Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Oh Goody, a blog troll!

This is too good not to blog about. I recently had a visitor to my blog who posted a comment in my "Signing For Something" post. Now, I've had people leave me snide remarks from time to time, but this guy actually wrote an entire thesis statement that is too good to be left in the comments.

I give the guy props, he seems to post using his real name. Without further ado:
(My responses to Jeff are in blue)

Jeff said...
I think that you are all being pretty nieve about this whole issue. No naivete here. We've all challenged the way that we were raised and taught, and came to these conclusions on our own, after thorough thought and research. The law already has already defined marriage to include homosexual couples. We live in a common law system, which means that laws are created in 2 ways. 1) governing bodies enact laws and 2) courts define/refine the meaning of laws by their rulings. The California courts have already ruled that homosexual marraiges are legal (despite the previous law enacted). The law in California has been ammended to include homosexual unions as marriage, yes. However Proposition 8 wants to change that law, and I'm vehemently against Proposition 8. That's the point that I'm arguing here. So what are the implications you ask? Textbooks will include new definitions of the word family. Pictures of same gender families will become required, "Oh Noes!" Yeah, I have no problem with any of this otherwise the textbook publishers will be found to be discriminatory. Law suites will enforce this. State sponsored and required sex eduction classes will begin (in some states they already have) to teach that homosexuality is natural, and acceptable and that if you have feelings toward a same gender then it is natural and right to pursue those feelings, as natural and as right as any other form of sexuality. It's pointless to argue this with me and many others, because we believe that homosexuality IS natural. Let me ask you something, Jeff. When did you decide to be straight? When did you decide to like women? At any time in your life, did you think "I need a date to the prom. Do I ask a boy or do I ask a girl?" I'm willing to bet that this thought has NEVER entered your mind. Why? Because naturally, you are attracted to women. Sexual attraction is not a choice, Jeff. Counselors in schools and other state sponsored programs will likewise be required to treat homosexuality as normal and acceptable behaviour. Okay. Currently in some sex ed classes, dildo's are passed out to be handled so that students can get comfortable with them. These districts will also encourage that homosexual feelings be explored.These are not things that I want my children exposed to .. That's fine... but they will not have an opportunity to opt out. How do you know? This depends on where you live. In the state of Utah, parents have the choice to opt their children out of sex ed. I think this is a travesty of immense proportions, but it's the current law. You're making assumptions, Jeff. This will be required and state mandated. Should the church care about such things? and are they wrong to appose them? I personally do not feel that way. The church has the right to care about anything it wants to. And, it can preach from the pulpit, anything it wants to. That's not the point. The thing that gets to me, is the church stating one week "We do not encourage our members how to vote, we ask that they pray over the issues and vote their conscious", and the next week (or same day, even?) Say "We encourage our members to donate their spare time and dollars towards fighting proposition 8." It's hipocracy that gets to me. It's the emotional blackmail that the church imposes on its members. Is it because I'm homophobic? perhaps. Admitting it is the first step to overcoming it. Good job, Jeff! Not in the sense that I fear it but I fear the consequences that it will bring. What consequences? How will your neighbors right to practice homosexuality the same way you practice heterosexuality, affect you? Will it make your spouse or children love you less? Will it make the price of gas go up? Will hurricanes wipe out New Orleans? What? Seriously, I want an answer to this. WHAT ARE THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE SHOULD FEAR? The church has the right to encourage it's membership to participate in actions that fight this. Sure, but call it what it is. To say that the church should put their efforts into other acts of humanitarian service is a bit strange, just because there exists other opportunities for investment does not mean that I should put all of my resources to one specific task. Fair enough. Besides, as a member, I am reminded once a month to donate to the poor through fast offerings. Yeah, I remember donating to fast offerings until it hurt. My husband was the finance clerk for awhile, and was constantly being called to sign checks for various reasons for people in the neighborhood. I'm aware that the money donated goes directly to the ward boundaries, then the stake boundaries, until eventually the "extra" funds ended up at the church headquarters. I also remember the great Tsunami at the end of 2004, and we were all encouraged to generously donate to the cause. So, my husband and I wrote a giant check out to the Humanitarian Fund, happy to support those in extreme need. I was shocked and dismayed to find out later that they weren't taking money to support the Tsunami victims from the Humanitarian Fund, but from fast offerings instead. So all the "Extra" money that people donated to their fast offerings