Wednesday, November 05, 2008
5 comments:
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Anonymous said...
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Ted,
I do have to write this because I have been wondering the same thing that the Anonymous writer wrote. I did find it very comical that as soon as there were a couple letters to the editor in the Mapleton Press that opposed your views it seemed you couldn't take it and quit. I think that if you choose to write about those topics in a public forum, you better be willing to hear from some that oppose you.
If you do choose to write in the Mapleton Press again I am damn glad this election is over; hopefully your obsession with it will be over also. -
2:19 PM
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Ted Mallory said...
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Yeah, I was afraid that people would think I was a wimp or that whoever wrote a letter to the editor got me fired or got me to quit, when in fact my wife asked me to stop. Of course, there will no doubt be people that will think that makes me a wimp. I've always wanted to be a political columnist, so I don't know that I was so obsessed with the election as that history and politics is an interest of mine so naturally it's something I'm more inclined to write about- but my point about the "climate" is that many of us have been too wound up about the election, and I too am glad it's over. But maybe your sentiment, especially if its held by many more people, is more good reason to not return anyway.
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2:36 PM
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Ted Mallory said...
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By the way, I totally get that if you put yourself out there, you have to expect to be a target. Didn't know if I had made that clear.
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2:53 PM
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Ted Mallory said...
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Grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, kindness. gentleness...
These come from a place of understanding, of not mere compassion but from empathy.
It's tragic that some of the people who least practice the American ideals embodied in the Declaration and the Preamble are the most nationalistic and pumped full of what they imagine to be patriotism. Just as some of the most zealously claiming to be Christian are so often the least Christ-like.
Maybe this is what Ghandi meant when he said that it is necessary to be a non-Christian to see the true beauty of Christ.
The problem with the chosen, is that like the good brother who stayed home in the story of the prodigal, we become resentful. Christians want (desire) to understand a simple, clean, black and white universe. And (like adolescents) insist on our understanding of justice. In short, we desire to be in control. In essence, Christians want to be God.
The Irony is that the very people who claim to have God on their side, are even MORE under the rule of sin than all the so-called "sinners," whom they wish to change, control, punish, or eliminate. Because the original sin is thinking that we know better than God, that we are His equal.
Isn't that sad? We judge the Pharisees in the Bible when we read stories about Jesus and think, at least I'm not like THEM- but we do the same thing that they did. So busy shouting God's message that we fail to hear Him speaking, so busy administering His justice for Him that we don't see Him applying mercy. So busy building walls and turrets to defend His kingdom that we miss His call to work in His kingdom.
So busy telling people that God hates homosexuality that we forget He hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors, lepers and the demon possessed, gays and illegal immigrants. So busy arguing that abortion is the commission murder that we allow murder by sins of omission to multiply exponentiation without a care.
Like Jonah, we're all incensed that God doesn't smite all these evil-doers.
The point of this blog is often to try to explain to Christians that hey, many so called liberal values are God's values too. And sometimes when we think our moral issues are ones that God want us to force on others, we might need to reconsider.
I don't think it's wrong to doubt or question. If anything, it makes our faith stronger. But obviously, not every Christian agrees and they like to tell me so.
The Bible says to let your light shine before all men, but Elaenor Roosevelt warns that "What is to give light must endure the burning."
Sometimes being salt and light, means rusting the fancy paint job that they were so proud of and then exposing that corrosion so they can see it better.
I have no doubt that God has definitive opinions, that there are absolutes in the universe- however, how dare I (or anyone) be so arrogant as to assume that I/we/they have the unarguable, inerrant, monopoly on knowing what His absolutes are 100% of the time on 100% of the issues! THAT is one of my problems with the religious right, we all have logs in our own eyes, so how dare we dig for the specks in the eyes of others. Is this relativism? Then I guess you'll have to excommunicate me and assume I'm damned. But God's love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, mercy, and desire that people on the left not be alienated and chased away from His family by people on the right burns in my bones like fire. I want to keep silent, but I can not.
If you don't like it, then by all means, stop reading my blogs. -
5:24 PM
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Anonymous said...
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Ted,
You always inspired me during the short time I knew you in high school. After finding out that after all these years you still are drawing and reaching out to people of all ages blows me away. Step back and look at what you are doing, Ted. Your passion is sweet to the taste and your talent is a rare rose that I am blessed to have laid gaze upon. I pray that you cultivate it and keep it alive as long as you can. Sharing brings happiness to both the sharer and all those who partake.
Peace my friend.
-= Murray =- -
6:42 AM
What are you going to blog about now Ted? Will your column come back now that you have won? Or are you still saddened over Sueferts letter?
10:15 AM
I'm saddened whenever anyone tries to marginalize or impugn me because I share opinions which I have thought out carefully and hold because I care deeply about our country.
I didn't stop writing a column for the press because of JoAnn Suefert's tirade of a letter to the editor. I stopped because the whole climate and culture of the community where I live has been too polarized and too emotionally charged, and for the sake of my family and loved ones I felt that it would be better 1) not to contribute to that polarization and 2) not subject those close to me to the same resentment, indignation and ridicule which I became a target of because of my opinions.
What will I blog about now? What does any blogger blog about?
I wish I could stop writing the way that an alcoholic wishes they could stop drinking.
My column was never exclusively about John McCain, or even exclusively about politics. I'm sure life will present things that I'll find funny, things that I'll compulsively feel the need to analyze or draw attention to- and plenty of public figures and politicians that I'll want to scrutinize (including Steve King and Jason Schultz, but probably plenty of Democrats too- maybe even Barack Obama eventually).
I still don't know if I'll write a column in the PRESS again or if this blog will be the only yard I get to play in, but I've tried to stop writing altogether and it's bigger than I am.
Whoever you are, thank you for your comment, and thank you for reading- whether we ever agree on anything or not. I hope you get something out of it.
12:11 PM