Anonymous Schnonymous, reply to a commenter

Blog commenter, "Jonnie Who", thank you for leaving your thoughts and challenging questions.

As I have mentioned in the past, when reading a person's written statements we do not know the tone of voice or the spirit with which it is written, nor can we see facial expressions...all important pieces of effective communication. Unfortunately, that is what has occurred with my "Confessions of a treadmill walker" post, I believe, and with my heart to ban "Anonymous". Case in point...one of my friend's called me tonight because she was so fired up by your comment that she wanted to post in my defense. I did not feel threatened or fired up by your comment. Two people reading the same comment taking away different intentions...

First, I did not choose the word "confession" because I was sinning and seeking forgiveness. Confession, or declaration, was my intent...a continuation of my journey here in Blogville that is always candid and never tries to portray a picture of perfection...simply stating the reality of things that go through our minds randomly in the blink of an eye. I was being honest, but not mean-spirited at all. If anyone wrote what wandered through their minds in the span of an hour, truthfully speaking that is, not all of it would be perfect.

If you were to know me personally you would know that I was not criticizing any one's clothing. The guy with the shirt cut down to his hips was violating my freedom of sight as much as any other scantily clad person in public. I did not have, nor did I express, an opinion of who I thought the person was, nor did I draw a conclusion that they were less of a person. My observation was that immodest clothing that reveals body parts meant to be covered puts other in a precarious position of not being able to look around a room in peace. When we choose what to wear on any given day modesty is a great baseline, not only for ourselves, but for the benefit of others. It's actually our responsibility.

As far as the zebra print pants...there, again, I was not criticizing or judging the person. It took me back to high school weight training class, hence the "Classic. DUDE!" statements. I grew up in the 80's and 90's and love when people rock those fashions today because I am not swayed by what the fashion industry deems "popular" or "current". There are some clothes "out there" that are bad, but I obviously don't care enough that I would have a show like, "What Not to Wear" or something like that...some of those commentaries are judgmental and even hurtful. Mine certainly was not, and if anyone had been there to read my mind and hear the tone in my head, I do believe you would agree...I was not judging them. I thought it was great! The "Oh no you don't" part of that statement implied "Dude, that rocks! You go!"

Next, as far as the word "stupid" relating to the female suicide bombers, as I wrote it I thought of the words, "brainwashed, dulled, misinformed, ignorant". Truly, though, those women weren't ignorant, so "stupid" is not the appropriate word there. They were informed and convicted enough to believe that killing themselves along with many innocent people, as their "heroes" have done before them, would be for the "good of their people" and Allah. As I looked up the definition for "stupid", dulled and brainwashed more accurately highlighted my intent in using the word "stupid". I was not using it in the way teenagers think of each other or as slang, but in the true sense of the word. And, to clarify, they aren't ignorant because my friend that worked in the Muslim world has revealed a lot about the strict regulations and abusive conditions for Muslim women...they were, in fact, intelligent to free themselves of that world. However, innocent people were murdered in the process. Suicide should be individualistic, not corporately mandated by dictators, or anyone else for that matter.

And, concerning why I am banning "Anonymous" from my blog, the "real reason" is this: as a blog author who has welcomed "Anonymous" in the past and even had debates with some posters, I realized that by continuing to welcome it here and "entertain" their actions is only enabling their unhealthy behavior of hiding behind masks. I don't want to take part in that anymore. I don't want to spend time reading mean, hateful comments by people who do not know me from Adam. I don't want to be their "codependent" or "enabler". As far as emails, I have received emails from people that disagree with me, though they are few and far between, not because few people disagree, but because those that are mean-spirited love to hide and emailing directly would reveal a way to be in dialogue with them candidly...actually engaging them in the true nature of "Freedom of Speech". "Anonymous" is easier. And, those who have emailed me, I have not reciprocated with a "cussing out". My "version" of "cuss" is #$%^&* and I don't use it sparingly here on my blog. What readers input when it comes to #$%^&* is up to them...not a reflection of my thoughts.

Also, "Anonymous", in general, has called me "sadistic" for keeping Noah on a ventilator for 5 months, accused me of not grieving long enough for my son, charged my friend of being "uneducated" about birth control because "Anonymous" thinks my friend has too many children, and quite honestly, I could go on and on. Taking the time to read the hateful posts and then delete them is not worth my heart or time. Hatred can make its home elsewhere.

