I don’t follow. By your logic, shouldn’t you add that “Black Lives Should Matter” would be a better way to acknowledge that there’s still work to be done?
But, of course, we don’t ask for that — just as we don’t ask “Black Lives Matter? What, are you saying that ONLY black lives matter, or should matter? Or are you saying that Black Lives Matter more, or should matter more?”
We don’t do that; we grant that the idea is that a black life matters, and should matter, just as much as a white life, or any other life: that black lives matter, and should matter, in a manner equal to all other lives. Which is, near as I can tell, the same sentiment that various folks express as “all lives matter”.
“We” don’t grant that; “we” merely *claim *we’re not racist and dismiss all evidence that “we” are. Except for those of “us” who know better. A gentle correction that “all lives matter” is a way to express that denial, however sincere the speaker believes himself to be.
Well, I can’t speak for you, of course — possibly you’re using “we” to mean you’re one of those who claim not to be racist, possibly you’re using “us” to mean you’re one of those who knows better; I can’t really say your point interests me all that much either way — and, as I don’t happen to be one of those making sincere use of the phrase that “all lives matter”, you’re not speaking for me, either.
So why did you reply by copy-and-pasting my quote? It’s nothing to do with me.
The real, core problem with American Christianity, which I lived and breathed as part of my teen and early adult years, having grown up in a fairly conservative Baptist church is this.
There’s God. Christians are the chosen of God.
Then there’s Satan. Everything not in the first group belongs to Satan and is evil, seductive, corrupting and false. It exists SOLELY for the purposes of corrupting humans and leading them astray. Hinduism? Satanic seduction. Animism? Satanic delusions. Athiesm? Here’s…SATAN!
Therefore, Christians are under threat from Satan every day, and most of the world is his. So there’s US and there’s THEM, and THEMS EVIL!!!
And hey, you SHOULD get angry when you’re fighting evil. You should be hard, just like the Israelites when they were claiming the promised land. You should be like Jesus with the money changers!
But here’s the thing, Christian kiddies. You’re making the entire world your enemy and yourself a martyr, due to your own hate, hysteria and delusional beliefs. You’re locking yourself in a web of fear and anger, because you’re proclaiming the vast majority of the world as “Satanic” and thus, evil that oppresses you. When in fact the world doesn’t give a shit about you and just wants to live their own lives and own beliefs.
I’m addressing those who do make that claim, which your use of “we” would tend to imply includes you. If it didn’t, “they” would have been a better pronoun for you to use.
You’re disavowing your own assertion so soon? All righty then.
Well, read it again, because you apparently missed it the first time: I said that “we”, including me, grant that folks who say that black lives matter mean that a black life matters — and should matter — as much as a white life, or any other life; and that black lives matter, and should matter, in a manner equal to other lives.
I’m not disavowing that assertion; you of course have that wrong. I merely note that making such an assertion in no way requires me to any of the other stuff you went on about; there are a great many things it does my require of me. It doesn’t require me to lump myself in with those who say All Lives Matter; it doesn’t require me to be one of those who claim not to be racist, or to be one of those who knows better, or to be dismissive or to be in denial or any of the stuff you went on about in reply.
Except that’s specifically and explicitly one of the criticisms of BLM that underlies the “All Lives Matter” meme - here’s a cite from this very thread.
Yes, some folks make that criticism of those who say that Black Lives Matter. And some folks make a criticism of those who say that All Lives Matter.
I, though, grant that plenty of folks say Black Lives Matter without meaning an “only” or a “more”, just as I grant that plenty of folks say All Lives Matter without meaning anything other than that same sentiment.
And, as far as I can tell, I’m far from alone in that.
What invalidates Black Lives Matter is how it was born, using Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown as their inspiration. Martin reached home just fine, then went out of his way to confront and assail Zimmerman (per the trial testimony). Brown was fighting with an officer, “hands up don’t shoot” turned out to be a lie. Their ends were tragic, and I understand parents would be devastated, but to use these and similar incidents of resisting arrest to inflame emotions is not likely get the change they want (and did you read the BLM manifesto?).
Police do get the benefit of the doubt because of their job, but in general they are held accountable when they do go too far.
I’m no Bible scholar, but just how often is Satan referenced? Apart from “Satan, get thee behind me”. I seem to remember that he doesn’t get much press coverage. Am I to understand that American Christianity, particularly in its Southern Baptist form, gives him undue prominence? And Islam uses him as well, since everyone needs a good bogeyman.
In my experience, it’s “most.” Most people I’ve encountered who use the phrase “All Lives Matter” are specifically denying the issues around racial inequality in law enforcement, are are deliberately denigrating BLM as a movement. I understand that your experience has been different, but your “plenty” is no less anecdotal than my “most.”
Most definitely. Members of conservative / fundamentalist churches in the US are very likely to believe that Satan / the Devil is an active participant in the evils of the world, and that he works to tempt people away from God though many vehicles (including, depending on the era, rock music, dancing, Halloween, Dungeons & Dragons, etc., etc.)