Prevailing Winds "For the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom . . ." 2 Cor. 3:17, TNIV

September 22, 2009

By Now You May Have Heard . . .

Filed under: Uncategorized — keelyem @ 8:19 pm

If you’re a reader of either Moscow’s Vision 2020 or Christ Church elder Dale Courtney’s Right-Mind.us blog, you know that someone out there in the extended Kirk family has dedicated a blog to slamming and sliming me. And they get to. Free speech entitles anyone to run the rhetorical gauntlet between disagreeing with me and hating me, as long as they don’t libel me. Yes, it’s terribly sad that the bar is set so low regarding the integrity of a Christian critic, but that’s the situation I find myself in with whoever has set up a blog solely to slam me. I welcome dialogue, especially with those who disagree with me, but this — this is insane. You’ll understand after you read this — after you actually see it.

I don’t deny that I was initially shocked and unsettled by what my friend Tom Hansen pointed out on Vision 2020 this morning. Still, any concern for me must be overshadowed by concern for a guy who has taken his hatred of me down roads I’ve never seen — or would have imagined. This man has taken things a step or two too far, in ways that immediately make the simple existence of his “Viper Gal” blog more significant than what he actually says in it.

Here’s what he’s done.

He’s taken the letters of both my name and of Prevailing Winds and reproduced the format of my blog, right down to the colors, font, headers, and arrangement, in creating “Viper Girl Sin Wind” at the address below. This brave Covenant gentleman writes as Eimy Reekenxlime — “Keely Emerine Mix” scrambled to make a name that reads “I Me Reeken Slime.” He even uses my picture, lightly Photoshopped to appear in the negative. All in all, it looks just like Prevailing Winds, except for the integrity part. Once again, a Kirk defender has gone all brave and courageous-like by hiding behind a pseudonym — this time, taken from my own name — and so far has filled 23 posts with rants and taunts against me.

At first, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing — what looks just like my blog, with my picture, saying some pretty rough things about me. I can take the criticism; whoever this is (No Weatherman? Dontbia Nass/Chris Witmer?) clearly finds my analyses and rebukes of Doug Wilson and his attendant ministries and fan/employees disgusting. I’ll be monitoring the site regularly for anything libelous or otherwise out of bounds, but I can’t stop him and wouldn’t if I could. I’ll just ask that he refrain from attacking my family, and I’d hope he would stick to the issues without insult. He won’t, but I’ll be keeping close watch on him in case he goes too far.

Of course, he already has gone too far, simply by being a nameless coward with what appears to be an enormous amount of free time on his hands, not to mention an enormous amount of interest in me. Yeah, it’s more than a little creepy. I think copying my blog, using the letters of my name, and borrowing my picture is despicable behavior — not only cowardly, but malicious, dishonest, and entirely deserving of rebuke. I’ll be in touch with Doug Wilson today or tomorrow to ask him to condemn this particularly weird display of Covenant apologetics and pastoral appreciation. If he knows who’s done this, he ought to call him out, whether or not the creep actually attends Christ Church. After all, loyalty to Wilson is what drives this and many other blogstalkers; Wilson isn’t excused when his fans and followers take the Serrated Edge places he may or may not have intended.

Dale Courtney, incidentally, has a link to it on Right-Mind.us, and he’s evidently thrilled that someone out there will do what he himself says he won’t; he likens reading my blog to cleaning out a toilet with his bare hands. That cheerful and peacemaking assessment will certainly earn Courtney points with his pastor. I’d hate to begrudge him that, but I hope that Wilson re-acquaints himself with pastoral responsibility and care and demands that this particular fawning accolyte knock it off. I’ll report on his response once I get it.

So. This is really ugly, really sobering, really disturbing stuff. And I suppose you could make a case for my somehow deserving it; I waded into the pool to play against the big boys, and I certainly can’t ask them to hold back when I’ve dished it out myself. But– what I’ve dished out has been legitimate, pointed, critique regarding behavior that requires it, if the Gospel and its witness on the Palouse is to be considered at all. I’ve done nothing shameful, nothing for which I apologize (other than the times I HAVE apologized because I’ve either gotten my tone or my facts wrong), and nothing that ought to provoke the obsessive hatred of a man who stalks and mocks me as he has. Which doesn’t seem terribly Christian.

Of course, stalking and mocking are the province of those who have no legitimate argument, and doing it anonymously — Dontbia Nass, “DAD,” No Weatherman — is utter cowardice. I have not dedicated my blog to the incessant tearing down of Doug Wilson. I have dedicated it to sharp critiques of wrong actions and errant theologies, while offering reasons for the hope that I and other Christians have in Christ Jesus. But no matter what I’ve done, even (and especially) the things for which I’ve later apologized, I’ve done them under my own name. I’m afraid only of dishonoring the Lord Jesus. I am not ashamed, and I use my name both as a caution against writing recklessly and as a testimony to my faith in Christ. I long for this man to dare to do the same.

So here’s the address — http://vipergalsinwind.blogspot.com/. I’d welcome your comments, but I do ask that you gird your loins and square your shoulders and use your real name. After all, how do you expect to conquer the forces of evil, vanquish non-believers to subordinate status, and usher in a socio-political Millennium Kingdom if you’re afraid of a middle-aged homemaker with a laptop?

3 Comments »

  1. You said “And I suppose you could make a case for my somehow deserving it; I waded into the pool to play against the big boys, and I certainly can’t ask them to hold back when I’ve dished it out myself. But– what I’ve dished out has been legitimate, pointed, critique regarding behavior that requires it, if the Gospel and its witness on the Palouse is to be considered at all. I’ve done nothing shameful, nothing for which I apologize (other than the times I HAVE apologized because I’ve either gotten my tone or my facts wrong), and nothing that ought to provoke the obsessive hatred of a man who stalks and mocks me as he has. Which doesn’t seem terribly Christian.”

    I wonder if you should first take out the log in your own eye before pointing out the speck in your brothers’ eyes (and the members of Douglas Wilson’s Church, hateful as they may seem to you, are your brothers in Christ).

    Anyone who has been following your blog would have noted that there was a period – as recent as a few months ago – during which your blog seemed to be a “We hate Doug Wilson” site.

    You have misrepresented him many times – the latest being your taking exception to his pointing out that spoilt children need father figures.

    You do dish it out. Now take it. It comes with interest.

    Comment by Ashwin — September 22, 2009 @ 9:33 pm

  2. Let me be the first to respond by saying . . .

    Absolutely NOTHING is more eloquent than a lady with attitude.

    And follow that with . . .

    Those who hide behind bogus names with their faux-machismo, while finding humor in their own ignorance, will find that they only have themselves to blame as they cower from their own shadows and pity the reflection in the mirror.

    Comment by Tom Hansen — September 22, 2009 @ 9:40 pm

  3. We’re praying for you, and praying that this person gets some help. Love, Bev

    Comment by Anonymous — September 23, 2009 @ 5:17 am

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