Mr. Platt and the Calgary Gay Pride Parade

The June 19th, 2005 Calgary Sun column penned by Michael Platt called "Not something to be proud of: Gay banners flap in the face of Concerned Christians group," was a very interesting piece of writing. First off, he uses the phrase "homophobia" which doesn't really exist in the English language proper. Logically, if you break it down to its component pieces, "homo" and "phobia" mean, respectively, " the same" and "fear of", hence the term "homophobia" can only mean being "afraid of the same thing." You, therefore, must give the word a context in order to get the definition you seek, which, in this case, and in the modern vernacular, is actually applied to being afraid of homosexuals.

But if one was really "afraid" of homosexuals, that phrase should properly be rendered "homosexual phobia", shouldn't it? And if one was afraid of homosexuals, why would that, as he says, have "no place in a modern society, any more than racism, or gender discrimination, or the ritual torturing of puppies."?

Speaking for myself, I can honesty say that I'm "afraid" a lot of things; taxes, big government, people hurting my friends and family, my car exploding, driving Deerfoot Trail, hurricanes, meteors crashing on my house, and washing my car on sunny days (which are almost always followed by snow or rainy days), to name just a few. Heck, I'm also "afraid" of racism, gender discrimination, and someone torturing any puppy I may decide to buy. The trouble, of course, is that I have no control over my fears; they exist and yet, somehow, I have managed to get along pretty well in society thus far.

Now, whether these fears are justified or not, rational or not (and who can determine what is truly "rational" in this day and age?), or are just part of the shtick I use to get people to pander to my various paranoias and political agenda, is real the million-dollar question here.

As a conservative Christian (please, continue reading, I won't hurt you, I promise), I can safely say that I, and my brothers and sisters in Christ, are not "afraid" of "homosexuals" and hence were are not victims of "homosexual phobia." Indeed, in my working life, and they in theirs, I can safely say that we Christians are NOT afraid of any homosexual persons in our midst’s. Most of them, in my experience, are hard-working, decent, charitable people, and just as good at getting their paycheques fleeced by Ottawa as any other fellow Canadian.

I can say the same thing for genuine minority groups like Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans, and others who do not share the same ethnic, cultural, or even religious convictions that I have. Indeed, most of my friends have been non-whites, many have been non-Christian, and at least one was "gay" until he was convicted of his sin and turned away from that lifestyle. Two of my closest friends, infact, are Jewish (including the lady whom I lovingly refer to as my "aunt Annie") and who always treats me as if I was born into their family as opposed to mine.

Still, I don't see people having "Black Pride Day" or "Jewish Pride Day" or "Chinese Pride Day." Heck, there isn't even a "Christian Pride Day" or an "Atheist Pride Day." What about the true Alberta minority, Liberals and Socialists? Why don't they have a "Liberal Pride Day" or an "NDP Pride Day?"

I don't know about Mr. Platt, but I can usually spot a "Liberal" or an "NDP" for miles around...usually every time I pass a hog waller (or smell one from the highway). Of these creatures I can sanely tell you that yes, I AM "afraid" of them, hence I cast my Conservative Party vote while concealed, carefully, as an ordinary voter, and not a card carrying CP member lest they find another reason to tax me.

Perhaps that makes me a "Liberalphobe" or an "NDPphobe" suffering, as I do, and as many other Canadians do, from "Liberalphobia" or "Socialistphobia"? It might, in fact, make me a "ConsertivePartyphile," although I'd hate to be called a "file" by any one. Indeed, by now you might think that I should get professional help to correct my "Leftwingophobia," although that won't work either since I also suffer from "Iatrophobia" which is the fear of doctors. But that's just me.

If everyone else had the same fears, THEN we'd all be "homophobes," including some homosexuals; who probably also share some (if not all) of the same fears I expressed here. But being afraid of homosexuals ("homosexual phobia") isn’t one of them. As I said, Christians aren't "afraid" of them. Infact the case could be made that the so-called "Gay Pride" parade Mr. Platt hopes "... will no longer be necessary in Calgary..." isn't really about showing Christians that they need not fear gays (we don't), rather it seems more about GAYS showing the city that THEY DON'T FEAR CHRISTIANS.

