Recently my neice sent an email regarding Mcdonald's and their refusal to remain neutral in the American Family Assoc. and the issues they have with gay and lesbian organizations. The article states that Mcdonald's should be boycotted because of this.

I sent back a not very polite response, asking why didn't they mention the Ronald Mcdonald house that has helped many families that can't afford lodgings when families need a place to stay? Why this one issue? Obviously she didn't like my response, I also responded to that one...I doubt she will be speaking to me in the very near future.

The AFA also threatened Wal-Mart with a boycott once before and they backed down from supporting the orginizations. I do whole heartedly believe in the traditional family. However, since when is it ok, to be a big bully because you don't like someone? This is the impression I get from reading about the AFA...we don't like gay people so we gonna take out our big stick and beat the crap outta ya if ya hire, support, or don't agree with us!!

Before you go jumpin around, gettin yer underwear all in a wad...I'm not against the AFA, neither do I think they have the right to bully. I don't condone the gay lifestyle, but it is not my place or anyone else's to be the bully on this issue. I used to get calls from the AFA requesting I buy their movies, I did buy a few...got tired of them calling and asked if they had one called...Debbie does Delia and Dottie. Well they quit calling, guess I would also.

I might not agree or condone any one person's lifestyle, gay or not...but who am I to judge these people and make threats against others because of it? I thought that was God's job...is the AFA and people like them now taking over His job? Well, I hope He fires them. If two men want to get married or two women, I say let them. I might not agree, but it sure as wet rags hangin in the wind is none of my business!!

Before you go thinkin what you thinking...I have lost two dear friends to the Aids virus and had to listen to people say...They got what they deserved!! Did they really, they never hurt anyone, never pointed fingers at anyone...just lived their lives. John, told me once...the reason I love you so much is I know you hate my lifestyle, but you never judged me and loved me anyway. Isn't that what trusting in God, and love is about...or is it to be a bully and threaten others because they are trying to live in a democracy rather than a dictatorship country?

Will I ever march in a Pride parade, no, simply because I believe God created man and woman. However, if that is not your choice, it truly is not the only sin out there. There are seven deadly sins to be exact...and we all commit them every day.

In closing, this is not to be a bashing but a thought rendering of why people seem to see the bad in any circumstance, not just gay marriages, but others also and think it is ok to say...You do this or we will not shop at your business, and then tell others to do the same.

EXCUSE ME!! I have my own mind and I will damn well shop where I please and if the person that waits on me is, gay, black, chinese, indian or polka dot...as long as I am treated with respect...guess what!!

I DON'T CARE!!

Now, remember to do something good for yourself, and think of other's feelings when dealing with a difficult situation.


Momma Sez...

If you don't want my opinion, then keep yours to yourself.

Momma,

You should write a column. God bless you.

I agree Momma. To threaten to remove themselves or boycott due to an establishment hiring what they don't consider "proper" is very judgemental. I have found as I get older that those who claim to be loving, respectful sects (meaning SOME churches, organizations, etc.) are the very ones judging like crazy! If one doesn't believe as they do they are not part of them? This is why I watch church on TV and don't get involved with organizations that are one sided.

This is a true story. When NIU had that horrible shooting back in February one such group decided to come to the campus and "preach" why these students deserved to be killed because they sinned against God. My youngest son who is a Christian, (yet still a sinner, aren't we all?) stood tall on his side to preach love to these people. He went so far as to interview the head person of this group prior to this and the head person started singing to him how glorious it was that people were being murdered and God was showing us how we have sinned against him. It was all so strange to believe this was truly happening. But no matter how hurt we were by what they said, we respected their right to believe what they wanted. Who are we to tell them they are wrong? Just because we don't believe in that or don't understand didn't give us that right.

