Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Human rights Gay hatred in Arkansas
Posted by Max Brantley on Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 4:42 PM
The Advocate.com has posted a sad story about an Arkansas school board member's reported death wish for gay youths. We could hope it's not true. I've tried without success to reach the school board member — Clint McCance of the Midland School District near Batesville — reported to have made the quoted remarks on his Facebook page, so all I know is what is said at the link. Would an Arkansan — another human being who claims to be a Christian — really post this on his Facebook page in response to an effort to wear purple shirts to show support for gay youths?
"Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves. The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE."... "I would disown my kids they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity. I will absolutely run them off. Of course my kids will know better. My kids will have solid christian beliefs. See it infects everyone."
The news is exploding across the web and has inspired a Facebook page of its own.
McCance's Facebook page for his carpet cleaning service (which has done business with the School District he governs) is getting some, er, testimonials tonight. UPDATE: I think McCance's business and personal Facebook page have been disabled, but the Fire McCance page still shows screen grabs of his posts.
Speaking of...
-
The roots of homophobia
April 29, 2012From op-ed today in New York Times on scientific research into homophobia and the periodic examples of campaigners against gay rights who turn up in same-sex encounters: In this month’s issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, we and our fellow researchers provide empirical evidence that homophobia can result, at least in part, from the suppression of same-sex desire. /more/
- More »
Comments (69)
Showing 1-50 of 69
like
dislike
"I would disown my kids [if] they were gay.”
Not before I disowned this stupid prick first, were I the kids. The comment smacks of something the likes of Ted Haggard or Larry Craig might have said.
So what? You hear this crap every day all around this state. I did when I was there. Unrelenting.
What I never heard and still don't is the enormous outcry from Arkansas' Christian churches against this kind of bigotry and for equality. Why? Because all those churches, to one degree or another, teach exactly the same -- oh, let's call it what it is and stop dignifying it -- shit.
Until all these supposedly "loving" Christian churches stand up loudly and publicly for equality in marriage and adoption and employment and housing -- they're teaching exactly the same "kill yourselves" less-than-human Christian shit Clint McCance at least has the honesty to post on Facebook, rather than hair-splitting hatred behind "love."
Look yourselves in the mirror, churchgoers. Does YOUR church preach full equality? Or bigotry? Does YOUR church stand up loudly and publicly to people like Clint McCance? Or support him with silence?
Do YOU?
Like it or not, Razorbabies, this sort of shit has and will hold Arkansas back and backward -- socially and economically. It's made Arkansas synonymous with bigotry at least since 1957. If you don't stand up to it you're part of it.
Next . . .
Link works. Just slowly. I think it's getting slammed. It's going viral all over web. I do think it will be interesting what, if anything, others in community, on school board, in high school might have to say.
Max, I'm glad you posted this on here so that the rest of America doesn't think that everyone in Arkansas shares the same misguided values as Mr. McCance. Thank you.
"Would an Arkansan — another human being who claims to be a Christian — really post this on his Facebook page in response to an effort to wear purple shirts to show support for gay youths?"
Well yes, yes they would.....
Norma, you ask, "What I never heard and still don't is the enormous outcry from Arkansas' Christian churches against this kind of bigotry and for equality. Why?"
And your answer is definitely right.
Many churches never speak out, too, because they are frankly afraid of alienating influential and wealthy members and donors who demand that the churches hold a hard line on gay issues.
Your conclusion is absolutely right, too. The kind of people any area has to attract to remain economically and culturally viable nowadays -- educated, thinking people with an interest in building vibrant communities -- run like the plague from places like Arkansas.
With good reason. I would not advise any younger gay person thinking of a place to live to consider Arkansas. The potential to encounter ugly hatred and painful prejudice, while people who claim to speak in God's name stand by in silence, is too great here.
Back in my Baptist days before the Internet I thought it was pretty strange that Jesus never married, everyone was married back then. The man was in his 30s and hanging with his posse...no record of any girlfriend, no prom picture with a female date, no baby-mommas, no kiss & tell books after his death.
