Please Read These Words

So there I am at a professional development and team-building conference in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I’ve just had many non-professional type conversations that always seem to take place when you and your co-workers get out of Dodge, spend some time listening to one another’s ipods on a 2 hour car ride, and then, if you like to imbibe, drink alcoholic beverages after the trainings are over.  I heard a particularly funny story from someone who discovered she had asthma after a really good roll in the hay.  Thank goodness her man occasionally had an attack and there was an inhaler handy.  We sat there laughing, imagining two asthmatics lying sweaty in crumpled sheets, passing an inhaler back and forth.

Since the late night drinking isn’t my thing anymore, I’m back in my hotel room at 9:30, just in time to see some of the Fox News sponsored Republican candidate debates. A military man based in Iraq literally came “out” to whoever was watching the debate, and asked if it was alright that people know he’s gay should Republicans get into office. We all know that Obama doesn’t care. He not only loves gay people, his agenda is clearly about taking everyone’s guns away, and making us all watch gay porn until we live in a homosexual nation of communist sissypants. Anyway, In his response, Rick Santorum made it clear that he would NOT be ok with this protector of our country talking about sex. Fortunately, he at least said he would not kick him out even though he’s “out”…

I am utterly ashamed to breathe the same air as people who do not let people be who they are.  I guess the motivation to discriminate is based on the assumption of homophobia in the ranks, and that heteros will not fight for freedom as hard if their platoon mate is “different.” I don’t know about you, but I imagine if I was getting shot at and needed cover, I’d take anyone’s help and wouldn’t be thinking about whether or not they liked vaginas or penises.  In the wars we fight, are we not fighting for human rights and the promotion of greater civil liberties on this planet as a whole?

Seeing Rick Santorum, Governor Perry, and Mitt Romney standing in their perfect suits reminds me of a “conservative” fraternity I knew of in college. I heard about this guy in the frat getting really drunk, smoking some late night weed, and letting his true self out. He hit on one of his fraternity brothers. He was of course kicked out, and immediately ostracized. Knowing the kinds of families these kids were from, this is the kind of situation that likely leads to shaming from the family, and in many cases, suicide.  Clearly the man fighting in Iraq has been loved enough for who he is to carry on, and found the courage to find support for himself and his “lifestyle”–as some idiots call it–and is willing to stand against the oppression of homosexuals.  After all, he was taught to fight for what’s right.

I don’t know about you, but Rick Santorum might be hiding something.  He looks like he’s pretty tight, and is just wishing he were back at Alpha Sigma whatever, lying in the arms of his secret late night lover.  If only he could find that spark within, and let ALL of God’s people into his fearful, narrow world.