Yikes, my small town paper editorial going after me!

[Mari333]

I live in a small town, and a couple weeks ago, a Pastor in town wrote , in his column called "Bible Talk", a scathing condemnation of the new gay episcopal bishop in the Anglican church...and he blathered on and on about how he loved gay folks even if they are sinners...blah blah blah...
Of course,. I had to write a letter to the editor asking that the paper allow for a gay minister or for the gay bishop himself to be able to respond with a column....and I went on and on about glbt rights...
Needless to say, there was an editorial by some moran who calls himself "The Gray Philosopher" in yesterdays paper, using MY name specifically and the contents of my first letter, to once again bash the gay "lifestyle"
SOOOOOOOO its a small town and here is my letter in response...Please tell me what you think..I already sent it in the mail, and I should keep my head down in this town for a while..




To the editor:

As I read the ³Gray Philosopher's² editorial of September 14,
I had to conclude that the bottom line in his fear of gay folks is this: He
uses his Bible as he might use the Big Boy buffet, picking and choosing (as
most cafeteria Christians seem to do) only those those passages from
Scripture with which he and God both agree. This confects his ³philosophy,²
and all else falls by the wayside of his mindset.

There are passages in the Bible that demand women cover their
heads in church; there are passages in the Bible that condone slavery; there
are passages, too, that demand one does not eat shellfish. Men, God says,
are to wear hairlocks and prayer shawls.

People of good conscience would be well-advised to not pick and choose what
parts of the Bible they want to dictate their personal prejudices.

I didn¹t see hairlocks in the ³Gray Philosopher's² picture, and I
doubt seriously he demands his wife cover her head in church and keep silent
(all found in the bible) in all matters religious.

As a Grey-headed old woman myself, and a former Bible school teacher, I can
cite any number of passages from Scripture that demand adherence to specific
laws in both Testaments.

Many of those who stand (like Fred Phelps) and scream about the sin of
living a gay lifestyle tend to ignore all the other passages which could be
used to indict themselves for their own shortcomings. Gluttony comes to
mind, and I couldn¹t help but think it ironic that on the same day Reverend
Hollebrands¹ commentary on gays was published, the church¹s sign advertised
an upcoming pig roast. Didn¹t Moses receive instruction from God as to
pigging-out on pork?

Anyone can choose to not like GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender)
folk. Thats their choice and their constitutional right. But that does not
mean you can discriminate against their
civil liberties, or deny them their right to be first class citizens in a
nation that prides itself on personal liberty.

It might be a great idea for the ³Gray Philosopher² to check out a lovely
website of gay Christians www.gaychristians.org / many GLBT folks are Christian, living wonderful
lives, despite the
homophobia that seems prevalent in this community that would take it upon
themselves to selectively edit ³God¹s Word² as to substance.


The Gray Philosopher cites gay parades, and his abhorrence of them.
Evidently he has never been to the Mardi Gras, where heterosexuals abound
³in costume² (in drag?). Maybe there¹s something to be said about
self-loathing here. Maybe those who lash out at people whom are different
from themselves are actually responding to a hatred of their own secret
desires.

Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender folk live in every community and
are a part of our lives. They can be
your sons, daughters, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers ...
grandchildren. For people with questions about the GLBT community, and the
need to embrace tolerance, visit the website listed above, or visit
www.pflag.org (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.)


Mrs XXXXXXX

[meatloaf]

1. Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm very

impressed.

I sincerely wish I could write that persuasively.

[Mari333]

4. Thanks my husband wrote it with me

Like I said....its a smallll town...I expect to be burned at the stake anytime..
come...bring water..

[meatloaf]

8. Just yell fire and we'll come running with buckets.

In the meantime, keep up the good fight.

[Sal316]

2. Excellent letter!

I particularly enjoyed the 'cafeteria Christians' phrase.... how PERFECT!

[LEW]

3. You go!!!!

Great letter, extremely good points. Can I use some of these? My brother-in-law is extremely bible thupping anti-gay. I will love to ask him where his hairlocks and shawl are.

-B)

[Mari333]

9. yes, and the bible is loaded with laws like this

in both the OT and the NT.....I get creepy bemused looks from people when I bring them up and they get mad...I dont think a lot of people actually READ the whole bible, but just listen to sound bytes from their pastors..........

[jbfam4]

5. Mari

After that letter you should hold your head high, Mari.

All the best.

[LeftCoast]

6. Great letter Mari333!

I especially liked your "cafeteria Christians" comment! :)

:yourock:

[moosedog]

7. We live in a world of ignorance and bigotry or just plain dumb people...

I just happen to be an old straight woman, but I have been treated terribly just for being female. I know a little about how it feels to be treated in a predjudice manner, but not nearly as much as some have to endure. We will just have to wait until they grow up, but I surely won't hold my breath. I know also about the harm that is done to so many, by those using religion to make themselves feel above the average. Isn't it sad? Mrs. Moose

[Snow]

10. Ooops, you've already sent it?

So my editorial advice is a tad late? ~sigh~. Anyway, excellent letter, well-argued and presented. The only part I would hesitate over is the sentences "Maybe there¹s something to be said about
self-loathing here. Maybe those who lash out at people whom are different
from themselves are actually responding to a hatred of their own secret
desires."