How in the hell does Mr. McCance know for sure that Jesus wasn't afflicted with the GAY? Hell, Rock Hudson had an ex-wife! Old gay Roy Cohn dated Barbra-wawas. There is no proof to support that Jesus was a heterosexual man. Plus, as Norma pointed out, his father was a rapist.
Now, don't get upset by this, there are ignorant bigoted bastards in every state of the Union. It was kind of a secret before the Internet tubes came along, but it's true and it's always been true. I don't remember ever visiting Batesville and I plan to keep it that way.
DBI, you say, "[T]here are ignorant bigoted bastards in every state of the Union."
And that's true. But some areas are undeniably far easier for those who are openly gay to live in.
And in some other areas of the country, the outspoken hatred and the discrimination are vigorously challenged by many citizens, including some religious groups.
Not here. Not so much. Hardly at all, in fact.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Midland High School is to provide all students with the opportunities to acquire the skills necessary to become responsible, productive citizens and to understand, nurture, and develop the abilities of the whole person because we know that everybody is somebody special.
They also say a prayer before the school board meetings.
"thereselves" and "i'd absolutely run them off"..... and this dip shit is on a school board? You couldn't find a better word or phrase to represent an igorant, backwoods, southern fried piece of shit, cousin bangin', redneck! And to all the right wing "christian" nut jobs out there.... just remember... when you see a rainbow... it isn't God's promise to mankind not to destroy us with a flood again.... its because he just had gay sex! Thats right... you really did just read that! :)
BTW Max... What ever came of that student up in NWA that was suspended a few weeks back because she wore a rainbow bracelet or something like that?
Norma you beautiful, gorgeous woman. Why if I was str8, I'd, I'd...
But you're clearly right, of course. Me? I'm Episcopalian--one of the most "progressive" denominations in the state. But I guaran-damn-tee you won't see the church speak out against this blatant hatred.
Fuck Midland, Arkansas, and fuck YOU Clint McCance.
Although it is thousands of years old and pretty much routine, perversion of the teachings of Jesus Christ in order to justify hatred continues to baffle me.
Unmitigated evil in the name of God.
Anyone who has a "good riddance" attitude about youth suicide shouldn't be anywhere near a school board, not even scrubbing toilets in the administration building.
Yet, I don't think an attack on Faith (i.e., Jesus's "father was a rapist") is the answer. (For the record, the conception wouldn't be "immaculate," nor the mother "virgin" if God had come down to have sex, you know? Many of us believe that the zygote was fully formed when it appeared in Mary's womb and contained none of her cells. You can say that's a fairy tale, sure, but it's not a fairy tale that includes or glorifies rape. But, I digress. )
My point is that Christianity didn't stop beheading Muslims (as in the Crusades) or burning innocent folk labeled "witches" (as in Salem) or condoning slavery and Jim Crow laws (all across America) on account of anti-Faith campaigns or the destruction of Christianity. These things stopped when Christians came to understand that their actions were irreconcible with the teachings of Jesus.
Lots of Christian churches that don't preach hate nevertheless struggle with what they fear will be seen as "approval" of something they regard as sin. I even saw a video linked from New Birth (Eddie Long's church) describing how a gay man fell on the altar and prayed for three days until God removed his desire for other men.
That notion is ridiculous, bigoted and hypocritical.
I don't know how to begin fighting the hatred other than in my church community and on this blog -- reminding churchfolk that, while Jesus said nothing about homosexuality, he was very clear about divorce. If we're going by what Jesus said then *I* am the one who needs to be lying on the altar, praying that God cleanse me of the desire to commit adultery through remarriage.
But the truth is that nothing in Christ's teachings commands other Christians to hate me -- or hate gays -- even if the Christians believe homosexuality (or adultery through refusal to become a prayer eunuch) is a sin.
