One of the most challenging aspects about being a liberal Democrat and supporting a Republican candidate (Ron Paul) is not that when I tell my friends or family that I’m voting for a Republican they roll their nose and eyes at me, but that I’m subjected to all the other aspects of the Republican party and the rest of the candidates. Ignoring the fact that they are all pro-war, I am also “forced” to go to the various “family values” websites if I want to keep up on a certain debate or recent interview.
I’ve learned that people from the southern states really have this fear of homosexuals. I’ve always known that they don’t like them, but over the last few months I have realized that it goes much deeper than that. They seem to have a honest fear of them. Let me say that I do understand that most people interpret the Bible as saying that being a homosexual is a sin. While only a few lines say that two men together is an abomination (as is eating shellfish) , it doesn’t come out and say “being a homosexual is a sin!” That however is neither here nor there. It’s the fact that they actually want to enact federal laws that prohibit gays in the military or gay marriage. Where would it stop?
Back to my point, during several interviews and debates with various religious and other “family values” groups the question kept coming up asking, “What as president, would you do to stop the homosexual agenda in Washington?”
What exactly is the homosexual agenda?
The term is used by social conservatives to describe the goal of increasing the acceptance and equality of gays, lesbians, and transgendered people. The impression that I get from those who use that term is that they believe the gay community has this huge elaborate plan to take over the country, turn our children gay with their gay cooties, and parade down the streets in huge orgies. The so called homosexual agenda is nothing more than a fight for equal rights. That was the agenda in the 60’s for the African-American community, and it was the agenda of women in the 20’s.
To imply that homosexuals want anything more than equal rights under the law is nothing more than a propaganda campaign by those in this country who are, for lack of a better description, narrow minded and very ignorant.
I just wanted to get that off my chest.
As one living in the South, I see/hear stuff about this almost everyday, it does get on my nerves. I, personally, do not have anything against the homosexual population, but there are reasons behind some decisions. In the military, they do not want people sidetracked by sexual thoughts, the male, front-line group more specifically (No doubt religion does have something to do with this).
As someone who views peoples behavior on how the brain works, I cannot see this as absolutely comparable to the rights movements of African-Americans and women, since I view the condition of their mind as neurons misfiring/not connected right in their brains (I have trouble viewing it as anything other than a mental disorder).
I have many homosexual friends they are wonderful people, and many people who appear afraid of homosexuals have them as friends too. Some people view it as a stairway to chaos, take one step on it, and the step that was two away doesn’t look so bad now, and so on. In the words of my grandma, “When we were finally able to work and live our lives the way WE wanted to, the US failed slightly.” It’s not a 100% accurate quote, since it was about seven years ago, but the point that she was making with it, was that her neighbors (wives) were out working and not watching the children, and since the men were still making more money, they weren’t going to quit their jobs. Children were not longer being supervised.
Firedraikke wrote:
That is such a horrible excuse to not allow gays in the military. This assumes that gay people cannot control their sexual urges and will have sex with other men on a whim. This also assumes that they are “less than human” and won’t be able to fight the urge to have sex.
Also, with that logic, you shouldn’t be allowed to let women into the military. With straight male and females, this will also “sidetrack” them with sexual thoughts. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is as much sexual misconduct between straight people in the military vs. gays.
Firedraikke wrote:
Again, with that logic, people who are born with any type of mental disorder shouldn’t have equal rights.
Being a homosexual isn’t a mental disorder. The American Medical Association, the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Psychologists, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the World Health Organization, etc, have ceased to consider homosexuality a disorder.
How has the U.S. failed when everyone is allowed to live how they want (as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else)? I think that is what America is all about.
Thanks for the comments though :);
Well, I never said it was a good reason. They probably used that as a feeble excuse to hide the religious reason.
I never said people shouldn’t have equal rights because of mental disorders , I just said I don’t see the comparison with race and gender. (If I went that way with people with mental disorders, I’d be going against myself).
That may be so, but I said it was my perception.
The reasoning behind the “failing” is that since children are largely unsupervised by people who are comfortable (or even able) to punish the kids for misbehaving (Teachers receiving lawsuits for disciplining kids). Parents don’t like other people teaching their kids lessons, but they are unable to do so, and you have children who are indifferent to doing harmful stuff because, well, “whoopie, timeout” or “My parent aren’t going to do anything, and they aren’t going to let you do anything to me.” Yes, some kids work out with this, but largely you get a bunch of kids who trample over people. (( I hate leaving walls of text, so this will be my last post here. ))
“In the military, they do not want people sidetracked by sexual thoughts, the male, front-line group more specifically…” Everyone I’ve ever spoken to who has experienced combat says that when the bullets begin to fly, it’s all they can do to keep from porking their buddy - and these are heteros! Think what it would be like for gays! Once out of combat of course, soldiers never think about sex. That’s why there’s never been an instance of a US Soldier contracting a Sexually Transmitted Disease and why you will never find prostitutes hanging around military installations - here or abroad.
