I probably ought to start with an "I love Everybody" so as not to tick off too many people, but I wanted to respond to DC 20005s recommended post on Homosexuality.
In the larger sense, I want to not only respond to it but make the following point:
The Republicans are coming apart at the seams...yet many factions of this site are nitpicking at each other. We need to attack these guys with as unified of a front as we possibly can.
The gay issue and how we ALL choose to deal with it has been something of a divisive issue. I don't have the power to "solve it" or get many thousands of people to agree, but I do want to put some thoughts on the subject out there. Please consider:
I am not unsympathetic to the matter of homosexuality. In fact, I think Susan Ford Wiltshire's "Seasons of Grief & Grace - A Sister's Story of AIDS" is the most beautiful book ever written and should be mandatory reading as it explores the essence of how human beings ought to treat each other (and I recommend it to you as it touches on the family angle).
(Incidentally, Susan Wiltshire took exception to the scene in Philadelphia in which the Tom Hanks figure sat down with his family and had an open, warm discussion about how he was going to fight the discrimination case. Susan said that the universal family support was not realistic...but she otherwise loved the movie).
That said - The Republicans are coming apart at the seams.
Consider:
- Tom deLay has been indicted twice
- Bush is in the outhouse for Katrina (even though he escaped so many other things such as WMDs)
- Plame is coming to a head.
- We had to pay for them, but we actually have polling on Impeachment.
I cannot pretend to know what you (DC 2005) have to deal with. I can only guess and probably not very accurately. That said, everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, has some very personal issue that makes the current political climate nothing less than painful.
Let me say this as a member of this blogging community:
Rather than leading the charge with the Gay issue, something that numerically and socially will never, ever lead political change (I know I am going to enrage people by saying that, but I want to get people thinking. The Gay issue will affect political change, but it will never be the leading catalyst, just as race or age or such issues will not lead change by themselves).
I beg and ask everybody to stick somewhere along the taglines of "Strong families - strong communities - strong nation" (or whatever more broad unifying theme you favor).
I do not mean to pick on you (DC 20005) as you clearly are being very sincere in what you are saying, and pretty gutsy at that. I respond to you because I have seen on this site too many times our own people nit-picking at each other and infighting...WHILE THE REPUBLICANS ARE COMING APART AT THE SEAMS. They are blowing it. WE ALL NEED TO STICK TOGETHER IF WE ARE EVERY TO GET ANY KIND OF POSITIVE CHANGE.
Adding to that, too many times on this site I have seen the Gay issues be the divisive element. I do not tell you to "further supress" your true self, or any non-sense like that, but to see the larger picture and think about:
- What change do you want?
- What change is realistic?
- How, as a mere individual in a larger society, can I affect such change?
Now, compare and contrast the Gay situation with that of African Americans in the 1960s (I am picking that limited time arbitrarily - we still have a ways to go on race, too, of course). There are similarities, but there are also differences - it is too bad that there are differences, but know that such difference between these two identifiable groups of people exist and perhaps why they exist. Ignorance is usually the culprit and the things you (DC 20005) say try to address that. You humanize yourself (seems obvious and you may mock me for making such a generous, generous admission, but that is that sad current state of affairs for most of middle america - "Oh, they are people, too").
For better or for worse (which means worse) for straight white male, it is just easier to sympathize with a black person facing discrimination vs. a gay person. Skin color is just that, vs homosexuality which is sexuality, which is an inexplicable twist on the mysterious forces which drive straight males the moment they hit puberty. Homosexuality just does not compute for the straight male. Consequently, Gays have a tougher road than the Civil Rights movement...which I suspect you are aware of. Know it, recognize it, understand it and do what you can with it.
Now, as a human being and not as a blogger, let me say this to you:
Hang in there. You do not need me to tell you that you are clearly intelligent. You are here so your moral compass has to be pointed in the right direction, right?. You, like the rest of us, are an important part of a larger, stronger society, so yes, you have value. You do not need me to tell you these things (or you shouldn't), but please let me tell you that there are more people who recognize these traits in you that those who chide you, despise or fear you. There are - they just tend not to say anything and mind there own business.
I read this site and participate in it because I am interested in politics and government, not gay affairs. However, I see so many people here who make an issue of homosexuality it is a part of the political landscape....and we all saw Karl Rove implement his politics of cynisim brilliantly in which he knew every time, and I mean EVERY TIME the gay issue came up in the campaign, he counted it as a victory which helped his side win votes.
Somehow, someway, we all have to charge into battle together under unified themes that do not put the gay issue first...yet do not offent and crush the will and support of the gay left.
I don't have any answer, but I ask everybody to keep it in mind.
The Republicans are coming apart at the seams - let's not squander the moment fighting amongst ourselves.