"The road to hell is paved with good intentions"
Meaning well, wanting to help, but causing more harm than good.
I remember my a.dad and I used to have these "deep conversations" about People, and how so many of them would talk about how much they cared about others, and wished to do more to help them, only to create bigger problems caused by mistakes and neglect.
He called these People "bleeding-heart liberals". Democrats. He would then go on to his own pearls of wisdom like: "You can find 'sympathy' between shit and syphilis in the dictionary" or "Honey is bee shit".
To know the man, well, is to love his intentions. He wanted me to be prepared for the harsh realities of life; people say one thing, but often do another.
My a.dad seemed to forget he was talking to the daughter who was not good enough to be kept, but good enough to be sold to another couple.
[Of course, I couldn't discuss that philosophy with him, because it would get him upset -- so why cause trouble when I didn't have to?]
Funny thing about those "speeches" as I called them.... they were often spoken at me when we were alone, usually waiting for my a. mother. He would often drive her to work, so I would go with him to pick her up. He usually left a half-hour early, and she always ran late, so we had lots of Quality Car-Time to chat. Once she could be seen exiting the building, he would clam-up and put-on his dutiful-dad persona -- the one that greeted his wife as if all he cared about was how her day went.
I miss those days of us getting caught-up in conversation, but I by no means miss the mixed-messages he'd send by telling me one set of rules, then living according to a whole different set. Continuity and consistency would have worked much better.
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Bleeding from the cross
Wasn’t Jesus A Liberal?
by Gary Vance
Liberalism has been under assault for years now. The battering of this grand political philosophy has altered the contemporary definition of liberal to the point that Conservatives use it as a profane word. They use it to paint a political opponent as anti-God and anti-American. It has gotten to the point that moderate and liberal Christians are afraid to be open about their political leanings. Sadly, it even affects their conscience and choices as they enter the voting booth. This is particularly troubling to me as a Christian evangelical minister who loves America.
Liberalism as defined by Webster’s Third New International Dictionary: “a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of man, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for tolerance and freedom for the individual from arbitrary authority in all spheres of life…”
I am not sure why anyone would feel threatened by Liberalism as defined by the dictionary. They are apparently unaware or simply refuse to acknowledge the long history of liberals who have labored for the betterment of society and the furthering of God’s Kingdom.
The labor movement of the early twentieth century was aided significantly when major Christian denominations got behind it. No average American would have a fair wage today if it weren’t for liberal Christians and labor activists. Liberal Christians and civil rights activists fought and still fight against conservative America for racial equality. Child labor laws were enacted because liberals fought for them. Medicare and Social Security exist today because of Liberalism. “Bleeding heart liberals” have long advocated for the homeless, the hungry, the less fortunate, and the disenfranchised. The women of America owe liberals a big thank you for their almost equal rights. “Tree hugging liberals” fight for clean air and water standards instead of favoring industrial polluters and short term profiteering that destroy God’s green earth.
Liberals believe in affordable health care for all U.S. citizens. They also believe in higher taxes for the rich and lower taxes for the middle class and the poor. Liberals love their spouses and children. Liberals faithfully attend their churches to worship God. Liberals love America and hate terrorism and have proved it by fighting in every war for this country. Liberals come in all shapes, sizes, and color. They are found in the ranks of Protestants, Catholics, Jews, agnostics, and atheists.
Conservative Republican policies generally favor the wealthy and ignore the needs of the poor. Their policies are so often greed-driven, with no concern for the environmental or societal consequences for their exploitive actions. Jesus plainly taught that the love of money is the root of all evil. So, Christians can go after the various “fruit” of sin in our society, but they won’t see the real change for the better until the axe is laid to the root. Christians should oppose greed-driven policies as a primary point of political concern.
I am sick of reading letters to the editor and editorials that paint Democrats and liberals as anti-God and anti-American and that portray conservative Republicans as the only true Christian patriots. We know that many Democrats are pro-choice and many support gay issues and this troubles most evangelicals. Democrats also support causes that should be of Christian concern that go untouched by Republicans. I have listed some in the above paragraphs. True prophetic vision sees that there is great need for repentance on the left and the right. The effects of powerful lobbyists, special interest groups, greed and corruption abound on both sides of the aisles of Congress. God sees it all and so should Christians. Christian voters need to see that God’s heart breaks over more than just a few political and moral issues. It is time to take off our blinders and mourn for the sorry state of affairs that is American politics.
Jesus was the ultimate liberal progressive revolutionary of all history. The conservative religious and social structure that He defied hated and crucified Him. They examined His life and did not like what they saw. He aligned Himself with the poor and the oppressed. He challenged the religious orthodoxy of His day. He advocated pacifism and loving our enemies. He liberated women and minorities from oppression. He healed on the Sabbath and forgave adulterers and prostitutes. He associated with drunks and other social outcasts. He rebuked the religious right of His day because they embraced the letter of the law instead of the Spirit. He loved sinners and called them to Himself. Jesus was the original Liberal. He was a progressive, and He was judged and hated for it. It was the self-righteous religionists that He rebuked and He called them hypocrites.
The primary issues of Christian Liberalism were birthed when Jesus spoke the profoundly prophetic words found in Matthew 25: 31-46. These scriptures reveal God’s heart for the poor, the sick and other neglected people through out history. Christians should read this text and judge for themselves which of the two groups mentioned there more accurately reflect the political parties of today. His Liberalism lives on today and the issues have not changed much.
