Ok, you are starting to get it right. He did tell him that if the caller didn’t want to be proselytized he should go to Israel. The key here though that the caller has a different idea than most about constitutes proselytizing than normal people do. These things also seem to affect the caller much more than a normal person. Given that it is basically impossible for the caller to avoid Christian holidays and what he views asproselytizing Christians in the U.S. it logically follows that the caller should think of relocating to protect his delicate sensibilities.
The caller didn’t say that it was “mostly” based on college. Even so, the amount of energy that evangelicals put into stalking prospective marks is pretty creepy and quite tiresome. I couldn’t walk across campus without getting handed a pamphlet or encountering some idiot standing and preaching in the middle of the square. They talk ceaseless;y about how “Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven.”
There are also campaigns directed specifically at converting Jews. They’re sick of it as well they should be and they shouldn’t have to go to Israel to be left alone. They’re just as American as Bill O’Reilly is.
No. He has exactly the right view of how insensitive and obnoxious a lot of Christians can be when it comes to the holidays. I doubt they even realize they’re doing it half the time.
Not loony. Correct. It’s proselytization. It’s an attempt to convert children. The caller is exactly right.
The person was extraordinarily patient and rational and CORRECT. The only loon in that conversation was Bill “the insane bigot” O’Reilly
The caller set it was SETTING KIDS UP TO BE CONVERTED. Like, the kids were at risk to be converted. That’s loony.
Loon loon loon.
So Diogenes, what do you think should be done about all this? We have Christians running freely on college campuses passing out leaflets and inviting people to Bible studies. We have covert Christian symbols like Christmas decorations posted in plain view on public and private property. We have children giving gifts to other children with subtle conversion messages to those not of the faith.
- So, what would you do to correct the situation both publically and privately?
- What should Jews do if they are as offended as this guy?
- What should Bill O’Reilly have said to the caller?
I see no qualitative difference between saying that Christians are attempting convert kids and that they are “setting them up for conversion.” It’s the same statement. And it’s true.
Nothing. Just keep it out of public institutions, don’t use my tax money and stay the fuck away from my children.
Do exactly what this guy did. Let Christians know how it makes them feel. Stand up fir themselves. Tell the stalkers to fuck off once in a while. The way to fight free speech is with more free speech.
3) What should Bill O’Reilly have said to the caller?
[/QUOTE]
"You are correct, sir. You make a good point. I didn’t know how obnoxious we appeared to non-Christians. I am an asshole. I apologize…
[Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]
…What are you wearing?"
No, one is “trying” while the other is usually considered to mean "putting them at risk for . . . " No reasonable person thinks that seeing other people exchange gifts (or getting a gift yourself) is putting them at risk for being converted. It takes far more than that to put someone at risk. Only a thin-skinned loony would think otherwise.
I don’t interpret the caller as having any genuine fear of conversion, just that he’s sick of the harassment.
Diogenes , there is another strong piece of evidence that this guy is a true loon. It is the fact that he got on the O’Reilly show to begin with. You know that callers aren’t chosen randomly. A great way to get on is to sound as out there as possible to the screeners especially if you call is about something like this where there are many other people with reasoned, moderate opinions. A crazy person is easy for O’Reilly to shoot down and is very entertaining to the audience. They got what they wanted here and more.
Well, I take the caller’s own words at face value. He says that exchanging gifts or singing carols is setting kids up to be converted. Why did he say that if he didn’t mean it? Note that he didn’t say, “trying to set kids up,” which would imply an attempt (perhaps a futile one), though that also is borderline loony because it’s still pretty far-fetched. (More likely that people just don’t think about other people’s feelings.) He said, "setting kids up." Like there is a real attempt to convert, and like there is a real risk that kids will be converted. Loony.
“Setting kids up for conversion” was just a clumsy way to to say “proselytizing.”
I think you guys are grasping at straws. You need to find a way for the caller to be “loony” so you can save Bill O’Reilly from being a scumbag.
I’m not buying it. The caller was totally correct and regardless, there is no excuse for telling Jews to go back to Israel.
And it’s not a Christian country.
They are grasping at straws?
I suggest you look in the mirror Diogenes, you are the one putting words in Bill’s and the caller’s mouth in order to prove your ridiculously wrong point.
He never told Jews (plural) to go BACK to Israel. He told one Jew that the only way to not be bombarded with Christian messages was to go TO Israel. It was a stupid comment, because there are plenty of Christians in Israel. But you are completely twisting O’Reilly’s words. You are, in fact, lying here. Everyone is calling you on it, too.
Another lie on your part.
What is the ***predominant ***religion in this Country, DtC?
It’s irrelevant.
O’Reilly said that the US was founded on “Judeo-Christian values.” That’s a lie (and he spouts this "Christian country bullshit constantly on his tv show, it’s not just this one exchange).
The ADL agrees with my take on this.
And most people have acknowledge that the Judeo-Christian thing is incorrect. Whether or not O’Reilly has said this is a “Christian nation” at other times is irrelevant. You are claiming he said it THIS TIME, which he did not. His meaning was crystal clear. This is a PREDOMINANLTY Christian nation, which it is-- the predominant religion in this country is Christianity.
It would actually be pretty easy to Pit O’Reilly for his views on religion and governmnent. Unfortunately, you picked a terrible example. Why not acknowledge your mistake here and find a better example?
Proves nothing. They’re in the business of agreeing with stuff like this.
Actually, Hayek’s birthday is September 2, and yes, I do get off.
It’s irrelevant to O’Reilly’s defense that it’s a predominantly Christian country. That does not make it ok for him to tell Jews to go back to Israel if they don’t want to be harrassed.
He never told anyone to got BACK to Israel.