Date: 10/16/2004 3:40:00 PM
From Authorid: 17081
I think it will always exist, but it is not as bad as it used to be. I didn't know of any gays when I was younger. The black kids and white kids didn't hang with each other when I was younger. As far as religion, I don't know if it has gotten any better or not. I see more hatred towards other religions now than when I was a kid.  |
Date: 10/16/2004 3:43:00 PM
From Authorid: 22308
i also think prejudice will always exist; however, it shouldn't because like it says in the Constitution, WE ARE ALL CREATED EQUAL. People are always going to have their opinions about religion, homosexuality and all of that but they cannot do anything about it because different religions will exist and homosexuality will exist too. this country has definitely progressed but it really needs to progress more. Also people need to be more open-minded with everything. like i said Everyone is Created Equal, in this country though.  |
Date: 10/16/2004 3:44:00 PM
From Authorid: 8184
I agree with you about how prejudice will always exist; people will always be ignorant about one thing or another.  |
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Date: 10/16/2004 3:46:00 PM
From Authorid: 8184
Homosexuality is just another thing here. Sure, you get an ignorant person (in school) who doesn't understand but for the most part they're treated just like everyone else. |
Date: 10/16/2004 3:46:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 62753
Great say Fuel Girl! :)  |
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Date: 10/16/2004 3:48:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 62753
Prejudice is definately going to stay - but perhaps we can decrease it by teaching children how to relate with others, and how to see the world through the eyes of other cultures.... |
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Date: 10/16/2004 3:49:00 PM
From Authorid: 22308
thankyou! :) |
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Date: 10/16/2004 3:50:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 62753
Freaq...... it is thier constitutional right to go to school ----- If I was homosexual I would sue the city you live in... it's sad that you live in such a town where ignorance is breed, and that people are so hateful! |
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Date: 10/16/2004 3:50:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 62753
what is the population of your town? I can't imagine that it is very big --- |
Date: 10/16/2004 3:52:00 PM
From Authorid: 62267
Nope not very big but most of the surrounding counties hate 'em too.  |
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Date: 10/16/2004 3:53:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 62753
Freaq ..... thats so very sad..... to hate someone because of something that they can not control! |
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Date: 10/16/2004 3:54:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 62753
Perhaps it will take someone comming into the town, and sueing the pants off of them to make them see how ignorant it is to judge someone based on what they do in thier own private lives.... |
Date: 10/16/2004 4:01:00 PM
From Authorid: 62246
I feel that we are more accepting of Homosexuals, but I also believe that they would be more accepting if people would stop mentioning sexual preferences like it's something that matters. Also, I think that there isn't really any prejudice against religions where the country is concerned, but that's jut me.  |
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Date: 10/16/2004 4:05:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 62753
It is very difficult for the majority not to discuss things about others that is so different..... thats usually where prejuduice is born! People are affraid of things, or situations that are different from thier everyday lives.... know what I mean. As for religion.... I most likily see it more because i am right down here in Babtist Country, where if you are Catholic, or any other religion - you are just plain wrong in the eyes of those who are so strait forward Babtist.... and especailly difficult for me, since I am Athiest! I get stereotyped as a devil worshiper..... see what I mean! |
Date: 10/16/2004 4:14:00 PM
From Authorid: 42945
I think people are becoming more and more tolerant of homosexual amidst society...you will always have prejudice, no matter whether it be race, religion or sexual preference..but I for one, like to treat people the way they treat me, and I dont care what they are or what they believe in, and I sure wouldnt like to live in a place where the WHOLE!! town can HATE!!! someone who is different to them, how awful!!! good post hun....hugs  |
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Date: 10/16/2004 4:16:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 62753
I hear ya Zema, but the sad thing is that if you don't know any other life, and you are raised by these people who HATE so openly..... then chances are you will simply be a product of your parents, parents, parents, et cetra! It's sad |
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Date: 10/16/2004 4:43:00 PM
