From: pmm7@ellis.uchicago.edu (peggy boucher murphy (you had to ask?))
Subject: Re: Education Regarding Alternative Family Units (Re: The Analogy Betwixt Gays & Blacks (Re: Children in Same-gender Families))
Reply-To: pmm7@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 00:38:48 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.150908.2994@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> wgb3@pyuxf.uucp (25336-buoni) writes:
>
>Shouldn't this read "if the world could depend on you to teach your children
>to follow MY example of tolerance ...".  Besides, my understanding is that 
>what is being taught is acceptance NOT tolerance.  If tolerence was the 
>main objective then we need not mention homosexuality at all; just teach the
>kids that all people deserve respect regardless of their differences!


it is well-known (both in common-sense and psycologically/
sociologically that people fear that which is alien to them.  
fear leads to hatred, oppression, and violence.  and *any*
kid (even good christians, trust me on this one) can end up
gay.  the worst hatred is self-hatred.  

>My guess is that what is being sought is acceptance, not tolerance.  The 
>problem is that living a gay lifestyle is not OK (my values).  That is not
>to say that homosexuals are inherently evil, but that God did not intend us 
>to function this way.  Nor did he intend for us to be sexually active 
>outside of marriage, indulge in "immoral" behavior, ....  

i freely admit to preferring acceptance to tolerance.  but 
i'll take tolerance.  

>My children are a precious gift that God has given my wife and I.  We have 
>been entrusted with the responsibility of raising our children in a manner
>consistent with the teachings of our faith.  Jesus Christ is as real to us 
>as the keyboard that I am using at this moment.  When the school teaches that
>homosexuality as a valid lifestyle, it operates in direct conflict with the 
>values I attempt to instill within my children.  

my children are a precious gift that came from the higher 
power via their dad.  together, with our respecitve partners
we have been entrusted with the responsibility of raising them 
in a manner consistent with our faith and beliefs.  which are 
as real to *us* as the galilean is to you.  when the school
denies the validity and actuality of the lifestyle we experience
by pretending we don't exsist, making my children feel less 
human amongst their peers due to the religious views of others
(which i expose my children to *regularly*, even if our culture
hadn't already), it operates *not* *only* in direct conflict
with the values we are attempting to instill in them, but is 
actually actively causing them harm.  

you have no right to do this to my children in the name of 
your religion.  if your religion does not allow reality, you'd 
lock your kids up in a safe place now.  

your right to practice your faith ends when it hurts me or mine.  
and i won't hurt you, either

>These are my beliefs.  I don't expect you to adopt them, nor do I expect you to
>accept them.  All I ask in return is that you give me the same respect in
>return.  In my view, teaching my children views which are in direct conflict
>with our (my wife and I) values is a violation of this respect. 

i respect your views.  try respecting mine.  

peg