Category: Respect

11/16/2020

RESPECT & Microaggressions

Aretha Franklin sang her signature hit R E S P E C T in 1967 as a declaration from a strong, confident woman, who demands the"respect" of her man.

Now 40 years later Aretha's cry for R E S P E C T has been hijacked and ratcheted up with evening news 'shows' reporting/exploiting headlines of sexual misconduct (and worse), bullying, systematic white supremacy, white privilege, (white bread), racism, reverse racism, critical race theory, envy, greed, hatred, and our Universities filled with melting fragile snow-flake students claiming 'micro-aggression' by the man. Whoever the man is.

Well, and as Red Green shares in the 'Man Prayer' .. "I'm a man, I can do better, If I try.. I guess.. Amen.

Don't get me wrong, injustice is a serious matter, but truth often is lost in our GUILTY before proven INNOCENT 'intersectional' virtue signaling society.

The above mentioned microaggressions are defined as the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. In fact in today's progressive thinking.. if I am offended by your views I can consider your words 'an act of violence' towards and can retaliate with real violence like a punch to your nose, or key your car door, or worse.. So beware!

By this 'standard' I have been microaggressed as a white man with a rural Wisconsin upbringing lacking economic opportunities or exposure to a racially diverse culture. Now that I am older I am again microaggressed for wearing bi-focals, and hearing aides by my younger better seeing, hearing, and better looking society.

Truth is I am NOT microaggressed, and I believe it is all 'microaggressed-hogwash'. Life is good but has never been a level playing field. So let's all determine to.. BUCK UP BUTTERCUP!

But back to Aretha's call for RESPECT.. Why do we make RESPECT so complicated? In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus taught us the two greatest commandments ‘Love the Lord your God' with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind .. and.. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'.

If I truly love my neighbor my words and deeds will demonstrate respect, and a nice byproduct is it's difficult to feel micro-aggressed if my focus is on God and others.. leaving little time for all things ME.

As I mull over this blog, I remember a couple years ago I had a job where my boss and I had honest mutual dislike for each other. I believed I was disrespected and mistreated leading to a mutual parting of the ways. Looking back I know I should have handled this better.

Love God? check, love this boss? I did not appreciate, or RESPECT him so loving him like myself wasn't happening.. but it should have. I put my hurt ego over humbling myself and representing Christ. Being disrespected by my boss was BEYOND a microaggression to me. He told me he did not like me, and I did not quietly work on improving this. I would follow orders, but if the look on my face could tell a thousand words.. then he knew I did not like him or respect him. Two wrongs certainly did not make a right, and I was responsible for my part/wrong in this failed workplace scenario.

So my prayer coming from this bad experience is to get my eyes off of ME, love God, and care for others... even when the others are bosses from a no good very bad day.

So today I pray we all love God with all our hearts, and uses each of us to be the hands and feet for those who are in need, even maybe your enemies. (note these are God's two greatest commandments, not two greatest suggestions) May our hearts, words, and actions always be compassionate and RESPECTFUL to others in this hurting world, and I pray for God's loving presence and perspective when we are disrespected and/or mistreated by others.

Jeff (micro-REgressed?) Larson

p.s. On a lighter note, I would like to share a clip regarding Injustice inherent in the system at the time of King Arthur. Repression Inherent in the System. <-- click here for a chuckle

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8/24/2020

2 Comments

The Great FLAME MAIL of 2011

Today, I am remembering the great FLAME MAIL of 2011.

let me begin by saying I do not expect everyone to agree with me and in fact I would not advise everyone to agree with me all the time, BUT.. bottom-line I believe God loves everyone, but requires a repentant heart seeking Him.... as outlined in John 3:16.

So with all this out there, I want to post the last words from my disgruntled reader from 2011. I am not doing this to mock him but I think it is interesting how upset this man was. I do feel sorry that he was this upset with me, BUT.. what's a cartoonist to do? <pause>.. DRAW!

I tried words, the replied to his email with images and comments from the Back Pew. Forgive me if you think this is taunting or mocking.. I do not intend this, but I do want to put this to rest.. as my frustration has subsided,

As any reader of the Back Pew realizes, I am not a theologian, I am not a pastor, but instead I am just a guy who 'draws' (cartoon) unto to the Lord so he will draw near to me.

note: Twitter & Facebook have now become the home of spiritual flame-throwing. These are places where disagreements escalate into cries of FALSE TEACHER or HERETIC. Maybe many of these tweets are true, but I am not sure Social Media is the best forum for deciding who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell.

now without delay.. here is the flaming email from 2011.

-- BEGINNING from the computer of the frowning flamer-- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST
I continued to write because you are wrong, you are a double-minded man.
I continued to write because you cannot defend what you believe. Goodness, you couldn't even answer a few simple verses!
I continued to write because I am duty bound as a Christian to do so.
You have no idea who Calvin or Luther or Knox or Kennedy or Sproul are.
You know you're ignorant. You know you know nothing about theology. You have no training at all, and what you do have, is so off base on even an Arminain or Reformed perspective (you espouse a Universalist theology-- and you are bound for Hell if you persist!) . Yet you will persist.
What a two-faced hypocrite. And a scared one at that, writing all those verses and then telling me I couldn't respond. What a joke you are.
What kind of man are you, where you can't even defend what you think in any kind of coherent manner?
Don't bother writing back. I've unsubbed from your nonsense blurbs, and have blocked your e-mail.
You will be in Hell if you continue in your Universalist beliefs (again, look that term up, as you don't even know what it is).
-- END from the computer of the frowning flamer-- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST

Ouch.. I am a bit slow some times, but .. I don't think this guy likes me. So let me post the same comments with a few Back Pew images inserted as I see fitting. I think in Proverbs it says .. 'If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.. or if you are a cartoonist, draw cartoons'.

