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Indeed, and if it were only the case that you discriminate among your choices according to their own merits rather than the merits of the guy selling you the car who happens to be a gay black man instead of a christian white dude.
http://taomon.50g.com/Civil Rights/religious freedom or discrimination.doc
Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. He looked round. It was Clover. Her old eyes looked dimmer than ever. Without saying anything, she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written. For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tatted wall with its white lettering. My sight is failing, she said finally. Even when I was young I could not have read what was written there. But it appears to me that that wall looks different. Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be Benjamin? For once Benjamin consented to break his rule, and he read out to her what was written on the wall. There was nothing there now except a single Commandment. It ran: ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS. (Orwell, 1945)
Discrimination occurs when a specific group of people is treated as second-class citizens and separate laws are applied to that bloc. To establish a Constitutional Amendment that defines marriages as strictly heterosexual is State sanctioned bigotry. Has America metamorphosed into an Animal Farmesque state? Are there truly some citizens that are more equal than others are? Freedom of religion does not afford someone the right to discriminate against another person because religions, particularly the Christian faiths, are based on love and compassion. So how can discrimination of the homosexual community be a mainstream ideal in light of the civil rights movement, the founding principals of our nation, and the true message of the Christian faith? To understand and resolve these discrepancies in American culture one must first examine the social issue of homosexuality in America, the prominence of the Religious Right and Conservatism, and the effects that being ostracized has on individuals and society in order to reach a possible solution.
Homosexuality is neither a consequence of moral decline nor a perversion. Sexuality is an inherent aspect of humanity. Our in utero development is based on genetic blueprints that determine our height, hair color, and personality. This genetic code also dictates our intrinsic sexual orientation, which begins to manifest at a very young age. Children who play Doctor and Spin-the Bottle are expressing their curiosity about manifest predilections. At the puberty stage individuals begin to have fantasies and relationships that result in certain levels of experimentation, enhanced by the influx of hormones. In a community of openness and understanding homosexual behavior would be accepted as a natural tendency. Unfortunately that is not the case in our culture.
To debate whether heterosexuality or homosexuality is normal is like debating whether being right-handed or left-handed is normal. People are who they were born to be. American culture is replete with cases of brutal discrimination, bigotry, and genocide. One group after another has been victimized by traditional American values, based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and political affiliation. Individuals who did not fit into a specific category have been labeled misfits and treated in the same manner. The gay community has been subject to the same brutality as African Americans and Native Americans.
Americans have been taught, from infancy, to hide or shun behavior that does not fit into the norm. Forcing homosexuals to stay in the closet stifles their emotional growth. The result is a social disconnect that leads to self-loathing, distrust of others, stigmatization, and suicidal tendencies. However, suppression is not a tactic that works universally. Some people, when forced to repress natural urges, will lash out verbally, physically, and even artistically. The cases of death and destruction inflicted on homosexuals, who refuse to adhere to authoritarian coercion, are endless. Being a gay American is not only dangerous it can be deadly. I attended a diversity seminar at my place of employment. The guest speaker was an ex-Boston police officer who worked undercover catching street thugs. Some nights this officer had to walk out of a gay bar and was always attacked; stating that he was stabbed, kicked in the teeth, and had his ribs broken. This policeman described the rage that people felt towards homosexuals and the social acceptance of those violent crimes.
Why does the very existence of homosexuality threaten people to the extent that they would commit brutal beatings and murder? Where does this hatred come from and why do we allow it to continue? With the exception of abhorrent sexual behavior, such as pedophilia or bestiality, a political or social group should not judge the sexual practices of consenting adults. People who, purposefully or unintentionally, misinterpret the Holy Bible commit the majority of hostility and vicious attacks against homosexuals. A recent study shows that the role of religion is paradoxical. It makes prejudice and it unmakes prejudice. While the creeds of the great religions are universalistic, all stressing brotherhood, the practice of these creeds is frequently divisive and brutal. The sublimity of religious ideals is offset by the horrors of persecution in the name of these same ideals Churchgoers are more prejudiced than the average; they are also less prejudiced than the average (Laythe).
