I’ve been thinking a lot about disagreements recently. I’m no saint. I’ve participated in all kinds of arguments lately regarding folks I disagree with. I’ve disagreed with a Massachusetts elementary school librarian who took exception to the First Lady donating Dr. Seuss books to her school. I’ve disagreed with a former CBS Vice President who didn’t seem to mind that the victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting were (apparently) country and western fans and thus Republicans, and owners of firearms. I’ve disagreed with lots of people in the past and probably will continue to do so.
I don’t doubt there are a lot of folks who disagree with me about my stance on certain issues. It’s uncomfortable. I don’t particularly like it. But that doesn’t mean disagreement is a bad thing. Actually, the ability to express disagreement is a good thing. We need to keep doing it.
Why do I believe disagreement is good you ask?
Read the rest at Powered by Robots.
No, this isn’t really on a “religious” topic, but since people in the realm of theological blogging are often in disagreement, I thought this audience might be interested.
Morning Meditations 
The organization who brought you the image from one of those links is also bringing this out:
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/10/04/las-vegas-shooting-brings-up-uncomfortable-gun-control-debate-in-country-music-community.html
First, let me say I don’t find it necessary for understanding the article to watch the video; it’s a succession of tweets from different celebrities. If you do watch it, I recommend starting at the eighth second mark. I am really bothered by hearing the shots.
However, Caleb Keeter’s depicted tweet — maybe two-thirds of the way down into the article — is relevant reading. It matters that he says he and his crew had guns, but that they were useless [this is for more than one reason, the uselessness].
“There will be a debate,” added McVay, EVP of content and Programming for Cumulus Media and Westwood One. “We’ll know more in a couple of weeks how it’s going to change.”
The debate has already started; Caleb Keefer, the guitarist for the Josh Abbott Band, who performed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival hours before the shooting occurred, spoke out in favor of gun control on Monday.
“I’ve been a proponent of the 2nd amendment my entire life,” Keefer wrote on Twitter. “Until the events of last night. I cannot express how wrong I was…We need gun control RIGHT. NOW.”
(The above quote isn’t the depicted tweet, but is an excerpt from it… is not the best part.)
I appreciate that he says he was wrong (which is among the best parts), but I am in favor of the 2nd amendment AND gun control. So, it is a matter of definition. I suppose he means he was wrong about the specifics of how he was a proponent of guns or wrong as to how he thought about it. And, whether he meant it this way or not, he was wrong on the meaning he learned for the 2nd amendment. Regulation isn’t contrary (in and of itself definitionally).
Certainly, I don’t know what he meant. He might actually be meaning that he thinks all guns should be confiscated and outlawed and all shops shut down immediately.
Anyway, my point is that putting our brains in gear isn’t the same thing as being against the 2nd amendment.
……
… country music artists associated with its group “NRA Country” must speak up against it.
“For the past few decades, the National Rifle Association has increasingly nurtured an alliance with country music artists and their fans. You can see it in ‘N.R.A. Country,’ which promotes the artists who support the philosophical, and perhaps economic, thrall of the N.R.A., with the pernicious tag line ‘Celebrate the Lifestyle,'” Cash wrote in the New York Times.
“That wholesome public relations veneer masks something deeply sinister and profoundly destructive.”
A rep for NRA Country did not return Fox News’ request for comment.
…..
In my opinion, those who suppress free speech, can’t handle the truth. “I, Robot” is one of my favorite movies. Right after the main character had been attacked by the robots, that the public KNOW can not attack people, when he is looked upon as crazy for telling what happened, he responds, “Do you think I care what you think?!” There it is. When you know the truth, it doesn’t matter what people think. Here is a story I was told about Abraham Lincoln, that I absolutely love:
Before a group of law students Abraham Lincoln asked a question, ” If a tail was called a leg, how many legs would a dog have?” Everyone said five. Abraham Lincoln said, “No. Everyone is wrong. It would still be four legs and a tail.”
That is a good story, Cynthia. (The line delivered in I-Robot is inspiring too.) But what about the people who would put (each) their (respective) foot down and insist, no, but the tail IS a leg if I say it is (or at least I have a right to say it)!?
(The people who were wrong in I-Robot also thought they were right. Of course, we have to ignore the fact that robots aren’t people, and go ahead and play along with the movie. But I’m sure you get my point.)
I hope in real life we aren’t satisfied to play along with that which might seem fun to try and pull.
Good post,James. Sometimes in life, a healthy debate and small disagreements are important to progress further.