I am glad that conservative Republican candidates advocate for the family and a few Christian issues, but we must quit pretending that they are the only ones that Christians should consider voting for. People should not call themselves pro-life if they are only anti-abortion and yet feel no twinge of conscience over the unfair application of capital punishment or wars fought for dubious motives. A true pro-life position cares just as passionately for the born as the un-born and views war as a last resort when all other options are exhausted.
Christians should look for candidates that will work for issues that are of importance to Christ and that can be tackled legislatively. Sadly, most of those causes have historically been opposed, ignored, and minimized by conservative Republican policy makers. They seem to dangle the moral issues carrot around election time. Then, even with a Republican controlled White House and Congress, prove themselves powerless to do anything about those issues when they convene to legislate. Issues such as eliminating poverty and homelessness in America, true equal rights for all citizens, environmental protection, a fair minimum wage, affordable health care, and lowering our infant mortality rate all go unattended. That’s just to name a few.
I have some questions for the Christian Right. Why have you not held our current elected majority officials accountable for their failure to address the full spectrum of Christian issues? Why would you vote for them again?
It is time for Christians of conscience to stand up to religious and political hypocrisy. Christians should proudly proclaim progressive values today and should advocate for the Christian Liberalism that is our heritage and our legacy.
Gary Vance (Lezlo2025@wmconnect.com) lives in Loretto, Tennessee
False whatevers
Coming from a country that is probably the pinnacle of bleeding heart liberalism, a country where liberalism is even considered right winged, I have a hard time relating to the rhetoric mentioned in those "deep conversations", though I as much agree with it as I disagree.
I guess the true blue liberal sees people as basically good, where the hard edged conservatives see people as inherently bad, while the truth is we are probably both at times. Despite all good intentions wellfare in the Netherlands is being profited from by people who don't deserve it, nor need it, yet at the same time it isn't harming the country all that much. Countries that have lower standards of welfare, fare less well. With all measures to help people there are false negatives (people that need it but don't get the help) and false positives (peoples that don't need it, but do get it). I see bleeding heart liberals having a stong focus on the first, while hard edge conservatives having a primary focus on the second. Outrage over either is stupid and single minded, since both will always be there.
Another aspect I do see, which I am most concerned about is the institutionalization of doing well. Many programs, organization and the like, start out with good intentions, only to end up doing harm in their outcome. I bet Edna Gladney had no ill intentions when she started working for the Texas Children's Home and Aid Society and I guess most people working for the organization that now bears her name feel they are doing children a favour, while in all reality they don't. The same is true about many charities working in third world countries, the quotation system in forstercare adoption in the UK etc. etc. etc. What once started as a noble initiative soon ends up becoming a self serving system that feasts upon the rhetoric of its well-doing, while turning a blind eye upon the reality it is facing.
Liberals make the mistake of
Liberals make the mistake of assuming people are good and honest, that no social worker is incompetent or corrupt or overworked or just too burned out to bother. They assume that if the parents are really trying, the social workers will help them. They assume everyone cares more about children than about CYA.
Republicans' mistake is being too cynical, assuming that poor people are poor because they're too stupid and lazy to be rich, and that it's a waste of time bothering to try to help them. They'd rather just have children quickly auctioned off to the highest bidder and have the social workers go work at McDonalds'.
I keep coming back to a conversation with a friend about Star Trek. It bothered me that the Enterprise crew always looked down on more "primitive" races like the Ferengi who placed money above morality. Who were they to judge? They didn't have to worry about having enough money for food, or running out of gas for the Enterprise. All their needs were met, and they could act out all their fantasies in the halodeck. My friend responded "Oh, they are limousine liberals!" I see the same attitude way too often in literature on preventing child abuse. They've just never dealt with the problems troubled families face, they never had a friend who got stuck in a group home that reeked of urine because kids weren't allowed to leave their rooms to use the bathroom at night, they've never experienced the heartbreaks, but they think they can figure out the solutions to these problems? They need to shut up and listen to the people who have BTDT.
Life-Experience
Well put! Child abuse and neglect are not limited to "certain types" or classes. Money is not the same as a loving Mommy, and the sooner it's accepted pills do not replace people, the sooner personal responsibility and accountability can be taken more seriously.
The price of asuming the best
These were the words of Chris Few, independent chairman of the LSCB Following publication of a review of "Child JR Born September 2005 Died November 2005" by Northamptonshire's Local Safeguarding Children Board.
Of the 30 or more 'professionals' that came into contact with the baby during the last 10 days of her short life every one managed to absolve themselves of any blame. 'Optimism' is obviously the new word for 'forget her, she'll be alright'.
Not one photograph exsists of Jessica Randell in life. No one ever bothered to take one. Her 54 days of life consisted of continual sexual and physical abuse by her father. 20 or so fractures, new and old, blood clots, bleeding and bruises, cuts and abrasions, all corrupted her under-weight frame. Any physical signs where invisible through the glow of optimism it would seem.
A paediatrician contacted a GP and health visitor because of "welfare concerns". A child protection nurse was told that social worker involvement would "compromise" the health visitor's relationship with the parents. Oh forever the optimist! Yet another innocent babe failed by Social Services.
adaptingmyidentity.blogspot.com/2008/02/child-with-no-face.html
Rest in peace little Jessica, in your name I will keep fighting for change.