disturbing Op Ed piece in newspaper

[mortensen_jon]

Dear Friends,

Our local paper, the Rockford Register Star, has printed a horribly disturbing op ed piece. Rather than copy/paste it, here's the link:

http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/colum...-homosexuality

If you have an opportunity, I'd invite you to comment on the article. More importantly, I'm wondering if there is anyone on staff at Soulforce who would like to draft a reply to the paper? I'd be happy to assist in any way that I could.

While I've already sent a reply of my own, I think that a reply from Soulforce would be incredible. My congregation has already been contacted by GLAAD. That organization is indeed going to request space for a reply. While that's a good thing, I'd rather see a response from Soulforce.

Thanks for your consideration.

Jon Mortensen
Director of Music
Spring Creek United Church of Christ

[nmwolfboy]

Boy, the persecution complex of some Christians raises its ignorant head (again ) in that op-ed. i'm so tired of people who suffer from that brand of paranoia citing the Swedish case of Ake Green in support of their fear-filled claims. While true that Green was initially convicted of violating Sweden's anti-hate speech laws and sentenced to a 30 day jail sentence, his sentence was overturned on appeal, and that reversal was upheld again in a second appeal to Sweden's Supreme Court. Green was never actually jailed.

Oy vey.
-scott

[andrewlittle]

I agree with ‘nelopinion’ that Ms Kramer’s piece is grammatically well written. It should be, considering her profession. Grammar, however, is not the only consideration for that accolade. To be well written, an article should also be somewhat factual and accurate.

I will begin at Ms Kramer’s ending point. While the notion of Christians being reflections of Christ is common, it is inherently flawed. Christian means “little Christ”, so we are not to reflect Christ but to actually be Christ-like to the extent we are able.

What is wrong with the mirror analogy? A mirror does not reflect truth, it reverses it. In a mirror the original is reflected right side up, but backwards in the horizontal plane. This is why most people don’t like to see their photographic images. They are so used to seeing themselves as a reflection, seeing ourselves as others see us is uncomfortable. Likewise, we are not to be a reflection of Christ, one in which Christ is shown to the world in a reversed and distorted fashion, but living examples of what Christ is, albeit imperfect.

Being Christ-like means that truth matters. Truth does not include dissimulation such as quoting an incomplete news story from Sweden as having dire consequences for Middle America, as if the laws of Sweden held sway in the U.S. Truth would also require correcting the statement that “a minister can be arrested and jailed,” for the reasons stated by ‘Amphikalein’.
Ms Kramer’s use of Rev Green as an example is unfortunate for another reason – Rev Green was far from Christ-like in his searing criticism of GLBT folk. Besides the examples given in the aforementioned comment, Rev Green also argued that, while all GLBT are not pedophiles, all pedophiles developed “by changing their gender relationships.” He also calls for GLBT to be “vomited out” of Sweden before God “vomits us all out of the land.” Can you see Jesus likening anyone, with the possible exception of the Pharisees, to a cancerous growth – a disease? There is much more that can be said about Rev Green’s sermon, but I will suffice to say that his sermon was filled with distortions, inaccuracies and false statements.

With regard to the Zondervan lawsuit, I have yet to speak with, exchange messages with, or read any comments by GLBT that state that this man is anything but a buffoon and that the suit runs afoul of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. That doesn’t mean there aren’t those, straight and GLBT alike, who agree with him – but they are not among the hundreds of GLBT folk that I communicate with regularly. This suit is far from a credible threat to anyone.

It is also telling that, while discussing the issue of homosexuality, Ms Kramer uses a text that speaks of adultery and promiscuity. Would that be because the does not exist a text in which Jesus addresses homosexuality? Indeed, it would.

Ms Kramer’s assertion that we should speak the “truth in love” is one I commend. It has two components – truth and love. Slight of hand, or in this case word, does not constitute truth. Being reckless with the truth is also never loving. Speaking the truth in love makes it incumbent on the speaker to make sure that what is spoken is actually “truth”, not just ideologically motivated false-speak. It is, thankfully, even allowable to speak falsely in this country unless that speech approaches slander, libel or incitement to violence. That, however, does not make it Christ-like.

Lastly – a question for the paper. You ran an opinion piece about a contentious, contemporary issue. Where is the counter arguments – the opposing views – the balanced commentaries? Would it not have been truth-telling to put two pieces that disagreed with each other on the same page?

Rev Andy

[u-dog]

Nice work Pastor!! thats the Andy we all know and love.

[keltic63]

excellent reply, Andy, and I checked, it is up at the newspaper's website.

I thought maybe the college at which Ms. Kramer teaches, Rock Valley College, was a christian college. I looked at the school's website and it appears to be a community college. While I agree that she is free to hold any opinion and speak it openly, I have to wonder how lgbt students might fare in her classroom. Her bias and prejudice has lead her to write an offensive op-ed piece for the local newspaper. At the very least, it is poor public relations for the college. It would appear to go against the mission statements of the school itself:

We promote, celebrate and accept diversity, including cultural and ethnic diversity, diversity of thought, and diverse views of others.

and

At all times, we uphold the dignity of each individual by being ethical, respectful, fair, and courteous in our communication and actions.

Having read Ms. Kramer's article, I don't think I'd be comfortable taking any class with her as the professor.

