Dear fellow Kossacks,
I need your help. Normally, I’d never ask for someone’s help rebutting such an bigoted statement, but in this case I do. Because this time, I want to get it just right.
One of my friends (named Dianna), posted on Facebook (FB) the “apology” letter from the Minnesota LGBT community to State Senator Amy Koch’s adulterous affair. My friend and many of her FB friends were as delighted as I was about that tactic used to highlight the hypocrisy of Koch’s policy positions; notably her very vocal and strong stance in pushing a law that would discriminate against LGBT couples.
My friend’s brother responded thusly, in her thread:
OK--lets see if I got this right. Because (1) person who advocates for the institution of Marriage cheats that is room to ridicule the institution
that has served mankind since the beginning of time. OK--then It must also be ok to ridicule the perversion of the homosexual lifestyle and if ever ONE person molests a child of the same sex I can denounce ALL homosexuals as child molesters. Fair is fair--good trade in my book.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Follow me after the fluer de kos to see the rest....
Being a Jewish boy on Christmas day, I had nothing other to do, so I decided to respond. This is what I wrote:
Jaysus David. Conflate much? Here’s the thing. The issue you bring up is already recognized as a crime; and it is so in all 50 states and pretty much every civilized society on the planet. Let’s be very clear: You molest a child, you are a criminal. And suggesting that people who are gay have a higher probability of being a pedophile belies the facts. I know facts may annoy you, but they are what they are.
But what about marriage? If you marry and cheat on your spouse, is that a crime? Well, outside of Levitcus 20:10 (And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife, even he that commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death), adultery is sometimes a modern day statute crime. It’s certainly is a crime in Minnesota where State Senator Amy Koch lives (“Subdivision 1. Acts constituting. When a married woman has sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband, whether married or not, both are guilty of adultery and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both”). Should she go to jail for her crime of cheating on her spouse? Additionally, in this case, she is practicing sexual harassment, because the person she was sleeping with is a subordinate. Perhaps you’d advocate that she go to jail for that.
But let’s get real. It’s embarrassing to get caught, and outside of emotions, cheating on your spouse isn’t remotely like pedophilia…which, again, you sadly (and wrongly) conflate with homosexuality.
Here, you have a case where a state lawmaker made it one of her signature issues to put a measure on the ballot asking the citizens of MN to consider the continuing practice of discriminating against some of their own law abiding neighbors who happen to be in love and deep committed relationships and preventing them from enjoying the legal status (and all its attendant benefits) afforded every other person who, by chance of luck, turns out not to be gay, just because they love someone of the same gender. One of the basis for her argument was that homosexuality is a perversion, just like you say it is, because people of the same gender can’t possibly hold a marriage together. Clearly, she and her marriage is a shining example of just how to do that. In my book, we call people like her hypocrites.
And the letter that Dianna posted reflects that hypocrisy very well.
Amy Koch's own marriage would have been better off had she spent less of her time worrying about the gays defiling its sanctity and more time at home, practicing her family values, with her own family.
I thought to myself that I rebutted nicely, pointing out a few things. What I didn't know was the extent of his homophobia. His response was the following:
Sorry Ken that straw dog don't bark here. Yes I and many others view homosexuality as a perversion. We don't try to sugar coat it to make it less offensive than it is ( ie: gay-lgbt and other stuff--makes you wonder why they do). It is also true that homosexuals can NOT reproduce without science or a hetrosexual relationship. I and many others view life with purpose and commitment. Now all that being said (notice no religion here) I and many others don't give a hoot in hell what these people do to themselves. Have at it --whatever--just one thing. Stay the hell away from me and mine. I have had to spend many years un-doing the crap our public schools shove down our kids throats,including this homosexual stuff. And with the idiocy that passes for school curriculum these days , I will have to help my Grandchildren too--to unlearn this crap.
Now don't get me wrong , that Lady in Minn. should have to pay the price for her deeds--and whatever happens to her --so be it. I do not defend her.
But I am very tiered of them trying to equate their life style with a normal man woman relationship. Yes I used the word normal because that is how we ALL got here. It seems to me if they are so sure and committed to their way of life it would be enough--to be. They wouldn't need my approval. But they do apparently. I don't seek or want theirs or anyone else's for that matter. So what is wrong here??
If it is LEGAL status as you state , that they want--so be it--why does need to be called marriage? There is only one reason--to equate themselves with Hetro folks. Why ? So that the majority will see them in a nicer lite. Why? Do they think I will think them normal---if so they are wasting their time. I could go on and on but enough said I think you have a handle on what I mean.
One more thing--I and all that I know do not condone ANY form of harm against these folks.
Also the equation I made between them and child molesters was meant to show the lack of logic in their letter--although a sexual act between to persons of the same sex is homosexual in definition
This is a simple cut and paste. I haven't edited his words at all. So this is where you come in…should you choose to help. How do I respond? I don’t have the practice that many people here do on this topic. But I want to shut him up. Complicating matters, I want to do it by keeping the high ground. I don’t need to start calling him names. I just want a strong rebuttal that makes him look like the ass that he is.
Ideas? Or should I simply let it go.