I had just read the link to the article where go through the whole story of what Jennings did or didn’t do, said, wrote, about a student who was 15, or 16…

What would you think if I put it this way? Sticking to discussion of the issues or ideas at hand, on their own merit, rather than the person who expresses or espouses them, will generally lead to a more civil, respectful and productive atmosphere — something we desparately need in our society.

I care deeply about these sexual orientation issues, as you do, and I admire what I’ve seen of your contribution in this area. (You may remember my post in relation to the “ex-gay” terminology, where I shared some of my story, a couple of months ago.) But, I think there is a deeper and more fundamental dynamic at work that needs to be addressed.

As long as we (people) continue dividing ourselves into camps, parties, positions, etc., even religious groupings if the purpose is to contend with the others, prove one’s own point/truth, and somehow PREVAIL through the FORCE of one’s words, through fear or coercion or propaganda…. then so long are we consigning humanity to being “stuck in the muck” and spinning its wheels.

I believe that Christ (and in my beliefs, Baha’u’llah, as well) made it clear that in order to follow Him, we need to give up the “power over” way of relating to other human beings, however subtly that power may be exercised. Rather, we will truly progress by recognizing our spiritual unity as children of God and tapping into the tremendous potential of what might be called the “power with” phenomenom.

Sometimes our strong negative reactions to others figures and their positions (which can be neatly managed and intellectualized into making a cogent, if biting, counter-argument) relates back to our own trauma earlier in life. I’ve had such reactions to listening to tapes of Dr. Nicholosi, and once when the leader of the Courage group I attend told us how/why he was speaking before the city council against the proposed ordinance that would protect gays & lesbians from discrimination (My reactions: turning off the tape in disgust, accelerated heartbeat and mental confusion, respectively).

And I also have to wonder, which helps me to understand better, if those positions which trigger something in me, may not also arise, even if in circuitous fashion, from the other person’s childhood trauma. Come to think of it we’ve probably all been traumatized to some degree by the “power over” “lifestyle” — which reminds me of a quote from Abdu’l-Baha, son of Baha’u’llah, and appointed interpreter of His teachings:

“The world in the past has been ruled by force and man has dominated over woman by reason of his more forceful and aggressive qualities both of body and mind. But the balance is already shifting; force is losing its dominance, and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy. Hence the new age will be an age less masculine and more permeated with the feminine ideals, or, to speak more exactly, will be an age in which the masculine and feminine elements of civilization will be more evenly balanced.”

Well, I’ve gone on too long. Thanks for giving me another chance to explain my perspective. Writing out all of this helps me in my evolution, and I am interested in how it all strikes you, if you have a chance to resond.

-Ken