson, I would not be the mother I am today. And I am the mother I am today precisely because I am a Christian conservative.
I will continue to process these thoughts in the days to come - ignoring the warning voices of those who've never cared to express themselves before now (some of whom I don't publish because it would be a waste of time for you to read them).
In the meantime, here is a resource which will help you more clearly define the media bias Christian conservatives face: Media Research Center. I subscribe to their Cyber-Alerts which come in may email each day. I rarely have time to read them, but I like the way they give a short summary at the beginning. Following are today's:
1. Soldiers in Iraq on Anti-Surge Resolution: 'Sick' & 'Treason' Of the broadcast network evening newscast stories Tuesday night on the House debate over the non-binding resolution that "disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush...to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq," only ABC's Jake Tapper included the views of soldiers in Iraq. Tapper's report on World News featured soundbites from two Army Sergeants in Ramadi, and both condemned the resolution. First Sergeant Louis Barnum declared: "It makes me sick. I was born and raised a Democrat, but when I see that it just kind of makes me sad." Sergeant Brian Orzechoski went even further: "I don't want to bad-mouth the President at all. I mean, to me it's treason."2. Romney Is No Obama: CBS Devotes 54 Times More Time to Democrat
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney formally announced Tuesday that he would seek the Republican nomination for President, but one would hardly know it from watching CBS's Early Show. Romney's candidacy received exactly ten seconds worth of coverage Tuesday, following stories on a Utah mall shooting, winter storms, and the ongoing soap opera of Anna Nicole Smith's demise. However, on Saturday, when Illinois Senator Barack Obama announced his candidacy as a Democrat, CBS's Saturday Early Show previewed it by devoting 9 minutes and 9 seconds (549 seconds) to his decision -- a greater than 54:1 advantage.3. Couric Implies Rampant Sex Discrimination, Touts Feminist Point
On Monday's CBS Evening News, anchor Katie Couric asserted a common talking point among feminists, the misleading statistic that women make 76 cents for every dollar earned by a man. As part of a series titled "The American Spirit," Couric profiled Janet Hanson, the founder of a women's networking group called 85 Broads, which is dedicated to helping women get ahead, as Hanson doesn't seem to believe a woman can make it on her own. Couric asserted: "Women earn only 76 cents for every dollar a man earns, and that really hasn't changed much over the last 30 years. Why?" Hanson explained: "Women have to learn how to become better negotiators for themselves, which is hard to do. So they need to see other women doing that successfully, and the whole mission behind this network is that women cannot succeed if they don't leverage each other's intellectual firepower."4. PBS Producer Unable to Find Conservatives to Speak on Media Bias?
Several national newspapers praised the four-hour PBS Frontline series which began Tuesday night titled "News War," on how Team Bush (and Team Nixon before that) undemocratically waged war on the press. There's not much on whether the press was undemocratically waging war on the elected President in those cases. (Who, pray tell, voted for the New York Times to run the country?) The man setting the table for the first two hours is Arun Rath, who the South Asian Journalists Association website jokingly notes "acquired a semi-classical education at Reed College in Oregon ('Atheism, Communism and Free Love')." What a surprise for an NPR/PBS producer.5. Ex-NY Times Reporter Chris Hedges Expounds on 'American Fascists'
Chris Hedges, who served at the Times as a reporter and Middle East bureau chief for a total of 15 years, appeared last Thursday on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report to discuss his new book, "American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America." He slammed Christian Right leaders: "What they have done is pervert, destroy, and hollow out the actual heart of the Christian religion. I mean look at the little empires that people like James Dobson or Pat Robertson run. They are despotic, Third World fiefdoms where these guys fly around with bodyguards and Leer Jets." He also charged that "the image that they present of Jesus and of the Christian is essentially a warrior cult. I mean, it is that obsession with violence, it's that notion that America can use its imperial power and use its violence to create a Christian society" and so "it is a message that's deeply anti-Christian and I think filled with a lot of bigotry and a lot of intolerance."
If you find this kind of documentation of media bias intriguing, you can read the full articles and/or subscribe at Media Research Center.