From Authorid: 42945
yes, I think we are a bit more laid back here when it comes to these issues...you could walk down the street in your underwear and nobody really takes any notice, I'm glad that I was raised to treat others as I would like to be treated...I remember my first experience of seeing two girls having a very passionate kiss down town and I thought, why are they doing that in public, I mean even if it was a hetro couple passionately kissing it could be done more privately as well, but NOW!! nothing surprises me anymore. There are 2 lovely ladies who have a different faith to me visit once a month asking how my mother is and the family, not discussing about religion, just genuinely nice, kind people..but on the other hand I do know of a couple of people who are very racist and at the same time very hypocritical as they attend church every sunday morning, and I dont think they will ever change their ways of thinking either... |
Date: 10/16/2004 5:04:00 PM
From Authorid: 3125
Because some people do not agree with some others it does not mean that they are ignorant nor does it mean that they hate. I know quite a few homosexuals/lesbians/bisexuals and I have discussed homosexuality, etc, with many of them with an open mind. I have read many articles/ studies/ research papers on these subjects and I would not say that I am ignorant regarding these subjects. I do understand what they are all about. I will say this..I simply do not agree that these lifestyles are in the best interest of our society and I believe that the natural make up of the male and female bodies, whether created or came about by chance, goes against the homosexuality concept. Because I truly believe it is a crime against nature itself, etc, that does not mean that I hate those who claim to be homosexuals. If a homosexual or lesbians or bisexual or a hetrosexual person would come to me and tell to me that they are in need of food and clothing and have no way of getting these things, I would give to any of these people equally. I think it is so very wrong of people to accuse others of being ignorant and accuse them of hating others simply because they do not agree with you in certain areas.  |
Date: 10/16/2004 5:07:00 PM
From Authorid: 1055
Well, I agree with everyone here that predjudice, whether good or bad, will always be present in a society that has humans in it. I'm not all that sure about equality of religion because I have never been around or heard much of different religious factions in our country hating each other. Homosexuals, on the other hand, have become much more tolerated. That does not mean that they are anywhere near to being accepted. Homosexuality will probably forever be a part of any human culture. The biggest problem we face in America is that it was founded by purists or at least their beliefs played a heavy role in our founding. Therefore, we have become a land where certain issues become more heavily debated than in other countries. Ummm...anyway, I'm tired and I lost my train of thought so I'll leave it at that.  |
Date: 10/16/2004 5:33:00 PM
From Authorid: 27706
Being open minded is good, but if you are too open minded your brain will fall out.  |
Date: 10/16/2004 7:08:00 PM
From Authorid: 23610
Prejudice in any form is fear based and is used as a control. Usually it stems from a fear of having something taken away from you. What that something is might be different for each person. I do think that people have become more tolerant. I'm optimistic enough to believe that one day we will be able to see these prejudices as type of thinking from the past ... when we have evolved to a higher level of true spirituality and maturity.  |
Date: 10/16/2004 7:27:00 PM
From Authorid: 609
By 'our country' you have to be more specific. If your saying the US, which is what I assume I'd have to say no...if your saying Canada I'd have to say yes. My opinion is based on the openness people express to anything different. Now maybe I am just basing my opinion unfairly based on my experiances. I am in Quebec, and we get a lot of US visitors. I especially live downtown in my city, the hotel most used by US visitors is around the corner from my apartment. I'm intending to say this in a joking way so please no one be offended, maybe you guys are only sending the stupidest Americians up here to do business because these people are rude and insulting. I am a english Quebecer not born or raised here but my mother was & I came her as an adult, I have often walked downtown to these guys making comments about 'stupid frenchies' and 'why don't they speak english'. My french honestly sucks, in 5 years here I've yet to master it but I would never visit someone elses home and insult them like that. I also do stop and ask these people where they are from, so far they have all been from various parts of the U.S. When they are drunk they are so much worse, I've had them make loud sexual comments at me under the assumption that I'm french and won't understand them...there's a lot of shock when I spin around and cuss them out in perfact english. (my weakness is a terrible potty mouth lol) I also hear ignorant comments from visitors who visit in summer with their skis or snowboards on their car roofracks commenting on how surprised they are that there isn't snow!! OMG. I don't think all Americians are like that because I have met so many intelligent ones on here but if I didn't have exposure to USM my opinion of the US would be really REALLY bad. So based on that I would say that no I don't consider the US to be very tolerant at all but haughty and self rightous (sorry about the spelling)  |
