We Are Walking Contradictions, Partly Truth And Partly Fiction

If further evidence was needed of the complexity of the human psyche, if more proof was needed that we are all full of contradictions, today Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, cropped up twice in my newsfeed.

First with this:

A measured and intelligent look at the continued use of the Confederate battle flag in the South and a realization it should go, if for no other reason than it's continued use appears to demonstrate open antipathy to huge segments of the American population.

Then with this:

The clickbait headline does not convey the full nuance of what Russell Moore said (which in his own words is closer to "we will eventually persuade" than "we will win the fight"), and leaves out his admission that the SBC & other socially conservative groups' approach to the issue of LGBT rights was badly handled and somewhat presumptive.

One can still disagree with Moore on his goal while acknowledging he admits his group couched their opposition to LGBT rights in general and same sex marriage in particular in divisive terms. And one can certainly argue with no disagreement from me that opposing equal rights for anyone is divisive under any circumstances; what is remarkable is that for the first time we have even a hint of, "Yeah, we may have had some responsibility in that..." from his side.

And I even feel a bit of sympathy for Moore's twin statements: All the kudos he receives for saying the Confederate flag should be permanently retired are tsk-tsked by allusions to his anti-LGBT rights stance, while on the opposite side he's doubtlessly being hammered for attacking the Confederate flag while getting no credit for staying the course re the SBC's stance on same-sex marriage.

But...baby steps, baby steps. For an SBC leader to say maybe it's time we start listening to the African-American community and start addressing their concerns is a significant step in the correct direction, and to acknowledge even in passing that they contributed to stirring up the stink re LGBT rights is remarkable.