Heh. I noticed the same thing about that inane bumper sticker. The not-so-subtle implication is that we are all equally responsible when certain groups don't get along.
Wow, I wasn't expecting this to elicit such a strong response. Just found it on Facebook and thought it was kind of clever.
If you take the words at face value, then the sticker is not only not anti-Christian but is completely bland and harmless. No one remotely in the mainstream of American political or cultural life is arguing that people with differing religious beliefs shouldn't be allowed to live and practice here or that we shouldn't all try to get along peacefully.
That is what makes me believe there is an agenda behind the sticker. It is saying something that seems non-controversial, yet I often find it accompanied on vehicles by other very controversial stickers, almost always left-wing and sometimes at least vaguely anti-Christian. I think many people use it to imply they they are open-minded and tolerant, unlike those bigoted right-wing Christians who think only their way is right. I see it as sort of like the bumper stickers "Hatred is not a family value" or "God bless the whole world - no exceptions" or "Straight but not narrow." On the surface those messages seem reasonable and even incontrovertible, but they are in fact taking a subtle potshot at someone else.
I'm sure not everyone intends to send that message with their "Coexist" stickers. But some do, I'm sure.
BTW, thanks for the other kind comments about the blog. :)
I suppose there are really a couple of different ways of looking at that bumper sticker. In my other comment, I was viewing the sticker more through the prism of American politics & culture. I suppose another interpretation of the "coexist" message is the idea that globally, people from all different belief systems should get along and live in peace.
Viewed from this perspective, the sticker is not anti-Christian, but it certainly seems to have a utopian perspective that is very disconnected from reality. It's like the sticker "Visualize world peace." Sure, it's a nice sentiment, but realistically it will never happen. The image in this post simply expresses the reality that many of these belief systems are in virtually inevitable conflict with one another, and no amount of simplistic bumper stickers will change that. After all, in most Islamic countries dissent from Islam is a virtual death warrant.
4 comments:
Heh. I noticed the same thing about that inane bumper sticker. The not-so-subtle implication is that we are all equally responsible when certain groups don't get along.
Wait- you feel like Christians are being persecuted here?
You are getting anti-christian vibes from that bumper sticker?
Most of the content here is properly researched, thoughtful, and well written, but the paranoia on display here is crazy.
Wow, I wasn't expecting this to elicit such a strong response. Just found it on Facebook and thought it was kind of clever.
If you take the words at face value, then the sticker is not only not anti-Christian but is completely bland and harmless. No one remotely in the mainstream of American political or cultural life is arguing that people with differing religious beliefs shouldn't be allowed to live and practice here or that we shouldn't all try to get along peacefully.
That is what makes me believe there is an agenda behind the sticker. It is saying something that seems non-controversial, yet I often find it accompanied on vehicles by other very controversial stickers, almost always left-wing and sometimes at least vaguely anti-Christian. I think many people use it to imply they they are open-minded and tolerant, unlike those bigoted right-wing Christians who think only their way is right. I see it as sort of like the bumper stickers "Hatred is not a family value" or "God bless the whole world - no exceptions" or "Straight but not narrow." On the surface those messages seem reasonable and even incontrovertible, but they are in fact taking a subtle potshot at someone else.
I'm sure not everyone intends to send that message with their "Coexist" stickers. But some do, I'm sure.
BTW, thanks for the other kind comments about the blog. :)
I suppose there are really a couple of different ways of looking at that bumper sticker. In my other comment, I was viewing the sticker more through the prism of American politics & culture. I suppose another interpretation of the "coexist" message is the idea that globally, people from all different belief systems should get along and live in peace.
Viewed from this perspective, the sticker is not anti-Christian, but it certainly seems to have a utopian perspective that is very disconnected from reality. It's like the sticker "Visualize world peace." Sure, it's a nice sentiment, but realistically it will never happen. The image in this post simply expresses the reality that many of these belief systems are in virtually inevitable conflict with one another, and no amount of simplistic bumper stickers will change that. After all, in most Islamic countries dissent from Islam is a virtual death warrant.
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