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Date: 10/16/2004 7:43:00 PM
From Authorid: 609
Resure, wow I think I can honestly say I totaly respect that opinion. It's ok to not feel it's right but to not mistreat anyone just because it's not something you agree with is the right thing to do. I personally don't think it's unnatural but thats just my opinion. I really like how you convayed yourself there! |
Date: 10/16/2004 8:07:00 PM
From Authorid: 14909
My opinion is if you love somebody and each other it doesn't matter if it's Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual or color as long as you truely love each other. I have learned this though maturing and living and realizing what love really is.  |
Date: 10/16/2004 8:27:00 PM
From Authorid: 47162
I think this gay thing is going to be a major wedge issue for a long time. Christians view this as our final stand. If we give in here, many feel the demise of humanity on it's way. So there will be alot of hoopla over this for a long time. I personally don't think it's that big a deal. but many christians do. As for other things, I think we're more tolerant.  |
Date: 10/16/2004 9:53:00 PM
From Authorid: 47296
I routinely get "mail" from various right wing religious groups such as Christian Coalition and various "Family Values" groups. When reading the "facts" and "information" that they put out, it is obvious that there is little if any tolerance for those who believe different from these groups, and most especially tolerance towards homosexuals and transgendered persons. A look at the most recent violence figures against homosexuals and transgenders will show that physical violence is on the increase. There is not a week that goes by that I do not read of at least several new attacks on homosexuals. In one week alone I read of 12 attacks, with two resulting in the death of the person attacked. There have even been attacks on people who are not homosexual, but because of something the person did or said, the attacker took them to be homosexual. One recent case was the case in Nashville where the husband held his wife's purse while she went to the bathroom, only to be attacked because he was standing next to another man while carrying a purse. People can say I am blaming Christians if they wish, but the fact is that intolerance for homosexuals here in the states is deeply rooted in the right wing religious groups, and their influence on those of impressionable age is increasing.  |
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Date: 10/16/2004 11:46:00 PM
From Authorid: 609
That really is sad! My brother inlaw is gay and has a wonderful boyfriend, I would be devastated if anything happened to them. They are both so wonderful and compassionate, and his boyfriend and I have lots of fun sitting to the side of family functions and complaining about our mother inlaw lol. Thoes attacks do make me scared for them but I wouldn't change them for anything. Everyone in my & my husbands family are nuts! We cant even think of them being compassionate enough or openminded enough to raise our daughter. But my brother in-law and his boyfriend are so great and loving we have put them as our daughters garduians if anything should ever happen to us. I hope it never happens but if it does at least I know she will have a safe and secure home with them. I hope one day people realise that this is a very large world and the only thing really important is not only finding someone you love but that loves you back in a mentally healthy way. Thats what I'm raising my daughter with. I don't care what she is as she gets older, as long as she's not hateful or crule then I've done a great job. |
Date: 10/16/2004 11:57:00 PM
From Authorid: 62146
I consider myself a pretty tolerent person of those things I do not judge people on those things. But I know their is always going to be atleast one person who has something aginst these people but the thing is it is all of us in a way we all come from a a curtain race, religion, gender, or sexaul perferance, it is just some vision of normal socity has cast upon our minds and so we tend to attack those who do not fit into that catgory. our minds are opening more and more we just need to give the mind time to adjust.  |
Date: 10/17/2004 7:44:00 AM
From Authorid: 16061
I dont think people are becoming more tolerant over religion, race or sexuality I think it is becoming a more talked about thing and people are becoming more desensitised towards it. There are always items in local and national peoples about crimes and the media will sell more papers if it can link it to a so called hate crime. If there is one thing the natural man is good at it is war, man will go to war over everything, if he cannot find something to go to war against he will make it up. Having a prejudice towards something comes easy to the natural man, its breaking the mold that is harder todo.  |
