I’ve thought this over; now I say to you:
I don’t believe that men who love men are evil;
I don’t believe that men who love men are abominable;
Women who love women are my family.
Women who love women are my lovers,
My children,
My parents.
Men who love men,
Women who love women—
Are my sisters and brothers.
You may think they will burn in Hell—
That’s your religious right in this free land.
You have chosen to label these people who love despicable;
I think they bless the universe with their love;
And I, x-fold Pariah,
Condemned by the rigid creed you choose to practice—
I hold you in my heart and thoughts disquieted,
Not grasping what you gain, when all is done,
From your condemnations.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Personal Preference and Common Ground
So much in this world simply comes down to personal preference—maybe religious preference?—and how much society can allow for personal preference, and how much we can all tolerate from one another.
Yesterday I got in a discussion with a friend of mine who told me that the Bible is very clear on homosexuality. How dare Bishop Tutu compare homophobia with racism or sexism? And she quoted Leviticus and Paul. I pointed out that Jesus said nothing about homosexuals. That didn’t change her viewpoint.
Meanwhile, I continue going over my writing project, trying to understand how it would come across to someone like this friend of mine. How do you write a story that treats LGBT or poly people with dignity and respect, in a way that this friend could understand? Is it possible?
Maybe it isn’t. Then a story about someone who is a minority within a minority within a minority…could never be understood by my friend. If I speak of Queers, or Polys, or Pagans—or someone who is all three!—is there really no way to bridge the cultural/religious/personal gap between “us” and “them?”
Today, online, I exchanged comments with an Obama-hater. Same thing. Vanishingly little common ground.
But our common ground should be our humanity. How can we “make it so?”
Blessings and Mitzvah/Karma-Points to those who try!
Yesterday I got in a discussion with a friend of mine who told me that the Bible is very clear on homosexuality. How dare Bishop Tutu compare homophobia with racism or sexism? And she quoted Leviticus and Paul. I pointed out that Jesus said nothing about homosexuals. That didn’t change her viewpoint.
Meanwhile, I continue going over my writing project, trying to understand how it would come across to someone like this friend of mine. How do you write a story that treats LGBT or poly people with dignity and respect, in a way that this friend could understand? Is it possible?
Maybe it isn’t. Then a story about someone who is a minority within a minority within a minority…could never be understood by my friend. If I speak of Queers, or Polys, or Pagans—or someone who is all three!—is there really no way to bridge the cultural/religious/personal gap between “us” and “them?”
Today, online, I exchanged comments with an Obama-hater. Same thing. Vanishingly little common ground.
But our common ground should be our humanity. How can we “make it so?”
Blessings and Mitzvah/Karma-Points to those who try!
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