tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post8360835878865929302..comments2024-03-19T07:36:33.915-04:00Comments on Of Battered Aspect: And I Didn't Even SneezeDave Hingsburgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918601687946534172noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-65584030686719938772013-12-06T13:30:37.797-05:002013-12-06T13:30:37.797-05:00I come at it both as a disabled person, and as an ...I come at it both as a disabled person, and as an atheist (I don't like religion, although I do not wish to offend a person of faith nor seek to shake their beliefs).<br /><br />The first encounter you describe, I would probably respond in exactly the same way you did. It is a person expressing appreciation for the actions of another person, in a way that fits her particular social and cultural framework. It is the phrase she most readily associates with feelings of gratitude and warm, kind wishes to another person. No problem.<br /><br />The second encounter, I have the same problem as you do with the attitude of "you are broken and need fixing, God doesn't want you to be <i>like that</i>." It starts with Othering, with classifying a disabled person as needy and inferior.<br /><br />But then I also have the problem of someone's religion being pushed into my face. If she wishes to pray for anyone that's her own affair, quite literally between her and her god. Why is she bringing me into it? Why is she pursuing it after being politely told No? If she's asking (truly asking and thus listening to the answer before acting) for my permission or participation, that means being prepared to respect No for an answer, first time. If she's asking for gratitude or validation, then her motives are as undesirable as her disablist attitude.<br /><br />That her religion (flinch) is being pushed on me (flinch) <i>because of</i> her disablist attitude (flinch) amplifies my distaste for all three in a big spiral.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639094548415759560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-11513126990911589322013-12-05T23:36:40.271-05:002013-12-05T23:36:40.271-05:00I look at that God knows the heart of all men, and...I look at that God knows the heart of all men, and we must be careful not to judge. Then we are guilty of what we perceive the person is doing. Take the blessing. Let the judgement come from God. It is God giving the blessing not them, take them out of the equation. May the Lord bless and keep you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-88910348754425770992013-12-05T12:08:05.356-05:002013-12-05T12:08:05.356-05:00I'm with Wendy - very nice background for Dece...I'm with Wendy - very nice background for December! <br /><br />I am usually quite insulted when this happens to me. My son grew up playing soccer with a group of kids who primarily came from the Christian school in our neighbourhood. Very nice people for the most part but many of the parnets approached me with a "let us fix you" attitude. I spent many soccer games trying to make these people understand how disparaging that was to me. Very frustrating. When it happens the way it happened for you with this woman, I usually just smile and carry on my way. You are correct in your analysis that it can come from different places and have different meanings. Jo Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09072719336851076572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-69424793380960473362013-12-05T10:34:14.445-05:002013-12-05T10:34:14.445-05:00Oh...and I LOVE the new background you've chos...Oh...and I LOVE the new background you've chosen for the blog!wendynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-15768413497621725832013-12-05T10:33:28.657-05:002013-12-05T10:33:28.657-05:00Oh Dave...people are unbelievable sometimes, aren&...Oh Dave...people are unbelievable sometimes, aren't they? <br /><br />You have a blessed day too! wendynoreply@blogger.com