I am still faithfully yours to share everything I know about raising children to reach their God-given potential while encouraging you to reach yours.
Just don't anyone tell me what I can or cannot, should or should not say.
Posted in Blogging, Current Affairs | Permalink
Comments
You should say whatever you like when it comes to politics. You may lose some readers, but gain many more.
Posted by: Shawn | February 14, 2007 12:34 PM
As you know i have been raised in a household with similar values, though they might have had a different title, i believe that religon and morals in general (with a few exceptions) lead you to the same place, with the goal of being a better person and believing in a higher power. Though to the discontent of my immediate family i have found my own path in life.. I agree with what you say. No one should tell you what to think, or on a place like this what to say that might be more pleasing to the general pubilc.. if you believe that the sky is green and you have evidence to support this in your mind, by all means i believe you should spread the word as far as possible. For all we know we have been convinced by society (esp in our country) what to think and when someone speaks out against the norm i am 100% interested in what that is and am more inclined to belive those things than what has been pushed on impressionable minds. I am interested in what you have been building anticipation in saying and cant wait for your entry! I know what its like to not have people supporting what you believe in and i have found in myself the only way to be happy is to follow that.. if that changes in 5 years, 5 months or 5 days, even if it is contradictory, one must follow what is in their heart, those things are put there by god and not by mistake.. Who's to say that in the end what really matters is the heart condition and not the rituals put upon us by man.
Love Jae Lorette
Posted by: Jae Lorette | February 14, 2007 12:40 PM
"Homophobic" - does that mean you are afraid of the "same old, same old"? Those latin roots will get you every time.
It's nice to see someone with something to say, and the ability to say it well, is not capitulating.
Mama Says
Posted by: Milehimama | February 14, 2007 12:44 PM
I look forward to reading what you have to say!
Posted by: Mel | February 14, 2007 12:47 PM
I'm not going to try to tell you what to do, or make some pseudo-threat, but I am somewhat disappointed. I've enjoyed your focus on our unity as women and mothers, and your call to that which is high and good within ourselves, even if we see it differently than you do.
I will continue to read your blog, but without that comfort I had that you share some part of God's love for us as humans and mothers even if you despise our politics; erroneous or not, it made your political statements easier for me to consider and debate with myself.
I know that making your system of values and political beliefs transparent and palatable to Lefties like me isn't the point, and this being your own blog it's of course up to nobody but you--but I'll miss that bit of insight.
Posted by: persimmon | February 14, 2007 12:51 PM
Go for it, Barbara! I can't wait to see what happens.
Posted by: Dean | February 14, 2007 12:59 PM
I just wanted to comment on your last entry!
"You go girl!!!"
Julie
Posted by: Julie | February 14, 2007 1:11 PM
It is your blog, and you can and should say whatever you feel moved to. You write very well, you are thoughtful, and you aren't rude. You talk about a lot of things I've never considered and I appreciate that. Poeple need to hear what you have to say. They don't need to agree, but they need to hear.
Posted by: Jennie C. | February 14, 2007 1:18 PM
Amen, Sister!
Posted by: Shannon Best | February 14, 2007 1:58 PM
Good for you!
I think i have read pretty much every one of your posts in the year or so since I found your blog and I've yet to run across anything I could imagine to be even remotely hateful. Baffling that anyone could interpret you as hateful, though I'm seeing that more and more often nowadays "You think I'm doing something wrong, therefore you hate me! Death to haters!" and so on...
lol
Keep on blogging!
Posted by: Margaret | February 14, 2007 2:17 PM
Barbara, if it makes you feel any better, I'll read you MORE now! :)
You cannot separate who you are from your religious and moral values. If you are authentic about your walk with Christ, then it will permeate everything you say and do, or at least it SHOULD.
Don't worry about losing some left wing readers. There's plenty of garbage out there they can read. Us conservative moms need more voices like you!
Blessings to you for taking a bold step.
Posted by: Lindsey @ enjoythejourney | February 14, 2007 2:17 PM
Preach it, Barbara! I can't wait to read more!
