Comments on: Rachel Maddow discloses statements of opposition to Anti-Homosexuality Bill from key US lawmakers (video) http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/ A College Psychology Professor's Observations About Public Policy, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, and Religious Issues Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:29:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jayhuck http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221943 Jayhuck Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:31:37 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221943 <blockquote>http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/11/24/episcopal-church-officials-to-discuss-opposition-to-uganda-anti-homosexuality-bill/</blockquote>

http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/11/24/episcopal-church-officials-to-discuss-opposition-to-uganda-anti-homosexuality-bill/

]]> By: Jayhuck http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221942 Jayhuck Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:27:56 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221942 <blockquote>I really don’t think it is fair to single out Evangelical Christians.</blockquote> Really????????

I really don’t think it is fair to single out Evangelical Christians.

Really????????

]]> By: Michael Bussee http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221894 Michael Bussee Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:22:33 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221894 Warren posted this article about Canon Gideon Byamugisha on the FB group recently -- and he may already have posted it here. It's a wonderful <em>Ugandan</em> voice of faith speaking out -- in spite of what such a stand might cost him. <blockquote>"I sincerely hope that my fellow religious leaders will comprehend my stand against the level of violence proposed in the bill," he said. "I hope that they will not translate my hesitation to support the bill as a moral surrender to behaviours and practices that we regard as 'unacceptable' and 'sinful' in our ethics and morality frameworks. I hope that they will translate my hesitation as shying away from endorsing a bill that will institutionalise violence and death to a minority group simply because the majority do not like them." Regardless of opinion from faith leaders, though, Byamugisha believes he has an obligation to speak out. "I realise that if I am happy to speak out against discrimination and stigma in relation to HIV, then I should also be happy to speak out against paralysing homophobia, sexism, tribalism, Puritanism, fundamentalism and against anything else that reduces and diminishes our love, care and support for each other as we travel the road of faith and belief."</blockquote> More Christian voices like that, please, here and abroad. http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine/2009/dec/04/gideon-byamugisha-homosexuality-bill Warren posted this article about Canon Gideon Byamugisha on the FB group recently — and he may already have posted it here. It’s a wonderful Ugandan voice of faith speaking out — in spite of what such a stand might cost him.

“I sincerely hope that my fellow religious leaders will comprehend my stand against the level of violence proposed in the bill,” he said. “I hope that they will not translate my hesitation to support the bill as a moral surrender to behaviours and practices that we regard as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘sinful’ in our ethics and morality frameworks. I hope that they will translate my hesitation as shying away from endorsing a bill that will institutionalise violence and death to a minority group simply because the majority do not like them.”

Regardless of opinion from faith leaders, though, Byamugisha believes he has an obligation to speak out. “I realise that if I am happy to speak out against discrimination and stigma in relation to HIV, then I should also be happy to speak out against paralysing homophobia, sexism, tribalism, Puritanism, fundamentalism and against anything else that reduces and diminishes our love, care and support for each other as we travel the road of faith and belief.”

More Christian voices like that, please, here and abroad.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine/2009/dec/04/gideon-byamugisha-homosexuality-bill

]]> By: Michael Bussee http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221890 Michael Bussee Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:40:02 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221890 Gay denouncements and protests will be turned aside as evil influences from the West. Economic sanctions may be pointless since Uganda has an untapped treasure trove of oil. I believe that <em>Christian </em>voices could have more positive impact in this situation than any other factor. Christians across the Conservative-Liberal spectrum should speak out. Gay denouncements and protests will be turned aside as evil influences from the West. Economic sanctions may be pointless since Uganda has an untapped treasure trove of oil.

I believe that Christian voices could have more positive impact in this situation than any other factor. Christians across the Conservative-Liberal spectrum should speak out.

]]> By: Michael Bussee http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221866 Michael Bussee Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:48:36 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221866 I really don't think it is fair to single out Evangelical Christians. It has been difficult to get <strong><em>any</em></strong> major Christrian leaders or organizations to speak out on this -- even the so-called "liberal ones". It may not be that they "don't share" Warren's views. It may not be that they are "just loudmouths" who want attention. I think there may be a simpler explanation: It may be that they are simply not <strong><em>aware </em></strong>yet. Help to get the word out. :) I really don’t think it is fair to single out Evangelical Christians. It has been difficult to get any major Christrian leaders or organizations to speak out on this — even the so-called “liberal ones”. It may not be that they “don’t share” Warren’s views. It may not be that they are “just loudmouths” who want attention. I think there may be a simpler explanation:

It may be that they are simply not aware yet. Help to get the word out. :)

]]> By: Mary http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221865 Mary Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:47:23 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221865 Michael, Awesome! <code>: )</code> Michael,

Awesome! : )

]]> By: David Blakeslee http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221854 David Blakeslee Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:04:24 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221854 @ Jayhuck, <blockquote>could be that a minority of Evangelicals are just loud-mouths and get attention.</blockquote> I prefer this explanation, regardless of the facts. @ Jayhuck,

could be that a minority of Evangelicals are just loud-mouths and get attention.

I prefer this explanation, regardless of the facts.

]]> By: Michael Bussee http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221853 Michael Bussee Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:58:26 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221853 It's a volunteer position. :) It’s a volunteer position. :)

]]> By: Michael Bussee http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221852 Michael Bussee Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:44:14 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221852 <blockquote>Maybe someone can direct her to the Facebook page – Michael??? Hint hint. I thought that was your job?</blockquote>Done.

Maybe someone can direct her to the Facebook page – Michael??? Hint hint. I thought that was your job?

Done.

]]> By: Jayhuck http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/12/04/rachel-maddow-discloses-statements-of-opposition-to-anti-homosexuality-bill-from-key-us-lawmakers-video/comment-page-1/#comment-221790 Jayhuck Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:56:18 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=5483#comment-221790 David, <blockquote>Why doesn’t she balance her story with this obvious factoid?</blockquote> It could be because the majority of Evangelicals are not like Warren and do not share his views - or it could be that a minority of Evangelicals are just loud-mouths and get attention. I'm not sure which is true, and I may be naive here, but I would think that if there were a loud enough Evangelical voice out there bolstering Warren, it would get noticed. David,

Why doesn’t she balance her story with this obvious factoid?

It could be because the majority of Evangelicals are not like Warren and do not share his views – or it could be that a minority of Evangelicals are just loud-mouths and get attention. I’m not sure which is true, and I may be naive here, but I would think that if there were a loud enough Evangelical voice out there bolstering Warren, it would get noticed.

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