Critique of Editorial #1
This editorial article asserts that: the politicians in this country, which oppose gay marriage and gay rights, are gay bashing and therefore contributing to hate crimes against homosexuals on a national level. The author also hints that the demoralization of the homosexual lifestyle by political leaders is causing increased teen suicides of troubled homosexual youths across the country. Unfortunately, the article is scarce and the author does not back up any of his claims with facts and figures (such as the percent of gay vs. regular teen suicides). He focuses mainly on one incident that occurred recently in New York’s Bronx area where two teens and one adult male were kidnapped and sexually tortured yet hate crimes of this sort have been happening for years the world over. The author does make a good point in holding political leaders responsible for the effect their words have on the public; one reason why the President must be so careful and well worded. But truly, are political leaders the main ones to blame? Studies have shown that family, community, and peers have a greater effect on the opinions and morals of individuals. The real culprit of the hate crimes is society in general, the churches, and schools for not properly educating children on the complexities of sexuality and equal rights for all American citizens free from prejudice of any kind.
Personally I blame the Christian philosophy of “righteousness,” and heavenly superiority that is abundant in many Christian teachings. From the day they can understand their parent’s words, children in fundamental Christian households are taught that they are better than the average human being because they are “going to heaven.” Because being “chosen by God” or “made in God’s image” is clearly better then not for all the other poor saps are “sinners” and are “going to Hell.” Children are taught that any one different from them are in danger and in need of “saving.” Goddess forbid if any one of these “sinners” openly rejects the teachings of these fundamentalists because then they are pegged as “evil” and therefore must be “cast out in the name of God.” It is a simple equation of: gay = sinner, sin = Satan, therefore gay = Satan. These perpetrators/ torturers in the Bronx were only doing a civic duty and ridding the world of sin, making the streets of New York safer for the rest of Christian society. Who can blame them, really?
