Mr Pilch,
I want to see as precisely as I can what it is that drives this opinion of yours.
Fair enough. I'll try to elucidate. I said that I don't like religion. That's only a personal bias that I hold. At the same time, I fully support the rights of anyone and everyone to believe as they choose.
You talk of religious fundamentalists being "assaulted". Ridiculed, perhaps, but for the most part, not persecuted. Strength of conviction should be a sufficient shield against derisive comments. Why the hell should you care what Janet Reno, NPR, or the Washington Post have to say about your beliefs? BTW, I would personally define a cult as being a religion with only a few adherents.
My beliefs are far from the mainstream as well, in many instances, but I feel completely comfortable with them. I share your distrust of the government. I only proselytize freedom. You would homeschool your children to protect them from the Godless secular humanism that you perceive being taught in public schools. Indeed, a valid assertion of governmental assault upon your beliefs from your point of view. Using the power of government to mandate prayer in public school is equally offensive to me (first instance of theocratic imposition). You would probably agree with me that more choices, private schools, vouchers, etc., is the direction in which education should be moving. The current system keeps gobbling up more money and cranking out more functional illiterates.
Attempting to recriminalize abortion is another instance of theocratic imposition that I resent. Along with my pro-choice position, I do also believe that those with a contrary belief should not be forced to fund the procedures with their tax dollars. Fair is fair.
I also suspect that many fundamentalists would love to reinstate and rigorously enforce some of the antiquated statutes, still on the books in many states, that criminalize some forms of consensual sexual practices, both homo and hetero. More theocratic imposition. I concede your right to abhor homosexuality, and indeed, to any and all of your prejudices. I disagree with "special" rights for homosexuals. Individual rights are the only ones I care about. And that includes the rights for homosexuals, or anyone else, to live free from legal persecution and criminalization of their consensual adult lifestyle choices. Again, fair is fair.
Regarding boycotts of companies, free choice and absolutely no problem with me. Falwell and his followers may boycott Teletubbies but I'll bet you 10 bucks that the ratings for that show on PBS will double or triple. Poor little Tinky Winky, anyway... LOL
Enough for now,
JB |
