Why don't Americans have Evangelicals shut up?

[Sea_Hunter]

You have raised several good points about Americans. No, sadly we do lack a sense of humor about our country, and you are quite right, about many things we show a very two sided face about. But, that's the wonder of America in a good way.
Not so long ago the Dutch printed cartoons that showed Mohamad. The Islamic world went nutz, rioted, and threatened death to all. Let us use that as a scale of intolerance. If that death to all rates a ten, then the Evangelicals in America hardly rate a three.
No, they do not like gays, abortion, non-"christians" (note the word christian in quotes) and I suspect even themselves too much. They take "Holyer than thow" to all new extreams. They thump the bible, slam the bible, thrust it in your face, and havn't figured out yet that the bible they are thumping, slaming, and thrusting was written by an English King named James. How an English King became the final authority on God is not a question any of them seem able to answere.
But, so what? So they offend anyone who asks a question, or has a mind. So what? I can only be offended by stupidity if I allow it. The best way to deal with their behavior is with a sad shake of the head. Now if they start blowing up colleges, or quickie marts, then perhaps action should be taken. Until then, lets allow freedom of speach keep it place in America.
Given the choice to silence stupidity and give up freedom of speach, or let the idiots rave like lunitics howling at the moon, I'll let the idiots howl.
No, America is not loved, nor is it likely to be no matter who is elected. We are far to brash and loud. We have incredible power. We are free. Ok, so the rest of the world hates us. I don't live in terror because of it, I just wish at least one of our politicans would get us the hell out of the UN. Is America likely to change? I suspect the rest of the world hopes it does not. For all of our faults, and we have many, America remains the last best hope for more than half the worlds people. They do everything they can to come here, to live here, to enjoy the freedoms that we do have.
So, yes, all that you said is so right. All the points you made so good. I mean that. But when the final tally is made, freedoms that we still have somehow outweigh the bad. The strident voices of evangelicals are overcome by the reason of free minds in a free society. We are not Voltares best of all worlds. But compaired to the rest of the world, we are better than most. We are not the shining light on the mountain top, at best we are a campfire on a hill. But still, that faint light in a world so darkened by intolerance is a light of hope.
So, lets let the evangelicals screach. Let us try to rise above the level of offence taken. And above all, let us both, your country and mine, keep freedom of speach more sacred to us, than a bible written by an English King is sacred to them.
Hunter.

[damyanti]

But, so what? So they offend anyone who asks a question, or has a mind. So what? I can only be offended by stupidity if I allow it. The best way to deal with their behavior is with a sad shake of the head.

So what? That is precisely my beef! Why don't the rest of you use your freedom of speech and say loud and clear - you do not speak for all of us and you do not represent American values?

So what? I think tens of thousands of dead Iraqis, crippled children, thousands of soldiers who were scared by war, every person who has to pay atrocious amounts of money for gas, families who lost their homes and jobs because of catastrophic economical policy, every times my life is arbitrarily affected by a man whom I haven't elected to power....would object to your laconic way of letting them go about their business.

Evil prospers when good men do nothing.

No, America is not loved, nor is it likely to be no matter who is elected. We are far to brash and loud. We have incredible power. We are free. Ok, so the rest of the world hates us. I don't live in terror because of it, I just wish at least one of our politicans would get us the hell out of the UN. Is America likely to change? I suspect the rest of the world hopes it does not. For all of our faults, and we have many, America remains the last best hope for more than half the worlds people. They do everything they can to come here, to live here, to enjoy the freedoms that we do have.

That is the biggest delusion you Americans have! The only thing that made your greatness great was your military ability and your advance scientific researches. Your politicians love "hard on crime" campaigns, apparently Bush's was "hard on science". And the only thing your are capable blowing up these days is too rude to say, lol. Europe has culture and diplomatic "power horses" like Merkel and even, Sarkozy. Russians and Indians are the New World billionaires. Australia is the new "land of the opportunity". Land of personal liberties has become a dictatorship, in all but name, and Canada is the new "land of the free" and a shining beacon of democracy.

It bothers us when Americans think that the World revolves around them and don't recognize that America is a part of the World.

But when the final tally is made, freedoms that we still have somehow outweigh the bad. The strident voices of evangelicals are overcome by the reason of free minds in a free society. We are not Voltares best of all worlds. But compaired to the rest of the world, we are better than most.

Perhaps, arguably, freedoms that you have left; but allow McCain and Palin to be elected and we will see, with your attitude, how many of those that have barely survived this long, will still be here in another 8 years. USA these days is seen as little more than dictatorship. And if your argument that you are better is comparison with Islamic Fundamentalists...how low the criteria has gotten.

"we are better than most", where do you people come up with such pretensions...no, you are not better than most, sorry to burst your bubble...but you are worse then most. You are better than some.