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i greatly appriciate the clarification post. and let me again assure you, i don't think you're one of the haters. I've met plenty of them in my life. I'm trying to get ordained as a Baptist minister. Believe me when i say, i've met the real bigots and haters. I'm making issue about some of the rhetoric not becuase it's the worst in the world, but because it has room for improvement.
and i understand your approach...but this is why i don't share it. the issue with living a life of example is that it may not be, at times, enough.
if i "tolerate" homophobes, will i be tolerated? Keeping in mind that until a few years ago adult, consensual homosexual sex was illegal in most parts of the nation. keeping in mind that anti-queer violence was widley practiced by the police as well as citizens in most parts of the country....
toleration without some baseline of moral imperatives is not a workable solution.
now. as long as people don't try to lock me up for being me, or worse, kill me...i'm fine being in a civilization with them. i can go to school with them, argue when it suits me, and retreat to safe space and friendly community when i desire.
i accord them the same rights and responsbilities. but nowhere in the civil compact do i find an imperative that toleration means a lack of comment or opposition. You quote from the Gospel, but i believe you make an important ommission. The texts are filled with confrontations. jesus, the desciples, mary, paul, and the church mothers and fathers all are recorded as confronting those they disagree with.
what they did not do is tell anyone that they were outside of God's grace and love. the message?
Repent. Turn from the ways that have brought you and your neighbors in to strife and separation. Turn again to God's way...and the forgiveness that is waiting for you.
I don't think the Gospel says keep your head down at all. What i beleive it calls me to is principled advocacy, remembering always the humanity and dignity of the people whom i am in opposition with on an issue. For instance I don't beleive that violence or overly coecive legal measures (those that go beyond requiring equal treatment and become punative towards practicioners of homophobia) are a good way of interrupting and confronting homophobia. To that extent, i tolerate them. But silence will not protect me.
If i am to become a full citizen with legal standing before the law, to be free from the danger of homophobic violence, to be able to marry whom i wish, and to live and participate in the communities which i desire to live in...
If i am to have any of those things, i will need more than silence. This nation knew a long period of silence. Queers in this nation were closeted, shamed, persecuted and reviled. I make no apology for opposing the desire for silence from a heteronormative society. that's my why.
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For God so loved creation, that God sent God's only Son that whosoever believed should not perish, but have everlasting life.
-John 3:16
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