Date: 10/17/2004 8:15:00 AM
From Authorid: 19772
I have to agree with Dark Knight on this one. It's just in our nature to be prejudice against someone who is different. If we finally were able to accept everyone for their different religions, sexuality, and color there would always be another group of people we didn't like. It's just human nature to tear down one group to make yourself feel more powerfull or "normal". ~Take care~  |
Date: 10/17/2004 9:00:00 AM
From Authorid: 3125
Less than 100 years ago, women in America were basically treated like a possession in a male’s world. Used mainly for cooking, cleaning and reproduction, women were not allowed to hold any position higher than that of a man. On Nov. 15, 1917, the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson’s White House for the right to vote. One woman was chained by her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air. They hurled one woman into a dark cell, smashing her head against an iron bed, knocking her out cold. The woman’s cellmate thought the woman was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women. For weeks, the women’s only water came from an open pail. Their food—all of it colorless slop—was infested with worms. When one of the leaders embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press, who dubbed the women “Iron Jawed Angels.” The treatment of those women during their imprisonment helped to change history. On June 4, 1919, Congress passed Amendment XIX. That amendment guaranteed that “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” Over a year passed before that amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920. Little do many of today realize how women have suffered so that women can enjoy our rights.
My point in this is not that I believe in homosexuality, but to point out that in anything one attempts to change in our society we can expect to suffer for it.
Was it Christians who did such atrocities to these women who fought for equal rights? No..It was men. People can say I am blaming males if they wish, but the fact is that intolerance for women to be treated equally here in the states was deeply rooted in the male groups and they taught their sons to treat women as if they were nothing more than merchandise. Homosexuality is becoming more acceptable among many of those who claim to be Christians. I believe to condemn homosexuality will eventually become a thing of the past in our society. I am not saying that I agree with homosexuality, and I am not saying that it should be on an equal ground as women fighting for their rights to be treated equally as human beings, but that one can expect to suffer when they attempt to change history. |
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Date: 10/17/2004 9:21:00 AM
From Authorid: 609
Resure, WELL SAID!! I agree with you too that it was men who kept women down. Many men still do, but were lucky that some brave, compassionate and logical men saw past the ignorant ones to set the rights and freedoms as they did. This principal of womens sufferage is well used in this instance. I have a gay brother in law as I said earlier, and I have open discussions with him about acceptance and society. He and his boyfriend both agree with my complaint against gay pride day and we all wish it would change. I think that gay pride day is wonderful...BUT it is misused by too many in the community. I can't take my daughter to gay pride because of the few twits who want to push the limits by dressing inappropiatly or the ones who push the limits of what is socially acceptable sexual behaviour, regardless of preferace. Kissing, I don't care but groping or other things (which Ill leave to the imagination) is in appropiate PERIOD! I'd like to see gay pride day be more responsible because the people who act like this are not helping to change attitudes, their abbrasive confratational actions keep sterotypes and prejeduces alive. Changing perceptions is a two sided coin, if your not willing to work to earn others respects then why should they give it to you just because you are 'different'. I don't think being gay or proud has anything to do with marching down main street in a thong lol. |
Date: 10/17/2004 2:27:00 PM
From Authorid: 40979
Yes I think it's gotten better but people will always have beef with others. Thats never going to change because it's human nature.  |
Date: 10/17/2004 3:05:00 PM
From Authorid: 19613
I think that if people who disagree with the homosexual lifestyle etc. could just look at it as they would another religion for example, then there might be more tolerance.  |
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Date: 10/17/2004 6:01:00 PM
From Authorid: 3125
DP, There is a great difference in religions than in lifestyles. In religion they attempt to teach others to believe things their way but it is not forced onto others, but homosexuals are attempting to force another lifestyle onto society. If we do not want someone pushing their religion on us we can always tell them to go away, but we cannot simply tell homosexuals to go away. If we do not believe that something is right, then you are asking us to simply turn our heads and to ignore our convictions. I believe we both understand that if we would simply turn our heads the other way regarding many things that we believe are wrong then this world would be one doozie of a place to live in. |
