Every now and then I have to deal with a barrage of criticism over something I’ve written. During these times, my Ecosystem ranking increases, and traffic spikes. I find it slightly irritating yet fascinatingly fun that I can generate such blogospheric heat with a few strokes of the keyboard. Check Technorati and you’ll find new blog posts complaining about the same old stuff. It comes in waves.
I’m presently in the middle of wave brought on by the Koran post. Once people understand that no matter what they say or write, I’ll continue blogging the way I want and won’t tone down the message, they usually go away in a few days.
Sometimes a high-profile liberal blogger will link to a post, castigating me personally, and on occasion, the actual arguments in the post, and their minions scurry out of the woodwork to tug on my cape. Consequently, I have to deal with trolls and various bloggers and their trite ad hominem. It’s boring and predictable.
A common refrain among leftist non-Christian bloggers is the old “Aren’t Christians supposed to be nice?” routine. For too long the godless have believed that anger and strong opinions are somehow “anti-Christian.” Right. They get to attack me while I stand there…smiling? Preaching? The stereotype of the turn-the-other-cheek-mealy-mouthed Christian has always been wrong, but with the media’s contempt for Christians, rampant biblical illiteracy in the general population, and little access to real Christians in their own lives, leftists hold archaic and inaccurate impressions of who we are.
[Side note: Christians are commanded to tell unbelievers they’re under God’s righteous judgment and warn them of the wrath to come, which will be delivered when Christ returns. By man’s standards, that’s not “nice.” But under God’s perfect standard, it’s the “nicest” thing imaginable because He graciously and lovingly offers reprieve, a way to avoid that wrath.]
Another problem arises when new visitors read one or two posts and start ranting about me in the comment section. If people actually read older posts, especially in the “Faith” section, many questions would be answered and presumptions rebutted.
I’m having so much fun riling people up that I think I’ll take a brief blogging break. I may return on Friday, Monday at the latest. In the meantime, as a courtesy to new readers or critics too busy or lazy to scan the archives, I’ve linked to a selection of posts that’ll give you some insight into why I’m out here blogging 5-6 days a week, subjecting myself to your juvenile ramblings:
- Comment Policy
- Queen of My Domain (Calling myself “Queen” and using a crown favicon is fun, and it irritates my critics.)
- Blowing-off-Steam Rerun
- Onward, Christian Soldiers (Useful as an explanation of “turn the other cheek”.)
- When Bloggers Attack
- All Condi All The Time
- Some “Holy Books” More Equal Than Others
- Courage Under Fire
- God and Man at CPAC (Also see Townhall version)
- Grace and You
- Jesus Was A Liberal
- The Enemy’s Influence
- Kerry Cites Scripture to Battle Bush View
- Kerry and James 2 (follow-up to previous)
Also see Update II of the Other Bloggers post. See you kids later!
Enjoy your break!
Comment by Eddie — 06.08.05 @ 5:18 pm
WooHoo!!!
Keep up the good post (but you always do)
Comment by Renee — 06.08.05 @ 5:19 pm
Seriously La Shawn,
Enjoy your break and I am looking forward to your next (and subsequent) post.
Comment by Renee — 06.08.05 @ 5:21 pm
Enjoy La Shawn, you earned the break.
Too funny, ‘Naked Writing’ must be naked of rational thought, to go to the trouble of linking to a non-worthwhile site.
Comment by Andy — 06.08.05 @ 5:27 pm
“I’m presently in the middle of wave brought on by the Koran post.”
Interesting the sorts of things that get rewarded in the self correcting blogosphere.
Comment by actus — 06.08.05 @ 5:39 pm
I’m reminded of
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
You don’t spit into the wind
You don’t pull the mask of the old Lone Ranger
And you don’t mess around with Slim (La Shawn)
Comment by CharlyG — 06.08.05 @ 6:15 pm
Enjoy your break, La Shawn! Remember that Jesus was asked about forgiveness and turning the other cheek, and he said seventy times seven. He put a number on it, He didn’t say always turn the other cheek. May “He lead you beside still waters, and restore your soul”. See you soon.
Comment by Kathy — 06.08.05 @ 6:37 pm
La Shawn responds to her Critics over Koran Piece…
Every now and then I have to deal with a barrage of criticism over something I’ve written. During these times, my Ecosystem ranking increases, and traffic spikes. I find it slightly irritating yet fascinatingly fun that I can generate such…
Trackback by In Search Of Utopia — 06.08.05 @ 6:46 pm
Have a relaxing break, La Shawn. You provide a lot of invigorating thought, and I find the back and forth with your readers to be fascinating.
Comment by Nardo — 06.08.05 @ 7:15 pm
I really miss the picture of you that used to be on the top-left side of the page.
I know, I’m off topic.
Comment by Alex — 06.08.05 @ 7:55 pm
Thanks, Alex. The picture is on the “About” page:
http://lashawnbarber.com/about
I will try to stay away, everybody. We’ll see.
Comment by La Shawn — 06.08.05 @ 8:07 pm
You cute when you mad, gal!
Comment by Walter E. Wallis — 06.08.05 @ 8:27 pm
Have a great break! I miss the picture too.
Comment by Evon Bachaus — 06.08.05 @ 10:47 pm
It’s the globalization of victimization! :^D
Comment by ttyler5 — 06.09.05 @ 2:53 am
LaShawn, when I read your entry about the Koran, I cheered you on. It’s about time we start standing up for ourselves. Thank you so much for doing so.
Comment by jen — 06.09.05 @ 1:12 pm
About fifty percent of the students drop my class as soon as they discover I am conservative. Sure makes life easier.
