A response to Sally Kern

[Bob78164]

Representative Sally Kern, who represents portions of Oklahoma City, made and defended, relatively recently, a statement to the effect that homosexuality is a greater threat to our nation than is terrorism. I cannot possibly improve on this high school student's response. --Bob

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Game, set, match to Tucker.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Somebody ought to start a links page of "Things Worse Than Terrorism"

Gays, Global Warming, Obesity, Marine Corps Recruiters, Liberals, George Bush ect.

Perhaps a corollary to Godwin's Law

[marrymeflyfree]

His letter made me cry. Damn hormones.

It's been said that her own son is gay.

[SportsFan68]

During the speech, Kern said that "the homosexual agenda is just destroying this nation" and that homosexuality poses a bigger threat to the United States than terrorism. "According to God's word, that is not the right kind of lifestyle," she said.

This amazes me -- even Cal doesn't quarrel with a homosexual lifestyle despite God's word's absolute pronouncement on the subject.

Still, I think Tucker's right that pronouncements like Kern's mean more violence toward gays.

[silvercamaro]

I can tell you only what I know, which isn't much. She did not make these remarks to the legislature. Whatever she said was to a meeting with about 15 people in attendance. Kern claims the tape was edited to make what she said sound worse than it was. (She doesn't deny saying the words; she says it was cut and spliced to make it sound like a long, hateful rant -- as opposed, I guess, to short, hateful rantlets.) Her husband is a Baptist minister. I don't know anything about her son. I can't find a reference to her even having a son other than in blog and message board comments about said son's supposed sexual preferences. The OSBI is investigating death threats that she has received.

I have not heard anyone around here defend her remarks, either in public or private. (Of course, I live in a town that probably would be considered liberal by the standards of Mrs. Kern's supporters, whomever and wherever they may be.)

[Beebs52]

You know what? Are people still able to separate a theocracy versus a representational government? Being "in" the world rather than "of" it? Secular versus Biblically based? Because, like it or not, if you're a Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist, Unitarian, etc. etc. etc., you have to compartmentalize certain things if you're going to successfully live in the U.S. And the world. You also don't have to apologize if you're discussing what you believe religiously to an audience focused on similar religious beliefs, unless it calls for internal or external violence and terrorism, establishing that you're ready to blow up the government, enaht, in which case, you've called "fire" in the theater. Or others' theaters, mileage may vary.

Not to reference any particular religious leaders or cohorts on nonprofits.

[peacock2121]

Hey beebs!

I would like you to say more about the distinction between being 'in the world' and 'of the world'.

I am suspecting that distinction, once I get it, will make a big difference for me.

If you don't see this, I will ask again.

[NellyLunatic1980]

It's been said that her own son is gay.

It seems to happen not infrequently that children of rabidly anti-gay politicians end up gay. Mary Cheney and Maya Keyes are two well-known examples.

[nitrah55]

Hey beebs!

I would like you to say more about the distinction between being 'in the world' and 'of the world'.

I am suspecting that distinction, once I get it, will make a big difference for me.

If you don't see this, I will ask again.

I know you asked Beebs about this, but in the interim, let me offer my two cents.

There is in the Bible (either Jesus or Paul, I forget who) saying that followers of Jesus should be in the world, but not of it. I take that to mean, that we are to be involved in the goings-on of the world, and that what happens here counts, but that our values and our decisions should be based upon the values and teachings of Jesus, not the values and teachings of temporal authorities.

As a result, you have a lot of Christians who live out their faith helping the poor, the dispossessed, and so forth. And some who get involved in politics to make the world a better place, even as they believe that an even better place awaits. And some who try to do their daily jobs in a way that reflects their faith. And, well, you get the idea.

[silvercamaro]

It's been said that her own son is gay.

It seems to happen not infrequently that children of rabidly anti-gay politicians end up gay. Mary Cheney and Maya Keyes are two well-known examples.

I would estimate that this occurs in approximately 10 percent of the children of anti-gay politicians -- just like in the rest of the population.

No more, no less.

[Appa23]

It's been said that her own son is gay.

It seems to happen not infrequently that children of rabidly anti-gay politicians end up gay. Mary Cheney and Maya Keyes are two well-known examples.

I would estimate that this occurs in approximately 10 percent of the children of anti-gay politicians -- just like in the rest of the population.

No more, no less.

Except that the percentage for the overall population is not the mythical 10%. Some recent census reports and surveys places the percentage more in the neighborhood of 2%.

[silvercamaro]

Except that the percentage for the overall population seemingly is closer to 2% being homosexual or bisexual, not the mythical 10%.

I don't know the actual percentage. The actual percentage is not important to me. My point is that it's not the parents' politics or religion that determines their children's sexual preferences, any more than the parents' choices determine the acuity of a child's vision or hearing.

[marrymeflyfree]

I don't know the actual percentage. The actual percentage is not important to me. My point is that it's not the parents' politics or religion that determines their children's sexual preferences, any more than the parents' choices determine the acuity of a child's vision or hearing.

I agree...I think the gay kids of anti-gay people in the spotlight get more press, though. That might lend the appearance of a link.

Interesting conversation with a friend's partner recently. He and his sister are both gay (two other straight sibs, too). I asked if he thought there was something genetic to it for them...he said absolutely, since he also has three cousins, an uncle, and a great uncle who are gay. And this is coming from a very conservative family in East Texas, and all from the same branch of the family tree. Reminded me of a guy I knew in college who was gay, who discovered he had an identical twin as an older teenager. The parents had split when they were babies...one parent took one, one got the other. Turns out both are gay.

I couldn't care less what the cause is, but it is interesting because the percentage of people who are gay tends to stay around the same number no matter where in the world you survey it or at what point in history. This lends credence to the genetic theory.