Randy Cassingham's Blog

My reply last week to William in Zimbabwe, who complained about my "Get Out of Hell Free" cards and a story about a preacher who was "nowhere near a true Christian", brought quite a bit of mail.

• Laura in Ontario, Canada, was first out of the gate: "I think [God] is capable of letting you know if It's peeved about your GOOHF cards. You might want to get William's address just to send a bunch of them out to his neighbours -- I have a hunch they need them with the Uber-Christian opinions that y'just know flow freely and unsolicited from Saint William (eyeroll)."

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• Barry in Washington: "One of my mentors, Brother Dave Browning, was asked the difference between Religion and Spirituality. He replied: 'Religion is for those who are afraid of going to Hell; Spirituality is for those of us who have been there.'"
• Paul in Pennsylvania: "Ya know, I really have to smile at these people. Do they really think it's smart to make their God so petty that he'd be mad over GOOHF cards? The part about people insecure in their faiths hit the nail right on the head."
• Jay in England: "You can't help but laugh at people who must regularly read the exploits and mishaps of stupid people, but then feel the need to make themselves look silly in an email to you. I want you to know I feel I have been very thoroughly 'led astray' and coerced into a life of sin by you and your novelty cards. And while we're at it, Hasbro have led me to a life of crime because they make jail look good."
• Another Jay, this one in New York: "As a practicing Christian (I'm a full time youth minister), I won't apologize for the GOOHF letter you got from a 'Christian' but I do want you to know that 1: Some of us do have senses of humor; 2: Get the joke; and 3: Are the not the incredible tight asses that seem to get all the media attention. I'm quite sure that God finds your GOOHF cards as funny as the rest of us do. Oh and just to offer a little theology here: Christians believe in something called GRACE. So with all due respect to my brother in Christ who wrote, wake up and get over it."
• Al in California: "'Stupid Americans'? Real Christians treat others with respect and tolerance. Tell William maybe he should re-examine his own faith before he tries to 'save' others."

You just did, Al. I don't figure he'll listen, though.

• Mark in New Hampshire: "Last night I went to a Janis Ian concert where she told a tall tale about southerners who wanted to baptize her, over her protests that she was Jewish, and how they said God wouldn't mind. So I gave her one of the plastic GOOHF cards. She seemed to enjoy it."

Yep: it's smart to always carry some cards with you, since you never know when you'll have an opportunity to make someone's day. "The GOOHF Card: don't leave this Earthly plane without it."

• Josh in California: "I appreciate your keen logic in dealing with ranting nuts. As a Christian, I'm SHOCKED at some of the things that come out of the mouths of people who share my faith, and those people need to be taken to task. For what they believe? No, for not thinking. I love your cards, I think they're comic genius. I can't imagine why anyone would think they're anything but. I think if someone gave one to me when I was having a hard day, I'd probably laugh and it would make my day. Making someone feel good? Reminding them it's not all that bad? Hmmm, that sounds like a very Christ-like ideal to me. Perhaps even a form of 'Love they neighbor'. But what do I know? I'm just a stupid not-really-a-Christian American."
• And Mark, who didn't note where he is but also says he's a youth pastor: "I just wanted to say thanks for not bashing the Christian faith just because someone sent you a nasty email. You had an opportunity to do it and you took the higher road. I appreciate your discernment."

But not everyone agrees with that or even got the most basic point at all. Marina in Washington was the worst off:

• "I enjoy most of your comments, but I gotta say, I think you're taking advantage of your wide readership to devote so much of your column trying to make one reader look like a fool or stupid by your rant on his opinions. So what if you don't like what he wrote? It was in a private discussion with you; your responses should have remained as private. What was the point of insulting him in front of quite a bit of the whole world? Other than trying to get the last word in and publicly insult him, that is. That's pretty small of you, knowing that he doesn't have recourse to treat you as meanly. I expect more from a person of your stature and intelligence, but I realize that this is not the first time you have resorted to this type of dirty fighting, and know also that, unfortunately, it won't be the last."

I'm not sure what Marina expects when someone writes a letter to the editor of a publication to express an opinion (just as she did), but let's examine this. First, as far as me being "unfair" to ranters, someone else long ago put their finger on it: it is unfair to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man. So what? Second, I didn't make William "look like a fool or stupid" -- he did. And third, she's darn right it won't be the last time I publish/respond to such a letter. Why? Letters are part of the content, and True is about stupid people doing stupid things in public -- and getting their comeuppance. I'm supposed to simply ignore stupidity just because it comes from a reader as a letter to the editor? No way! That would be ...um... foolish or stupid. As Josh in California put it above, such people "need to be taken to task. For what they believe? No, for not thinking."

When I told Marina that letters are part of the content, she replied:

• "This is your way of baiting the public, daring one to disagree with you, thus providing more grist for your mill. Your version of letting 100 flowers bloom, Mr. American Mao? Do not reply to this; I will never see your letter, it will go straight to trash."

So publishing a letter to the editor is "baiting" readers, and don't dare present any argument to that because she's slamming her mind shut? Um, yeah: that's an intelligent, thoughtful approach.

Luckily, the vast majority of the readers do get it, which says something quite positive about their intelligence, thoughtfulness, and sense of humor. Even the Christians. (And even the lawyers! This week Clara in ACT, Australia, ordered a two-year Premium upgrade and noted in her order that she was "Another bloody lawyer finally getting off her lazy Aussie arse and ordering an upgrade. Thanks mate, you really make me laugh; now I know that it's not just my clients that are so stupid.")