Finally, Jesus did not hide behind "Anonymous". He openly went to His Father's temple and turned tables on the money changers and blasphemers of the day. He told the dead to bury the dead. He confronted the religious leaders of the day...the learned ones, the teachers and elders. That's what He did. I am not Jesus, nor am I claiming to be Jesus or to act like Him. I claim that He is my Savior, my Lord, and the object of my daily pursuit...and the Giver of my mercies that are new every single day...and the grace which is sufficient for me to take each new breath and place one foot in front of the other. Jesus was perfect. I am a fallen person. "WWJD" is not always the same as WWAD. I make mistakes. I do not follow the law as it states in Galatians because it is imperfect and impossible to follow. I aim to follow Christ, have never claimed to do it perfectly and I happen to have a random sense of humor, which obviously has been mistaken and misconstrued.

As far as "rising up and conducting myself in a manner that would be pleasing to Christ", thank you for that charge...as I seek Him daily, I will wait on Him for His opinion of what that looks like and rely upon His grace that when I am not doing it well, according to His will for His children, He will convict me, discipline me and move me to remain at His feet until He sees fit.

I agree. Obedience to Christ is all that matters...and I've never claimed to be the "perfect Christian". Thank you, "Jonnie Who" for the challenge.

Anonymous Schnonymous

You heard it here first, folks...I am boycotting "Anonymous". Banned. Bye bye.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of "Anonymous" posters that are civil.

I've had "Anonymous" posters that are kind, loving, thoughtful. People with great hearts and great intentions, just no blogger "profile".

I've had "Anonymous" posters that completely disagree with me but are respectful enough not to be nasty about it. We have agreed to disagree and are able to respect each others differences. I don't agree with every other blogger, but I don't go there and publish rude comments.

However, as I've been in and out of "Blogville" for almost 4 years now, I have come across a lot of "Anonymous" posts that are so mean-spirited and hateful, judgmental and opinionated, accusing and hurtful, that I'm just not going to stand for it anymore...not on this blog, anyway!

Recently on a friend's blog, "Anonymous" pulled the "Freedom of Speech" card. There is a difference between "freedom of speech" and "freedom of thought"...that is where anonymity on this blog is being cracked down upon and coming to a close.

We are all free to think anything we want and we are all free to disagree. However, mean-spirited people who "exercise" their "Freedom of Speech" by posting as "Anonymous" are abusing a right that was both fought for and came at a great price. Historically, let's study for a moment the whole concept of "Freedom of Speech" and our rights to be heard.

"Freedom of Speech" is not an American thing. However, being an American and having studied our history some, I know that all of the "Freedoms" you and I enjoy and take part in on a daily basis were given to us as a result of those who have gone before us. And of those, we can name names...there are hundreds and thousands of "Freedom Fighters" that include, but are not limited to: brave ancestors who left their homelands to live here in liberty...Patriots like General George Washington who led our country to freedom from British monarchy...our first governing boards...men and women who fought physically for our freedom from other governing countries...and those in the service who still do...politicians who study the law and work diligently for the people...risk takers like Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass who made war on slavery...people like Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls Lanier, Minnijean Brown Trickey, and Gloria Ray Karlmark, who weren't going to be told they couldn't get an education because of the color of their skin...names...there are many, many names...you have a name, your spouse, your children...

Our whole lives we are told that our names are important...yet why in "Blogville" do so many naysayers hide their opinions and bullying behind "Anonymous"? The bullies who tortured Phoebe Prince all have names...but they abused their "freedoms" and will be losing them shortly. Our faithful military, politicians and freedom fighters did/do not sacrifice their time and lives in order for the rest of us to abuse those rights but instead to be grateful for them and use them wisely and with respect.

Did you know that "Freedom of Speech" has limitations? It's true:

"In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as on "hate speech". "

"It is different from and not to be confused with the concept of freedom of thought."

Here is the wording of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, for clarity sake:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

So, the key above is "peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The last I checked, judgmental "Anonymous" posters are not "peaceable". And, the last I checked, personal, private Blog authors are not the "Government".

So, for anyone caring to comment here in the future, you don't even have to have a full length profile. You can simply use your first name. But use your name and be proud of who you are. And whether you agree with me or not is not the issue. I don't write a blog for people to agree with me. I write a blog in order to get my guts out and live in honesty.

But before you head to another blog and "exercise" what you think is your civil right to be a mean bully and "tell it like it is", think again...that's not your right...and we Blog authors all have the right not to listen anymore.

So, go away "Anonymous"...go far, far away.

And, to any of you Blog authors out there that are over mean-spirited and ugly comments from "Anonymous", please feel free to add my "Anonymous Schnonymous" button to your blog, too, as well as disable capabilities for "Anonymous" posters. Now we'll see who truly cares about their rights to freedom of speech...