A point to ponder [View All]

[Horse with no Name]

When I was in the 4th grade, I was a typical 4th grader. Let me preface this by the fact that kids that age are mean. Luckily, we grow up and many of us outgrow that typical behavior.
There was a boy in my class. He was a couple of years older than we were because he had been held back because he was developmentally delayed, bordering on moderate mental retardation.
His name was James. As most typical 4th graders, "we" all decided that James had "cooties". This was solidified in our minds by the fact that James still wet the bed, as evidenced by the fact that he came to school every morning reeking of urine.
My adult self can see the parental breakdown of responsibility, however, my 4th grade self couldn't.
Anyway, after tormenting this poor kid because he had cooties, and because he smelled badly...our teacher in all of her wisdom, attempted to correct our behavior and tell us it was wrong, he couldn't help it, etc.
Which was great. That is what she was supposed to do. That is how we learn social skills. Unfortunately, much of it as a youngster is by trial and error with quite a few regrets as adults for the ignorance that was shown in those days.
James went to special ed classes so he was out of the "normal" classroom several hours a day.
So, after correcting our ignorance and meanness, if we were talking or chewing gum in class or a myriad of other school crimes, do you know how our teacher punished us?
By making us sit in James chair.
So, she defended him and then used him as a punishment when it was convenient.
This example is how I feel we are beginning to treat gays. We defend their rights, then when we find out that Republicans have had indiscriminate relationships with persons of the same sex, there is teasing and inuendo thrown around.
If we are the party that says being gay is okay, then it should be okay for everyone.