Unless you've been in a coma, you are aware that last Saturday Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker delivered a commencement address at Benedictine College; a private Catholic college in Atchison, Kansas. (Very close to us; our church is in Atchison)
I "happened" to stumble upon it midway through the live broadcast. When done, I started at the beginning and watched/listened again.
I think it was a fantastic speech. I asked myself a few times, "Do you know where you are, dude?" as he spoke of priests and bishops. As he talked about family, and the dignity of being a stay-at-home Mom, I remember thinking, "You're going to get some flack on this, bro."
But I did not suspect it would be an onslaught of incoming rounds from a wide variety of people....the typical lefties, professing Christians, and men 'defending' career women.
Rather ugly. Free speech is great as long as you vocalize agreement with me.
That night I posted the video, with the caveat that I don't agree with his theology; but I do agree with the points of his address.
INCOMING! I heard from a few friends who blasted me for promoting Catholicism and "works righteousness." Obviously these "friends" don't know me well.
The vast majority of commenters and communicators agreed with me (which is not an indicator that I am right).
Others that disagreed were kind and gracious.
But a few were, well, less then friendly.
But that's okay.
The real stickler was that many who commented on my posts, and many comments that I read on other posts and news sources, had obviously not listened to or read the speech, but were basing their comments on sound bites.
"Coincidentally" I type on the 18th, and it remains my habit to read the corresponding chapter of Proverbs.
Thus: "He who responds with a word before he hears, it is folly and shame to him." Proverbs 18.13 LSB.
Yeah, it is.
If you want to read the speech, https://www.ncregister.com/news/harrison-butker-speech-at-benedictine.
One of my favorite lines in the speech: "We must always speak and act in charity, but never mistake charity for cowardice."