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Re: religion Barnes and ABC

>09 Apr 1997 17:17:15 -0500 (CDT)@
>Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 17:17:15 -0500 (CDT)
>Subject: Re: to Religion, barnes and ABC
>To: CEDA-L@CORNELL.EDU
>Message-id: <01IHICDGU4QQ8X2813@swt.edu>
>Organization: Southwest Texas State University
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>Teve wrote: You are correct, Josh, that we cannot judge others.  that is
>god's works.  But >aren't you judging ABC for not showing a particular
>commercial?  I fail to understand your salvation by using the bible to
>stop judgements when you are judgemental against ABC.  Christ would spend
>time with homosexuals because it would be his job to be with the sick.
>That is what he explains to the
>pharisees when they ask why he eats with sinners.  God also destroyed the
>cities of Soddam and Gomorah,  which were full of homosexuals.  In fact it was
>because the intended attack on the angels that god finally decide to destroy
>those cities.  But you are right......it is not out place to judge other.
>
>
>steve

RE:  Look Steve, you are using scrpture to justify the almost unjustifiable
today.  As a child I read the scriptures and I was left agahast at how God
was capable of committing genocide, and the justifications therein.  In
fact the OLd Testament struck me as a violent and highly ethnocentric book.
I think most that read the New Testament are able to see the differences
which Jesus was bringing in.  As one who leans toward liberation theology,
I believe quite strongly that Jesus ate with those with whom he ate, not
necessarily because they were sick, but rather because they were disposed
not to adorn themsleves with garments of preconceived righteousness.
Remember that he called the Pharisees and Saducees whiten sephulcres.  That
on the outside they are whit and clean and on the outside they are filled
with decay.  That was jesus judging the ruling religious environment.
JUdging ABC because they refuse to acknowledge in commercials that gays and
lesbians are fully human is in effect an extension of the fact that if we
are going to get anywhere that is what we have to acknowledge.  Isn't that
in part what Jesus was griping about, marginalization of others.  When
marginalization is accepted then oppression is accepted as the norm.  IN
your argument Steve, that is what you justify.

Being able to put your ideas, and your face on TV, even if it is only in
advertisement, is important to acknowledging our self worth (mine, as a gay
man, as well as all other humans).  THat is why Ellen is actually doing
what she is doing.  She wants to acknowledge within the show, that the
character should have the ability to be fully human.  When a gay man or
woman takes the major step to recognize him or herself that is a monumental
step in saying that he or she wants to fully acknowledge themselves.  It is
a very painful realization process, as anyone who has undergone it will
admit.  Why? Because in doing so  individuals have to acknowledge how they
often were responsible for part of this dehumanization.  I personally want
to thank Josh Hoe as a friend who helped me when I was in college in UCO
(in Oklahoma mind you!) to find my voice as a human.  Others responsible
for this were Doug Duke, Charlie Mallard, Sandy Carroll(now Sandy Mallard)
and Jessica Grassman (as well as others on the UCO squad of 1987 to 1989).
All these people helped me by allowing me to share my story, by not
censoring me in the many ways in which a majority community can.  Some of
these people were there to see my tears because of others who felt right to
condemn me simply because of my sexaulity.  Those who condemned me felt
justified by the arguments used by the old testament or even by those of
Paul in the New Testament.  And like Paul who felt correct in burning the
early christians, my persecuters felt correct in harrasing me in all the
ways they could.  It was the most excruciatingly painful period of my life.


Allowing commercials on TV acknowledges to all that we (gays, bisexuals,
and lesbians) are part of the human family with our wants and needs.  IT
acknowledges that we have a voice that deserves to be heard.  To Josh and
all the others who write in this light, thank you.  You give my spirit
hope.

P.S.  By the way I served a mission for my church.  I was a roust about in
the fields of Wyoming to be able to afford this.  My church told me that
these feelings of being gay were all mine, and it took me years of self
searching, self blame, and at times almost suicide before I realized that
this belief is wrong.  How sad if I would have succombed to the belief that
this was my choice, and how glad I am today to be able to help others to
understand the dangers of marginalization, and self hate.
Archive created by Jonathan Stanton (jonathan@cs.jhu.edu)
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