Now I know.

It would be interesting to know how many of the characters at these protests have actually availed themselves of CUs.

Watching these protests kind of makes me wish I could go back and change my vote.

That’s rationalization for bad behavior, not justification.

These protests are a function of bad breeding rather than orientation. I would bet serious money that your children aren’t going to behave this way whatever the cause because your kids will likely grow out of childhood.

I think sometimes those who come out advocating for the gay community in these situations fail to take the high road.

I have said often that part of the problem with gay marriage is that a lot of people are simply apathetic on the issue-they don’t care enough about it to think about it, and most of them don’t know enough gay people that their main image of being gay are things like Pride parades and Folsom Street Fair.

I think the “no”supporters would have done better to put a positive gay face on the issue and advocate for why they want the institution itself and not the government goodies that come with legal recognition of marriage.

I hope that if any of my children grow up and are gay, that they don’t behave like spoiled brats. This isn’t the face gays need to put on the desire for marriage, and what it may do is make some of those who are apathetic on the issue care, but not in the way gays want them to care.

Problem is, they’d take you up on it. Have you heard of the Folsom Street Fair?

There needs to be a counter-demonstration of all people of good will — gay, straight, bi, black, white…everyone who feels the slightest bit of metaphysical embarrassment that there is one term we are forced to share with these protestors: Human.

I’ve attended many large Evangelical Christian events and demonstrations. They’re all protested by somebody: NOW, GLBT advocates, etc. If they get into a volume competition, yes they will lose because they’re outnumbered.

But that woman wasn’t just shouted down by the mob. I have never seen a counter-protester treated like that no matter how badly they are outnumbered. I have never seen someone rip a sign out of someone’s hands, let alone see someone for their safety. That is contemptible behavior for anyone.

I think that is comparing apples to oranges. As Christians, you and your flock are going to approach things differently than most protesters.

Pastor Jeff, in case my intent is misconstrued, I mean absolutely no disrespect to you or anyone of faith for the following; this is just my thoughts on this issue, so bare with me.

When I was younger I went to a few pride parades. I find them boring, sad and amusing at the same time, but friends wanted to go, and I had nothing else better to do. At every one of them there were Christian protesters, complete with crosses, Bibles, exclaiming that we were sinners, we need to repent, so on and so forth. I think once things got a bit out of hand and someone got a bit roughed up, but it was a long time ago and I may not be remembering correctly. Now the protesters had every right to be there, but what is the purpose? They really didn’t expect to save anybody at that type of event, did they? Sure they are expressing their belief, but they are consciously putting themselves in harms way. They are being the proverbial “thorn-in-the-side” Sooner or later, the thorn is going to be scratched. When you stir the pot in this fashion, this is, sooner or later, going to happen.

I take the Dr. Laura view on this. She will get a call from a woman who had been raped and struggles emotionally with the aftermath. Often the woman reveals, leading up to the event, she was at a bar, or a party, drinking with friends. Dr. Laura goes out of her way to make sure the caller knows she is not being blamed for the crime, but Laura also explains that it was stupid behavior on the victim’s part, to put herself in a situation where, being drunk, and being around drunk horny men, the victim has put herself in a position where this type of violation is more likely to occur. Dr. Laura is identifying that the victim exhibited poor choices and stupid behavior that put the victim at risk.

Before some one accuses me of being heartless, I want them to know I lost a friend, someone who was a tremendously positive influence on my ability to accept being gay and someone I loved dearly, because of the same type of poor behavior choices (some of the old timers have hear this, so forgive the repeat). He used to cruise Pacific Beach in San Diego and pick up straight gay to mess around with. One night he picked up the wrong guy and got bashed to death. Do I blame my friend? Absolutely not. He did not ask for this to happen. At the same time, his behavior opened the door for the likelihood that something like this to happen.

Back to the protest. It was horrible and boorish behavior to strip the cross out of the womans hands and harass her in this fashion. But it wasn’t exactly the wisest move in the world to put herself in the middle of a semi-rational angry mob and make yourself vulnerable to this kind of treatment.

I defy any one of us, myself included, to show that we, when the Iraq war had started, defended that person in that instance [i.e., anti-war protestor at a pro-U.S. or pro-military demonstration of some kind].

Pray tell what “that person” would have needed defending against. Are we talking about a real person? Who suffered – not being drowned out – but some sort of physical harassment, attack or intimidation?

I know we are all guilty to a degree of the same offense

Sorry, no. Just speak for yourself, please.

at the beginning of the Iraq war, when the anti-war protester, a minority at the time, would get into a pro-war crowd, and be shouted down for not supporting the war

Two groups of protestors, perhaps of different sizes, keeping a bit of distance between them and then trying to drown each other out by purely sonic means, is one thing. It’s part of the protest / counter-protest process.

One group of protestors, going up to a lone old lady and *physically* intimidating and harassing her, grabbing her property and stomping it on the ground or screaming in her ear as she patiently tries to explain herself to a media person who is asking her, is something different.