Therefore, it's not "homosexual phobia" Mr. Patt (and others) should be writing about, it's about "Christianphobes" and "Theophobia" (fear of gods or religion) running rampant among those practicing the gay lifestyle. Infact, if I can presume to speak on behalf of Christians in Calgary for a moment, I can safely say that "Christianophbia" and "Theophobia" are a terrible blight on the social fabric of our society and should be stopped, immediately. I mean, really, just because the majority of us believe in the Bible and think that sex is right only among married persons of the opposite sex, does not make US unproductive, uncaring members of society, does it?

Furthermore, we don't like being judged by gays, non-Christians, atheists, of any and all stripes, as well as others, as judgmental or "redneck" (especially my darker-skinned brothers and sisters in Christ, that really rankles them!); it hurts our feelings and makes us feel unequal to everyone else. Going to church on Sundays, praying to God in Christ, does not make us weirdos, nor should we be subject to the rantings and ravings of pundits in the press who point accusing fingers at us all the time because we believe that marriage is only between one man and one woman. Period.

Indeed, I think that discrimination and abuse of Christians has gone on long enough and there should be a change. Christianphobia and Theophobia has "no place in a modern society, any more than racism, or gender discrimination, or the ritual torturing of puppies." If gays, or anyone else, is afraid of us, why don't they come to our churches, meet us on the streets, discuss our differences over coffee? Sure, aside from the occasional cross or bible we carry, along with those “church-places” we “hang out” at on Sundays, it would be hard to pick us out from the average Joe Atheist on the street. But we're there, all around, just waiting to tell people about the Good News of Jesus Christ, and convert you to our ways.

Some think that "we're just born that way" and can't help ourselves. Some believe that we "choose" to be Christian, with a Bible virtually tract growing out of our palms; although, to this day the best scientific minds, working on DNA and such, have not discovered either the “Christian gene” or the bio-chemical agent or hormone turns some of us into raving Jesus Freaks (nature or nurture, you decide).

Don't worry, though, a person can't become a follower of Jesus just by walking beside our desks or standing in the same line us. Chances are if a person is gay, atheist, black, or a “gay atheist black person,” they will still be that after they meet one of us. I just hope that if a Christian DOES mention something relating to salvation, sin, Heaven and Hell, that the person they are speaking too doesn't run away; that would hurt our feelings and makes us feel discriminated against.

The important thing, in all this, for non-Christians, gays, and others, to know, is to just not be afraid us. Still, if they feel they must hold "Gay Pride parades," there is nothing that says they can't. And if they want to "dress up" in ridiculous outfits, which emphasize all the negative stereotypes of their lifestyles, nothing on Earth can stop them. But, as a Christian, among several hundred thousand in Calgary alone, I want to say that I resent the bigotry that these parades are simply a front for and urge all who participate in them to carefully consider how little good and how much hurt their unfounded paranoias are causing.

To paraphrase Mr. Platt, "I believe people who condemn others based solely on their Christianity are ignorant. There are stronger words for such people, but this isn't about name-calling, it's about what's right and wrong. In my opinion, Christianophobia and Theophobia is clearly wrong."

I'd shout that from the rooftops of the city, as loud as I could, but I also suffer from "Glossophobia", the fear of speaking in public. Then there's the matter of my "Acrophobia," my fear of acrobats...oops, I mean my fear of heights.

Sincerely,
I.M. Ulysses,
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

"Gay Marriage" Supporters Hate God

Dear Mr. Bourassa of Toronto, Canada, and the supporters of so-called "gay marriage,"
this is not hate-mail or a "hate-blog"" and I hope you don't receive it as such. This simply the words of a sincere but flawed Christian wondering why you hate God so much that you celebrate this mockery of a "marriage"? Beyond the story of Soddam and Gomorrah, along with countless other places in scripture that speak of the evil (one of many) and sin of homosexuality, there is NO PLACE in it that ever permitted so-called "gay marriage."