I believe that (in America), the root of this evil hatred lies in Christianity.
So, too, does the answer, I think. I think this because -- whether it is mere opiate or high inspiration -- Religion is something not soon to be wrested from the hearts of men.
Heavens, I never thought I would agree with posters on AT. McCance is a
repugnant,feebleminded,intolerant, JERK. Bad enough to think such, but to post to a facebook page is not acceptable. Perhaps his perfect non gay
children will face other challenges in life due to his upbringing and attitude.
I'm not sure it has to do with being a Christian, it certainly has to do with
being a human being. If the School Board position is elected, perhaps he is
looking to garner his very own cross.
I wish I could say that I hope Mr. McCance dies in a fire, but that would just be espousing the same kind of hateful thoughts and opinions that he is now known for.
So I'll instead say that I hope he someday discovers tolerance and respect for his fellow wo/man, despite their differences. And may his children prove to be champions of such tolerance and respect, despite their upbringing.
I would point out that dude is most likely gay his own self. Yet one more flagrant example of a shadow self shooting his mouth off. Someone should introduce this guy to Carl Jung. (Jung defined the Shadow Self as "that which we think we are not," as "everything that the subject refuses to acknowledge about himself and yet is always thrusting itself upon him directly or indirectly".) According to Jung, the shadow self turns a personal flaw that a person will not, or cannot acknowledge, into a perceived moral deficiency in someone else. Too bad he can't see that. Too bad he's in a position to dump on powerless youth. Pretty sure there's a special place in Sheol for self-loathing guys like him.
As I heard from a Jewish comedy act (Ithink it was Black on Black), why don't the Christians get their own book and leave our book alone?
Another thought-this type of stuff that goes viral on the web destroys millions of dollar of work done by the state's industrial development people trying to bring the more higher paying jobs here. The corporate personnel may not have any openly gay people in their organization but they just don't want to associate with people with this type of attitude.
I know there are those who say we don;t neen these jobs as we can continue to send our kids out of state to never return but that is as short-sighted as voting Republican because the situation hasn't been instantly fixed after 8 years of gross mismanagement.
THANK YOU MAX FOR THE POST....SO FAR FROM WHAT I HAVE NOTICED YOU ARE THE ONLY ARKANSAS NEWS SOURCE TO FOLLOW THE STORY.....AND IT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED
How is this news? If you have lived here longer than a week, you're already familiar with this attitude. Certainly over half of the citizens of this state would agree with it, as we see with Griffin's latest poll numbers.
The GLBT blog Pam's House Blend just picked up on this story.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/17804/…
I come home on a day off this evening....to...this batsqueeze. Another bigot in a position of power, in a local RURAL skoolboard spouts his "christian" values which is nothing but a beard for his hatred of LGBT youth in Arkansas. As someone who isn't gay but is a part of the community (ally and in the "T" spectrum), this sort of thing makes my blood boil.
Look, I realize that Independence County (AR) isn't a bastion of tolerance, but public officials and school board members should act professionally and not mime the 1950's era race bigots. Of course the conservative church community will laud this guy and he will be a martyr for the Culture Wars. Hell, he might get to chat with James Dobson or Tim Wildmon on the the radio and star on their next propaganda anti-gay DVD. There's always money to be made for the Wildmon and Dobson Gang local affiliates in Arkansas and nationally with this sort of pandering.
Of course the Rural School Fetishists will claim that standing up to the GAY AGENDA is what 'Murika needs to fight off communism, Islamic Terrorism, and Water Fluoridation. Wear that rainbow flag on a T shirt, its detention for the drama club member. Wear that Confederate flag T shirt, its a wink and a nod for the FFA member.
I'm not for stopping anyone to personally believe that being gay is a sin or that playing instrumental music in a church is a sin. Americans have the liberty to be dumb-asses. Anytime the temptation to use government as a vehicle for a fascist agenda should be stood up anytime in all of Arkansas--- from Eureka Springs to Rison to Cabot.
