Monday, June 12, 2006
Exclusion Rules
Well it looks as if the Anglican Church is ready to split wide apart over the issue of the ordination of a gay bishop a few years ago.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060612/ap_on_re_us/episcopal_convention
I guess the Christian message of inclusion and loving everyone has once again been rejected. The homophobia of conservative Christians is reaching a fever pitch, and unfortunately it doesn't seem as if it is going to end anytime soon. With Junior and his support for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, and the right wingnuts screeching about the threat to the American family, and the unwillingness of most democrats to take a principled stand against this bigotry, this issue is likely to gain in popularity and not just go away as many centrist dems would like it to.
The I support traditional marriage but don't want to change the constitution because its a states rights issue is just not going to hold up. Although I don't think the wingers will ever be able to gain enough support to actually get a constitutional amendment passed, they will cause more damage to the political culture in America over the next decade by continuing to raise this issue, adding further to the partisan rancor that has enveloped us. Eventually this is going to cost the Rethuglicans support as younger Americans who are a little more tolerant toward gay rights become a bigger share of the electorate, and as the "greatest generation"-which happens to be a little more homophobic, begins to pass on.
I have to admit this is an issue that I struggle with as well. Not my support for equal civil rights for gays, but the political ramifications of openly supporting either civil unions or gay marriage. I was really pleased when my son, who is 20 years old, recently expressed a more open attitude to homosexuals. In the past, like many teens growing up in small town America, he had expressed disdain or even disgust toward gays. I had hoped that he had been raised better, but it was one of those things that I wasn't sure about. It makes me hopeful that we are gradually moving toward a more tolerant society, but then I remember the what progressives are up against and I wonder just how far we have actually come.
I'm not a biblical scholar, but wasn't the Jesus supposedly placed on Earth so that all human sin could be forgiven, hence all sinners as well? Although I reject the idea that homosexuality is inherently sinful, shouldn't any good Christian be more accepting of the "weaknesses of the flesh", and be forgiving. If the same conservative fundamentalists who are so concerned about the sanctity of marriage and the threat of homosexuality put as much effort into actually helping those who are less fortunate, then maybe they could actually have an impact on American families. As anyone who has done any research into divorce would know, it is financial issues, and the problems associated with them that are the biggest challenge facing American families. There may be the occaisional family like that of the governor of New Jersey, broken apart because someone tried to deny their sexual inclinations, but the hyperventilating going on about this "threat" would be amusing if not for the negative impact that it can have on so many lives.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060612/ap_on_re_us/episcopal_convention
I guess the Christian message of inclusion and loving everyone has once again been rejected. The homophobia of conservative Christians is reaching a fever pitch, and unfortunately it doesn't seem as if it is going to end anytime soon. With Junior and his support for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, and the right wingnuts screeching about the threat to the American family, and the unwillingness of most democrats to take a principled stand against this bigotry, this issue is likely to gain in popularity and not just go away as many centrist dems would like it to.
The I support traditional marriage but don't want to change the constitution because its a states rights issue is just not going to hold up. Although I don't think the wingers will ever be able to gain enough support to actually get a constitutional amendment passed, they will cause more damage to the political culture in America over the next decade by continuing to raise this issue, adding further to the partisan rancor that has enveloped us. Eventually this is going to cost the Rethuglicans support as younger Americans who are a little more tolerant toward gay rights become a bigger share of the electorate, and as the "greatest generation"-which happens to be a little more homophobic, begins to pass on.
I have to admit this is an issue that I struggle with as well. Not my support for equal civil rights for gays, but the political ramifications of openly supporting either civil unions or gay marriage. I was really pleased when my son, who is 20 years old, recently expressed a more open attitude to homosexuals. In the past, like many teens growing up in small town America, he had expressed disdain or even disgust toward gays. I had hoped that he had been raised better, but it was one of those things that I wasn't sure about. It makes me hopeful that we are gradually moving toward a more tolerant society, but then I remember the what progressives are up against and I wonder just how far we have actually come.
I'm not a biblical scholar, but wasn't the Jesus supposedly placed on Earth so that all human sin could be forgiven, hence all sinners as well? Although I reject the idea that homosexuality is inherently sinful, shouldn't any good Christian be more accepting of the "weaknesses of the flesh", and be forgiving. If the same conservative fundamentalists who are so concerned about the sanctity of marriage and the threat of homosexuality put as much effort into actually helping those who are less fortunate, then maybe they could actually have an impact on American families. As anyone who has done any research into divorce would know, it is financial issues, and the problems associated with them that are the biggest challenge facing American families. There may be the occaisional family like that of the governor of New Jersey, broken apart because someone tried to deny their sexual inclinations, but the hyperventilating going on about this "threat" would be amusing if not for the negative impact that it can have on so many lives.
