Sure, it's easy to act high and mighty for religious reasons. In fact religion or just ignorance has been a reason for Gay kids to be picked on for decades. It's easy to say someone's lifestyle you believe is wrong but, the bullying of any person Gay, Nerdy, Racial, poor or any way at all is wrong. I, for one, am tired of hearing these stories because most of this bullying can be prevented by parents, ministers and teachers.
First, it starts at home. Parents have got to teach their kids to treat others with respect. I'm not going to lecture on how to raise your kids but, if you disagree with someone (political, opinion or even on moral arguments) taunting and harassing them is not only wrong it's against the law. Those who terrorize (and yes this is terror) kids who take part in this should be held accountable for their actions. Those who stand by and let it happen are no better either. These people who take part or stand by are no better than those who walk by when homeless are being picked on or when thugs are mugging someone.
I support Rand Paul because I know where he stands on the issue but, I am finding myself further and further from the "cloth" of those Tea Party leaders. With Jim Demint in town this past week I was ho hum. Then the news came out how the tolerance of Jim Demint was lacking. How can someone want private lives of others or just them being different disqualify them from employment. I fiscally stand with Demint but, on this social issue the intolerant and honestly, ignorant views Demint speaks of is too much for me. This is one reason I never called myself a "Tea Party" member. The Moral Majority types I skewered last month drew some ire and wonderment from Marion County Line. Truth of the matter.... I'm probably a social liberal and a fiscal conservative. We call that, Libertarianism.
I've now defended Muslims, Gays, Pot heads, Prisoners and skewered those who would seek to control our lives more. Of all these things, the violence and hate that is perpetrated by those who call themselves religious (both Muslim and Christians) makes me worry that much more about the world my daughter will be left with. If you want to address school curriculum, fine. That's not the point here. The point here is to discuss civility and being a human with a conscience.
This may be all over the place but, the story in the New York Times today bothered me. When I moved to Kentucky in high school I heard some pretty awful things being an "outsider." I also heard some awful things said of people who were "nerdy" or "gay." I didn't stand by then and I don't want to stand by and do nothing now. That's why even though my daughter is young I want to teach her to be respectful of those who are from a group that is "picked on."
Stepping off my soap box now. But, I leave you with something I usually roll my eyes at. Two well known celebs who are gay speaking on this topic. As a state that is not completely known for "tolerance" I think we need to start now. End Rant
If for some reason a gay youth reads my site. Please watch this video from Mtv:
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