And the Youth Shall Lead the Way

"Acceptance" Beyond Just "Tolerance" (4.00 / 1)

My "summer job" involves working in an environment of about 120 employees, with about 75% of them under 20 -- some in their very frist real "paying" job in their lives.

I'm continually impressed with the way that those who are gay are treated like, well -- anyone else.  It is no "issue" at all, at least among those 75%.  

It's when I'm in an environment of "older" people where I see the discrimination, the "judgement," the dislike -- sometimes bordering on or passing into "hate."  

Those who stand up against bullying and for acceptance -- not just tolerance, but "acceptance" -- are real heroes.  That goes not just for being gay but also for physical or mental challenges, sexism, dress, cultural standing, looks, and everything else -- even ageism, which admittedly I'm participating in here.

We grow up into our prejudices, and to celebrate diversity and accepting each other for who we are is a wonderful thing.  Perhaps it is the older among us who have to re-learn what younger people already know.  That way perhaps we can make sure those younger folk don't absorb whatever bias they pick up from us as they grow older.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 07:43:55 AM CDT

Life is too short for prejudice (4.00 / 2)

It amazes me that older folks ( who are running out of time on Earth) still don't get it.

That goes double for Rethug demagogues who pander to hate and prejudice.

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by: Chaz Proulx @ Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 09:29:46 AM CDT

Brave young man (4.00 / 5)

This young man deserves all the accolades he has received.

I can remember being in high school and one of my friends, who is gay, wanted to go to prom with his boyfriend in 2003.  The school was hesitant to allow that.  Myself and several others began a massive campaign to allow the couple to go to prom; we made signs, held and in-school rally and even started making plans to hold our own prom else where if the school didn't relent.  Luckily they did and we all had a great time.  I had the distinct honor of attending their wedding just a year ago.

My generation has it's intolerant ones.  I constantly remind people that using the term "that's gay" is a horrible thing to say and continues to propagate that being gay is somehow a bad thing.  The absolute hate-mongering openly displayed by the right is astonishing.  And it is hate in the extreme.

I got into an argument with my own uncle (who is a minister) when the subject came up.  He threw Bible verses at me left and right until I pulled out the old, "The Bible also tells us that if your right hand offends you, cut it off."  He was speechless.

It does get better, but only if we help it to get better.

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by: cblodg @ Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 09:43:39 AM CDT

You're A Good Friend To Have... (0.00 / 0)

...and obviously he's a good friend to have too.  You told two wonderful stories.  May your uncle learn from you.  The God I know is loving and accepting, and He didn't have to talk with me in my imagination for me to understand that.

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 10:08:22 AM CDT

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Local Minister (4.00 / 2)

I got married this weekend to my partner on the Town Common in Walpole, New Hampshire. It was a civil ceremony but one of the speakers was the minister of my parents' church which bordered the common. He had asked to participate after my parents went to him for counseling over the issue of same sex marriage.  This minister was instrumental in convincing my parents that it was a wonderful thing that their son had chosen to make a life time commitment to another despite the other being the same sex.

The minister gave a wonderful prayer at the ceremony and said grace before the meal at the reception essentially blessing the union and indicating how pleased he was to be a part of the event. Many of our guests spoke to us about his wonderful comments. It was a beautiful day and my partner and I felt very special.

On Sunday morning the minister spoke to the congretation at the regular service about our wedding and how it was one of the "high points" of his service as a minister. Many of the older members of the church came up to my parents afterward to express how worried they were about the wedding being so public and open to protest but also to congratulate them upon their son's marriage to another man.

There is a new day dawning and it is because of the work of this minister and other people like Rep. Jim Splaine who spoke up when it was not popular to do so. Thank you!

P.S.  Any chance that I can find out what number we were of the same sex marriages in NH since the effective date of the legislation?

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by: gradysdad @ Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 14:09:07 PM CDT

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