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Date: 10/17/2004 6:10:00 PM
From Authorid: 3125
Phe, I know what you mean..I think that "Gay Pride Day" does more harm to their cause than anything else. If homosexuals want to further their cause I could understand a group marching for "Equals Rights for Gays". In marches such as this, most would put themselves forward in a more acceptable way. In Gay Pride Day, it seems that many are attempting to show the public the things that they should be doing in private. We all know what goes on in bedrooms and we don't need it advertised. |
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Date: 10/17/2004 9:12:00 PM
From Authorid: 47296
Here is a link I would invite anyone to take a look at. This is a list of known transgendered persons that have been killed over the past 12 years or so. Understand that it is not a complete listing, since many law enforcement agencies only recently began keeping records based on sexual orientation or gender expression. http://www.gender.org/remember/# |
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Date: 10/17/2004 10:36:00 PM
From Authorid: 3125
TS, I think many are aware that when people fight for a cause many times there will be senseless deaths. It is very very unlikely that law enforcement agencies kept track of how many black men/women died or how many women died while fighting for MANY years for the rights to be treated as human beings. |
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Date: 10/18/2004 4:36:00 AM
From Authorid: 47296
Actually Rusure, back when the Civil Rights battles were going on, it was documented whether or not a person who was killed was black or white. In fact, it would have been very hard to hide that fact. The site I listed is nothing more than the names, and for some, the stories, of those transegdnered persons who it was known have been killed. One of them, a transsexual from Florida, was killed because she had the ear of those in the Florida legislature, and was active in fighting for transgender rights, and was makeing headway, in Florida. In Atalnta, long considered one of the biggest support areas for those like myself going through transition, attacks against transgendered persons has increased drastically. The sudden increase in attacks began about the same time as the gay marriage debate came up in that state, which was also the time when christian conservative groups became very vocal in Georgia concerning their feelings on homosexuals. Just this weekend in Alabama, we had Rev. Phelps and his Westboro followers here in Alabama. While most do not subscribe to his brand of hatred, he does have his supporters here in the Bible Belt. Facts do not lie, and the facts clearly show that many in America are not becoming more tolerant of gays and transgendered persons. The facts also show that the intolerance is being brought to the forefront by even more attacks. |
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Date: 10/18/2004 8:32:00 PM
From Authorid: 23610
Rusure states ... "If we do not want someone pushing their religion on us we can always tell them to go away, but we cannot simply tell homosexuals to go away." .... Errr...I can't remember a time when I had a gay person knocking on my door trying to convert me. ... Come on that just doesn't make any sense. |
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Date: 10/18/2004 8:57:00 PM
From Authorid: 62267
I'm sorry. I don't agree with it. I am like all the what you people call "ignorant" people where I live. I don't wish death on anyone like most people here but I think the world would be better without it. |
Date: 10/18/2004 10:00:00 PM
From Authorid: 3125
Lady Nyx, DP stated "I think that if people who disagree with the homosexual lifestyle etc. could just look at it as they would another religion for example, then there might be more tolerance." I was responding to his statement. To try to make it easier to understand, I am saying that we do not know that a religious person is a religious person until he begins to speak, but we can see a homosexual walking down the street, sitting in a restaurant, in shopping centers, etc. We must deal with homosexuals whether we want to or not. We have the right to tell a person who is attempting to force their message onto us to go away because we do not want to hear what he has to say, but we would have no right to tell a homosexual to go away. I am still not sure if I made it any easier to understand what I was trying to say. :)
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Date: 10/19/2004 6:58:00 AM
From Authorid: 47296