If this guy is that stupid to post something like that on Facebook (and no doubt he is since he did it), he really should not be in the position he occupies as an elected member of the school board.
But remember that he probably reflects the opinions of the community. I drive through that community and occasionally stop at the C-store there. Trust me, unless some higher authority steps in, he is not going anywhere.
The district was in "financial distress" and was taken over by the state education department about five years ago so that gives you some idea of how the district has been handled.
Christians should not be condemned for the views of very religious fundamentalists who believe that they are following the teachings of Christ, but lack the understanding that the Gospel delivers for all of us.
It is times like these that we all need to remember the greatest commandment, that we should love our God, the Lord, with all our heart, mind, and soul...that's the easy one. The second greatest commandment (according to Christ), is to love your neighbor as yourself.
There are many Christians and Christian churches that disavow themselves of hateful views and acknowledge that while we are all sinners, God loves us all and there is nothing anyone can do to take that away.
Anybody got the names, and addresses, of the other school board members; at least one or two who may be mortified by this hatred.
As a lesbian, I'm pleased as punch this happened. This will go down as one of our "Bull Connor'' moments in the LGBT struggle for equality. This FB link has gone viral and the entire nation will see what we're being subjected to on a daily basis in this teabagger-charged, bigoted atmosphere.
I know black folks hate it when we equate our struggle to theirs. And, I understand their complaint to a degree.
But even in the darkest hours of slavery or the Civil Rights Movement, was one black child turned away by their parents or family because of the color of their skin? Of course not. Black families bonded because of the color of their skin.
What was most sickening about this man's post is that he boasted he'd disown his own child if they were gay. Think about that.
It's sometimes easier for some of us to "pass as straight.'' Like I've said repeatedly on this blog, I dated males all throughout high school, college and until my late 20s to *hide* who I really was. Hell, my father and two of my siblings don't know I'm gay and I'm in my freaking mid-40s! Why don't they know? Because they'd never speak to me again based on their RELIGION.
I don't throw out the baby with the bath water, so to speak, when it comes to Religionists. For example, I think Tap would march in a gay pride parade and he's the straightest Christian I know. I classify Dott and Thinking in the same vein.
I do believe, however, "The Church'' has never been on the right side of history when it has come to civil rights of any kind. And, I think money and pandering has everything to do with that.
You know how they say in reference to gays that "they love the sinner, but not the sin?''
Well, I love *certain* Religionists, but not the Church. I honestly think that at least 90 percent of churches are promoters of gay hate.
I'll love it when they (churches) prove me wrong and denounce this Batesville clown from the pulpit on Sunday. Do I think that'll happen???? Not a chance.
As Norma said, they'll give tacit approval by not uttering a single word.
I am going to have to respectfully disagree with one of your statements, Sister.
Your father and two siblings do know, but they prefer to pretend that they don't. Do you really believe that it hasn't crossed their minds or come up in conversation at some point?
I once knew this very butch lesbian who really believed no one knew or suspected anything about her, and she mentioned this numerous times until I finally asked her when was the last time she looked in a mirror? I told her....they know.
Of course, no one really knows until you specifically tell them you are a lesbian, but do they suspect and believe they know? You bet they do.
I'm hoping that other local media sources will report this but I am not holding my breath.
Only Fox 16 came out to the vigil that was held for the teens who killed themselves due to anti-gay bullying.
DBI, Midland School is not in Batesville; it's 15-20 miles south. Batesville is a lovely city with a very thriving gay community. Midland is located in Pleasant Plains, and nobody goes to Pleasant plains for anything.
No, Tap, honey: “Perversion” of the teachings of Jesus isn’t “thousands” of years old. The story of Jesus is only two thousand ten years old. You’re exaggerating.
The stories from which Christianity -- in all its particulars including names, the December 25 virgin birth, the miracles, the teachings, the crossification or crucification, the resurrection -- are, however, 6,000 years old and older.