The objects of the letter will find this insulting in the extreme, and will react accordingly, and might miss your main point. I hope not, because it's worth catching. I lke the phrase 'cafeteria Christians' very much. There's an alarming lack of basic bible literacy amongst those who hold the bible in most importance.

[WoodrowFan]

11. good letter, but

I'd drop the 'pork' line since Peter specifically exempted followers of Christ from the dietary laws. I learned that lesson the hard way while arguing with a fundy. Try refering to the many sexual crimes that deserve the death penality inb the OT that can't be applied specifically to gays...

[Mari333]

19. Oh well, Paul is who I think you meant

and since so many fundies use the OT as reference to gaybash, they need only look at the other laws in Leviticus to follow. And I have seen plenty of Paul's demands that women cover their heads, dont preach, and submit to their husbands..and plenty of women using Romans to justify their anti gay stance dont cover their heads and keep silent...which is also in the NT.......

[WoodrowFan]

22. Nope, Peter... (And I think Paul gets misread)

Acts 10:6-15

And on the next day, as they were on their way, and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.

And he became hungry, and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;

and he beheld the sky opened up, and a certain object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,

and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.

And a voice came to him, "Arise, Peter, kill and eat!"

But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean."

And again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."

And this happened three times; and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

[Outvoicer]

12. thank you.

I hope they run it.

[Mz Pip]

13. Awesome letter

Intolerance based on selective reading of the Bible is still intolerance. Using the Bible to justify hate is still hate. They may try to sugar coat their bigotry using scripture but it doesn't change the bottom line. THese people are prideful bigots, pure and simple. And pride is one of the seven deadly sins.

MzPip
:dem:

[TrogL]

14. Some quibbles

An excellent letter overall so don't take this as destructive criticism, just the data for anyone who might respond (in case I lose this thread).

Maybe those who lash out at people whom are different from themselves are actually responding to a hatred of their own secret desires.

I don't really buy into the 'homophobic people are closet gays' argument. Most of them have a narrow world view (that I call "the box") that does not allow any deviation from the norm. They find homosexuality intensely threatening because it means they have to think outside the box.

Much of the Mosaic law that you quote eg. the pork prohibition was set aside when the dietary laws were dropped. Fundies claim that the rest of Mosaic law, including the gay clobber passages, is still valid.

If you really want to get them on Cafeteria Christianity, make sure they read the passage in ROmans AFTER the clobber verses. Makes them out to be hypocrites (which, unfortunately, has never stopped them before). Have a look at http://members.shaw.ca/trogl/bibquote.html and below.

[Mari333]

26. Actually there was a study done by the American Psych Assoc

showing that male Homophobics have a pre disposition to latent desires...they were shown gay porn films and were shown to be turned on by them, and I used to have the damn url to that study...still going to find it.,,,,

[Capn Sunshine]

15. Great post

I always keep the "letter to Dr. Laura " on file , it has the exact references to biblical verse that you can pick from.

My favorite--
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female,
provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

[WoodrowFan]

23. Dr Laura Letter clip n save

for those who need a copy on file...

Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from you, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. How should I deal with this?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as it suggests in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

Lev. 25:44 states that I may buy slaves from the nations that are around us. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 10:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

Lev. 20:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. great letter and fear not! because every word you wrote is fact!

[proud patriot]

17. It's a badge of Honor to be singled out this way

It's means you got under the skin .

This same thing happened to me , and then a third
letter defending me and against the attacker was
in the next paper ...It was cool .

The hate mail I recieved at home wasn't fun but
I still write , and won't be intimidated .

[Mari333]

27. thank goodness I have a PO Box

But its a small town and everyone knows where I live if they want to..
I can always buy a Pit Bull!
:bounce:

[papau]

18. Great letter - the DU Bible teachers are behind you! - indeed all DU!

"their own secret desires" is a bit of a flame - but your point is well taken!

:-)

[roughsatori]

20. I was worried when you said you had already mailed this letter

Every time people post that they have done that the letter needs a ton of work, but it is too late because they have already sent them. So I was worried, but not now. Your letter is truly wonderful. What a pleasure to read. They should pay you for that great letter.

[Cheswick2.0]

21. Great letter Mari

though followers of Christ were exempted from the dietary laws, your chosen targeted audience follow the OT as strictly as possible (or I should say for their convenience) and should be called out for the hypocrites they are.

[Andy_Stephenson]

24. Thank You...

I could not have said it better.

[Rowdyboy]

25. Thanks from a gay Episcopalian....

I intend, with your permission, to make liberal use of the points you made. Just wish I had read it before our parish meeting on the subject last Wednesday. I spoke briefly, but your arguments would have given me excellent ammunition.