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I am frustrated by the ideological trends that I have been seeing when it comes to Americans... Two people I know, we will call Jared and George for anonymity sake, were discussing the ever so controversial topic of gay marriage in front of me. The discourse upset me quite a bit more than I feel like it should have, hence the need to vent.
To set the stage, George is a liberal who believes the gay population should be able to marry and be equally represented by the law. Jared, however, is very right wing and believes that the institution of marriage should be limited to (only) a man and a woman. He has failed to voice his opinion as to whether or not they should have the same tax benefits and representation as a married couple.
Back to the conversation. Jared and George were delivering their usual banter about who is right and who is moral, etc. and it usually doesn't bother me. I just vaguely listen but one of them said something that caused me to feel the need to chime in with "Well, I just believe in tolerating other people's beliefs and lifestyles, even if I disagree with them."
What really riled me up was Jared's response: "I tolerate them too, but its not like I am going to have them over to watch my kids."
George: "Why?"
Jared: "Because we don't want them teaching our kids things we don't believe in."
Me: "....."
This is what got me started. George's repsonse to my question (I asked later in confidentiality) "Does that mean gay people should be banned from being teachers? Or social workers?"
"Yep.. that's why his kids are in a private charter school... I was talking to his kids and they said that Obama is bad cause he will help the gays... "
That is where I got pissed. First, how can someone truthfully teach a naive child that gay people and their supporters are bad? Second, Obama is not going to help the gays. He is against gay marriage. He believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. (Don't believe me? Read it: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.samesexmarriage.html ) He DOES, however, believe that gay civil unions should be recognized on par with marriages when it comes to legal representation and tax benefits. If Obama believes the same fundamental ideas as Jared, how then is he bad? Unless of course, equal rights for humans is bad.
UGH! As a christian, aren't you supposed to teach tolerance not bigotry? Do they even read the Bible for themselves, or just trust someone else's interpretations? Obviously this guy got his news from an inaccurate source! It just frustrates me how some people can be. Yay, white man's burden?
I am out of steam (for now).
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Since you know my beliefs, I will preface with this with the fact that I am torn when it comes to gay marriages. I have many, many gay friends whom I adore and don't want to even think they are destined for an eternity in hell. I struggle with the statements within the bible that don't allow gay marriage. Yet I do understand the reasoning for it, and happen to agree. Men and women were meant to be together as one. It says nothing about man and man or woman and woman. Yet, as a Christian I am also meant to uphold the values of loving others despite their differences, and with my love toward them-even those with a different lifestyle than mine-will hopefully plant a seed and bring them to know the love of Jesus. It is not for a Christian to judge, because that is not our job. That is up to God. You can love the person, not their decisions. This also works for someone who is not gay. Plus, if someone is going to toss judgment about someones sexual preferences, they are just as bad as Hitler persecuting people because of their religious and physical differences.
As for the gay teacher thing-that is ridiculous!!! In all fairness a gay person can be an excellent teacher! I happen to know a few. They don't teach their personal preferences, that is not allowed. They follow standards which are set within the education system. Plus how can someone know if a teacher is gay or not? Does the fact that their sexual preference matter whether they are educating someone that 1+1=2? It is the same answer no matter who teaches it to you. And is your friend ok with a straight child molester teaching children? With his argument since they are not gay so that must make it ok.
It's a frustrating issue because it can be reasoned down to a simple fact that one should love people despite their differences-sexual,physical,ideological, mental, ect.
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