The Good Stuff V

... their god is the belly ...

 - From Philippians 3

Paul writes to the Philippians, a plea that they control themselves. Follow his example. Keep it steady. Do not take the bait. Go around snares placed in your path. Do not engage. Keep calm.

Patience is a virtue. But even that phrase I have heard mocked by modern voices.

I am not patient with racists and xenophobes.

I'm sure Paul had to deal with a lot worse than we do. But we have to deal with plenty.

The correct response to their anger is patience. But our patience makes them even more angry. Most of them time, it feels like a lose-win proposition. We lose, they win.

I'm going to make the point on-line, since their refrain is that they only want to make things "fair":

It is not fair for us to operate according to basic rules of etiquette, which they ignore, or denounce. They do not have to be nice to "racists." Therefore they do not have to listen to anything you say. We abhor use of violent and vulgar language. So we exit discussions that go that route. They get the last word. They win.

It isn't fair. Tell them this. We believe in respecting all people, and they don't. We believe in being patient and forbearing, and they don't. Point this out to them. They get to dominate the dialogue (if you can call it that) by interjecting words and phrases that are offensive to us . . . creating environments that we are trained to remove ourselves from.

It isn't fair.

But the ultimate root of their anger is not our patience. The root is related to patience.

We advocate a lifestyle that is not focused on the immediate, the instant gratification. Their God is their belly. They want to feel good, and they want to feel good now. If I "feel" good, then it must be good . . . and if other people don't feel good when I do, there must be something wrong with them. That's serving your "belly." You feed your hungers and desires; your animal drives. And oyu feed it now . . . however you can. No waiting. No development of maturity. No honor. No loyalty. No respect for others.

We are a counter-weight to that addictive type of lifestyle. And as all their needs must be fulfilled NOW . . . their need to silence us almost must be fulfilled now.

But patience is a virtue. Someone has to keep control of the situation.

And that's another part of The Good Stuff. I recommend it.