I don't feel comfortable around political extremists. Especially within Samson Society. I realize that everyone has a right to their opinion on politics, and that the amount of time / energy they devote therein is their business, but these folks creep me out (& especially so if they're professing Christians).
During my four-year tenure facilitating the Lakeside Pres Samson Society meeting, I found myself face-to-face with one of these individuals when he boasted of participating in the January 6, 2021 election protest at the US Capitol (he executed this boasting the Saturday immediately following its occurrence). Though he himself (according to his personal narrative) didn't join in with his fellow protestors and storm the building, just knowing that he'd hooked up with other extremists via social media, carpooled to Washington D.C. and joined in the protest really unsettled me.
This Samson brother had been faithful to our face-to-face group almost since its inception. Overall, he was no "odder" than any other Samson guy, and as such, this development really put me between a rock and a hard place. I remember simply having my synapses charred when he boasted of what he'd participated in (either during the meeting itself or the after-meeting) since all of us at the time were still emotionally overwhelmed with what actually had occurred as a result of the insurrection itself.
And, I will admit, whilst looking back, that I had prior to this fateful day / Samson Society meeting insisted that he forgo the political rhetoric during his share time. And each time I needed to do so (which wasn't all that often), he'd respectfully comply. Keep in mind that this man was very intelligent / articulate (typical Samson guy). A guy who landed here in MS (20+) years ago from New York (his childhood home) by way of California.
Yet, what was I to do? Ask that this longtime friend remove himself from our group?
Americans certainly have a right to protest, and that's all he'd done. There was no denying that.
Yet, it was the boasting of his participation therein that changed my mind completely. Especially considering what grew out of said protests.
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One of the primary advantages of virtual Samson Society meetings (via Zoom) is down in the right-hand corner of the screen. Therein resides the "Leave Meeting" red button. I've taken note of a number of Samson guys over the past eight months who've made a discreet exit from "Make Thursdays Great Again" via this button.
Some of these men (if I've befriended them), I'll follow-up with afterwards. Most don't volunteer a motive for leaving prior to the meeting's conclusion, but my guess is, it has something to do with someone else's presence.
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There's no way to control who attends a Samson Society meeting. It's open door, baby, and that's the way that it should be. But with the multitude of virtual Samson Society meetings available to frequent, leaving one meeting behind and jumping onto another (a few hours later) is of expedient convenience. Plus, it can be done with discretion (if the group is sizable).
I like that. A lot. Especially considering my aforementioned rock & a hard place experience (with certain individuals) within face-to-face meetings.
And not just for my sake but for the sake of others. For I know there're plenty of Samson brothers out there who reflexively reach for that "Leave Meeting" button when they spot Mississippi Rob.
You simply cannot do that within a face-to-face paradigm. And that, in my opinion, is unfortunate.
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