But here’s the thing.
No matter how intelligent, educated and accomplished an individual in other areas, when he or she starts discussing their “faith” they become psychotic: a generic psychiatric term for a mental state described as involving a "loss of contact with reality".
Christians demand, often violently, that others accept as historic Fact mythical stories originating in antiquity that were never literal.
So weak is their professed “faith” that they adamantly refuse to entertain anything that challenges it – from historic and scientific facts that contradict and disprove it, to logical questions exposing its vengeful psychopathic violence and absurdity – out of their unspoken inner recognition that what they believe and insist is Truth is hot air and will collapse if pricked.
Here, just for example, Tap dubs a simple statement of fact (Jesus’ father – God – debauched an underage virgin as a ghost in a dream) – “an attack on Faith.” But that’s the very myth Tap embraces on “faith.” Yet, pointing it out, to Tap, constitutes an “attack.”
That’s nuts, as Buffy said. Psychotics see persecution everywhere. Meanwhile persecuting everybody who sees through their psychosis.
Tap and doubtless other bloggers are apparently unaware that Thomas Paine and so many others before him so eloquently pointed out the same ugly absurdity at the heart of Christianity as a “revealed” religion.
Since Tap and others are seemingly disinterested in studying ANYTHING that seriously questions their “faith,” let me do some work for them, at least by quoting Paine’s “The Age of Reason”:
“The story, taking it as it is told, is blasphemously obscene. It gives an account of a young woman engaged to be married, and while under this engagement, she is, to speak plain language, debauched by a ghost, under the impious pretence, (Luke i. 35,) that ‘the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.’ Notwithstanding which, Joseph afterwards marries her, cohabits with her as his wife, and in his turn rivals the ghost. This is putting the story into intelligible language, and when told in this manner, there is not a priest but must be ashamed to own it.” [Mary, the supposed virgin, mother of Jesus, had several other children, sons and daughters. See Matt. xiii. 55, 56.]
“The Christian faith is built upon the heathen Mythology.” – Paine.
But conversing rationally with Christians about their “faith” is literally impossible.
Here’s Tap, again – not because Tap is a bad person because he isn’t. He is merely representative of every Christian one ever meets, on the subject of their faith: oblivious to or ignorant of fact and history. And defensive about it.
“These things stopped [the bigotry, hatred and violence],” Tap says, “when Christians came to understand that their actions were irreconcible [sic] with the teachings of Jesus.”
Sounds sweet, Tap, but for the sin of omission ignoring the violent and divisive “teachings” also attributed to the Christ figure in the mythical bible stories.
How can these things be “irreconcilable” with the myth’s central figure when the myth’s central figure “TEACHES” them?
That’s what I mean about Christians on their “faith.”
Tap’s statement doesn’t even begin to make sense. It is psychotic: “out of touch with reality.” Yet on all other subjects he’s an eminently sensible and informed man striving, as most of us, to do and be his best and we all like him.
“Jesus said” and “Jesus did” are more statements that ring hollow to those who’ve actually studied the origins of Christianity and other religions, in the same way you tend to avoid somebody seriously claiming Zeus or Xenu said or did thus and so on a particular rock in the dessert two or three thousand years ago.
Behind all the myths are profoundly enriching magnificent truths about our existence and meaning. Those truths are not found in man-made religions “revealed” secondhand and enforced through authoritative threats, violence and retribution – as Thomas Paine and so many others have pointed out since Constantine.
Tap says, “Religion is something not soon to be wrested from the hearts of men.”
Sadly, Tap says religion is something “contained” in the human heart “not soon to be wrested” from it . . . rather than something imposed upon and imprisoning the hearts (and minds and war budgets) of much of mankind.
No offense, Kizzy. But if gay people can't hold hands walking down the street, then the gay community in Batesville is hardly thriving.
Reading about this guy is depressing & disheartening. Agree with ChaddieMc, thanking Max for posting it. Have any of our local TV channels carried it?
