# From The Front Lines Of The "War on Christians" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 29, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474 "2006-03-29T22:57:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Updike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@Updike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Updike)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/81 "2006-04-01T05:32:59Z")
As long as people recognize that San Francisco is NOT the bastion of tolerance and progressivity that they proclaim to be, I’m all good. Not directed at you personally, but STOP THE HYPOCRASY! ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/82 "2006-04-01T05:48:24Z")
I agree. Anyone who calls themselves tolerant and then exhibits intolerant behavior _should_ be called on it. I just don’t agree that an entire city of over 750,000 people is hypocritical just because some of the supes are. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/83 "2006-04-01T06:11:09Z")
While I agree that the SF city officials should allow peaceful assemblies even of groups that they disagree with politically without publicly insulting them, I doubt that there’s anything particularly “hypocritical” about calling the Christian youth rally’s organizers “anti-gay” and “anti-choice”. They don’t seem like the type to support abortion rights or equal rights for gays. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/84 "2006-04-01T07:18:23Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > Excellent. The SF Chronicle has its collective head screwed on straight. The Board of Supervisors is another matter altogether. After all, the resolution passed, which means a majority of them voted for it. When they go off spouting about other things, like the War, Nuclear Free Zones, Save the Whales, and Impeachment, what have you, why would any reasonable person listen to them? They’re city councilmen. What ever gave you the impression that _anybody_ listens to them? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/85 "2006-04-01T07:21:39Z")
Let’s see. These guys staged this concert, the audience of which was almost entirely from outside the area, particularly to stick it to the sinners in SF. (I saw some of the attendees interviewed on the local news.) The Supes in no way put any blockage on the concert, but only passed a resolution. Too much for the poor, oppressed, gay baiters, obviously. Mind telling me where there was religious bigotry in the resolution? Were the participants not anti-gay and anti-choice? Do you claim that if you aren’t you can’t be religious? I’m an atheist, yet I know that most religious people are not bigoted scum. You should stop insulting religion. Freedom of speech and assembly means let them have their concert. It doesn’t mean you can’t call them what they are. Or is that too politically incorrect for you? ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/86 "2006-04-01T16:44:16Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > At Cornell residents were told they couldn’t put up Christmas decorations on their dorm windows. > [@Marley23](#): > > That seems especially ridiculous at a private college. Data point: I lived in a dorm at Cornell in 2000-1, and we were not told any such thing. If it was in the ‘rulebook’, which I don’t recall being the case but would not swear to, it was not stressed. As I’m Jewish (posting on a Saturday afternoon though I might be), I didn’t put up any decorations, but my roommates did. Nothing was made of it. ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/87 "2006-04-01T16:47:28Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > \< **major** hijack\>Frankly, I think something like 80% of those jumpers are people succumbing to a combination of geography and impulse. > > Cornell has three residential campuses. The oldest one is West Campus, and it’s just below the hill where most of the class buildings are. Nothing between it and the dorms. The other major residential campus is across a gorge from the main campus. So, if a student has just bombed his or her last final, or lost hope with their thesis, and are heading back to the dorms (and where much of the rental property around the school is, too.) they have to cross over one of the bridges. Each with an approximately 100 ft drop. > > I imagine it can be a pretty seductive temptation. You can’t make a college campus suicide proof - it’s just not possible, but I can’t think of any other school where the means for suicide is so much out in the open. Obviously I can’t offer figures, but while I was flunking out, I did notice the convenience factor. > > \ Whilst I’m defending my school’s honour, I’d also like to point out that ‘all those students’ is actually, well, at most one or two a year, and that a lot of people who are found dead in the gorge are either not students or (in at least one case I know of personally) fall by accident while intoxicated. But if one does go for it, as a method of suicide it is unfortunately pretty damn effective. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/88 "2006-04-01T17:21:35Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Okay, I’ve been thinking about this all day. What’s the “we Christians are being persecuted” crowd take on the fact that the Orthodox Easter is on a different Sunday than theirs? I don’t speak for anyone but myself, but my take is that they still base their religious calendar on the Julian (not the Gregorian) calendar. Is that supposed to imply some offense? Not sure I understand your question. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/89 "2006-04-01T18:22:31Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > The war on Christians continues apace: > > [http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sf31.html](http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sf31.html) > > Oh wait, it gets better. > > I actually laughed out loud when I read this. I guess the SF Board of Supervisors’ > “tolerance” does not extend to Christian youth. :dubious: You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me. 1. The organization in question counts Falwell and Robertson, among others, in their leadership ([cite](http://www.battlecry.com/Lift%20the%20Banner.pdf) - 1.5MB PDF). Both of those assholes are objective “anti-choice” and “anti-gay.” 2. In my town, just about every Christmas, the KKK puts up a display in the town square. And just about every Christmas, City Council passes a resolution condemning the Klan for its racism, bigotry, etc. Would you therefore argue that the people of Cincinnati are waging a war against white people? Because if they are, I’d better get the fuck outta town. 3. You _do_ understand the difference between saying “Updike is an idiot, and I think he needs to shut his mouth,” and actually coming over to your house with some duct tape, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/90 "2006-04-01T18:34:24Z")
> [@black455](#): > > 1. You _do_ understand the difference between saying “Updike is an idiot, and I think he needs to shut his mouth,” and actually coming over to your house with some duct tape, don’t you? One is merely a suggestion, and the other is a delightful fantasy topfull and brimming with heartwarming catharsis? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/91 "2006-04-01T19:42:37Z")
Both of which are highly satisfactory. ---
**Author:** ![Updike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@Updike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Updike)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/92 "2006-04-01T21:24:51Z")
> [@black455](#): > > You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me. Whatever, dude. I just thought it was ironic that they would pass a resolution condemning a Christian youth rally, while refering to themselves as the “America’s most tolerant and progressive city”. I guess there are none so blind, as those who will not see. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/93 "2006-04-01T21:26:52Z")
It’s been circling round the intraweb, from Bill Maher: many conservative Christians are today turning water into whine. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/94 "2006-04-01T21:46:33Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > Whatever, dude. I just thought it was ironic that they would pass a resolution condemning a Christian youth rally, while refering to themselves as the “America’s most tolerant and progressive city”. > > I guess there are none so blind, as those who will not see. If you’d like to expand on the idea further, try to pry those nails from your wrists and come over to the thread I just started in GD: > **[Does 'tolerance' extend to keeping one's yap shut?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=365507)** > > This was partly inspired by a post by Updike in this Pit thread in which he accuses the SF Board of Supervisors of hypocrisy for simultaneously proclaiming their city’s “tolerant” reputation and condemning an event sponsored by a Christian youth... ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/95 "2006-04-01T22:07:46Z")
> [@Updike](#): > > Whatever, dude. I just thought it was ironic that they would pass a resolution condemning a Christian youth rally, while refering to themselves as the “America’s most tolerant and progressive city”. What’s intolerant about their stance, anyway? They didn’t try to prevent or impede the rally in anyway, they just stated that they didn’t approve of the group’s goals and ideals. Letting people do things you don’t like is the precise definition of “tolerance.” ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/96 "2006-04-04T15:10:58Z")
There is no more war on christians. Billy O’Reilly admitted it yesterday in an interview. No one’s being oppressed by screaming hordes of God haters anymore. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/97 "2006-04-04T15:19:19Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > There is no more war on christians. Billy O’Reilly admitted it yesterday in an interview. No one’s being oppressed by screaming hordes of God haters anymore. Cite? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/98 "2006-04-04T15:44:42Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Cite? > 😃 [http://mediamatters.org/items/200603310010](http://mediamatters.org/items/200603310010) > [@MediaMatters](#): > > On March 29, Bill O’Reilly appeared to declare that the so-called “culture war” he has waged is over, saying, “I don’t feel persecuted as a Christian” because “I can still do what I want to do.” linkies are here: [http://mediamatters.org/items/200603310010](http://mediamatters.org/items/200603310010) [http://mediamatters.org/static/audio/oreilly-20060329-evan.mp3](http://mediamatters.org/static/audio/oreilly-20060329-evan.mp3) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/99 "2006-04-04T16:11:32Z")
I swear to Og, O’Reilly’s so-called No-Spin Zone keeps MY head spinning. He can go from raving lunatic (see “War on Christmas”) to actually sounding reasonable (see above) with no discernable turnaround period… ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474/100 "2006-04-04T17:39:01Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > People in general should not allow their religious beliefs to dictate how the LAW should be, at least in general. It should encourage you to vote for what you feel is right, but it shouldn’t be, “Well I’m going to vote to outlaw this because it’s against my religion.” > > That is NOT the same thing as saying religious people should be banned from voting period. The whole point of voting is to select the people who make the laws. You are thus making a distinction without a difference. That said, the point of having a constitutional republic rather than a democracy is that certain issues are removed from the whim of the majority. The two wolves and the lamb might vote one what to have for lunch, but veal is not on the menu. If your concern is that the current balance allows too many powers to the majority and too few areas where individuals are insulated from political authority, I completely agree. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-front-lines-of-the-war-on-christians/350474.md?page=6)