Politically Correct Prejudice

Why is it okay to discriminate against some people? This morning, I was on a surrogacy website I go to, and someone was upset at being called a bigot. Well, this person said,

"Just because someone doesn't agree or believes differently than you, does not make that person a bigot or "close-minded". Please remember that we all believe differently and most do not go around being hateful to those who think differently. So to those who teach their children differently than you, or to those who disagree with the aforementioned topic, they do not deserve to be called a bigot or "close-minded". They just think differently and that's it. We are all entitled to that and we have that freedom, living here in America."

In other words, it's her right as an American to teach her kids that they are better than people who are different from them. Well, okay, in America, technically, you can do that. What you can't do is do it without being called on it. Because while, legally, it is allowed, morally, it is not okay.

And what a double standard, huh? Why is it okay for her to teach that gays (which is what we were talking about) are second class citizens, but I am not allowed to teach my children that prejudice is wrong?

Yeah, I know, apples and oranges. She is making a sweeping judgement of all gays, while I am judging people by their actions. Actually, that just proves my point that she is practicing prejudice, while I am judging someone on their own merit (or lack of it).

Well, I responded and I was not the only one. I told her that if she was going to teach her children that way, then she should expect to be called what she is. I also pointed out that subtle hate can be more dangerous, as it is more easily hidden. (Okay, you must all go and see "Gentleman's Agreement") I told her that if that is what she believes and teaches, we get to call her prejudiced.

I guess my point is that if she came and started saying that blacks or Jews were not as good as her and her kids, that people would have flipped out on her and it would have been a huge shitstorm. But no. We all tried (pretty darn nicely) to tell her why she was wrong. I don't think people would have felt they needed to be that nice if it had been "politically incorrect bigotry".

I know I have brought this up before, but while we are on the subject of "politically correct bigotry": atheism. Why does my soc teacher keep thinking it's okay to keep picking on me in class? Because it's socially acceptable to pick on atheists. He probably wouldn't dream of picking on a Jewish or a Christian student. But, it's okay to pick on me. I try really hard to just ignore it, but it's not funny and I am getting really annoyed. I keep debating whether or not to report him, but I can't decide if it will do more harm than good.

Also, Muslims. I heard so many people say they were not voting for Obama because "he is a Muslim". And the answer (from Obama supporters) was always "No, of course he isn't." Shouldn't it have been "Why the hell should that matter?"

So, some people (gays, Muslims, Atheists) are okay to be prejudiced against. Really. Good to know.

An Emphatic NO on Prop 8

For those not in the know, Proposition 8 is a proposed amendment to the California state constitution. It states that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman. It would make gay marriage illegal. That he does not support gay marriage is my one problem with Senator Obama. I sincerely hope that one day he will see the light.

Thomas Merton wrote, “We owe a definite homage to the reality around us and we are obliged, at certain times, to say what things are and to give them their right names.” He was right and there is to be no more sidestepping the issue. Proposition 8 is about prejudice against gays and lesbians. There, I said it. How else to explain why straight people even care why someone else gets married? It is not about preserving the “sanctity of marriage”. If that were the case, then these same people would be against allowing divorce. Why aren’t they picketing the offices of divorce lawyers? Wouldn’t that make more sense than telling someone that they can’t get married in order to preserve marriage? Where does that make sense? It is because they are not trying to preserve marriage, they are just trying to prevent same sex marriage. Paint it any color you want, call it anything you want, it’s prejudice.
The second reason I hear about is that if Prop 8 does not pass, teachers will have to teach that homosexuality is okay. Do some people really think that just because a teacher does or does not teach this that their child will never come across a gay person? Do they really think their child will never be in a class with a child who has same-sex parents? Do they really believe that none of them will have a child that is homosexual? Again, let’s give this thing its right name: prejudice. They are advocating the teaching of prejudice by forcing these teachers into a curriculum that marginalizes people by not recognizing them as human beings the same as the rest of us. I believe that is what Hitler did with the Jewish people. Do you really want your kids learning this? Or do you want them to learn that people come in all shapes, colors, and sizes and that we can have different lives, lifestyles and opinions, and that we can respect those differences without having to agree with them. I say this firmly: People who do not want their child to learn an opposing viewpoint realize that their own viewpoint cannot take a hit. It will crumble and fall. Because the only thing that holds prejudice up is ignorance.
Proposition 8 is about prejudice, ignorance and fear. Those who are for Proposition 8 are trying to make others afraid of what will happen if they don’t vote for it. I say be afraid of what will happen if you do. Think about it. You will be voting for an amendment to the state constitution to take away someone’s civil rights. That is as Anti-American as it gets. Americans vote for freedom, not against.

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.”-Pastor Martin Niemöller