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.
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.
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