How far would you go to stand up for your beliefs?

[Bouncy Ball]

Scopes was willing to be (and was) arrested for teaching evolution.

People marched in the 60s for civil rights (and were beaten and sprayed with water hoses and attacked by police dogs).

What would you do? Where is the line for you? Does it depend on the issue? Are there other factors that come into play for you (ie: you have children and aren't willing to risk your life because you are a parent, etc.)?

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. At this point, I sometimes think if I'm not willing to risk my life for my

children, they'll be risking it for me. I've reached the place where I'm ready for anything and I'm not shutting up and watching a beautiful country fall to ruins at the hands of a power hungry administration. :hi:

[Bouncy Ball]

2. I hear ya.

That's the point I'm at, too.

[technophobe]

3. Mostly it would depend on the issue

I feel strongly opposed to the war in Iraq and the possibility of a coming war in Iran. I think we should fight against the push of the neoconservative ideal of dominion and hegemony in the Middle East that is bankrupting our nation. It has NOTHING to do with fighting terrorism and everything with controlling the oil supply and for THAT, I am not willing to die.

My life and the lives of my children isn't worth some fatcat's portfolio.

[newyawker99]

22. Hi technophobe!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mongo]

4. I risk arrest every day of the week

Just to sell you a porno.

State law - up to 1 year in Jail and $1,000 fine
Federal law - up to 5 years in Jail and $5,000 fine.

and it's not like I'm getting rich either. My wife and I have been working 50+ hours/week for over 2 years without a break for less than minimum wage and no health insurance.

Although when we opened this place we though we'd be at least making ends meet by now.

[Bouncy Ball]

5. And speaking on behalf of all Americans who have watched

and enjoyed it, I thank you.

:D

[Tux]

6. As a non-Christian

I'll hide all my Buddhist stuff to Christians can't destory it. When the time comes for convertion or death, it's on to the end. Since they want to kill non-Christians, I'll fight them each step of the way. We can't allow Christians to kill people just for not bieng Christian and not doing as they please.

Too bad we can't ban and deport them.

Bad mood again since I live in the Bible Belt were I can't get a job till I accept Christ according to several employers.

[mcscajun]

7. "I can't get a job till I accept Christ according to several employers."

:wtf:

They've actually SAID this to you?

[Tux]

8. Yes

I must either attend thier church, or read the Bible a lot, or be a Christian of their type. At least for either employment or a stable schedule for grad school (all gave me a weird look of anger since CHristianity is anti-education).

[mcscajun]

10. Sounds like it's time to 'get outta Dodge' and find someplace more

amenable to your goals.

[Tux]

16. Sure

It'd drain what money I have and risk losing what I have. I do have a job interview for a Canadian company Thursday so they won't be Jesus freaks.

Is it just me or are CHristians so scared that they could (are) wrong that they will discriminate against anyone they think disagrees with them? I graduated from Eastern Michigan University and to some employers that is reason enough for me not to have a job.

[mcscajun]

17. I'm not sure about the fear.

A superficial reading of the behavior would be overbearing righteousness.

Good luck with the Canadian company.

[knitter4democracy]

19. Whoa. That's really bad.

I mean, EMU's a good school. Of course, there's that, um, odd tower and all, but it's a good school.

Where are you looking? I've never had any employer anywhere I've been in Michigan ask me about my faith or make any kinds of comments on it at all.

[Tux]

23. I'm in KY

Town has Western Kentucky University. Employers here like them but the last 2 elections made people feel that we godless liberals are out to take jobs away from Christians.

[knitter4democracy]

24. I'm sorry.

That's such a hard thing to go through. Apparently they've forgotten that you're their neighbor, too.

[Az]

9. This is what concerns me the most

I am not a believer. Not in religious issues anyway. We all have beliefs. And stand by the beliefs I do have very strongly. I can only imagine what a terror I would have been had I been raised by fundamentalists.

Belief is killer in some hands and a salvation in others.

[bobthedrummer]

11. Well, I've been shot at 7 times since 1968 here in America.

Is that what you mean, BB?

[Bouncy Ball]

12. Well, yeah.

Were you protesting something at the time?

[bobthedrummer]

13. No, I got gassed, and clubbed at protests.

As I recall the shooting attempts about 3 were because of my anti-fascism, 2 were racially motivated, 1 was being in the wrong place at the wrong time and the last time (1991) involved a gang our daughter got involved with.

All the shots missed, but one never forgets them.

I am all for non-violent confrontation today.

[FlemingsGhost]

14. SIx foot, one half inch.

... unless I'm on my tippy toes

[lonestarnot]

15. Don't know how far I would go as I have not been there yet.... I keep

traveling, trying not to cross the line into violence, but when I filled up with gas today something came over me.. LOL started yelling FUCK YOU BUSH! YOU BITCH! everyone was looking at me....This person is MAD! Yep guess I went a little mad! LOL

[H2O Man]

18. It's becoming the only question,

isn't it? How far are we willing to go? As individuals. Because we are in a fear-driven, violent society, that question too often sounds like a call to fearful, violent "action." We have the national media acting as a mouthpiece for the most paranoid and violent administration in our nation's history, urging people to give uptheir individuality, and to become part of the conscienesless crowd.

But your question speaks more to that still, small voice of conscience that asks us to reject fear, and to refuse to be violent. Could the actions of perhaps even a small number of citizens wake the nation up from the nightmare of fear and violence? Because that is what we need to do: wake up. Once we are awake and conscious of our humanity, the rest will fall into place.

[Squeech]

20. Reminds me

of a quote attributed to General Patton, which as best I remember goes something like this:

"You're not here to die for your country. You're here to make the other son of a bitch die for his country!"

Of course the fatal irony is, in this case they're the same country.

[meganmonkey]

21. Kick

Single (although attached), child-free...I love my job, but I have an excellent boss who would understand if I ended up arrested or something. So no strings, no weight.

I would certainly go to jail - not for 'my beliefs' per se, rather to uphold the true values of this nation e.g. freedom, and to protest misuse of power and our government's illegal activities and un-American priorities (although I suppose it my beliefs that define those things to me...). I go to protests pretty regularly, been to DC for a couple, and I know that arrest is always a possibility these days just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I think this thread needs a kick. I think just about any thread that isn't about you-know-what needs a kick!!!