Yeah, its just an expression. I wouldn't make too much of it outside a humorous anecdote considering his wannabe massive prayer rally.
Yeah, its just an expression. I wouldn't make too much of it outside a humorous anecdote considering his wannabe massive prayer rally.
"There are too many books in the world to read in a single lifetime; you have to draw the line somewhere." --Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale
hum, I wonder if gay people sit around obsessing about the sex lives of AFA members? Where's that website?
Not by the statement, but by the manner in which it's moved into action. I have a strong gratitude for religious freedom in this country, which means AFA members deserve to be protected from government prosecution for their private beliefs and to enjoy the freedom to worship, as distinct from their public actions.Originally Posted by Catwoman
However, I also have a dedication to making sure that the biases which are evident in their online statements - the political actions and attempts to put their religious beliefs into policy and law - are stopped.
For instance, the headline of an article troubles me:
"Homosexual adoptions victimize children"
It's harmful, and inaccurate. There are real-world consequences of this kind of mean-spirited article. I wonder, if this organization is so Christian, where is the call for understanding and dialogue (obviously my bias about what it means to be a Christian)? AFA is free to believe what they will about Gay parents, and the moment they move to enact this bias into policy, or attempt to influence our democracy from the basis of this bias, that is concerning. I do find some of the writings on the website as hateful, which is sad.
We are not a Christian nation as AFA states, we are a secular, pluralistic society. Ultra conservative Christian organizations hit the same nerve in me as any other ultra conservative religious group does - what AFA publicly promotes is the same hate speech that Al Qaeda promotes. I have Muslim family, and I support their right to worship with as much vigor as I do Christians, Jews, and so forth. I also stand against violence in speech and action assigned to any religious or political group, and the ugliness of the public presentation of AFA deeply concerns me.
Here's an example of the kind of public behaviors by public employees that are fed by misleading information about Gay people. What the staff person said and did is unconscionable. His private views are protected; his public actions are not. I'm concerned that the anti-gay actions advocated by AFA and other activist religious organizations seed this type of highly regrettable discrimination :
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/1...f-public-pool/
Last edited by redfox; 6-15-11 at 11:38am.
Ziggy, you insult me and I'm sure you don't have that short of a memory...I do not like Perry, how many times to say it? I am now - Catwoman defender of the truth, whether it hurts my side and helps your side or vice versa. Ricky did not call himself a prophet, he used an analogy, c'mon.... Also, apparently, I need to be Catwoman, bull#$%# sifter...
Again, my position will continue to be - ABO - Anybody but Obama - if Rick Perry is his opposition, I said I would hold my nose and vote for him.
Aggies do have an Honor Code ya know. That. Is. All.
Hopefully you won't have to hold your nose! I hope none of us have to do that. I am sorry you're not an Obama supporter - I've benefitted from his policy actions, and believe the country as a whole has too. I don't like everything that's happened, but I do believe we're on the right path... and of course, I pray that everyone in this country lives in a community they love, in a home they can afford, with adequate food, water, health care, schooling, family and love. We're all pretty much of the same basic human needs after all.
Blessings! I hope your day ROCKS!!!
You know I love ya!! I fear that too many people think just like you. I saw that in Texas just this election cycle. Instead of voting for the best person they voted a straight GOP ticket because they just could not force themselves to vote for the party of the "socialist". We had a opportunity to really have a honest and true leader instead the "conservatives" just could not force themselves to think in terms of issues - it just wouldn't be cool. Instead we got a GOP super-majority in the state and it will cost all of the citizens of Texas because of it.
At some point in my life I hope the South can get over their bigotry, racism, and redneck-ism. I have had to stomach it all of my life and it gets very tiring.
Proud of Texas - Ashamed of Rick Perry!
Peace
"drowning in your rhetoric here LC, though that was your desired effect...point being maybe some of those nasty Christians praying with Rick Perry believe that homosexuality is, sharp intake of breath, a sin... if them saying that outloud is "lies, hatred and bigotry" then free speech in this country is lying prone with the bootheel of an intolerant left atop its throat...You can spin as much as you want to spin, its a matter of opinion, beliefs, etc.. "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catwoman, RedFox and others have said what I would say, but even better, so I won't bother to say all I could say. Of COURSE the American Family Association and the people who you are calling "nasty Christians" have very right to believe as they like. If they believe that homosexuality is sinful, and they feel those tendencies in themselves, they are free to "pray the gay away" from themselves, and do whatever feels necessary to make sure that they do not "fall into sin", by remaining celibate, or whatever suits their fancy.
I defend every person's right to have the religious beliefs they have and to live their own lives in accordance with those beliefs.
However, America is not and never has been a "Christian Nation", but is a secular, pluralistic society made up of citizens of many religions, none at all, as well as the many variations of Christian belief.
Where it comes to the American Family Association and other organizations similar to them is their efforts to impose THEIR religious beliefs on others, try to get laws passed that will affect or control those citizens who are not of their religious belief and do not share their outlook. And to try to do so by spreading demonstrable falsehoods about the people they feel are "sinful", and trying to control their lives.
When gay and lesbian organizations attempt to prevent Christian men and women from getting married, when they try to get laws passed to infringe on their rights, when they spread lies about them, and try to prevent them from enjoying the equality with every other citizen in this country, then I will speak out against any such organization. But, as Peggy said, I don't see gays and lesbians sitting around obsessing about the sex lives of fundamentalist Christian people, so it would seem reasonable for such Christian people to keep their noses out of the bedrooms and away from the civil rights of gays and lesbians.
It is FINE to think being gay is sinful if you want. It's fine to absolutely think that getting an abortion is wrong. And in such cases, I would not only support, but encourage one of those religious believers to fight against their own "gayness" if they find themselves in that situation, and to refuse to get an abortion if they find themselves in an unwanted pregnancy. that is, after all, what choice means.
Where the difficulties come is the trying to take choices away from others, to try to make THEM comply with YOUR religious beliefs by trying to pass laws based on those religious beliefs that affect others than just those who believe as you do. That's where the rubber hits the road......
Last edited by loosechickens; 6-15-11 at 3:14pm.
Gregg......I totally agree, and whether it is a nonprofit corporation, or a profitmaking one, there is nothing wrong with the leaders of such organizations being paid excellent salaries (although I would question whether any human being at all is worth hundreds of millions of dollar per year in salary, especially if the ordinary workers make peanuts).
I don't remember anyone saying that the SPLC is just a completely "altruistic" organization....heck, even my cousin, a Lutheran minister in a large city for a number of years made an excellent living doing it, although his motivations in going into the field were certainly altruistic, and perhaps Mr. Dees' were as well. I'm not able to judge. And if he's made a fine living doing good, then great.
As the Quakers used to say....."there's no sin in doing well by doing good".......
I am pleased that there is an organization that tracks these hate groups, tries to prevent some of their hatred activities by taking them to court when they break laws, discriminate, etc., and getting money judgement from them. It's been an inspired, assymetric tactic.
You don't have any complaints from me about what you're saying.....I agree, pretty much with what you're saying.
From Juanita Jean's Beauty Shop......
Peace
The national media is on this like green on grass.… in December of 2000, when Perry was about to take over the governorship from president-elect Bush, he said something that could come back to haunt him. “Certainly, you are not going to see a great philosophical difference between Rick Perry and George Bush,” he said. “We share the same type of philosophy.”
And a little reminder from Molly and Virginia Mary –
Move then.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote