My Two Cents (03/04)

• God and Science - Prosthesis was impressed with the book  Science & Grace: God's Reign in the Natural Sciences, and has a nice review.
• The Secret - An evangelical review of one of the hottest books out reveals that it is merely a recycle of "you are a god, you can create your own existence" theology.
• Family First Conservatism - what does it mean to be a conservative in America?  EO argues that it must first and foremost be pro-family, and he has written a 10 point manifesto on it.
• Romney draws fire at Regent - Mit Romney was scheduled as commencement speaker at Pat Robertson's Regent University, but students objected to his Mormon faith.
• Transgender Prof Fired - an evangelical University fired a transgender professor, who is now suing.
• Creation Museum Opening - AIG, the most prolific and noteworthy of the young earth creationist organizations, is opening its new 50,000 sq ft. creation museum in Cincinnati this Memorial Day.  Field trip!
• Street Preaching Adventures - one cool thing about the blog of the Reformed Evangelist are his stories of street preaching and witnessing.  I have not done that for many years, but hope to do it again someday.
• Lawsuits are so gay! - A young student in Santa Rosa got reprimanded and a note "put in her file" (the ultimate threat to one's future at that age) for responding to taunts by using the hate speech "that's so gay!."  Her parents are now suing the school for their whacked out sense of justice and for limiting her free speech.  Since the word gay has the common meaning of "something stupid or unfortunate," stemming from a disdain for homosexuality, I think the girl was just using common vernacular.  Perhaps we should punish children every time they utter "Jesus Christ!" or "God damn!" or "Holy cow!"

Comments

[Louis]

I agree about the free speech issue. I, for one, enjoy attacking and denigrating xianity, and I wouldn't want to have those free speech rights taken away! In today's atmosphere, where we are in constant danger from the xian theocrats, it is very important to protect our rights, even at the cost of indulging disgusting homophobes like that college girl or seeker.

[Sam]

Seeker,

Albert Mohler declared that genetically engineering away gays makes some real sense. You like him, don't you? You should write about this.

[Louis]

btw:
About the use of the word "gay" here, seeker wrote:

"Since the word gay has the common meaning of "something stupid or unfortunate," stemming from a disdain for homosexuality, I think the girl was just using common vernacular."

This is why I referred to seeker as a "disgusting homophobe." Once again, against Aaron's advice, he chooses to be as provocative as possible, defending the fact that bigotry has entered the "common vernacular" and its use by common bigots. What if the girl had used "faggy" (ala Coulter), or "nigger"? These words also seek to dehumanize and demonize human beings. They are part of the common vernacular to reinforce majority superiority and police arbitrary standards of conduct and being. They also express disdain. Why should there be social penalties attached?

The answer, of course, is that words create reality and enforce certain social standards. Choosing to express disdain for certain groups by stealing their words (ie, gay as an expression of pride) and turning them into expressions of contempt is a sure indicator of bigotry and a further attempt at marginalizing them. Of course, seeker wants exactly that: demonize gay people and push us back into the closet. Who's next? Niggers? Kikes?

This is the language of the bigot and the hate-monger. And it's very revealing that its defense comes from the xian right and there lap-dogs in the Republican party.

WWJD? Aaron?