bigotry abounds

[Thats my opinion]

72. In response concerning "Bigotry Abounds"

Yesterday I posted a thread describing the desecration of a Christmas display at the local United Methodist Church, a tableau picturing three couples under the Chrismas star—two of them Gay or Lesbian. I said that in response there was outrage in the community and in support of the church. I went on to say that almost every seminary and hundreds of congregations now welcome GLBT people.

Among the responses were those from the regular religion haters calling me a liar, “You posts blatant falsehoods.” “your falsehoods, inaccuracies and contradictions….” “ you make up the story to fit your agenda.” That easily translates “liar.” From these same posters, not a word about the event. No word about the bigots or the bigotry. No word of support for the church, or for the offended Gay and Lesbian people. No effort to get in the struggle for Gay rights. Only condemnation of me for stating there was rampant outrage in the community. They then referred to a newspaper report stating that the wife of the designing artist was upset that the community had not responded. It was said by my attackers that her statement branded me as a liar

The DU jury to whom their posts went declined to say that these posts calling another poster a liar was not in violation of DU rules because the facts were in dispute. Here are the facts.

I talked this evening to John and Anita Zachery, the artist and his wife. Anita said that the call from the reporter came very early in the process even before most in the community had even heard about the desecration, and she was so upset by the incident she said just what was reported. Since then she has said some very different things, and has contacted the reporter about them. She now is aware of the enormous reaction in the community. Perhaps we will see about this as the newspaper continues to cover the story. The press was present this evening at the vigil.

What was the reaction in the community? The police tried to write off the event as a “bias incident.” When that word got out, pressure was put on the City, and the Police were forced to take another look. Under this community pressure they upped their estimate, not just to a “hate incident,” the next step, but a “hate crime.” This means it will be investigated as a criminal activity. That would not have happened without an aroused populous.

I just returned an hour ago from an outdoor candlelight vigil at the site of the display, where people from all over the community gathered with the members of the Methodist church to sing, pray and forgive. Among the speakers was John Zachary and his wife. John thanked the community for its support and for turning out to stand with him and the church. The singing was led by the cantor of the local synagogue.

In the last day I have received about 40 e-mails from the community asking what can now be done. I am a member of the official municipal committee charged with investigating hate crimes and incidents. We are planning a city-wide forum to deal with this event and how we might further respond. Many members of the committee were present at the vigil.

These are the facts of the case. What is the purpose of those calling me a liar? I had the audacity to say that the religious community is increasingly open and affirming in the welcome and support of GLBT people. And they objected to any mention that something decent can come from religion. But the progressive church has been at the heart of the pro Gay agenda—often fighting off the fundamentalist religionists. It was in the same Methodist church where we met night after night making calls against Prop 8, which denied the right to marry to Gay folks. I indicated in this thread that hundred of churches were open and affirming. And they are. I did not lie about that, as I was accused of doing.

Among the many websites I suggested was
www.gaychurch.org/Find_a_Church/find_a_church.ht
which lists hundred of churches in every state and throughout the world.

While there are those of us hard at work confronting bigotry and making a way for our brothers and sisters, we must continually fight the indecent backfire of those who ought to be joining us in the battle instead of sniping. In WWII 20 percent of
American casualties were mistakenly shot by our own troops. We are fighting some pretty tough battles for decency and human rights. To continually be shot at by those with some other agenda and who are using DU as the firing range–those who ought to be our colleagues--accomplishes nothing else but to make the fight more difficult. And when DU doesn’t even consider these attacks as personal, and allows them to continue, the fight is even more difficult.

I will not continue this debate nor deal any more with those attacking what I stand for. I had hoped that there would be a new spirit with DU 3, but so far that has not been the case.