Are we the "cockroaches" of society?

[Foxglove]

2) The pastor still thinks that a beating can change that desire.

He's right about that. He'll change it from something joyous, the expression of what you are, into something driven underground, where it festers, gnaws at itself, evolves into wild fantasies, becomes laden with guilt and shame and finally turns you against yourself. If he knew that, I'd say he'd probably be pleased with himself.

Annabelle

[Sandra1746]

Purple;
That story from your Grandmother brought tears to my eyes, it was that beautiful and profound. I too copied it and have shared it with my wife. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Peace and Love,
Sandra1746

[Organza]

[SIZE="2"]Perhaps we should thank Mr. (Pastor) Harris for providing us with so much fodder for discussion!

Yesterday I was reading a piece in the local newspaper, written by an agricultural columnist, and it seemed to verify this “squash the cockroach” attitude that prevails in the hearts and minds of those who hate anything queer...

This man, this columnist, has a young son, and they were in a vacant lot near their home, looking at the dandelion seed tops together. Encouraged by his father, the boy blew the seeds off the stems, letting them drift hither, thither, and yon. I’m sure this was a cute scene, but the father soon upped the ante by picking up a stick, and, by imitating his golf swing, lopped off the seed tops much faster, “killing” several at a time...

Seeing this, the boy picked up his own stick and used it to mow down the dandelions, using such force that the stick broke – he screamed for a BIGGER stick, and the father provided one, leading to wanton destruction of all dandelions in the immediate area. At one point...

“His little mind outran his feet, and before he could stop and pick up the stick he tripped and launched himself head first. Not to worry. He never said a word, picked up the stick and proceeded to stand up and looked about for the dreaded “dandy lions” he was about to slay with his new BIG stick. His smile stretched from ear to ear as he waved the weapon over his head. When he finally found the first dandelion, he proceeded to club it into the ground. He didn’t give up until the plant was indistinguishable from the black soil. The smile never left his face.”

The father/man went on to describe how his son would not relinquish his war club, using it to unleash his own “scorched earth” policy on any and all weeds in the vicinity, at least until dinner time. “Theodore Roosevelt would have been proud,” wrote the man, echoing his own pride in his son’s unabashed display of masculinity. Never mind that the situation is worse than before, since the dandelion seeds are now floating all over the place, because boys will be boys...HURRAH!

Violence and aggression are encouraged in boys, and we are supposed to dominate all forms of nature, including our own, in an effort to not give in to effeminacy. What if a boy thought the dandelions were pretty, and he picked a delicate bouquet of them, presenting them as a gift to someone he loved? Do we squash such beauty because it’s dangerous to society? I know I’ll never see a story along those lines, written by a man I mean, in the newspaper, because it goes against the very foundations of behavior that society is based upon...

Of course, Pastor Harris wants to club all queers into the ground, until they are indistinguishable from the soil, since they represent the “weeds” that spoil longed-for societal perfection. This hatred of weeds, or pests, needs to be fostered in the young, and, since our agricultural columnist knows all about noxious weeds, he’s proud to see his son doing his mindless “duty.” Personally, I think dandelions ARE pretty – my elderly female neighbor said that to me the other day, and I agreed with her wholeheartedly. I would, of course, since I am one of the “weeds” of society, akin to a cockroach, trying not to be clubbed into submission...
[/SIZE]

My father was raised in a family that was slightly to the right of Attila the Hun. His mother sent me religious tracts all through my youth, including one bitterly hostile to homosexuality that made me wonder -- what's wrong with that? Once she sent me one that literally accused Barry Goldwater of being soft on communism

Anyway, he lived a long life with my mom, an atheist liberal, and he gradually changed his views. But he was always the perfect male -- not in the sense of being brutal or macho, but in courage, amazingly hard work, persistence, strength, support, faithfulness, and everything else that's good about men. When he was near the end of his life he began a memoir and he wrote eighty pages that took his childhood to age ten. I read it with fascination. He grew up in rural Missouri, and his true love was...flowers. He used to run for miles during lunchtime to find a wild flower garden and then spend every available minute there before running back in time for the bell. I guess I never knew him until he died.
Lisa

[divamissz]

Mr Harris*, please, come and try to slap my wrist. I'm a great believer in "The Chicago Way..."

*I refuse to call him "Pastor" as he is an abomination to the church and Christ's teachings in my eyes.

[Tracii G]

Well I must be odd I'm a conservative politically as far as the 2nd amendment and opposed to government's nanny state philosophy and its willy nilly wasteful spending.
3 tour Vietnam combat vet and all the mental baggage that comes with ending hundreds of humans lives.Yet I believe in God and live a pretty clean life.
I have been called all kinds of names by people on the street freak,Homo,fag whatever but they have no idea how I feel. I don't hate them for what they say I just feel sorry for them.
I do agree with my local fairness ordinance and think it should be nation wide.
Discrimination based on gender/skin color,gender identity or religion is wrong.
That pastor is just a homophobe and is using his pulpit to spew his opinions and that is not what a pastor should do.

[NicoleScott]

The pastor isn't the first and won't be the last to use this gimmick: society has a problem, and my religion can fix it with your help. So send your money to God, but make the check out to me.

[Leeiah]

pastor is a straight up idiot.

[Abby74]

My great state. I think some like to be on t.v. People like that are mostly in the smaller towns.

[KarenCDFL]

Yet if a girl is a tomboy it is ok it is cute don't worry ? Bullys need to put other people down to make themselves feel better

Hi Ally,

I am sure most of have heard how most organized religions treat females. So why would any sane person expect to hear anything other than the swill and hate that came out of this "man of god's" mouth.

Why would anyone expect any different?