Lets get real… The reason Republicans talk about the “Homosexual Agenda” is because the “politics of fear” has proven to more successful than the “politics of reason” (google “why people vote against their own self interest”). It’s an unfortunate truth that the majority of Americans are just plain ignorant. (Case in point: the percentage of Americans who don’t “believe” in evolution). Thus, it’s more effective to appeal to people’s fears than to their intellect.
Look at religion… Originally: “Appease the gods (with human sacrifice, e.g.) or you’re all doomed. Modern “Enlightened” religions: “Appease God (persecute “other” human beings, e.g.) or you’re all doomed to hell.” (Same song, second verse, a little bit louder, a little bit worse…) This persists in spite of the fact that; for instance; the Bible - supposedly the basis of most “Christian” religions - states unequivocally that Christ’s “New Testament” of love of God and neighbor supplants the “Old Testament” of fear of God’s wrath. And, tho I’m no expert on the Qur’an, it is my understanding that it too speaks to a person’s duty to love god and neighbor, and it too has been perverted; as has the bible; to justify the persecution of human beings.
Actually, The “Republican Agenda” scares the shit right out of me… I’m not sure why the Democrats don’t raise that “specter”…
But back to the point…
I’m certain of two things regarding sexuality. The first is that sexual orientation is not a choice for the overwhelming majority of people. I know that I never chose my sexual orientation; as far back as I can remember (age 4 or 5), I have always have been attracted to (the sex that I’m attracted to) and not attracted to (the sex that I’m not attracted to). Secondly, in the same way that intelligence is not a stupid/smart dichotomy, but exists as a “bell-curve”, so does sexual orientation. And, I believe that those that are closest to the “apex of the bell” - those that are the least secure in their sexual orientation (on either side of the apex) are the most homo- or hetero- phobic.
Men (in particular) who are unsure of their sexuality, fear homosexuals because they fear that if/when presented with the opportunity (”hey buddy, ya want a blow job?”) they’ll succumb to the temptation. After all; males of all mammalian species, it seems; by their nature are not particularly sexually discriminatory (as someone once said “Men will F*** mud”.)
A well adjusted Human male (gay or straight) will eventually develop a sense of dignity and self respect that allows them to rise above this instinctual proclivity to screw whatever they can whenever they can as often as they can; and once - if - this occurs, homophobia (or heterophobia, for that matter) disappears (but gays had better maintain a healthy paranoia regarding the danger posed by straights).
I have no gay friends but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t. I am more and more turning my nose towards people who claim that the bible strictly says homosexuality is a sin. The Bible is massive and deep, far beyond our unassisted reach.
I do not fear gay equality, i do fear “hate crimes,” and the collectivism that is occuring due to the “gay agenda.”
First, there are plenty of people who hate gays in all parts of this great country, not just the South. The Midwest is just like the South except it is Whiter and becoming more economically depressed. I’m a proud Southerner but my point is that the Christian God hates a lot of things if you actually read the damn Bible. One both God and I hate a lot is SHRIMP. Read all about it at http://www.godhatesshrimp.com
“Let me say that I do understand that most people interpret the Bible as saying that being a homosexual is a sin. While only a few lines say that two men together is an abomination (as is eating shellfish) , it doesn’t come out and say ‘being a homosexual is a sin!’”
I think you are a little confused. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a sin as the deliberate disobedience to the will of God (remember Eve in the garden?). Do you really think that something that is called an “abomination” would be in the will of God? Also, about the shellfish comment…I believe you are referring to an Old Testament law, and those laws were fulfilled with the death of Jesus. The verse on homosexuality being an abomination is in the New Testament, and it is not a law, but a description of the things that God does not approve of. In fact, it is also said that those who commit those acts will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. However, Jesus died so that our sins may be forgiven. The problem is when people don’t acknowledge that they are sinning. It’s a result of pride and arrogance, a very identical behavior to the devil.
These are verses that don’t need an interpretation, as they are clearly not metaphors. There is no hidden meaning. Most people just want to make God into what feels comfortable for them, forgetting that it was Him who created us!
I can begin to rattle off about 15 verses in the New Testament that do in fact say homosexuality is a sin and people who commit the act will not inherit the kingdom of God. However, we as Christians know that a sin is a sin is a sin. There is no sin that is great or small. If you really believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin, then you know that whether or not you murder, commit adultery, are a homosexual, etc. etc. you will still see Jesus one day. But as a lover of God, do you WANT to do what you know hurts him? That is the deeper question. And I think in regards to homosexuality, because we are proving everyday that it could possibly be a biological trait, the question of wanting to hurt God is difficult because I firmly believe that SOME homosexual individuals do not choose their behavior.