-- BEGINNING same FLAME w/ BP Rebuttals -- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST
- I continued to write because you are wrong, you'er a double-minded man.
- I continued to write because you cannot defend what you believe. Goodness, you coulnd't even answer a few simple verses!
I can't argue this.. I know I struggle with migraines, and I bruise like a peach.

- I continued to write because I am duty bound as a Christian to do so.
thanks.. I guess.. but please put down those stones!
- You have no idea who Calvin or Luther or Knox or Kennedy or Sproul are.
and I know Kennedy was the Catholic president. (well at least I got three right.. didn't I?)
No? Really?
- You know you're ignorant.
(note: if i am ignorant, i probably don't know it.. since isn't that the problem with being ignorant?.. you just don't know)
- You know you know nothing about theology. You have no training at all, and what you do have, is so off base on even an Arminain or Reformed perspective (you espouse a Universalist theology-- and you are bound for Hell if you persist!) . Yet you will persist.

Sorry, not a universalist.. I believe in Heaven, and Hell. John 3:16 gives us the great news God loves us.. BUT.. the ball is in our court. We must believe, and we must honor God with our lives... in words and deeds. Very serious stuff.. but very very good.
- What a two-faced hypocrite. And a scared one at that, writing all those verses and then telling me I couldn't respond.
- What a joke you are.
ahhh so you have been reading my emails. I am like everyone.. I need Jesus daily... and I like jokes. <pause> is that what you meant by me being a joke? Maybe not... again.. the above noted ignorance is bliss

- What kind of man are you, where you can't even defend what you think in any kind of coherent manner?
but i did pass the pop quiz at our church last Sunday .. so I pay attention sometimes.
- Don't bother writing back. I've unsubbed from your nonsense blurbs, and have blocked your e-mail.
You will be in Hell if you continue in your Universalist beliefs (again, look that term up, as you don't even know what it is).
Well.. On your way out, don't let the door hit ya, where the good Lord split ya.
-- END same FLAME w/ BP Rebuttals -- dateline: 1/19/2011, around 3pm CST

So again, a cartoon rebuttal is what I do. Most of it is tongue-in-cheek.. I pray today we are kind to each other. That our words are well chosen, and have meaning. As Christians there is a spiritual urgency that is different from our Secular world causing great angst and division.. BUT ALSO.. within the church there is also great angst and division. It is ok (very OK ) to disagree with each other, but I pray we are respectful and kind, and understanding.

May God bless each of you in your pursuit of His truth. Love God with all your heart, and be kind to each other.

Jeff (a bit singed) Larson

Final note: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 ESV.
While I was flamed in the above email, I am reminded and convicted to do better myself. I can be direct, terse, and think skinned at times in my words. I pray for forgiveness and desire to do better.

2 Comments

11/12/2019

1 Comment

RESPECT and Microagressions?

Aretha Franklin sang her signature hit R E S P E C T in 1967 as a declaration from a strong, confident woman, who demands the"respect" of her man.

Now 40 years later Aretha's cry for R E S P E C T has been hijacked and ratcheted up with evening news 'shows' reporting/exploiting headlines of sexual misconduct (and worse), bullying, systematic white supremacy, white privilege, (white bread), racism, reverse racism, envy, greed, hatred, and our Universities filled with melting fragile snow-flake students claiming 'micro-aggression' by the man. Whoever the man is.

Don't get me wrong, injustice is a serious matter, but truth often is lost in our GUILTY before proven INNOCENT 'intersectional' virtue signalling society.

The above mentioned microaggressions are defined as the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. In fact in today's progressive thinking.. if I disagree with your views I can consider your words 'an act of violence' towards and can retaliate with real violence like a punch in the nose, or key your car door, or worse.. So beware!

By this 'standard' I have been microaggressed as a white man with a rural Wisconsin upbringing lacking economic opportunities or exposure to a racially diverse culture. Now that I am older I am again microaggressed for wearing bi-focals, and hearing aides by my younger better seeing, hearing, and looking co-workers.

Truth is I am NOT microaggressed, and I believe it is all 'microaggressed-hogwash'. Life is good but has never been a level playing field. So let's all determine to.. BUCK UP BUTTERCUP!

But back to Aretha's call for RESPECT.. Why do we make RESPECT so complicated? In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus taught us the two greatest commandments ‘Love the Lord your God' with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind .. and.. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'.

If I truly love my neighbor my words and deeds will demonstrate respect, and a nice byproduct is it's difficult to feel micro-aggressed if my focus is on God and others.. leaving little time for all things ME.

As I mull over this blog, I remember a couple years ago I had a job where my boss and I had honest mutual dislike for each other. I believed I was disrepected and mistreated leading to a mutual parting of the ways. Looking back I know I should have handled this better. Love God? check, love this boss? I did not appreciate, or RESPECT him so loving him like myself wasn't happening.. but it should have. I put my hurt ego over humbling myself and representing Christ. So my prayer coming from this bad experience is to get my eyes off of ME, love God, and care for others... even when the others are bosses from a no good very bad day.

So today I pray we all love God with all our hearts, and uses each of us to be the hands and feet for those who are in need, even maybe your enemies. (note these are God's two greatest commandments, not two greatest suggestions) May our hearts, words, and actions always be compassionate and RESPECTFUL to others in this hurting world, and I pray for God's loving presence and perspective when we are disrespected and/or mistreated by others.

Jeff (micro-REgressing?) Larson

p.s. On a lighter note, I would like to share a clip regarding Injustice inherent in the system at the time of King Arthur. Repression Inherent in the System. <-- click here for a chuckle

1 Comment

RESPECT & Microaggressions

The Great FLAME MAIL of 2011

RESPECT and Microagressions?

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