POWIP Piece of Work In Progress – Former Abode of Dan Collins

Why does Tavis hate Christians?

Say no more

This is a topic that has been addressed recently by Dan and Enoch here at POWIP.  Today Brent Bozell weighs in at Townhall:

If that sounds shocking, imagine what the average Christian PBS viewer might have thought as he watched Tavis Smiley's weeknight talk show on May 25. The guest was ex-Muslim and atheist author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, there to promote her latest book, "Nomad." Smiley claims to be a Christian, but he attacked Ms. Ali for "idealizing Christianity" and recklessly turning people away from Islam.

Right out of the box, Smiley was out to make a point. "You say unapologetically and rather frankly that your mission here is to inform the West about the danger of Islam," he began. "What danger do we need to be made aware of?"

What? Did Tavis Smiley somehow sleep through 9/11? Is PBS keeping him locked in a closet where he remains unaware of the ongoing terrorist attacks on Americans -- successful and unsuccessful -- made by Islamic radicals? When Ali brought up the deaths of 13 at Fort Hood and the failed Times Square bomber, Smiley unloaded a literally unbelievable statement: "But Christians do that every single day in this country."

Ali replied: "Do they blow people up?" Smiley: "Yes. Oh, Christians, every day, people walk into post offices, they walk into schools, that's what Columbine is -- I could do this all day long."

Now in the interest of intellectual honesty, let's first acknowledge that all religions, regardless of doctrine, have some deranged members who believe that God is telling them to kill someone else; alleging a divine co-conspiritor.  That said, Smiley's proposition is completely risible based on professed beliefs and dogmas.

Christianity is fundamentally a belief of extreme tolerance as practiced by those so graced with a deep and abiding faith.  One of the aims of Christians is to emulate Christ, as closely as humanly possible based on the Biblical accounts of Jesus' life, as well as live by the tenets he taught during his time on Earth.  For those of you who aren't Christian, or are unfamiliar with the stories of Jesus, among the important facts to know about Him is that we consider Him the Son of God; someone imbued with incredible power over the physical realm who performed many miracles of healing, resurrection, and other acts.

During times of personal tribulation, or naked oppression by others for His work and beliefs, His closest followers, who we call His "Apostles", often questioned Him as to why He didn't compel or coerce others to accede to His teaching and to follow Him; ar why He didn't simply "strike down" his oppressors.  Instead, He wanted others to follow Him by virtue of their God given free will; a desire born of His unconditional love for all.

Jesus taught about the need for us to always forgive others for their transgressions, just as God forgives us ours.  And He exhorted his followers to be non-violent, to the point of telling them if struck to present the other cheek as well; even when the authorities came for Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, with the intent of seeing Him done away with, He forbade the apostles to scuffle with, or even resist, the arresting officers.  His way is one of immesurable love as characterized by a famous sermon where He told the crowds to love their enemies and pray for them (Matthew 5:44-48).  So it is difficult for me to see how any devout follower of Christ could use the violation, or disregard, of any of His teachings as a pretext to kill when He would have done the exact opposite instead.

As we have all come to know, Radical Islam is different.  It's adherents believe that the only legitimate government is one that conforms with the Islamic theocracies outlined in the Quran.  They believe that it is perfectly legitimate to slaughter any non-believers on the way to achieveing this goal; presumably on a worldwide scale.  I mean, if the non-Islamists are willing to submit to their overlords, accept second-class citizen status, and pay for the privilege of being allowed to live, then you can live as a dhimmi-so at least you've got that going for you.  But, non-believers are essentially lesser forms of beings that don't recieve the same consideration or are even acknowledged as human.

I invite you to compare, contrast, and opine on my comparison of Christianity and Radical Islam.  But to even use Smiley's risible assertion, that there have been more acts, or attempts, of mass violence by Christians than Islamists, both in the US and around the world is an unrealistic and risible point upon which to base any substantive conversation. 

Brent is asking for everyone's help in addressing these farsical fantasies as well as other Smiley-isms, such as drawing an equivalence between the Fort Hood massacre and the Tea Party protesters.  He advises us:

PBS has an ombudsman now to receive public complaints. Michael Getler should hear from across the country, from Christians and non-Christians alike, that Smiley must provide a retraction and an apology for his scurrilous and bigoted remarks against Christians and the billions that practice that faith. PBS stations across the country accept millions in funding from good-hearted Christian taxpayers who don't deserve to see allegedly "public" broadcasting attacking their integrity.

Seventy-seven percent of Americans call themselves Christian.

People in public broadcasting boast in their pledge drives, direct-mail fundraising letters and congressional testimony that they are an oasis of civility and intelligent discourse. But they host and help fund the unintelligent, inaccurate garbage coming out of the mouth of Tavis Smiley. This trash belongs in the Dumpster.

Do Brent, and indeed us all, a favor and drop the PBS ombudsman a note today about Tavis Smiley's broadcast garbage.  Perhaps between you kind readers, and all of the lefties who hyperventilate about him being an Obama hater simply beacuse he doesn't carry his water like they believe an "authentic" black man should, Tavis can get the hook that he deserves.

Drop a dime, and buy Tavis a steaming cup of STFU!

Rocketman

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