Thanks, Max, and to D-G movie critic Philip Martin, who posted it on his Facebook page earlier today, where i first read it.
No, no. Seriously. It just keeps getting better, this religionist shit. Clarence Thomas? Scalia? Just two of the six Catholics on the SCOTUS?
http://www.americablog.com/2010/10/hendrik…
You betcha.
Wow. I guess my comment on this subject actually got censored. Perhaps I went too far.
Dang, Norma. You always call me to account when I stray. (I started reading Hitchens this weekend; I'm not afraid of challenging my beliefs.)
You are right, the perversion is not "thousands" of years old. Only many hundreds. (By the way, I don't believe Jesus was born in December; I don't know many Christians who do. Most recognize that date as an incorporation of pagan holidays -- like Easter -- in light of uncertainty about the date, probably late September or early October, we believe Jesus was born.) But that's beside the point.
You can try to prevent the persecution of gays and lesbians through showing people that their core beliefs are stupid and superstitious.
Meanwhile, I'll try to prevent that evil by showing people that persecution is inconsistent with what they say their core beliefs are.
Maybe, between the two of us (and thousands like us), we'll prevail.
Maybe Christians will read something you've written and say, "Man, this is all superstitious junk." Maybe they will read something I've written and say "Jesus said of the woman caught in the very act of adultery: he without sin can cast the first stone."
Maybe they will hold on to their faith and, yet, declare that *any* act to "punish" sin (except as it harms others) preempts God's prerogatives and is inconsistent with Christian teachings.
Maybe they will come to believe, as I do, that Christianity does not tolerate neutrality when it comes to persecution. That "loving my neighbor as myself" means that I want for stj and the other gay or lesbian folks on the blog everything I want for myself: a lifetime of love and commitment from a partner.
Maybe. The chances are at least as good as the chances that Christians will completely abandon their faith.
Dear Mr. Stanley,
Words cannot accurately describe my feelings of outrage right now at the comments made by one of your school board members, Mr. Clint McCance. I was made aware of his defamatory, demeaning, and degrading comments toward the LGBT community earlier today. His words not only show a complete lack of tolerance and understanding, but also a total disregard for his position in the community. He was elected to the school board with the intention that he would have the best intentions for our children at heart, and what he has written shows a deep-seated hate which can only harm the youth of Arkansas.
In the last few weeks the nation has become aware of the tragedy that is LGBT teen suicides through unprecedented news coverage, and in response those who wished to show their support for these struggling youth wore purple on October 20th. This was done in remembrance of the teens, many of whom were as young as thirteen, who have died and in an effort to make sure that lives like theirs would not be lost again. These children took their own lives because they faced bullying and hatred in their schools. Places where they should not feel afraid. Mr. McCance’s words show that he does not oppose this kind of intolerance in our schools, and while he is on the board for the Midland Schools I fear for the safety of the students there.
His absolute lack of respect for these children’s lives illustrates that he should not be allowed to be in a place of authority over the education of our next generation. He went so far as to say that he revels in the deaths of LGBT people, disregarding the intrinsic worth of a person’s life. Each and every life is precious – no matter their creed, color, race, ethnicity, orientation, sex, or gender. We are supposed to promote tolerance and understanding in our schools and in our lives so that our children will not have to inherit a world filled with hate and death, and the message that Mr. McCance is sending only contributes to an environment filled with fear.
I want you to know that I am an Arkansan – I have lived here my entire life. I also want you to know that I am someone’s son and someone’s brother. I want you to know that I am gay. I have lived all my life hearing people like Mr. McCance, and I grew up in fear of being who I am. I feared being victimized based on nothing more than who I love. I want you to know the profound effect that these words, from a grown member of our community, have on our children. And with each death there is not only the tragedy of that person losing their life, but also the tragedy of parents losing their child or a sister losing her brother.