[RedneckDyke]

I feel sorry for people like the person who wrote op-ed piece. It must be very tedious and boring to constantly tell us how sinful we are. They must be very tired and frustrated.
I invite them to take a much-needed break. Tell them to spice things up a bit. Concentrate on another "sin" for a change. Maybe they could write the architect's union about the abomination that is the wrong roof pitch on the house design. Maybe they can picket McDonald's about their sinful bacon cheeseburgers. Those are a double abomination. It both contains pork and is mixed meat and dairy. Maybe they can write letters to tattoo parlours. Those are also forbidden in the bible.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by keltic63

excellent reply, Andy, and I checked, it is up at the newspaper's website.

I thought maybe the college at which Ms. Kramer teaches, Rock Valley College, was a christian college. I looked at the school's website and it appears to be a community college. While I agree that she is free to hold any opinion and speak it openly, I have to wonder how lgbt students might fare in her classroom. Her bias and prejudice has lead her to write an offensive op-ed piece for the local newspaper. At the very least, it is poor public relations for the college. It would appear to go against the mission statements of the school itself:



and



Having read Ms. Kramer's article, I don't think I'd be comfortable taking any class with her as the professor.

UPDATE: Andy's comment has been removed!

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by keltic63

UPDATE: Andy's comment has been removed!

I still see it.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Matt Algren

I still see it.

It's back up now! I wonder if someone reported it as abuse, it got flagged for review, then got reinstated? I definitely could not see it for at least 45 minutes.

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

I'm from Madison, Wisconsin which is literally just a little ways up river from Rockford (that would be the Rock and Yahara rivers). I'm watching this with some concern.

Thanks for responding, Andy. Perhaps the community college could be encouraged to state that this lady's opinions are her own and does not represent the faculty or college. That would be a fair request since this lady identified herself as college faculty and thus is relying in part on the prestige of the school.

Steven Webster

[keltic63]

I registered and posted a comment as well:

keltic

It is interesting that this particularly op-ed piece breaks the rules of posting comments here; note the 'Pool Rules' #4 No personal attacks. Don't bash anyone based on their race, creed, heritage, or orientation. Ms. Kramer is encouraging the bashing (or at least the denial of civil rights, like marriage) of individuals based on their orientation. It seems Ms. Kramer would not only elevate the importance of her religious beliefs, but would then impose them on the rest of society.

In addition, Ms. Kramer has used what's come to be known as fear quotes. This is the practice of putting key words inside quotation marks to indicate that the author disagrees with the term as it is commonly used. For instance, Ms. Kramer uses the quotation marks around the word diversity to express her disdain for such practices as diversity training. That led me to question what kind of college would employ Ms. Kramer as a professor. I assumed that it would be a Christian college with a conservative or fundamentalist background. I was surprised to discover that Rock Valley College is a community college, and holds mission & policy statements to which Ms. Kramer would be in direct opposition.

From Rock Valley College's Mission Statement: At all times, we uphold the dignity of each individual by being ethical, respectful, fair, and courteous in our communication and actions.

and especially:

We promote, celebrate and accept diversity, including cultural and ethnic diversity, diversity of thought, and diverse views of others.

I know that I would not be comfortable taking a class from a professor who holds such opinions of gay and lesbian people. I wonder how the leadership of Rock Valley College will assure their LGBT students that Ms. Kramer will be able to treat them in a fair and respectable manner, in light of her words published online and in the Rockford Register Star?

[Daniel]

Nicley done Andy and Steve. Well-written pieces!

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Nicley done Andy and Steve. "Well-written" pieces!

Fixed it for you.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Matt Algren

Fixed it for you.

You missed the typo! As did I!

Nicley done Andy and Steve. "Well-written" pieces!

Should read:

Nicely done Andy and Steve. "Well-written" pieces!

I think every post I make has something to fix! LOL And God knows, I could stand a little fixing right now!

[nmwolfboy]

There's a reply up to Steve's comment, which earns another "Oy vey iz mir!" from me. According to the respondent, homosexuality is just a behavior like smoking, or riding a bike. Who knew?

i'm not in the proper frame of mind to respond within the non-violent values of Soulforce. Anyone else up to the task?

Pax et bonum,
scott a/k/a Amphikalein

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by nmwolfboy

There's a reply up to Steve's comment, which earns another "Oy vey iz mir!" from me. According to the respondent, homosexuality is just a behavior like smoking, or riding a bike. Who knew?

i'm not in the proper frame of mind to respond within the non-violent values of Soulforce. Anyone else up to the task?

Pax et bonum,
scott a/k/a Amphikalein

Not another Mrs. Boyle!

I love the 'You can be gay as long as it's under my terms, which include not telling anyone you're gay and not doing sex with other gays' tactic. It's so obvious to me, like telling a black man he can be black as long as he doesn't drink out of this water fountain.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by nmwolfboy

There's a reply up to Steve's comment, which earns another "Oy vey iz mir!" from me. According to the respondent, homosexuality is just a behavior like smoking, or riding a bike. Who knew?

i'm not in the proper frame of mind to respond within the non-violent values of Soulforce. Anyone else up to the task?

Pax et bonum,
scott a/k/a Amphikalein

Originally Posted by Matt Algren

Not another Mrs. Boyle!

I love the 'You can be gay as long as it's under my terms, which include not telling anyone you're gay and not doing sex with other gays' tactic. It's so obvious to me, like telling a black man he can be black as long as he doesn't drink out of this water fountain.

I started back to school today with an inservice, so I guess I'm in an "education" mode. I replied. I was polite.


but, man, what an asinine argument! sueing to marry someone who doesn't want to marry you, that's what fighting for marriage rights will lead to.

[nmwolfboy]

And a nice reply it is, Steve. Bless your lil' newlywed heart!

Pax,
scott