Time to weigh in on the Larry Craig situation.
Here's a guy who is obviously gay and has been all his life and yet he has always played by the rules that society has set for him. He obviously believes strongly in family values. He is obviously a religious person. He has demonstrated beyond a doubt that he believes in the conservative political philosophy he espouses. He has devoted his life to public service. He doesn't believe in gay marriage or domestic partnership or the open acknowledgement of homosexuality as a legitimate sexual preference. He married a widow lady and raised her children as his own. He represented his constituency, in Congress, in a manner that pleased them for a generation. He has repressed his sexuality and become exactly what society, as he understands it, wants him to be, a toilet queen. He feels most comfortable and sexually responsive, engaging in anonymous sex, in the restrooms of transportation terminals. Even while engaged in this gritty and nefarious pursuit of toilet sex, he remained polite and gentlemanly. He did not expose himself. He made no lewd proposition to another. He made his approach through a carefully choreographed and time honored code, known only to other homosexuals and in this case, undercover police officers. In this way was he exposed, his secret life brought to light, his career ruined.
Now he will be forced to resign. His old friends and colleagues in politics will shun him. If he returns to his home in Idaho, he will be a man alone and apart. The double standard by which he has lived all his life, will now condemn him to a life ostracized by those he has served so faithfully. Ted Stevens, who stole billions, remains a powerful senior Senator. David Vitter, who admitted to having sex with prostitutes, after having been exposed by a notorious madam, remains a Senator. Larry Craig is guilty of a far greater offense, he is gay in a World that believes it to be an offense against God.
Hundreds of closeted gays remain in the upper hierarchy of the Republican party. They will do nothing to help Larry Craig. There is nothing they can do. I hate those fundo-fascist, Bible thumping, Republicans. I suspect when they meet Jesus on the other side of the Pearly Gates, he'll want to have a little talk with them about respect for the sexual preferences of others.
2 comments:
"I hate those fundo-fascist, Bible thumping, Republicans. I suspect when they meet Jesus on the other side of the Pearly Gates, he'll want to have a little talk with them about respect for the sexual preferences of others."
Indeed. Spoken with true tolerance. Especially for those "fundo-fascist, Bible thumping, Republicans" that you have no love for.
For the record, here is what the Catholic Church teaches about homosexuality and tolerance.
Chastity and homosexuality
2357
Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358
The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359
Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
Also, for the record, here is something about hate.
2262
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord recalls the commandment, "You shall not kill," and adds to it the proscription of anger, hatred, and vengeance. Going further, Christ asks his disciples to turn the other cheek, to love their enemies. He did not defend himself and told Peter to leave his sword in its sheath.
2302
By recalling the commandment, "You shall not kill,"[93] our Lord asked for peace of heart and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral.
Anger is a desire for revenge. "To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit," but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution "to correct vices and maintain justice."[94] If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. The Lord says, "Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment."[95]
2303
Deliberate hatred is contrary to charity. Hatred of the neighbor is a sin when one deliberately wishes him evil. Hatred of the neighbor is a grave sin when one deliberately desires him grave harm. "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven."[96]
1033
We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: "He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."[610] Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren.[611] To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self- exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell."
Tolerance is a two-way street, shipmate.
Sorry, Sonarman. I get a little carried away. Nothing personal.
I always thought that a good corollary to the Golden Rule is "Live and let live". It makes your neighbor feel almost as good and doesn't cost you anything.
Catch you later, out on the net.
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