If you do not act, you are implicitly condoning the actions and the words used by Mr. McCance, and that you too share the responsibility for them. We as Arkansans – as Americans – must act to preserve life and insure that our children are cared for and loved. We as Americans have a fundamental right to our thoughts and our beliefs, but we do not have a right to hate others because of who they are. I ask you, please, take action now by calling for Mr. McCance’s resignation from your school board; otherwise this would be an outrageous miscarriage of justice.
Sincerely,
Spencer Smith
And good for you, Tap. I don't care what you believe or whether you agree with me or anybody else or not. I DO care that you (and anybody else I interact with) think.
That's all.
From that, one can glean how much actual information and / or education one has or lacks about a given topic.
So it's good you're reading Hitchens, et al.
Nor, really, is it a matter of calling religions stupid and superstitious. It is quite valid to point out that these myths, as human scripting and especially if taken literally, are in fact psychotic and cannot help but lead to psychotic behaviors, including "entertainments" like Mel Gibson's Jew-hating Jew-baiting homoerotic sadomasochist porn-fest, "The Passion."
Yet originally, at their heart, religious myths were based on observations of the earth, Sun, Moon, planets and stars. From the myths humanity projected great wisdom about itself, about life and existence.
It used to take years if not a lifetime to piece together the information that's now available in an hour or so. Here's a BBC production from some 20 years ago. Forget production values and Derek Partridge's hair. The information it contains is accurate.
The ramifications of this information, which churches have fought for two thousand years, leads naturally to looking at religions from various perspectives, including, say, Jung.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8…
Spencer, can you provide the address for Mr. Stanley?
And, spunkrat, who says gays can't hold hands in Batesville?
Like others I am stunned and infuriated by the comments posted by "Mr." McCance.
Norma and Tap: I commend you both for incredible insights from two very differing perspectives. Perhaps if more of the type of exchange you have had on this blog, both today and on previous occasions, were more often the rule instead of the exception, there would be no reason for such cruel and ignorant public attitudes.
And I must say, having been brought up in a conservative, evangelical background which has evolved into more questions than answers, I found both Tap and Norma's responses and arguments, compelling and challenging to my my own biases--both for and against the religious influences of my earlier years.
Though I comment rarely, I must say that all of the comments thus far on this post have been very encouraging. Though I'm not confident that I'll see equality and basic human kindness in my lifetime extended for every person, regardless of sexual orientation, what I have seen in your responses tonight offers me some hope.
Thank you, bloggers. Thank you, Max for posting the link.
There's a group on facebook called The Christian Left. They're very good at making great points from the bible. They support gay rights, etc. If you're on facebook, join them. I joined even though I am not into religion.
God on high hear my prayer. In my need you have always been there.
Not another rock in my dessert.
Anything but that.
www.midland.k12.ar.us
Please go to the schools website and demand this man's resignation. He is dangerous and a threat to our children.
Dennis
Arkansas Times is the only local media outlet that has covered this story. I'm not really all that shocked.
More by Author
-
Time for Boozman to speed up judicial nominee
Coincidence. I wrote Glenn Sugamelli this morning.
- Mar 6, 2012
-
A sit-in to re-Occupy LR
Robert Johnston, the former state legislator and Public Service Commission member and full-time advocate for peace, the homeless and pedestrian safety, among other causes, has an idea.
- May 23, 2012
- More »
Event Calendar
-
Re: Riverfest eve open line UPDATE
Warren Buffett is on a newspaper acquisition spree -
http://www.omaha.com/article/20120524/MONE…
…- on May 24, 2012
-
Re: New attention to Tom Cotton, no press champion
His comments were made from the perspective of an infantry officer under fire downrange, responsible…
- on May 24, 2012
-
Re: Riverfest eve open line UPDATE
I think Max has summed up very well the future of newspapers in Northwest Arkansas,…
- on May 24, 2012
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Slideshows
-
Police close the Occupy Little Rock camp, perhaps the last Occupy encampment on public land.
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
