Having spent too much time this morning reading reactions from gay bloggers, gay pundits and gay "leaders" to the Rick Warren controversy, I am left stunned by how easily so many of my fellow queers rush to find compromise and acquiescence at the expense of our dignity, rights and responsibility to gay children and future generations of gay Americans.
I won't name names, but among these conciliatory voices are some of the most popular and influential gay bloggers. And even though I find the vast majority of my fellow bloggers to be rather limited in both intellectual and spiritual capacity--not to mention common sense--this is nonetheless appalling. Is it any wonder that our community is so commonly viewed with disdain, disregard and mockery? Is it any wonder that our community is incapable of securing the same basic Constitutional and human rights achieved in this nation by women, blacks and even people who worship rattlesnakes and find God in eating mud?
Adam Sandler is right. We are best seen as the butt of seemingly endless cinematic jokes.
All else side, Rick Warren's participation in this historic and symbolic beginning to a new American era comes down to three enduring and culture-changing facts. As powerful as Obama's black face will be as seen around the world on January 20, Rick Warren's ghoulishly smiling face of bigotry will have an even more powerful impact.
First, the irony. Our first black President delivers a clear and society-changing message to all Americans. And that message is that bigotry and hate-mongering are legitimate and acceptable practices in American society. In fact, if you openly espouse loathing and contempt for minority Americans, advocate second class citizenship and strip away their rights, your punishment is a place of honor at the Presidential Inauguration.
Obama to the America: It's OK to trivialize, demonize, persecute and marginalize gay Americans, in fact any minority that is unpopular in the eyes of Christians.
Secondly, the hypocrisy. Our first openly gay-friendly President delivers a clear and soul-warping message to gay children and gay teens nationwide. You may be entitled to civil rights--maybe--but do not loose sight of the fact that your right to exist as whole and healthy and legitimate human beings is officially debatable and questionable. I may support your right to work without discrimination, but that doesn't mean I think you aren't a sinner.
Thirdly, the Obama victory of November 4 promised the world change. After 8 years of an America that has been an insult to the basic principles of democracy, freedom and human rights, along comes Obama and the world holds its collective breath, hearts full of hope. On January 20, Obama will use Rick Warren to remind the world that this remains a nation that honors hate and bigotry--so much so that even our first black president must stand subservient to it.
In Europe they don't build bridges to bigotry and especially religion-driven bigotry; they pass laws to protect democracy, freedom and constitutionality, to honor tolerance and defend the individual and minorities from the tyranny of superstitious and fascist mobs.
Those gay bloggers, journalists and politicians who either cannot understand or choose to ignore these three undeniable facts are our enemies. And many of them are enemies within our own community who are blinded either by very low self-esteem, an insatiable need to assimilate at any cost or a pathological slave mentality. And those gay "experts" who applaud Obama's political brilliance, courage and radical approach to building bridges are little more than victims of abused wife syndrome. He says he loves you. He beats the crap out of you. He says he loves you. He beats the crap out of you again. He says he loves you. You die, bruised, bloodied and subservient.
(If you want to read more about my views on Rick Warren and Barack Obama you can follow the link at the end--you'll need a user name and password to enter as my site contains much adult content. Use all upper case letters: user: PAYOR; password: PASSWORD.)
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