Anyway, my point is I don't give a rats booty what a person does as long as it doesn't harm me or my loved one's. I am not God nor can or want to pass judgment on others when I too have sinned one way or another. A sin is a sin and we are not the all knowing of what constitutes what a sin is right? Leave it to the big man above to decide, that is how I live. Now, this doesn't mean I am without wrong doing as stated before. I have judged and I know it's wrong. I should restate that to I pray I can be be less judgemental and more loving and respectful towards others.

One of my best friends was baptized with me in a Catholic church. He was gay and had HIV. We were dunked in the same water, held hands and cried and laughed together. He was my brother in Christ and together we gave our lives to God. How is that wrong?

Momma's Kids, it's refreshing to hear this from you.

When my son was young I took him to several different churches. I'm not a Christian, but I figured it was only fair to allow him to experience what I experienced as a kid and make up his own mind on religion.

It was real hard finding a church that wasn't inadvertently preaching hate, discrimination and separatism. My son found a place that was fun for him and his friend's father was the pastor of the church. When he came home one day after a special service during the week, I asked him about the message. He said it was a service dedicated to teaching about the "evils" of being gay. The instruction? "Just don't do it - if you do, you will go to Hell."

Hmmm, I always wondered why my son's friend had such a vicious hatred of gay people and wanted to send them to Hell. I always wondered why my son's friend considered himself a "Christian warrior."

I'm not homosexual and never will be, but I don't see anything wrong with it. It's just love and affection. I'm happy when I hear my homosexual friends have found love and affection in their lives. We all have the same needs in that area. Besides, it's not like we have a problem with underpopulation, and it's not "contagious."

I get it though. To some the idea of homosexuality is creepy - really creepy. Big deal. If it's too creepy, you can always stop peeping into the window and turn your head, lol. If it's someone close to you, get your head out of the gutter and stop thinking about your loved one having sex, lol. It does NOT justify discrimination, oppression or murder.

I always thought one of the BIG messages was to "love your neighbor." There is no disclaimer about "except the creepy ones."

The AFA's attempts aren't about doing "God's will." It's about trying to destroy gay people by taking away their livelihoods (trying to force corporations not to hire them).

just a gentle reminder that having open discussion about this doesnt mean open house on bashing any religions, groups etc.

expressing one's opinion is fine. but doing so by generalizing against a particular religion, group, viewpoint etc is not. Please be sensitive to the fact that we have a very diverse membership here, and all are to be treated respectfully
thanks
Cheri

Sorry Chemar

I wasn't trying to bash the rules of religion. I just wanted to point out how that father's preaching effected his son, and why I feel so strongly about human rights.

That kid is a grown man now, and I have no idea what he's doing. He could be an angry unemployed man out on the streets. He could be on his way to being a corporate boss, politician, or preacher himself. He could also be a closeted gay man looking for a job and in need of learning to love himself, maybe even his father too.

IMO, the actions of the AFA has nothing to do with keeping "families" strong.

I always wonder why people automatically assume that someone with HIV is gay.

People get this disease from blood transfusions through no fault of their own. It doesn't happen as much today as it once did - but it happens. People get it due to drug use, too. Health-care workers are at greater risk for contracting the disease. Getting a tattoo or a piercing at a less than reputable establishment can increase your risk for getting HIV. Police Officers and EMT's are at greater risk just due to the people they have contact with.

It's not just gay people who get HIV. In my opinion they are probably the most educated about this and the most careful to avoid it. I don't know that this is true - but it just makes sense.

Life is short - way too short to go around with a chip on your shoulder because you don't agree with the way someone else lives. It's just like TV - if you don't like it don't watch it.

Interesting, I agree with what a lot of what you all said, as for the bashing I think its more a question of the type of character we have or others dont have. Things have changed big time from when we were raised, and I think its starting to blend into who and what we are.

Why praise someones good doing when you can bash someone and blame some one else too. How many of us have seen or known of someone who didnt take the blame for what they did, odd how those tend to be the first ones to find faults with others.