The Religious Right has gained prominence in our society since the Ronald Reagan presidency. Their reach has seeped into the industries that control public policy and opinion. Among many offenses against civil liberties, they have attempted to hide discrimination behind the façade of religious freedom. This not only subjugates the targeted citizenry, but also denigrates the true message of that faith. Under the guise, protecting the sanctity of marriage, religious groups have galvanized efforts to discriminate against the gay community. Homosexual couples are constantly refused the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples, wed and unwed.
Instead of helping to rehabilitate the institution of marriage, the polarizing debate over these Amendments served as distractions. Bashing a minority is a lot easier and more lucrative for pro-family groups than facing true threats to the family like divorce, abuse, addiction, unemployment and infidelity (Besen). The institute of marriage currently lacks any notion of commitment. Couples can get married within days of meeting. A divorce or legal separation is even easier to obtain than the marriage: unless the couple is homosexual. An exemplification of religious groups bigotry occurred when several states passed anti-discrimination laws that included sexual orientation. Christian coalition and pro-family groups protested those laws as a violation of their freedom of religion. These groups insist on the right to not employ persons based on his or her sexuality as well as the performance of intolerant sermons that demonize the gay community. When does freedom of speech go too far? More importantly, does not freedom of religion afford each of us freedom from religion?
One does not have to be homosexual to understand that the gay community is unfairly attacked verbally, physically, and socially through conventional policy and political machinations. Every culture and society establishes a norm, which is the basis for acceptable behaviors. However, each person is individualistic and displays those traits through his or her personality. To fit in and be accepted within a group is a basic human tendency. Yet expressing oneself through innate talents and artistry is a stronger need.
Communities throughout history have ostracized people or groups when social norms are not met. The Japanese shunned people with deformities. Religious groups have also cast-out and victimized people who opposed that factions ideology.
As a child, bullies constantly abused me both verbally and physically. I have come to recognize this thug mentality as oppression. As an adult I see those same tactics employed everywhere from the workplace, law enforcement, and our political leaders. The elitism cultivated within my high school is epitomized in the current environment of personal responsibility and individualism. People are judged by their economic position and material possessions. The fear, pain, and angst that I endured not only came from classmates; I also faced daily hostility from teachers, family members, and several passersby. Family gatherings became so painful that I ceased to go, even for Christmas. I have talked to several homosexual friends who had the experiences, though some more severe than my own.
Total obsequiousness is probably not terribly healthy or functional. They could also lead to anti-social, retaliative, lashing out responses (Williams, 2005). Vengeful attacks have become prevalent, evidenced by the Columbine high school shootings and the many other schoolyard killings that followed. Although I do not condone the violent reactions of those troubled youths, I understand why they attacked their classmates. If any of the shooters in Columbine had gone through the same brutality as I had, and they claimed as much; then I understand. We live in a business-run society, which preaches that there must be winners and losers: rich and poor. In fact, whenever I point out inequality or racial bigotry the response is usually to blame the victim. This tactic has been indoctrinated into most people since the end of World War II and is one of the sparks that ignited the angry white male syndrome. People are angry without knowing exactly why. Blame is misplaced or misdirected and the real issues are avoided, or insinuated upon the wrong groups. As the rock group Rage Against the Machine eloquently stated in their song, Know Your Enemy Yes, I know my enemy. They are the teachers who taught me to fight me; compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission, ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite. All of which are American dreams (Rage Against the Machine, 1992).
Yet, there is hope, because not every single person subscribes to hatred or bigotry. Not everyone embraces homosexuality, but they are willing to allow others to conduct their lives as they see fit (Bull, 1997). Our future depends on the children and what is taught to them. Private and public school curriculums must include tolerance education, which would teach students not only about various cultures, religions, and orientations but would show the similarities inherent to all people. Regardless of the political backlash from fundamentalist religious groups, our society must stop the violence at the root causes. One such source is the bigotry and greed instilled in our children from every media outlet.
In conclusion, even though spirituality is a necessary piece of the humanity puzzle, organized religions must be regulated to some extent. Any group that preaches doctrines of hate and intolerance must be charged with a crime. In the corporate world, human resource policies concerning violent abuse include verbal assaults and tones of voice. Freedom of speech can not protect hate-speech as more victims begin retaliating against real and imagined tormentors. In the end we are faced with an increase in the frequency and ferocity of violent crimes. One must always remember that homosexuals are people too. Each person in the world hurts, laughs, cries, and loves whether he or she is homosexual, transsexual, or heterosexual. We, as a society, can make the necessary changes that will bring solidarity and understanding to our culture. Our responsibility is to choose the path of compassion and understanding and that is well within our power.
