I'm no theologian, but I'm pretty sure that, contrary to the assertions of Virginia Legislator Bob Marshall, God doesn't hate disabled people. I mean, unless I misread the Beatitudes - the blessings upon the poor and the weak and those who show mercy that Jesus proclaimed in his Sermon on the Mount - which I had kinda understood to mean, at least in part, that mean-spirited asshats who sneer at crippled children just don't get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
But maybe I was wrong. Maybe Jesus was actually being sarcastic. Maybe he really meant that the poor and the meek and the merciful shouldn't inherit anything, because that shit is weak, and also an abomination, and probably also God's punishment for the sins of the mothers (fornicators! aborters! BAD WOMEN!) Because, you know, that sounds more like Jesus. I'm going to be sure to go tell my sister that, because her disabled and terminally ill son, my nephew, just isn't going to get into Heaven - Bob Marshall said so - and that's totally her fault.
So we should be grateful to Bob Marshall for clearing up any exegetical confusion caused by the Gospel of Matthew, and ensuring that we can all get on with the holy work of hating on anyone who is not perfect in Bob Marshall's eyes and secure our places in Heaven, amen. And then we can go celebrate by kicking some puppies and kittens and shooting baby ducks and roasting one of those wee fuzzy lambs that Jesus like to keep around, you know, for eating.
Somewhere, Satan is laughing. Thanks Bob Marshall.
As a mom to a special needs child I can say with certainty that there's a special place in hell for Bob Marshall.
Posted by: PrincessJenn | 02/23/2010 at 10:06 AM
My older brother has multiple disabilities, and I heard a similar comment once. My mother! She must be spiritually bereft! Ridiculous.
Posted by: schmutzie | 02/23/2010 at 10:13 AM
*head exploding*
*hopping in car*
*driving to Virginia*
*beating the living shit out of Bob Marshall*
*feeling better about things on the drive home*
Posted by: TwoBusy | 02/23/2010 at 10:17 AM
Anyone with two bits of sense can see that that statement is bunk. Let's not give this idiot any more power and attention than we have to.
Disabled people can be the most special, full of life people who see the world through God's unbiased eyes.
I worked with kids with Chronic Illnesses at BC Children's Hospital for about four years in my youth. That is one thing I saw, across the board, first hand.
Kids who have special needs also have a special understanding that goes WAY deeper than Bob MArshall.
Who.. on a side note, I initially read as "Bob MArley" and I was super confused.
Posted by: LindsayDianne | 02/23/2010 at 10:18 AM
Bob Marshall isn't a Christian. He is a hateful ignorant hateful nasty little man. Hopefully VA will toss this piece of trash to the curb.
Posted by: ggs_closet | 02/23/2010 at 10:21 AM
Just wow. My head is reeling trying to figure out how anyone could be so backwards. And the fact that said someone is in government makes me want to run screaming.
Posted by: Melissa @MBonn | 02/23/2010 at 10:29 AM
Here's the thing, LindsayDianne, if we don't drown out his voice with our outrage at his stupid interpretation of a religious point of view then people will assume that we're in agreement with his idiocy.
If you don't agree, you have to stand up, say so, and make sure your voice is heard.
Posted by: Beth | 02/23/2010 at 10:36 AM
Bob Marshall *wants* babies to fall down wells. At least that's what I heard.
Also, the State of Virginia must have aborted the legislator they had before Bob Marshall arrived because they are clearly being punished.
Posted by: Jenny, Bloggess | 02/23/2010 at 11:21 AM
I feel like I've been punched in the gut. This is awful.
But I have to tell you, many Christians secretly believe such things. I am not sure I'll ever be able to fully discuss the shame we felt when Noah was at the worst with his epilepsy (seizures- that LOOK like he's possessed by the DE-VIL!)
Many think it's because of something we did (I did not have an abortion, but I'm sure people wondered what horrible things we must have done to deserve it), or that we had Disney movies in our home or some cray cray nonsense that I regret at the time I fell prey to.
But I would have done just about anything to get him better.
Only problem is that no one can ever be perfect or without "sin". Christians practically breathe that but (many loudmouthed ones) fail to LIVE it.
Steph
Posted by: Adventures In Babywearing | 02/23/2010 at 04:41 PM
I was thinking along the same lines as Czar The Bloggess. But I was thinking that, following his logic, his mother's first pregnancy must have been terminated.
Posted by: patois | 02/23/2010 at 04:47 PM
I actually went to the (Dis) Hon. Bob Marshall's website, went straight to the Contact tab, and told him in no uncertain terms that he was 1) not a Christian, and 2)a waste of perfectly good carbon. I suggested that he should look at the shriveled place where his soul should be and try to locate some compassion. Felt good, although I did think I might need a brain scrub after being on his site in the first place.
Posted by: lauren | 02/23/2010 at 04:55 PM
My spouse, who is an elected Democrat who shares several thousand constituents with Del. Marshall, had this to say:
http://doorbellqueen.blogspot.com/2010/02/press-release-from-stevens-miller.html
Posted by: twitter.com/DoorbellQueen | 02/23/2010 at 05:09 PM
Yeah. My kid with a disability is just about ANYTHING but a punishment. He is one of three shiny little child lights I have in my life.
Bob Marshall, ugh.
Posted by: Stimey | 02/23/2010 at 05:43 PM
Fuck him & I may teach my special needs child how to say that if we ever come face to face...
Posted by: Karen | 02/23/2010 at 08:52 PM
That's ridiculous. There's a story in John about Jesus healing a blind man dispels that theory right out.
“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." (John 9:2-3, http://j.mp/clS0Pc)
People say a lot of things under the guise of being spiritual or Biblical, but this dude obviously has not done his research and should be summarily ignored.
Posted by: Ohmyseven | 02/24/2010 at 02:11 AM
If I remember from my childhood development class in college correctly, Freud would just say that Bob Marshall hates his mother. Why do people use religion to be an asshat so often? I hope my son with Asperger's grows up to kick Bob Marshall's ass.
Posted by: Amanda | 02/25/2010 at 07:55 AM
Fuck you asshole Bob. My wife has never had an abortion and we have a 7 year old with autism that can no longer speak.
Rot in hell Bastard.
Eric
Posted by: Eric | 03/03/2010 at 12:42 PM