Being Fair
There were a couple of comments left on my site last night. They were both from a young man who said that homosexuality was a “vile sin”. He went on to say that although he felt that it was a “vile sin”, he didn’t favor bashers going around beating people up because that would be like someone going around and beating people up with cancer - both scenarios, in his mind, would be like going out and beating up people who had a sickness, and that just didn’t seem right to him. He finally stated that he didn’t feel that the comment would make it through my comment filters, but it was my site, and he “didn’t expect me to play fair”.
I responded that the comment did indeed make it to my site and that I was going to let it remain. I also added that “judgment” was also a sin and that, according to Christians, all sins are equal in the eyes of God. I then wished him well and that he would find his way.
The next comment he left was on another entry. In that comment he stated that he couldn’t believe that some states were starting to sanction such a “sick and vile arrangement as gay marriage.” That one, my filters caught and held for my approval before posting.
That’s when I decided that he is right, this is my site. AND, I DON’T HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BE FAIR. I was offended by that last post. You only get to call me “sick” and “perverted” once. After that, I will take your voice away.
I deleted BOTH posts, I banned his IP address from even viewing this site. I further banned his IP and email address from being able to post comments.
You know, in the outside world, I have to worry about this crap. Being an “out” gay man, when I leave my home in the morning, I’m always wondering if I’m going to be unfortunate enough to come across a gay basher. I know that I will most likely come home in one piece. I also know there is a chance that I will end up in a hospital, or dead. That is my reality.
I say this because people who don’t even know me make the assumption that I am gay. Even this morning at breakfast as we sat down at our table, people at another table turned around to look at us. I could tell what they were thinking by the look on their faces. I said nothing, but I registered the disapproval of the grown-ups, and the approval of their teenage daughter. Judgments were made but not spoken in words, and we continued with our breakfast. But at the wrong place, at the wrong time, around the wrong people, who knows?
On this site, I don’t have to worry about judgment and I don’t have to “be fair”. So the next time this young man tries to view this site he will be told that the site has “refused his connection”. Rude, I know - but no worse than calling someone sick and perverted.
And I’m really trying not to say, “I’m fed up with religion - take your crap somewhere else....”, because that would make me just like them; intolerant.
After breakfast, we left for the mall. We are leaving for Paris Wednesday afternoon. I thought it would be easier to carry my camera equipment around with a back pack versus the camera bag I carry on my shoulder. This is a special back pack just made for cameras. We found just the right one and I took the opportunity to buy one more one gigabyte memory card.
We then went to a department store. Kent wanted to get a new pair of dress shoes. While he was looking, I went into the men’s clothing section to look at jackets and the like. I came across some dress blazers by Ralph Lauren priced at $300 each. The sign above them said that they were marked down to $159. However, upon closer inspection, on the sleeve, with a red sticker, it said $19.95!!
So, we bought two $300 blazers for $19.95 each. On top of that, they knocked off another 10% for using my department store charge card! Not a bad deal at all.
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I agree with you wholeheartedly, I don't have to put up with it in my space. My blog is mine, and I have to put up with stares, name calling, and judgement from everyone all of the time; I am certainly not going to put up with it on my blog. Good show!
Wow, Paris. How wonderfully cool is that! AND there's a Disneyland there too! If you plan on going to the Disneyland Paris, let me know and I will give you my home address so you can send me a postcard. (I know, I'm pushy, but I may never get to go there myself so I gotta be!)
I once saw the Eiffel Tower in Florida at Walt Disney World, and again at Las Vegas, but the real thing? WOW!
I am sorry you and Kent must put up with the sort of narrow mindedness as that which the young man you spoke of obviously suffers from. It breaks my heart that good people should be treated poorly for such a ridiculous reason as blind bigotry.
Yet, it seems the cosmos has a way of leveling the playing field. 10% off of 19.95 for a $300.00 blazer?!?! My GOD man what a find!
Have a lovely time in Paris! What a spectacular time of year to go!
BTW: Do you think they have a $19.95 Ralph Lauren blazer in my size. I really need to shop where you do - might even be worth the trip all the way up to CT from SC!
As for me, I am fed up with religion. Actually, I'm fed up with the double standard where they get every conceivable protection under the law while we have to fight and claw for even the most basic Civil Rights - usually against them.
I agree with your actions. Intolerant people don't deserve your generosity.
Have a wonderful time in Paris!
The older I get the more intolerant I am for bullshit. I guess that's it in a nutshell.
I have zero patience for some twit (or grown up) who passes judgment on me when they don't even know me. They do so from some reference in the Bible who says that queers are disgusting and deserve whatever they get - all the while ignoring all the sins that they commit every single day of their pathetic lives.
Today, if someone asks me if I'm a queer, or a faggot, I will say to their face, right up close and personal, "You damn right asshole." I'm honestly sick of this crap. If I want to hold my husbands hand, I'm going to do it and I really don't care what people think.
I have a lot of anger towards people who have made so many years of my life a horrible experience. They had no right to do it then, and they have no right to do it now.
IT'S MY LIFE. NOT THEIRS.
I completely agree with your decision to block the hatred. While everyone has the right to express their views, there is no reason to give all views equal weight. Do I read foreign policy debates between high school dropout meth heads? What could they add besides some laughs?
So when it comes to 'moral' debates, I prefer to listen to thinking people, not people who simply echo something they have been told and can't even come close to understanding. I have read the bible, and it's not an easy read, so when I hear morons screaming about biblical judgements, I am well aware they are repeating something they heard, by someone equally ignorant.
If all the biblical hate speech was limited to those who have actually read the book, there would be deafening silence. Especially because those who have read the bible are well aware that it contradicts itself, and endorses many things (such as slavery) that we have evolved well beyond (most of us, anyway). Another good point you made, Bill, is that all sin is deemed equal (except blasphemy) meaning that in god's eyes, the kid who steals a candy bar is equal to the serial killer. Sorry, fundies, but we've certainly evolved well beyond that too.
Either read that book, or shove it where the sun don't shine, but stop waving it in my face as an excuse for your intolerance and ignorance.