Posted by: Connie | February 14, 2007 2:46 PM
I'll just say an Amen to Lindsey and Connie's statements!!! :-)
Posted by: Yvonne | February 14, 2007 3:26 PM
Just write it like it needs to be said!! Obviously people need to hear the TRUTH!
Posted by: Kathy F. | February 14, 2007 3:32 PM
I always like what you write and I'm looking forward to your insights about politics, specially now that many are anouncing their candidacy for president. I'm afraind, though, I will need a little assistance understanding what exactly being the "left" means. Don't forget I'm from Mexico and there are a lot of things that I'm just beginning to learn; I was never interested in US politics, until the first time President Bush was elected. So far the only thing I think I know is this: Repubicans are pro-life, Democrats are por-choice; Republicans are against same sex marriage, Democrats are supporting it; any other issues besides these two, I'm just begining to try to understand and analyze.
So my big confusion is this: how can someone be a "devout Christian" and be in a political party that supports things that are against Biblical teaching? And how can someone be a Christian "leftist"?
Is there a balance between the two sides at all? Or do you have to be either one, period.
I know you are busy, but if you get a chance I would like to learn from you what it means to from the "right" or the "left".
Posted by: Lady Lovas | February 14, 2007 3:32 PM
Dear Barbara,
You have a wonderful blog! Keep being yourself. If people don't like what you have to say, there are other blogs that they can read. That is the approach I take to my own blog (on which I have added a link on my sidebar to this site, hope you don't mind!)
Posted by: elena maria vidal | February 14, 2007 3:33 PM
Rock on! sorry those people are trying to tell you what to do. its funny they do it with out leaving a name.. you'd think they'd have enough guts to say their name.
love your blog btw.. i just got done reading the mommy survival guide. i'm buying 3 more copies to give to my friends who are all having babies. thanks so much for doing exactly what you should be doing.
Posted by: Allena | February 14, 2007 5:18 PM
Go Barbara! I bet you could be bigger and better than Rush, even.
Posted by: ycw | February 14, 2007 6:48 PM
You go girl! I thank you for all you say. It all rings true. If some people want to take issue with what you say, let them. What I don't understand is that I don't bother to waste my time to read their garbage, why are they so bent on wasting their time to try and bother us? I believe that they are afraid, because the gates of hell will not prevail against us! So please keep it up, I love politics!
Posted by: Carolyn | February 14, 2007 9:09 PM
Barbara, I just want you to know that you have a lot of credibility with me. We agree on politics (from what I have read), and on Christianity, but when I come across an area where we disagree I seriously re-think my position. Sometimes I decide that I am still right, but you definitely give me a reason to think about it. Your intelligence, experience, practicality, forthrightness, and other virtues shine through even when discussing your own flaws. I consider you to truly be a Titus 2 woman in my life. So by all means, keep speaking your mind. I'm all ears!
Posted by: Michelle | February 15, 2007 1:07 AM
Keep up the good work. I love your blog!x
Posted by: Betty | February 15, 2007 7:26 AM
Barbara, do as you are led. So far your leading has aided my life as a young mother. Let those who are unkind in commentary do as they always will. I know that some folks are reacting to something inside they cannot define, but it is easier to react to a blog post then it is to delve into ourselves. I know some other folks who comment unkindly will surely have a valid point, but they will render themselves ineffective with name calling and the like. I hope that those who think differently from you can still remember their logic from college and carry on a dialog while staying to the topic with out resorting to lesser tactics. I hope that those who agree with you will remember that as well. We're all here to learn from each other...so let's be good neighbors, shall we? That's an idea common to both the left and the right.
Posted by: Imajackson | February 15, 2007 4:42 PM
Barbara,
What is the matter with people that they would think you need to be watched. I love your blog and read it often. I've never posted but just had to show my support. I'm really not interested in politics, but this story alarms me. I read it over twice and couldn't find any information about the local watchdog group. Who are they? What did they say? Please let us see what they are saying about you so that we can help you.
Posted by: Mary22 | February 15, 2007 8:56 PM
You know that I love you - right? I'm glad to hear you speak your mind! :)
Posted by: Holly | February 16, 2007 12:49 PM