Rusure, why must you deal with a homosexual who is walking down the street or eating in your favrite restaraunt? If they are not confronting you, then their sexual orientation is none of your business. That is the problem with many Americans today. They believe what other people do or the way they live is their business. It is not, just as the religion you decide to practice and how you practice it is not my business, as long as you do not confront me with it. Just this past Saturday, I saw several Jehovah's Witnesses standing outside a store drinking sodas and talking amongst themselves. Personally, I have no use for them, but I smlied as I walked by them and acknowledged their presence, as they did in return. Now, how did I know they were JWs? One of them was holding several of their pamphlets, as they were preparing for their after service witnessing. Did that bother me? No, because although it was obvious who they were, they were not confronting me. Gays do not confront people with who they are. It may be obvious who they are by the way some act or dress, but not always. There is one gay I know who is a retired Air Force B-52 navigator. If someone were to meet him on the street, they would never know he is gay. They would probably figure him as ex-military though from the way he dresses and still acts in a military manner. All that aside, he is very much gay. I interact with people everyday who do not know I am transgendered, and who would probably be deeply disturbed to find out I am. As for the gay "lifestyle", it is not a lifestyle. It is their life. It is who they are, and although the only proof that they were born that way at present is from psychological research, there is no medical proof whatsoever to contradict that they were not born that way. Living in religion however is a lifestyle, since religion is not something that is bred into us, but something that is learned, and the decision made to live within those set standards of religion. It would be safe to say then that those who have chosen a religious lifestyle are the ones who shout the loudest about those who are only trying to live their life. |
Date: 10/19/2004 4:07:00 PM
From Authorid: 3125
TS, I will leave the same comment here as I did on another board.. My argument is now and has always been..It is so very obvious that two of the same sex were not equipped by nature to perform sexual acts upon each other. Each of our body parts were given to us for a purpose. Our heart has it's purpose, our lungs, kidneys, digestive system, our nose, mouth, legs, feet, etc, all serves a purpose. It is so very obvious what the sexual organs of a male and a female are all about. Sure, we could attempt to use our nose as a feeding orifice, or our toes to do the job of our fingers, etc, but this wouldn't be a natural thing. Now, What would you think if you saw a person in a restaurant trying to feed himself through his nose? You would most likely think it is disgusting, and you would know that it is not a natural thing. If this person in a restaurant would attempt to feed himself through his nose, we could not stop him from doing so, nor could we claim that it is against the law of the land, but why should this person expect our government to give him special rights and to ignore the rights of others in our society? This is how I see homosexuality. It is so very obvious that nature did not equip us with sexuals organs to be used as we see fit.
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Date: 10/19/2004 10:47:00 PM
From Authorid: 47296
Rusure, your arguement would be valid, except for one problem. Even heterosexual couples do not always use their sexual organs in the manner in which they were designed. If a man and a woman can use their sexual organs in a manner that is not natural for procreation, then why not a man and a man, or a woman and a woman? And before you answer, you should first understand that if you have ever acted out in a sexual manner not relative to procreation, then you are no different from a gay or lesbian who has done likewise. By reading your comments one would get the feeling that you do not even think homosexuals should be allowed to intermingle with "normal" members of society. Fortunately, our country is not a theocracy, but a republic based on democratic principles. What does that mean? It means that the majority does not always get their way, but that all who make up the republic are given consideration as to the writing of laws and the way they are treated. Gays and lesbians are not asking for special rights, only equeal rights. Of course, those who live the "religious lifestyle" have a hard time understanding equeal rights, especially if those rights go against their teachings. |
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Date: 10/20/2004 4:29:00 AM
From Authorid: 47296
I would add one more thought. People assume that all homosexual relationships are sexual in nature. Many refuse to look at the emotional relationship between two people who have found their life partner. I guess that is because too many people now put too much emphasis on the sex in their heterosexual relationships. A true relationship is not about sex, but about the feelings two parties have for each other outside the bedroom. |
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Date: 10/21/2004 4:40:00 PM
From Authorid: 19613
I think if some people would use their eyes and brains as nature had intended we might not be having this debate. |
