Bigotry in the USA--A European Viewpoint

From my viewpoint (as an European), it simply consternates me when I hear with what zeal and hatred organizations like the Religious Right, the Christian Coalition or other similar alliances in the USA are fighting their battle against the evil and perverted lifestyle homosexuals supposedly lead.

Browsing through countless examples of their hateful actions throughout the States could give me the creeps. At the same time I ponder the reasons why this phenomenon seems to be so much more widespread in the United States than in many other civilized countries.

The frightening part is the grim and grimmer discussion with which these issues are being fought. Polarization everywhere. No will, no use, no way to stay on the path of unbiased argumentation. Are we about to fall back into the Dark Ages?

For one, I guess it is just too human that in a world full of uncertainties, people start disassociating from given patterns in society that--in their eyes--have failed to provide them with worthwhile living elements. People in such situations are prone to listen to others with simple solutions to all their questions. They are quickly ready to look for scapegoats to blame their discontent on: minorities like gays and lesbians come in handy for this, especially since former threats, such as the Communists, failed to be THE enemy.

All it takes is a rich (and, to a point, frustrated) person to speak in the name of Jesus and the Lord, pretending to be Their mouthpiece and thus being allowed to condemn anyone who dares to speak up against all these abominable revilements of minorities. These guardians of family values and their blind followers are slowly poisoning society. You hear phrases like:

"Homosexuality is an abomination. Many of those people involved with Adolph Hitler were satanists, many of them were homosexuals. The two things seem to go together." -Rev. Pat Robertson

Sure, he must know....

If this hatred is going to continue, I am tempted to suggest the establishment of a "Church of Latter-Day Lesbians and Gays" (working-title ;-)). Maybe this is THE way to fight for the future. Just think of all the tax-free money one could heap up to be used for AIDS education and many other lesbigay issues.

Fight the enemy with his own weapon!!!

BTW, doesn't it say somewhere in the Bible that the Devil tries to tempt mankind in very sophisticated ways? Maybe he hides behind one or the other of the (good grief--only in the US) notorious faces of those right-wing politicians and TV evangelists. Just imagine the faces loyal followers would make if Christ actually resurrects and one of His first acts would be the harvesting all the TV evangelists and the sending of them down to Hell. All covered LIVE on TV, of course.... The last laugh would be the homosexuals'.

I believe homosexuals also serve as scapegoats since they divert from real and actual problems--i.e. environmental issues (just think of the daily amount of chemical waste that spills out of all the US factories). These are actual threats to our youth, but are way too difficult to deal with....

Thank you for sharing my thoughts. I just wanted to get rid of all the accumulated frustration. Personally, I think that the ongoing anti-gay propaganda (worldwide) eventually will turn against those who stir it.

Copyright © Oliver M. Erni, Basel, Switzerland