I also had a friend named brad, he was gay and never once did he approach or did either of us ever have to say anything, well of course that made me gay cause I was his friend, you know how that goes.

for some reason it has become easier for us to bash then to say something nice, that good feeling you get from something nice, does not seem to be enough to fill the void now a days.

Does being a gay person mean you do not care love have compassion, no, odds are they have more of those good qualities then those who slam them or their company,

As for ronald mcdonald house god bless them they help two friends of debs and mine with housing, surgery and recovery, with out them two gentle loving children would not be here today, Two thats not to mention how many others they help and save each week.

does having a gay friend or two make you evil, no
does blowing off church make you evil, no as long as god is in your heart
does being a member of some group company or organization others dislike make you evil no
does dropping acid a whole summer make you evil NO

how that get in there, you get my point, its not what u are or who u belong to or associate with, Its how much hate you have inside your heart and soul, thats what makes one differ from others, its the hate, that is whats so scary to me, so much hate


peace

I have one of my very funny (and true) stories that just came to my mind after reading all these posts.

I used to work in the non-profit field. I had a very beautiful boss. 30 years old, she was going to be a corporate lawyer, and she was GORGEOUS.

Every night a black guy (built like Arnold Schwartznegger), would come to pick her up after work. She was from Italy by the way. So of course the office was gossiping.

They would go to the gym together after work.

One day she's crying in the office and I go in (remember she's MY boss) and I said 'hon, what's the matter? and she said "My lover and I broke up". (This had to be 25 or so years ago by the way). I said 'oh the black guy??" and she said 'no, he's my friend", I'm madly in love with someone, and they broke up with me".

I said again "you mean the black guy, right? don't worry, I'm not bigoted, I don't give a hoot who you date it's your business". She's crying her head off and she goes 'NOT THE BLACK GUY". I said Not the black guy??" Who the heck are you crying over??"

And she pulls out a photo of this gorgous blond blue eyed GIRL.

I just looked. I HAD NO IDEA. And she goes "I know what you're thinking".

I said 'YOU'RE GAY??" and we burst out laughing.

I kept saying "you're gay??" It was the funniest, stupidest thing that came out of my mouth because everybody thought she was dating the black fellow.

She said: "My girlfriend dumped me to go back with her husband"

That's when I got a lesson in bi-sexuality. I kept saying "she's not gay?? She's gay, she's married??" (how dumb is this? )

But she explained the whole scenario and I held her while she cried. She said: "everybody thinks I'm going out with the guy right??" and I said 'well, he picks you up every night in his muscle man t-shirt, he's gorgeous, why the heck wouldn't we think this?"

She said "can you keep my confidence?" I said "of course" and I did. for over 4 years.

She was a heck of a boss, a very nice lady and she became a big whiz in corporate law.

I just thought of this story, and I had to share.

Hope I didn't step on anyone's toes, telling this, but the thread IS about this subject.

LOL Melody - so much for judging a book by it's cover.

I had two very good-looking homosexual male friends who were also exotic dancers at a place called the "Sugar Shack." They invited me to see them perform, but it seemed weird because we're friends and I wasn't into that anyway. What can I say, I'm selfish - I'd rather have something I can take home with me.

A friend of mine really wanted to check the place out, so I arranged it for a night when my friends would be performing - on one condition. I asked them NOT to bother me in the crowd - it was my friend who wanted the thrill.

YOWZA! They were awesome. I thought I was going to have to break out the smelling salts after they got through with my friend. She had a smile on her face from ear to ear.

We go into the bathroom, and it's packed with women. They all started gushing over how lucky my friend was to have the two most gorgeous guys paying attention to her, and she blurts out "You think I'm lucky - they are HER friends and neighbors."

They all cornered me and asked if they had a girlfriend. I smiled and told them "yes, they are both in a serious relationship." They didn't need to know it was with each other, lol. It wasn't my place to "out" my friends, and I didn't want to spoil the fun those ladies were having.