REPRESENTING

Well, I’ve culled a few interesting responses on my opinion about the bible petition to WalMart.

My friend Aaron Kinney respectfully disagrees. I did encounter a comment at his blog from a nice fellow named olly: “But the problem with letting that argument lead you down the path of saying 'pick your battles' is that the path to apathy is lined with good intentions.” I’m not pissed: he was respectful in his couching of the statement. Apathy? Uh-uh.

Vjack at the Atheist Revolution agrees with me somewhat:
”In other words, we need to offer something to people instead of focusing so much on taking things away from people. If you'll allow me to put on my psychologist's hat for a second, I'll offer the example of child discipline. In working with a child to eliminate an unwanted behavior, one must provide a positive replacement behavior. For example, taking away thumb sucking is going to be much harder if one fails to provide a more desirable method of self-soothing.”

Alonzo at the Atheist Ethicist has a somewhat…angrier response:
”Bigots view everything they see through the lens of bigotry. This is what prejudice is all about. The bigot "pre-judges" his victims, and then gives the victim's actions an interpretation that conforms to their prejudice. There is no way that the victim of prejudice can possibly act contrary to prejudice, because prejudice dictates the ‘correct’ way to interpret the victim’s action.”

These are but snippets only: hopefully, in context.

These are all valid points, and good insights into the human condition. My biggest problem is that I’m a ‘the glass is half full’ kind of guy. Let me illustrate this anecdotally (is that allowed? It isn’t? Too bad: I’m gonna do it anyways): I have found, in my youth no less, that when you walk in anger or fear, you’re a target. In my teenage years, I effectively neutered many physical confrontations this simply: “What’s the point?” A lot of would-be bullies stood there, confused. I left quite a few bewildered people in my wake. There was this one cat that would drive by in his van with his cute little girl friend (I was on foot), and they would both yell horrible, derogatory comments driving by (aimed at yours truly). How’d I deal with it? Simple: I became friends with both of them. Big friendly hellos on sight. I saw a news show a few years back, where African American youths who lived in the projects were asked how they avoided confrontation. Same answer. A friendly hello usually diffused it.

Favorite line from a TV show, Homicide: Life on the Streets: “You don’t bully a bully: you make them think.”

So I say: let’s make ‘em think. (I know, we’re doing that already: but there is a difference between an online interaction and a face-to-face discussion.)

Whenever I encounter someone, say, a homeless person, give them some change, if they say “God bless you,” I respond with, “Nah, I’m an atheist.” I was in my favorite park one day, and some older lady was trying to give out literature. The maintenance man told her that was strictly verboten (ANY literature, not religious only, by the way). I very nicely and politely informed her of my ‘religious’ status. She dropped by a few more times (I’m a regular there), chatted me up a bit (there were times I started regretting even opening my mouth, but I kept cool) in matters theological. After getting to know some co-workers (lay the groundwork: don’t announce it up front), I let them know I was an unbeliever. It’s usually a surprise. Half glass full, like I said.

So, what I’m getting at, in my roundabout way, is that we’re representing. Hey, it works for the other side, doesn’t it? Manifest a presence, in a manner of speaking. Go out, press the flesh, chat someone up.

Let me qualify this further (I know, most of you don’t fall into the Jackass! imitator category, those dipsticks who decide to imitate some idiotic WWF maneuver, with horrendous results): get out there, be friendly, look ‘em in the eye, and let them know we’re here. Don’t endanger your livelihood, or provoke a fistfight. We’re rationalists, right? Just use a little judgment. Standing up in the middle of Sunday mass and announcing there ain’t no gawd might be unhealthy. You take my point, so I won’t belabor it. Use a little judgment.

Because it is a lot harder to talk smack about someone you know. Harder yet when they’re likable. Sure, this may not convince everyone, but let’s be realistic: word-of-mouth travels.

So, in short: make yourselves known. Find an appropriate moment for an apropos segue. Discuss it rationally, be polite, smile as much as is possible. Try to let stupidities slide, if you can. Because the days are forthcoming, when the subject’ll be brought up when you’re not there, and somebody will spout off, and hopefully, a heart you’ve touched, a mind you’ve changed, will perhaps pipe up, and say “Hey, I know an atheist. He/she seemed like a great person.” Or something to that effect.

Now go forth, be fruitful, and re-educate the earth, my children. (hehehehe)

Till the next post, then.