About that church AR15 ceremony in rural Pennsylvania,

[blake2012]

Here’s what Obama said about rural Pennsylvanians in 2008:

“It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

[BigmanPigman]

1. This article explained a lot to me.

I sent it to my sister and she sent it to some of her friends since we liberals sometimes have a hard time understanding how others think. After reading this I will not waste my time trying to speak logically to one of these RW nuts...a waste of time. It is long but worth the read.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/insider-explains-rural-christian-white-america-dark-terrifying-underbelly/

[blake2012]

2. I will look at it. On the other hand, I feel deeply sorry for some

And to me it is like if you come across a dog in the woods with his paw stuck in a trap and severely injured leg.

It is in pain and confused. If you try to help it out of its trap, it may lash out at you. But a truly humane person will try to assist.

So many poor have been sold out and decimated by corporatocracy of America. The only way politicians keep getting their vote is by lying to them and preying in their fears.

I feel like writing a new MLK “I have a dream” speech updated to fit our times.

[blake2012]

3. PS when I click on your link there is no article

[BigmanPigman]

4. Thanks, I went back and corrected it (I think/hope).

[blake2012]

5. Great! Its working now

[BigmanPigman]

6. Good.

[blake2012]

7. Good read. I also grew up in both rural midwestern towns fundamentalist religion and cities

I was so fortunate that along with a heavy dose of racist rednecks and poor whites who believed in God above all and some of whom were holy rollers, I also spent formative years in a city surrounded by black and Latino friends along with a rich mix of Europeans hailing rom France, Germany, Poland, etc.

I really do agree the job of changing their minds is exceedingly difficult, but in my heart of hearts my conclusion is we can’t just retreat to our corners and hold our superiority over them.

[BigmanPigman]

8. You have a lot of patience.

I taught first grade and thought I had a lot, but I just can not get through to my ex- friend who married a real neo Nazi (she unfriended me in Dec due to my anti-moron Christmas card that I made and sent to everyone).

[radical noodle]

9. I don't believe this is any ordinary rural

gun-toting church. It's the Moonies. Apparently, they believe the gun is some sort of sign from the book of Revelations. It's run by the son of the original Moonie guy.

Let's hope this isn't typical of most rural churches that have gun owners attending. I don't really think it is.

[blake2012]

10. Youd be surprised how much rural churches fuse love of guns with their church

As an example, Southern Baptists use “2nd Amendment” events to try drawing in the unchurched men in hopes of expanding their congregations.
Lots of churches in rural areas conflate the “evil government” trying to pass gun control with the evils of this world attacking God and his faithful followers.

https://baptistnews.com/article/will-sutherland-springs-tipping-point-southern-baptists-guns/#.WpeiL2KIb7o

I am not saying most churches are like these Moonies. I just thought a rural Pennsylvania church holding a ceremony blessing guns made Obama’s comments seem a bit on point.

[radical noodle]

11. I lived in rural areas most of my life

so I've been around the gun block a time or two. Most like their guns, for sure, and most have had guns all their lives. My husband first used a gun at about age 5, hunting with his dad. But most rural churches do not "worship" their guns, even though they wish to protect their right to owning them.

But yeah, I get your point about rural churches using whatever it takes, including guns, to drive up membership and donations, and I think President Obama was almost always right about the things he said. I have cousins that "cling to the Bible" even though they've never gone to church... I can't explain it, but it is true.