This is an entirely NEW construct and, to those whose consciences have not been seared by sin and whose minds are not lacking in Biblical knowledge, it is clearly and rightfully seen an abomination before God and the majority of the churches, synagogues and even mosques currently in Canada. Yet, if my information is correct, you, and others like you, now wish to FORCE, through the denial of charitable status, any church or house of worship who not only deny "marriage" to gays but also those who choose to fight against this twisting of Scripture and violation of tradition that your petulant disregard of has caused; changes in the laws of this country that are unwelcome by a majority of Canadians.

As Canadians, East, West, North, South, English, French, Native, gay or straight, we ALL have a RIGHT to fight for those things we hold dear. Even you, Mr. Bourassa, though the cause you espouse reeks in my nostrils, have the right to promote those things which are important to you, wrong as they are. Who are you, therefore, to now say that "Political activities are not charitable activities" and, in the process, attempt to muzzle both the free speech and political activity of groups which oppose you?

Do you fear the radicalization and mobilization of a Canadian population enraged with what you have done, while true ministers of Christ (unlike that apostate Brent Hawkes, who "married" you and Mr. Varnell), like my pastor, encourage their flocks to oppose bill C-38 and demand, likewise, of their MP's?

Do you fear the enlightened truth of the Bible breaking through the lies of the homosexual "community" and forcing them, as they did my friend "Bob", to choose between being gay and being Christian ("Bob" chose Christ, abandoned his gay lifestyle, and is now restored to God)?

Or do you fear the pent-up torrent of indignation and wrath of conservative Christians, Jews and others, will result in a strongly Right-wing government that will overthrow the institutionalized political correctness and blatant violations of the freedoms of Canadians that you have done much to promote?

Indeed, Mr. Bourassa, I believe you fear almost all of these things and, knowing you don't have a leg to stand on when confronted by both the truth of Scripture and sancity of tradition, you now wish to muzzle dissent by frightening churches to tow the line. This, in my books, makes YOU (and not Conservatives) the greatest threat to the liberty, democracy, and equality, that your so-called "marriage" was an attempt to promote.

Like Hitler in the prison writing Mein Kempf, or Lenin in Geneva writing Iskra or Pravda, you try to make yourself a martyr to your cause by being refused entry into the USA on the grounds that you and your partner are a "family." Yet true liberty comes from God in Christ (it is a gift of the Holy Ghost - 2 Cor. 3:17), not man and their Charters of Rights; and this same God has not given you either the right or the "liberty" to muzzle the voices of those people and churches opposed to your tyrannical and misguided agenda.

The fact is, sir, both you and Mr. Varnell are an offense to me and to God. Were you to lead your gay lives in peace and quiet, worked industriously and happily contributed to the well-being of our great country, I would have no issue with you now, gay or straight. I would, indeed, meet you on the street, share thoughts with you, laugh, and perhaps make of you a true friend. But I can't now because all I can see is a man trying to overthrow the rights of his fellow citizens because he is so insecure in both his lifestyle and his cause that the only way to perpetuate both is to curb and deny freedom to others.

This is the "rub" here, Mr. Bourassa and why I write this letter. Although it is far beyond my limited power to make of your a true Christian, a man whose conscience will ache because of his gay lifestyle and cause him to repent and be saved (as my friend "Bob" did), I wanted you to realize how you have alienated your fellow Canadians. Although I have no cause to hate you (hate, after all is against Christian teaching) I am offended by you and your attempt to overthrow the traditions of my parents, my liberty, and the liberty of my church.

As a Canadian, I could live and work beside you, peacefully (I work with a gay person in my office and at another other job), were we in the same office. We might even grow to be friends and confidantes. But in all this you would remain an enemy of all I hold dear and I would, and will, in as far as I can, do my best to tell people of your insidious goal of overthrowing their freedoms and perpetuating on Earth what God, through fire and brimstone, destroyed near present-day Israel a few thousand years ago.

Sincerely,
I.M. Ulysses
Calgary, Alberta, Canada