References
Besen, W. (). Anything but straight. Falls Church News-Press, . Retrieved Apr 01, 2006, from http://www.fcnp.com/435/besen.htm
Bull, Chris. (July 22, 1997 n738) A clean sweep. (gay legislation in New England states). In The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine), p35(2). Retrieved March 31, 2006, from InfoTrac OneFile via Thomson Gale:
http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infom...33&source=gale&userGroupName=uphoenixcustom&v
Laythe, B., Finkel D. G., Bringle R. G., and Kirkpatrick, L. A. (2002). Religious Fundamentalism as a Predictor of Prejudice: A Two-Component Model Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 41(4), p623-635. Retrieved Apr 09, 2006, from Academic Search Premier database.
Orwell, G. (1945). Animal farm. New York: Brace Harcourt.
Rage Against the Machine. "Know Your Enemy." Rage Against The Machine. Epic Records, . 03 Nov 1992. Music. 12 Apr 2006
Williams, K. D., & Gerber, J. (2005). Ostracism: The making of the ignored and excluded mind. Interaction Studies, 6(3), p359-374. Retrieved Apr 12, 2006, from Communication & Mass Media Complete database.
Very well written and articulated. I agree that the religious right is a hideous beast that seeks to shame its victims into conformity under the guise of moral obedience to a supreme authority.
The essay seems to embrace a socially leftist approach. There is no such thing as morality. This term is merely a construction of human interaction that seeks to regulate human behavior. To rationalize its merit, it is coupled with religion, which, in turn, renders it "unquestionable."
Morality and law are simply the products of human beings. However, this logic justifies any action whether it be the Holocaust or discrimination against gays. If there is no absolute moral truth, then any law that we make carries no weight.
Unfortunately, we have to discriminate against certain people for the protection of our society. Such individuals include murderers, child predators, rapists, and others who violate the basic social contract that we make with one another-- to leave each other alone. However, as you shrewdly point out in your paper, our exclusion of people who pose a threat to our very existence as a functional community is then senselessly applied to individuals, such as consenting homosexuals, who seek nothing more than to live their lives as members of this society.
Aw c'mon now, it was a good paper.
In what particular venue do you question the actions and merits of the "guy selling you the car who happens to be a gay black man instead of a christian white dude."
Are you trying to be homophobic, racist or are you just sharing your ignorance?
By all means, ask the guy trying to equate every decision/choice with discrimination in an effort to rationalize such as was the point of my reply.
Maybe following along would do you better than hopping into a thread like a blind, plate mail wearing ninja sneaking through a room full of china cabinets and windchimes..
The genetic evidence doesn't support the theory that homosexuality is genetic.
And..are you comparing homosexuality, which according to you is a healthy, normal and natural occurrence...with autism, which is a condition that victims must battle with every day?
I thought all homosexuals were happy to be homosexual, that there were no negative associations to be made whatsoever, except in the perceptions of those who "hate" them!
I wrote the majority of this paper. The citations support my thesis. I am sorry if you do not understand acedemic work.
Indeed, and if it were only the case that you discriminate among your choices according to their own merits rather than the merits of the guy selling you the car who happens to be a gay black man instead of a christian white dude.
Gunny, given some of your other posts that attitude surprises me? Maybe you are just using these terms incorrectly.
Howso? It's merely a comment on discrimination. Discrimination does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. It's merely showing a preference for one thing over another.
Seems to me if that gay black man doesn't want me judging him for being gay he doesn't need to wear his sexual orientation on a sign attached to his coat. I don't have one that says "Im straight."
When one defines oneself as something, so shall they be judged by it.
Oh so the church should be allowed to prefer to hire heterosexuals instead of homosexuals regardless of qualifications? How about the military? How about private industry?
Oh so the church should be allowed to prefer to hire heterosexuals instead of homosexuals regardless of qualifications? How about the military? How about private industry?
As a matter of fact YES a Church is free to hire based on what ever criteria they chose. So is private Business. And the Military has specific standards as well.
So long as one does not do business with the Government the Government does not get to dictate who they can and will hire. So long as a business does not violate its written policies they can and are free to hire and fire as they chose.
In other words, stay in the closet/don't ask don't tell?
