Good Christians, Good Jews, Good Muslims

[matt819]

A thought struck me while reading another post earlier - regarding the woman soldier from MO who died of what were initially reported as self-inflicted wounds. I went on to the read the linked article, in which I think it was her father was quoted as saying she would have been good in an assistant chaplain position because she was a good Christian woman.

That's all well and good, and it is certainly tragic that this 19-year-old woman had to die so that Halliburton's profits could soar. But it occurred to me how odd that sounded -- she was a good Christian woman.

Maybe I've just missed it, but you don't really see references in sort of everyday news reporting of the good Jew or the good Muslim or the good Buddhist or the good atheist. Maybe I'm being unduly sensitive to such things, but something about this bothers me. Perhaps it's because I am not defined by my religion. It is (or is not) a part of me, but it doesn't define my very existence, with all other characteristics falling into place outside the religion orbit. There's a lesson in there, I imagine, in how we view the ultra right-wing fundamentalists, whether Christian, Jew, Muslim, or Hindu.

[Beaver Tail]

1. As per your post

It was her father who said it.. ie... A Quote.

If the paper itself said it based on their own opinion I would be worried.

[Dhalgren]

3. You are absolutely right. For a father (grieving or not) to use this

term when describing his daughter has no meaning outside the context of that father and daughter dynamic. It was a completely innocent comment. And I agree that it would be a much different matter were this phrase used by an official or media source.

[matt819]

4. You're right about that

I thought it was her father, and I suppose I really don't have a problem with that. But it just struck me. I just don't ever recall seeing reports where Christian is, where appropriate, replaced by Jew, Muslim, Hindu, etc. -- in the US. In India or Saudi Arabia, it wouldn't be out of line.

[eissa]

2. A big-wig in our university's

personnel department divulged personal information regarding an employee to one of her pals -- who happened to be one of the biggest gossips on-campus. When the employee confronted the lady in personnel about discussing confidential information with her friend, the lady expressed shock that her friend had opened her big mouth -- "I thought she was a Good Christian." :eyes: