I feel like we're "raging against the machine,". And when I say "rage" I don't mean that we're hostile or hateful. I simply mean that we are standing in opposition to a huge paradigm that mixes their politics with our religion and says, "'Murrrica is a CHRISTIAN country!" which I don't believe for one bit. Or "'Murrrica is the greatest nation on EARTH!" Who says? "Murrricuns"? We stand in opposition to the fraction of the church (because certainly not all Christians embrace this mindset) that seems to believe that Jesus hung on the cross and bled red, white, and blue and have no use for a more global world view. God is a global thinker, I believe. I don't want to be lumped in with those who are unable to distinguish between their religious and political beliefs. But, as I've asked earlier in this thread, how do those of us who reject that brand christianity walk in unity with those who do? I'm not prepared to say that this person or that person is not a Christian... but when I don't embrace what I believe to be errant, how do I still embrace the person? Especially when that person seems perfectly comfortable rejecting me as well as anyone else who doesn't jibe with the way they walk out their beliefs? In the context of education, we do help raise some kids whose parents are remiss in raising their own. It's not an easy industry to be in, and I often feel as if I have a target on my back--not from intruders, per se, but by a fraction of society who thinks I am to blame for all the social ills of this country.

My favorite yankee, Honestly, this piece wasn't well-thought-out at all--I cranked this out yesterday morning in about 30 minutes before getting in the shower for work because I'd been grappling with it since about four in the morning. It wasn't edited. It was a first draft. I didn't even go back and look at it. I posted it to the Provoketive site here as a draft only and wrote to my editor, Jonathan Brink (who I will be writing back today and telling him, "DUDE! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU POSTED THAT WITHOUT FIXING 'EN MASSE'!" Haha...) to see if he could tone it down. It had no title, no picture... He wrote me back a few hours later and said, "I like it. It's up now as a feature article." So, mistakes and all, it's in the books now. He was good enough to name it and find a picture. For that I'm thankful. I am also grateful for the dialogue it's created. Some very helpful insight here in this thread, including your own. I appreciate you.

...and someday wipe every tear from our eyes. Love you, brother.

Dancer, the sound of your voice on the phone had a soothing effect on me as well. You are a light in my life, and I don't get to hold you and love on you nearly enough. I know you are so drawn to kindness--you are one of the kindest people I know. You exude love and compassion, and your heart is breaking at this unfathomable sadness. I have no answers. I know nothing, and I'm not ashamed to admit that. What can we know of these things? This I know: Christ is kind. And you can trust Him implicitly. He's got you. And so do I. With tears in my eyes this morning, I tell you, you are my heart, and I am blessed to walk with you on your journey.

I call 'em like I see 'em. I do. Sometimes it's a good thing. I try to hone my powers for good and not evil, but I truly don't even know how to effectively deal with situations like these and people who mean well, but they just don't look beyond or have an understanding of where their words will land.