Darby Strong

Playing point. Delivering the rock.

The New and Improved Crusades

by

I live in the Bible Belt. I imagine it to be a real fancy and outlandish belt, like one worn by a princess whose job it is to look pretty and be agreeable, always glistening like cut glass in tar.

I have been around Christian people my whole life; my grandmother was an Eastern Star woman, who wore a dove pin on her shoulder and open heart on her sleeve. She was a true example of a good Christian woman, leaving judgment in the hands of her creator and extending love to all, no matter their religion, sexual orientation, or alternate belief systems. The main lesson I learned from Grandma Rae was to refrain from judging others and to remain compassionate, no matter the situation. She has said to me more than once, “What would Jesus do?”

These are hard lessons, and maintaining compassion in the face of hatred is something I will probably never master, but I try. I am a hedonist, after all, as well as a buddhist, taoist, pagan, and agnostic, all at the same time and sometimes none of them at all. Mostly, I believe that every being deserves respect and dignity. However, I am finding it extremely difficult to extend this compassion and non-judgement to my closed-minded, Bible thumping brothers and sisters who are praising a system that wants to rid the world of anyone not like them.

Jesus IS just all right, but the present day Crusades our moronic administration is conducting has suddenly turned our Christian country into a swarm of obedient and mindless consumers of hate. And proud of it. I see stickers on more than half of the bumpers parked in every church lot from here to Charleston. Please explain to me the idea of war (an unjustified one, at that) in the name of Christianity. I know, I know…they have been married for thousands of years, but it is high time for a divorce.

I have always looked upon this Bible Belt from afar, like a mischievous gypsy observing those faraway lands in her crystal ball. Now, I am IN the crystal ball, and I want to help change the course of the future from hate to at least compassion. For EVERYBODY, including gay, Muslim, Jewish, and even unmarried fornicators like me.

With that said, I keep this quote in mind, by C.P. Snow, an English novelist and scientist:
“When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion.”

Comments

  1. Darby, Darby, Darby…I was wondering how the Bible Belt would affect you? Being a fellow fornicator, at least when I have the chance, I hear you loud and clear. Since today (how appropriate is that, given the context of this piece?) is Hitler’s birthday, I worry about these beliefs of ridding the world of others not like us…or them, as it troubles me. I’m not naive enough, in spite of previous actions that shall remain anonymous might suggest, to think that it couldn’t happen again. I loved your quote and see the wisdom it entails and hope for the best! Like your Grandmother, my Mother, a good Catholic girl, lives her life in peace and leaves the judgment of others to her higher power. I try to do the same and struggle with it at times–maybe that’s just human nature, or mine at least. Having spent a little time in North Carolina, I found it interesting that they have state controlled liquor stores and lots of churches to spread their beliefs of morality–but you can’t drive more than a few miles before you see the topless carwash billboards! Somehow that doesn’t seem to fit, but no one is really having a fit about it, so what can you do? And they wonder why us Yankees live the way we do. Are they secretly plotting to kill us too? If so, I’ll get to the nearest car wash–it’s probably the equivalent to a 60s era bomb shelter! Beware of the missing bikini top!

  2. I am so proud to call you my daughter.I thought about sending this anonymously so that my chest thumping would not be misconstrued as “just parental bragging.” The kudos are well deserved regardless of our association.Funny that you chose this topic now. I found myself in church recently for a few reasons. One to give thanks[reasons you’re aware of] the other to ask for strength to be more tolerant. I find it more comforting being in church on an “off” day rather than being there with a group of fellow worshipers synchronized in prayer. We should all be able to practice our beliefs in a way that works for us. I am interested to see what influence your family has had on you. I hope we have contributed more good than bad. It seems that may be the case. Whatever it is you have taken from these experiences, you have managed to blend, sort and assimilate them to become the amazing individual you are. Soooo from your Not so good Catholic mother, thank you for Darby…long may she reign.

  3. I think it’s high time this old Bible Belt got some new holes drilled in it (to compliment the existing eyelets in Austin, Asheville, Athens and Chapel Hill). With the kind of sharp analysis and fearless critique you’ve displayed here as our auger, we can help do this important work.

  4. Just think how difficult it must have been to witness the genesis of my two, spirited, free thinking, Irish girls and realize I could never win a resolution to a difference of opinion that they agreed on!

  5. Darby! What the heck are you and David doing down there? What happened to Chicago and riding your bike to work? Did you take up Golf? I see a premise for a TV show in this move to SC! BTW- you’ll have to talk to my brother Terry in San Antonio (a BLUE town) about how to survive in the belt without losing your mind or turning republican. Also, we are down/up in Myrtle Beach May 21 through 25. Your Mom and Dad look great at HHS event.