Good Commentary On The Would-Be "Gay Book" Banner

[Syrinx]

Gerald Allen seeks to defend his evangelical democracy from homosexuals and their evil compadres, liberals. In eye-for-an-eye fashion, he argues that liberals pushed religion out of schools. Therefore, he is right to push homosexuality out. In so doing, he “courageously" misleads his flock. (It is increasingly difficult to distinguish between flocks and constituencies these days.)

As a liberal and a believer in democracy, let me defend the right to religion and prayer in schools. Despite Allen’s tendentious claims, neither has been removed from schools. It is both legally and morally permissible to teach about religions, including Allen’s. Similarly, there is no legal or moral reason to deny students the right to pray in school. There are no prayer police. A student or group of students who wishes, for example, to say a blessing before lunch may do so. They may pray at any time. I, as a liberal, will help Allen defend their right to do so.

*snip*

I expect Allen will reject my proposition. Now that Cristo-fascists control the White House, the more well-known but least progressive pulpits, and the Alabama attorney generalship, among many other institutions, there is little need for Allen to act democratically.

Some might argue that “Cristo-fascist" is over the top. But recall it was Jerry Falwell, with Pat Robertson’s agreement, who claimed that 9/11 was caused by feminists and homosexuals. The first strategy of fascism is to scare people. “They" caused this!

*snip*

Like King, Allen claims that he simply wants to “protect" families and children from this attack from homosexuality. What Allen and King don’t make clear is what this attack consists of. Are there gay people pounding down the doors of straight couples and their children? Are there gay gangs driving around in tanks terrorizing heterosexual people? Just how does gay marriage or plays by gay authors represent an attack on the family? The former, it seems to me, actually reinforces the family by promoting loving relationships. Foolishly perhaps, I thought that was what family was about. How does a same-sex married couple in Boston or even Montgomery affect Troy or King or any of us? It doesn’t. We are free to live our lives as we see fit.

*snip*

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