went first to those in our neighborhood who couldn't pay their gas or water bills, then to those in the stake who couldn't pay their gas or water bills (and in my ward and stake there were A LOT!!), and THEN whatever money was left, was sent to church headquarters where it was then distributed to the Tsunami victims. I find this practice to be devious and unfair. It manipulated the members to donate, thinking they were helping a global tragedy, when in reality they were just paying for more gas and water bills in the neighborhood. This was a giant "WHAT THE FUCK" moment for me. whenI am also reminded to support the humanitarian aid fund as well as the perpetual eduction fund regularly. Let's not discuss the perpetual education fund. I think it's a sham and it's another topic for another day. I am asked to donate my time to service projects regularly. In our ward, we have make quilts for babies in needs, collect items for humanitarian kits, and server regularly at a local service kitchen that feeds the poor. That does not include all of the service hours by the youth for scouting and young women projects. I never said that the church doesn't have a humanitarian bone, they absolutely do. So do the catholics, the jews, the atheists, and *shock shock horror* THE GAYS! Furthermore, the church has one of the largest welfare programs of any NON governmental organization in the world. Could they do more..sure. But that does not preclude them from spending time and effort in fighting for something that they believe is wrong. They have the right to. They have not asked you to agree with it, Um yes, they ask their members to agree with it they have not made it mandatory, Only in the sense of emotional blackmail, as previously stated. I remember ammendment 3 that was passed in Utah in 2004, legally defining marriage as between one woman and one man, when the church made similar pleas. They also said "Any member in good standing will vote to pass ammendment 3." Shit, I was a member in good standing, but I DID NOT AGREE with this law! I was emotionally blackmailed to vote AGAINST my conscious, because I had to be right in the eyes of the lord. rather they have asked you to prayerfully consider it. Is there something implicit in the recommendation? certainly. Bullying? no Yup. Wrong? and Yup. I cannot fathom a definition of wrong that would say that the church does not have the right to support legislation that it believes is beneficial. The church's position on political neutrality has long included a statement that exempts it on measures that it believe's it has a moral obligation to support. It is wrong to say that they CANNOT exercise their rights just because you personally disagree with their position. You can and should argue that you disagree with the position and you can say that their position is wrong because of x, y or z. But they are not wrong state and encourage support for their position. This point has already been argued above, I won't beat a dead horse here. I have always been amazed at the boldness of the homosexual in their plea for acceptance, and the fact that their behavior is not 'tolerated'. Following that line of thinking, then the church should willing ignore all sin. Sexual relations before marriage should be permissible and the church should stop telling people to refrain from it. Cheating during marriage should likewise be ignored, as should pornography. Oh dude, you did not go there, did you? Oh no you di'ent! Oh yes you did. *sigh* #1, in order to make homosexuality not sinful, then ALLOW THEM TO MARRY so that they CAN have sex in the confines of legal marriage. #2 where do you get off comparing sexuality to cheating on spouses and looking at porn? This all happens in STRAIGHT marriages! This is not a homosexual concept! This happens worldwide, and is not discriminatory. Come up with a better argument! In fact they should stop teaching the law of chastity in general and become accepting of all regardless. But such a position is ludicrous. Homosexuals say they are excluded which is true, but so are adulterers and fornicators.To which is commonly argued that they are therefore being asked to be denied the opportunity to express themselves sexually. To which every non-married member of the church can say...yes and your point is?Yet that is not what the Saviour teaches. I thought the Savior teaches love and accepetance for all, regardless. If the so called "Jesus Christ" were alive today, I would bet my life that he would support homosexual marriage. Christ loved everyone, and would not exclude a certain group because the majority found them to be "unnatural" Lastly a quick comment on the "God made me this way and hence will condone my actions because that is the way that I am made" I can find no such scriptural connotation. The invitation is to come follow Him regardless. To the alcoholic (genetic or otherwise) he says give it up. not the same thing To the rich man (earned or by birth) He asks to give all that thou hast. Indeed, the command (Abraham 3:25) "and we will prove them herewith to see if they will do ALL things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them." is to see what you are willing to give the Lord. Christ showed the example, he lived a perfect life in which he never had to taste the pains of guilt or remorse. Then He was asked to feel all of our pains and guilt and suffer in both body and spirit. Was it required FOR Him? no. but it became required OF Him and so He partook. Is it fair that Christ should have had to suffer for us? no it is not. But I'm certainly glad He did. Now He asks us to come follow Him. Regardless of our condition.

