If That's How You Want To Be Referred To As...
So be it

I recently posted an article stating the obvious. Specifically, that the vast majority of those who croak from HIV are homosexuals. Not exactly a big shocker.

Unfortunately, but predictably, there was an individual who took exception to me using the word "faggot". The individual in question was rational and even tempered, but I do believe somewhat miffed that I used that particular noun.

Anyhow, there are many in the homosexual community who so desire to be referred to as queers (Queer Nation), dykes (Dykes on Bikes) and faggots (see above photo), etc. No problemo. Queers, dykes and faggots it is. Much like how many in the Black community so desire to be referred to as "Niggers" (or "Niggas" as the case may be), or those in the White community who so desire to be referred to as "White Trash" (or "Cracker" as the case may be). Yet again, no problemo. Niggers, Niggas, White Trash and Crackers it is.

That's unfortunant, isn't it?

But back to the individual that took exception to my choice of words... unfortunately, but yet again, predictably, I was asked "If Jesus would call someone that" or words to that effect. That reminded me of a post I did many moons ago;

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originally posted May 29, 2006.
Would Jesus Have Insulted Anyone?
One thing's for sure, Jesus didn't pull any punches

St. Jimbob of the Apokalypse and I have had a bit of a running combox discussion. Now Jimbob and I don't always agree on everything, but JB's a straight shooter... and I respect that.

Anyhow, he and I were discussing (in a roundabout way) if Jesus would have ever insulted anyone. Like Jimbob correctly pointed out, Christ never referred to the adulterous woman as a 'whore'.

But that got me to thinking about some of the things Jesus said...

Lk 11: 39-40 - Jesus refers to the Pharisees as 'fools'. Going to the Latin Vulgate Bible, the word "fools" is "stulti", and stulti can translate into either fools or morons, depending upon the context in which it was said. Either way, fool or moron is pretty darn insulting.

Mt 26: 24 - "The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed: it were better for him, if that man had not been born". OK, Jesus could have simply said to judas "betraying Me isn't exactly a good thing", but Jesus went as far as to say that it would have been better if judas wasn't even born! Imagine if someone said that to you. I'd take that as an insult... wouldn't you?

In both of the Gospels of Saints Matthew and Mark, Jesus refers to St. Peter as "satan". Christ could have easily said to St. Peter to knock it off... but instead, He referred to St. Peter as the epitome of evil. Pretty darn harsh if you ask me. Insulting, even?

In The Gospels of Saints Matthew, Mark and Luke, we have Jesus saying "And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off even the dust of your feet, for a testimony against them". Keep in context the Jewish (and Middle Eastern) outlook when referring to someone being on the same level as your feet. And if placing the unbeliever at the same level as your feet wasn't harsh enough, Jesus goes one step further with the exhortation to 'shake the DUST of where they live off your feet'. I think that qualifies as a first class slam.

Mt 7; 6 - "...neither cast ye your pearls before swine". Again, remember what the Jewish attitude was (and still is) towards pigs. Describing someone who willingly disregards the Truth about Jesus as a pig? Now THAT was an insult to the Nth degree. No doubt, to get someone's attention most rikki-tik, Jesus wouldn't hesitate to give a good, solid verbal punch in the nose every now and then.