I used to be the same as LL, I grew up in the uber-Christian home and we were taught to hate homosexuals and liberals. Now I fully support gay rights and gay marriage, and I think anyone who doesn't is really just in denial as to what they are really fighting.
I'm actually trying to be a lot less confrontational on the board, but I was sincerely curious to hear a take from someone who has traditionally been anti-gay rights. I wasn't trying to be nasty, though I can understand people feeling that way given my posting history.
This. I didn't actually grow up in a house that taught such things but I just grew up with that stigma that that group of people were bad/nasty/immoral or whatever negative connotation you would care to add there. Nobody actually taught me that my thinking was actually what was bad I just kind of realized it myself. I think that's the problem a lot of these people against gay rights have, their a lot like alcoholics. You can tell them they're wrong and they need to fix it all you want but in the end they need to realize that themselves to truly change that way of thinking and who they are.
Not to pick on you, but I get tired of hearing this kind of thing. I grew up in a Christian home and we were taught not to hate anyone. (what a concept!) Look, I’m not naïve enough to deny the fact that the most vocal of conservatives and/or Christians are anti-gay, but please don’t assume that applies to all of us. There are plenty (including me and my entire family) who have no problems with gays or gays getting married, etc. My Mother is a church organist and she plays “civil unions” all the time. She just played one a few months ago, actually. Hell, she even says she enjoys them more than regular weddings. So count me in as a conservative “leaner” who has no problems whatsoever with gay people wanting to get married. I support it 100%, along with the rest of my conservative family. To be honest, I think straight people with kids getting divorced does MUCH more to “destroy the sanctity of marriage” than gay people getting married ever could do. But that’s a different thread, I guess.
Nowhere in his post did I get the feeling that moes was targeting all Christians of that type of thinking. I might be wrong but I think you're the one that is doing the assuming.
I wasn’t talking specifically to moe, just making a general point. That’s why I said “not to pick on you, but…”
Good post, ima. And good for your mom. I also have no problem with conservatives or Christians in this capacity; only with people who are against equal rights for everyone.
ima, I know that what I said might step on your toes, but I assure you I'm not labeling anyone, and when I talk about my home... I assure you I'm not talking about regular Christians. Hate is a strong word, my mother doesn't hate. I don't consider her a hateful person. My stepdad on the other hand, yes. I assumed a lot of you knew my background already, but I'l clarify it again. I was raised in a crazy house. I don't despise Christians, just ignorance. Seriously, I don't hate anybody, but my stepdad was a radical fundamentalist type idiot who is nothing like the normal Christians. I'm not sure a lot of you understand what its like to grow up in a house in the 1990s and it feels like the 1930s. We weren't allowed to even watch regular TV. It was all "Hollywood Filth." I wasn't allowed to go shopping at K-Mart because they supported Planned Parenthood. I was homeschooled and kept in a cocoon of ignorance that I sometimes wonder how I ever escaped from. Not only did this guy hate gays and liberals, but he wasn't very fond of black people either. How would you like to have the supposed positive male influence in your life telling you things like "Martin Luther King Jr was un-American and that if they celebrate his birthday they may as well celebrate the birthday of BENEDICT ARNOLD." Its appalling when I think about it. So I'm sorry if I came off bitter because I am fully aware that most Christians are a lot more open-minded about the issues than my crazy-ass stepdad. For instance my extended family is a group of well-educated Christian Conservatives and I respect them more than most everybody else on the planet. I only wish I could have been raised by them and not had my entire brain ****ed by an ignorant fool.
That sucks, moe. Like I told Lil, I wasn’t really talking directly to you, just sort of making a general point, since I hear this kind of thing a lot and I felt the need to respond. As an aside, reading your post kind of reminded me of my all-time favorite Airplane! quote: “Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. Sorry, Ted, that's a dumb question... skip that.” All kidding aside, my family was nothing like that. Sorry you had to go through that, but it sounds like, in an ironic twist, it actually made you a better person. Sometimes learning how NOT to do things can be more powerful than learning how TO do things. Anyway, have a good weekend, I’m out!
ima: I think that Christians get unfairly tarred with this issue not because Christians are anti-gay or anti-equality but because people who are those things use "Christianity" to support their bigoted views. It seems to me your disappointment should be with those people as well as people who make the mistake of lumping all Christians together.
I'm glad I did. But I have 3 younger siblings stuck there, and I'm 2000 miles away now. That weighs heavily on me sometimes.
No kidding. Anytime I'm at a loss as to what to do with my kids, I think of what my parents would do and that immediately narrows the choices because in all likelihood I won't do what they did... knowing what not to do helps me get to a good place (usually).
Wow, moes. I knew some of this already, but hadn't seen it all summed up that way. You, sir, are a testament to the power of innate intelligence and good instincts over the heavy influence of ignorance and hate. Far too many people growing up in that kind of environment turn into a twisted, ****ed up shadow of the "monster" ruling the household. I'm agnostic, but if I weren't, I'd give you a sincere "God bless" for being who you are today. If there is any justice, your siblings will come out of the madness, as you obviously did. Your help may end up being the difference. I'm so very lucky, having grown up in a liberal household stuck in the depths of redneck Southeast Houston, surrounded by a lot of good neighbors, true, but far too many people just like your step-father, with kids bringing brought up to accept it as gospel.
What about my generation ? (I'm 26) Sometimes my wi-fi doesn't work properly!! Jk..I get a pretty solid signal
Speaking of Brits, last month they officially apologized for their treatment of Alan Turing. He had been a crucial part in cracking the German code and was mostly known for designing the earliest computers. I believe institutionalizing gays was common up until the 70s when studies brought out conclusive evidence that homosexuality wasn't a mental disorder. It might not be Auschwitz, but we had to come a long way to get to the debate over weddings and civil unions.