*sigh* I don't want to offend all of my readers regarding my take on chris and the atonement, so I'll let that lie. I responded to this in a moment of insomnia. It's 4 in the morning and my brain isn't exactly full functioning.

Anyone else care to banter on the subject?

13 comments:

JulieAnn said...

Oh I wanna banter, babe. You did a great job--even sounded snarky like me (ha). More later--and glad even a troll brought you out!

xoja

Don said...

Jeff, it's simple. The church is asking members to donate money to take away rights from their brothers and sisters rather than doing something positive with it. There's no convincing reason that allowing gay marriage will damage "traditional" marriage, whatever that means. Marriage has had many definitions throughout the ages so even the church's definition of marriage wasn't always the case.

Stop with the lies and stop making your fellow human beings second-class citizens. Say no to separate-but-equal.

JJ said...

I think its amazing that "jeff" thinks that textbooks will need to be changed for the definition of family. Who said there is a traditional family? There is many types of "family" and for him to think that it will need to change in books. What the hell..... family is what you make it. its not defined by law, or church. its defined by LOVE! And if you love someone of the same gender then who cares, get over it and grow up!!

Anonymous said...

Holy crap! Give me an hour to read this.

Anonymous said...

Uck, this is just the typical pointless recycled drivel I would expect from a dutiful mormon with no real opinion other than the one he's been given by other dutiful mormons. I won't even waste more time than necessary on this - I don't want to clog your blog with my own response when you've done so well on your own.

Now, if Jeff wants to put up a stink on my blog, all power to him. I don't mind clogging MY blog with my own response. ;)

e

no one said...

I don't know if I'd want to keep on living in a country where we allow any majority to push its morals onto the minority via voting for a law that simply enforces its morals and takes away valid benefits from two consenting individuals who wish to be married

Jennifer said...

My banter is that blue was too close to your blog font color and you should go with a different one next time, just because I said so. :P

Bishop Rick said...

Speaking of Signing for Something, check out This Article"

Mormon Enigma said...

What I think is sad - and you alluded to this in your responses - was how narrow and restrictive Jeff is in his view of the world. I detest myopia. I'm fine with people having opinions but I want an informed opinion thank you very much!

So what if my kids learned that there are homosexual parents? Really! Is it any different than "GASP" single parents or adoptive families or etc., etc., ad infinitum?

Are my kids so stupid that they'll here some reference in a health text book in Jr. high and base their entire sexual orientation on that one reference? Surely they're smarter than that. What Jeff is doing, IMO, is insulting the intelligence of children. As a father I can easily say that they pick up on more than we ever give them credit for and they are thinking a lot more than we realize.

Actually, Jeff should welcome the addition of same-gender family concepts into the curriculum because it will give him a chance to - everybody say it with me - DIALOGUE meaningfully with his kids and allow him an opportunity to thoughtfully express his views! What a concept!

Anyway, my soapbox is cracking under the weight of my over-inflated narcissism so I'll sign off. Love your responses Christy. Brilliant!

Anonymous said...

[u][b]Xrumer[/b][/u]

[b]Xrumer SEO Professionals

As Xrumer experts, we from been using [url=http://www.xrumer-seo.com]Xrumer[/url] fitted a sustained fix for the time being and grasp how to harness the massive power of Xrumer and turn it into a Spondulix machine.

We also purvey the cheapest prices on the market. Assorted competitors devise charge 2x or even 3x and a a pile of the opportunity 5x what we debt you. But we feel in providing great mending at a tearful affordable rate. The large direct attention to of purchasing Xrumer blasts is because it is a cheaper alternative to buying Xrumer. So we train to support that thought in recollection and afford you with the cheapest grade possible.

Not just do we be suffering with the best prices but our turnaround heyday payment your Xrumer posting is wonderful fast. We intention take your posting done ahead of you know it.

We also outfit you with a sated log of affluent posts on manifold forums. So that you can notice for yourself the power of Xrumer and how we be struck by harnessed it to gain your site.[/b]


[b]Search Engine Optimization

Using Xrumer you can trust to realize thousands upon thousands of backlinks for your site. Myriad of the forums that your Place you force be posted on oblige high PageRank. Having your association on these sites can really serve found up some crown rank back links and genuinely boost your Alexa Rating and Google PageRank rating through the roof.

This is making your instal more and more popular. And with this increase in popularity as well as PageRank you can expect to lead your site in effect superiority high-pitched in those Search Motor Results.
Conveyance

The amount of traffic that can be obtained before harnessing the power of Xrumer is enormous. You are publishing your locality to tens of thousands of forums. With our higher packages you may even be publishing your position to HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of forums. Imagine 1 post on a all the rage forum last will and testament usually enter 1000 or so views, with say 100 of those people visiting your site. Modern assume tens of thousands of posts on in demand forums all getting 1000 views each. Your traffic liking go through the roof.

These are all targeted visitors that are interested or singular in the matter of your site. Imagine how many sales or leads you can fulfil with this colossal number of targeted visitors. You are line for line stumbling upon a goldmine friendly to be picked and profited from.

Keep in mind, Above is Money.
[/b]

TRAVERSE B RECOVER YOUR CHEAPLY ERUPTION TODAY:


http://www.xrumer-seo.com

Anonymous said...

Infatuation casinos? review this now [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]casino[/url] advisor and acquiesce up online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also stumbling-block our additional [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] initiative at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and be the champion in posted means !
another exhibitionist [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino spiele[/url] division is www.ttittancasino.com , because german gamblers, pressurize unrestrained online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

Hiya im new on this board i hope i can help & give something back here because i have learned a huge amount myself.

Cheers

[URL=http://deelowdesigns.com][B]web design essex[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

sup im a newb here i like [URL=http://www.mydjspace.net]dj mix[/URL] in my free time. I hope to be able to help on this board and should stay around!

Thx's.