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Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Cancer, Prayers, and the DU
(language alert)(h/t to Darth Monkeybone) Most of you have probably heard by now that conservative radio host Laura Ingraham was diagnosed with breast cancer last week, and she had surgery yesterday. She has asked for prayers, and I'm pretty sure most stable people will at least pause to toss up a quick one to the Great Physician.
I say stable because our lovely, slightly off "friends" over at DU (you know, the "compassionate" ones from the "real party of faith") don't feel like praying for her. (It's pretty bad- take your blood pressure meds, have a nice glass of Lambrusco, and try to stay calm as your head over there.) She's not worthy of prayer, evidently. Here's just a glimpse of what they had to say:
Someone commented that the folks at Lucianne "were gleeful" when Peter Jennings announced that he has lung cancer. While I don't doubt that there were a few (but not many) conservatives who voiced the horrid words "he deserves it," most of us are just not like that. When President Clinton had heart surgery, I don't remember one overtly cruel statement about him or his prognosis (Big Mac jokes, yeah... wishing him ill? no). And when Mel Carnahan and Paul Wellstone died? We weren't mocking them, but the sham their funerals were turned into.
Maybe it's just me. I hope it's not, but... it's not in my nature to hate. It's not in my nature to wish evil on anyone, whether or not I agree with them. (There are probably exceptions to that, but none come to mind.) The idea that these people not only chose not to pray (or send positive vibes, or think non-violent thoughts or whatever) for Ms. Ingraham, but to attack her like that scares me. Is there that much hate in the world? In this country?
Cancer is a monster. Sometimes, the patient had something to do with the cancer showing up (smoking and sunbathing come to mind). But, most times, it is an equal opportunity monster. It doesn't care who you are, how much money you make, where you live. It doesn't look at your age, your education, or what kind of car you drive. It just eats away at you.
So many forms of cancer are beatable these days, but not all of them. I wish this evil on no one. If you or a loved one are afflicted with cancer, my prayers are with you. Fight it, beat it, and live the rest of your life with joy and peace.
My prayers are also with those on the opposite side of the political aisle from me. As someone pointed out in the DU thread, Jesus told us to "love our enemies and pray for our persecutors."
I say stable because our lovely, slightly off "friends" over at DU (you know, the "compassionate" ones from the "real party of faith") don't feel like praying for her. (It's pretty bad- take your blood pressure meds, have a nice glass of Lambrusco, and try to stay calm as your head over there.) She's not worthy of prayer, evidently. Here's just a glimpse of what they had to say:
- Cancer isn't a good thing, but it's her problem. I fell no obligation to pray for people who make the world worse.
- She Probably Gave it to Herself...All that Hate, Lies, Anger...
- She is part of everything evil in the GOP since the revolution in the late 80s. F*ck Laura Ingrahm. F*ck her.
- Judging by the amount of hatred she spews on a daily basis, I'm surprised her body has lasted THIS long.
- I didn't shed a tear for Barbara Olson, and I won't work up too much sympathy for Ingraham. Karma's a b*tch, ain't it?
- Couldn't have happened to a kinder, sweeter, more gentle HARPY!!!!! It would be absolutely terrible if she choked on her own vomit while under anesthesia!!! I'm praying, I'm praying, I'm praying...
Someone commented that the folks at Lucianne "were gleeful" when Peter Jennings announced that he has lung cancer. While I don't doubt that there were a few (but not many) conservatives who voiced the horrid words "he deserves it," most of us are just not like that. When President Clinton had heart surgery, I don't remember one overtly cruel statement about him or his prognosis (Big Mac jokes, yeah... wishing him ill? no). And when Mel Carnahan and Paul Wellstone died? We weren't mocking them, but the sham their funerals were turned into.
Maybe it's just me. I hope it's not, but... it's not in my nature to hate. It's not in my nature to wish evil on anyone, whether or not I agree with them. (There are probably exceptions to that, but none come to mind.) The idea that these people not only chose not to pray (or send positive vibes, or think non-violent thoughts or whatever) for Ms. Ingraham, but to attack her like that scares me. Is there that much hate in the world? In this country?
Cancer is a monster. Sometimes, the patient had something to do with the cancer showing up (smoking and sunbathing come to mind). But, most times, it is an equal opportunity monster. It doesn't care who you are, how much money you make, where you live. It doesn't look at your age, your education, or what kind of car you drive. It just eats away at you.
So many forms of cancer are beatable these days, but not all of them. I wish this evil on no one. If you or a loved one are afflicted with cancer, my prayers are with you. Fight it, beat it, and live the rest of your life with joy and peace.
My prayers are also with those on the opposite side of the political aisle from me. As someone pointed out in the DU thread, Jesus told us to "love our enemies and pray for our persecutors."
