Everything is not OK! I know that Tim Tebow has generated much discussion but I think it is interesting to look at the responses his mere presence as an NFL player has generated. The downright mean spirited and vitriolic responses that can be found in public posts are primarily visceral, showing little reasoned thought.
Just last week as a public example Bill Maher as reported in the LA Times blog:
Bill Maher has run afoul of religious conservatives yet again, after a Christmas Eve tweet the comedian sent about overtly religious Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. Following a 40-14 Broncos' loss to the Buffalo Bills
on Saturday, Maher tweeted, "Wow, Jesus just... #TimTebow bad! And on
Xmas Eve! Somewhere in hell Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler 'Hey,
Buffalo's killing them'. (Adult language has been removed from the
Tweet.) (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/12/bill-maher-sparks-calls-for-hbo-boycott-following-tim-tebow-tweet.html).
Look at any sport site's response post when Tim Tebow is mentioned and you will quickly see what I mean. While I have no inkling of what percentage of Americans this type of response is indicative of it is most certainly a vocal one.
Just what terrible and culturally improper thing has Tim Tebow done? What exactly are his detractors accusing him of? As far as I am aware of his greatest possible affront could be that he has made his Christian faith public and in of all places the National Football League! I haven't seen anyone point to "the separation of religion (read Christianity) and sport" yet but have a nagging suspicion that it strikes at an almost "sacred" (if I dare use such language) realm, believed (falsely) to be neutral in all respects not related to the athletic endeavor.
Let me say it plainly, "America is in no way, shape, or form, a Christian nation." I am not saying that the Tebow topic is the sole indicator but that it is an indicator.
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