Remember this, La Shawn: insults are free skin conditioner.
Comment by SickAndTired — 06.09.05 @ 1:56 pm
Sorry LaShawn, but we need to be a light to the world, and that means respecting the Koran, because what would we think if they desecrated the Bible? Have you read a book called “God’s Politics”?
Comment by Chuck — 06.09.05 @ 10:17 pm
No I have not read it. I want to know where in Scripture a Christian comes up with the idea that being salt and light to the world means “respecting” a book and handling it in a way OT Jews were required to carry out ceremonial laws, which, as I’m sure you know, were fulfilled in Christ. As salt and light, we are witnesses to the world and not of it. My telling the truth and professing it boldly is exactly what Christians are supposed to do. I’m sickened that too many choose to cave to the culture and fall prey to politically correct nonsense. Talk about darkness. The God of the Bible certainly hasn’t commanded me to “respect” what He calls false.
I really don’t want to get into a public back and forth with other Christians, so I’d appreciate if you e-mailed me. But I suspect you’ll want to respond publicly. Human nature is something else.
Comment by La Shawn — 06.09.05 @ 10:28 pm
“but we need to be a light to the world, and that means respecting the Koran”
I’m still seraching scriptures for that one (for some reason I can not find it)…
however I can find many examples of destroying things of “other” Gods (OT)….as directed by God himself
Comment by Renee — 06.10.05 @ 7:26 am
La Shawn,
We miss you 
Are you coming back yet?
Comment by Renee — 06.10.05 @ 7:26 am
LaShawn, you are all the way on top of this one! You are our Morpheus! Continue broadcasting your pirate signal into the blogosphere and waking people out of the “Matrix” of liberalism and PC nonsense!
Comment by pqliar1 — 06.10.05 @ 8:19 am
La Shawn, it’s possible to know a person by his or her enemies. Judging by the sort of people who are taking shots at you, I think I like you a great deal.
Comment by RedBeard — 06.10.05 @ 8:37 am
I’m always amused at the childish thinking behind non-believers who want to chide me for my inadequate adherence to “Christian” virtues (scare quotes inevitably theirs.) Such a bottomless well of ignorance on display - and they’re so proud of themselves!
(I’ve been at the bottom of that well, so I can say that.)
Comment by Brian Jones — 06.10.05 @ 8:52 am
I’ve just recently found your blog and I am continually impressed by your clear perspective and by the way you are unashamed to proclaim Jesus. No whimpering, apologetic Christians need apply here! Stay strong, sister!
Comment by Thom — 06.10.05 @ 8:54 am
Hello,
My name is Chris, I am a christian, strong in my faith. I have a question for you, why is it that a lot of Christians turn a blind cheek to war crimes that are going on under Bush’s rule, why is it that most Christians support our role in Iraq? I don’t understand, I follow Jesus, our perfect example. I leave the dictators to God, and to his judgment, I don’t think war is the answer for anything. Jesus never told us to fight fire with fire! Jesus didn’t declare war with the Romans, he didn’t damn his enemies to hell! I think we are making grave mistakes our BLIND support for Bush and Blair, we are blind to the evil that is within both of them, are we so ignorant and confident in our humanity that we can believe just because he is against abortion and gay unions that he is a saint. Our we confident enough to risk eternal life on our support of Mr. Bush?
-Concerned Christian
Comment by Chris K. — 06.10.05 @ 11:51 am
Valid questions all. Please check out some of the older posts I linked to in this one:
http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/06/08/im/
Comment by La Shawn — 06.10.05 @ 12:08 pm
“Camp al Lodi”: FBI Terror Probe Moves South to San Francisco Peninsula
S.F. Chronicle reports: “Federal officials investigating possible terrorism links in a Lodi case involving five men are questioning members of a Northern California Islamic group, apparently with an eye to linking it with possible extremist activities…
Trackback by California Conservative — 06.10.05 @ 12:31 pm
“A common refrain among leftist non-Christian bloggers is the old “Aren’t Christians supposed to be nice?†routine. For too long the godless have believed that anger and strong opinions are somehow “anti-Christian.†Right. They get to attack me while I stand there…smiling?”
Right. It’s appalling when some lefty Christian bashers troll a Christian site and insult Christians and then when Christians fight back they get all upset because they weren’t treated with charity!
Comment by leftbasher — 06.10.05 @ 1:57 pm
Beltway Traffic Jam
The daily linkfest:
Dean Esmay wishes sex offender registries provided more details.
Ogged has some advice for telemarketers.
Kevin Aylward has a semi-clad babe as his Weekend Caption Contest.
LaShawn Barber notes that the madder she makes people,…
Trackback by Outside The Beltway — 06.10.05 @ 4:17 pm
‘A common refrain among leftist non-Christian bloggers is the old “Aren’t Christians supposed to be nice?†routine.’
I can’t believe that people believe that anymore.
Comment by actus — 06.11.05 @ 2:54 pm
I can’t believe you said that, IIRC you’ve used that refrain yourself last year a time or two. I’m thinking in La Shawn’s “Jesus was a liberal” or some similar topic
Comment by Andy — 06.11.05 @ 3:00 pm
‘I can’t believe you said that, IIRC you’ve used that refrain yourself last year a time or two.’
I guess i’ve wised up.
Comment by actus — 06.11.05 @ 3:10 pm
Your not old enough to be wise yet, clearly.
Comment by Jim R — 06.12.05 @ 8:40 am
Wisdom and age don’t go hand in hand. Look at Sen. Byrd.
Comment by SCSIwuzzy — 06.12.05 @ 2:23 pm
Comment by Andy — 06.12.05 @ 5:05 pm