A recent thread in the Pit dealt with statements made by the Southern Baptist Convention. Several Southern Baptists expressed dissatisfaction with the SBC, but said that they had no plans on leaving their churches over it.
Is there a point at which people really should leave organizations, even if the organizations do some good, if the organizations have some negative messages?
Can I legitimately say that any supporter of an organization is answerable for decisions of that organization if the supporter refuses to abandon the organization? In other words, is it fair to tar people with the same brush if they are members of voluntary organizations that promote or accept various agendas that are anathema to me?
Is it fair to say all Southern Baptists are answerable for the platforms of the SBC if they choose to self-identify as Southern Baptists? This goes for political parties, as well. If someone self-identifies as a Republican, are they answerable for the anti-abortion platform of the party? Etc.
If not, it seems someone could be a member of (to use an extreme example) the KKK and claim that they don’t agree with the positions of the KKK but they are staying a member because they really really like the pot luck dinners but that doesn’t make them in any way responsible for the horrors committed by the KKK.
What do you think of people who support Hamas. Hamas isn’t only involved in blowing people up. They do run a network of clinics/hospitals and schools and provide for people (Palestinians, naturally) in the area. Yet there’s still that little bit about the bombs…
That and some people stay on to try and change things from the inside. Sometimes it is better to try and change things you mostly agree with to things you totally agree with than to just bail and see an organization go farther down the wrong path.
At some point if the orginization morphs to the point where it no longer resembles what it did when you joined then maybe you should jump ship.
How about if you are a shareholder of a company that begins to operate in a way that conflicts with your morals. BUT they are making money. Do you sell your stock?
I think that the frustration tends to be that there are lots of folks that disagree strongly with major points, don’t do anything about it, but remain loyal to the group, hoping things will ‘blow over’ or change on their own.
“You can’t shake The Devil’s hand and say you’re only kidding.”
If you belong to an organization (KKK) and they start in to burning crosses on the neighbor’s lawn because, oh I dunno, maybe they’re mad cuz their Grampaws imported the neighbor’s Grampaws and then had to turn 'em loose; and if this does not sit well with you, you pretty much get to make a choice: Either be true to yourself and say “Y’all a bunch o bastards” and leave the Klan, or be true to yourself AND what you believe the organization REALLY stands for and say “Y’all a bunch o bastards” and publicly and loudly make things right.
I hear a lot of negative talk about Islam and Arabs, and I see a lot of nasty things done in the name of both (someone brought up Hamas). I’m neither one of Them, so I get myself an opinion about Them. But then I talk to some of Them, and read an interview with Muhammed Ali who grabs himself by the stuff and says “those people are not Muslims.” My opinion changes, and I begin to see the wolves among the flock.