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And With That, Another Voice Goes Silent
Today is the National Day of Silence. The National Day of Silence is a movement designed to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment -- in effect, the silencing -- experienced by LGBT students and their allies. (-previously linked Day of Silence website) I've heard about this movement in the past, but I know more about it this year because my friend, Gretchen, is participating. I think it's a good idea. It is effective in drawing attention to the discrimination experienced by the gay community.
Now, I will direct your attention to the Day of Truth. Irked by the success of the nationwide Day of Silence, which seeks to combat anti-gay bias in schools, conservative activists are launching a counter-event this week called the Day of Truth aimed at mobilizing students who believe homosexuality is sinful. (- previously linked CNN article)
Johnson said the event is meant to be "peaceful and respectful," but made clear it is motivated by belief that homosexuality is wrong. "You can call it sinful or destructive -- ultimately it's both," he said. (- previously linked CNN article)
Could somebody explain to me how it is possible to be respectful while mobilizing a massive effort to tell an entire group of people that they are sinful and destructive to society?
So another group wants to protest on a separate day. Fine. I am all about free speech. However, it has always bothered me to no end that people would use the name of Christianity, Jesus, and the Bible to promote intolerance. In truth, it sickens me.
Maybe you're Christian. I'm Christian. I believe in the Trinity. I try my best to follow Jesus. I read the Bible. And to the best of my knowledge, the Bible promotes tolerance. I know that the Bible says that homosexual acts are a sin. If you are in agreement with the Bible in this, then fine. But nowhere in the Bible does it say that it is wrong to be homosexual. Everybody sins. Who are you, to judge others? Luke 6:37, 42 Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. ... How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye. We are all sinners. It is ridiculous for people to go around, pointing at others, and informing them of their sins.
Even if you do think that homosexuality is sinful, it is not your place to promote discrimination against people who are different from you. Who are you, to claim to know where the depths of God's mercy will and will not go? Acts 10:28 ...but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean.
Let us not forget Matthew 7:12: Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
"The Day of Silence was an event conceived of by students themselves in response to a very real problem of bullying and harassment they saw on their campuses," Jennings said. "The Day of Truth is a publicity stunt cooked up by a conservative organization with a political agenda; it's an effort by adults to manipulate some kids." (- previously linked CNN article)
According to GLSEN, 84 percent of gay and lesbian high school students experiences verbal harassment on a regular basis at school, and 40 percent experience physical harassment. (- previously linked CNN article)
If you are going to reflect on anything in this post, let it be that last fact.
At the publishing of this post, it is currently 2:39 pm. The day is half over. But I will most certainly participate in this worthy cause, starting now. For me, this day is not about championing gay marriage or other civil rights legislation. For me, it is not as specific, nor as complex as all of that. For me, this day is to acknowledge the prejudice experienced by a group of people who struggle to find tolerance. Sadly, they struggle to find it from Christianity - my religion - which has always been and always will be a religion of tolerance. Where is your faith?
Now, I will direct your attention to the Day of Truth. Irked by the success of the nationwide Day of Silence, which seeks to combat anti-gay bias in schools, conservative activists are launching a counter-event this week called the Day of Truth aimed at mobilizing students who believe homosexuality is sinful. (- previously linked CNN article)
Johnson said the event is meant to be "peaceful and respectful," but made clear it is motivated by belief that homosexuality is wrong. "You can call it sinful or destructive -- ultimately it's both," he said. (- previously linked CNN article)
Could somebody explain to me how it is possible to be respectful while mobilizing a massive effort to tell an entire group of people that they are sinful and destructive to society?
So another group wants to protest on a separate day. Fine. I am all about free speech. However, it has always bothered me to no end that people would use the name of Christianity, Jesus, and the Bible to promote intolerance. In truth, it sickens me.
Maybe you're Christian. I'm Christian. I believe in the Trinity. I try my best to follow Jesus. I read the Bible. And to the best of my knowledge, the Bible promotes tolerance. I know that the Bible says that homosexual acts are a sin. If you are in agreement with the Bible in this, then fine. But nowhere in the Bible does it say that it is wrong to be homosexual. Everybody sins. Who are you, to judge others? Luke 6:37, 42 Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. ... How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye. We are all sinners. It is ridiculous for people to go around, pointing at others, and informing them of their sins.
Even if you do think that homosexuality is sinful, it is not your place to promote discrimination against people who are different from you. Who are you, to claim to know where the depths of God's mercy will and will not go? Acts 10:28 ...but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean.
Let us not forget Matthew 7:12: Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
"The Day of Silence was an event conceived of by students themselves in response to a very real problem of bullying and harassment they saw on their campuses," Jennings said. "The Day of Truth is a publicity stunt cooked up by a conservative organization with a political agenda; it's an effort by adults to manipulate some kids." (- previously linked CNN article)
According to GLSEN, 84 percent of gay and lesbian high school students experiences verbal harassment on a regular basis at school, and 40 percent experience physical harassment. (- previously linked CNN article)
If you are going to reflect on anything in this post, let it be that last fact.
At the publishing of this post, it is currently 2:39 pm. The day is half over. But I will most certainly participate in this worthy cause, starting now. For me, this day is not about championing gay marriage or other civil rights legislation. For me, it is not as specific, nor as complex as all of that. For me, this day is to acknowledge the prejudice experienced by a group of people who struggle to find tolerance. Sadly, they struggle to find it from Christianity - my religion - which has always been and always will be a religion of tolerance. Where is your faith?