I just want our non-hetero friends on DU to know this:

[JanMichael]

I can't stand labels. I cannot. They are divisive-- and it's a personal thing here. Bear with me. That's why I use "non-hetero" until we are all just labeled "people."

There are some -- many -- "hetero" folks here on DU that are as outraged, and as sickened as you are.

It's that bad. I mean, anger management, call the shrink, type stuff-- try not to hate people because they LOOK like Rick Warren (yeah, that happened)---

When we recover from the nausea, and from the horrible neck and shoulder pain -- and we will -- together we will think our way out of this newest shitty horrifying development.

In the meantime, please concentrate on feeling better, getting healthier, and thinking "strong" thoughts. There is much work to be done, and we -- all of us -- need to be prepared in 2009.

In the meantime, I am going to do bad things like drink and wallow in hatred and allow myself to mourn, and be human.

But, please know that many of us feel this just as strongly as you do. It's not about sexuality; it's not about lifestyles -- it's about the future, and making America a better place to live for everyone.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. It's about demonizing.

Any time a group is singled out for "special attention," you better believe nothing good is going to come of it.

Jews, Negroes (insert sarcasm emoticon here if you don't get it), women, disabled, foreigners - pick your group.

It's not a bad idea, that one of just thinking of people as people.

Except it's unrealistic. We're all parts of different groups, and we're proud of those groups, and, besides, if we were just people, what's to become of the K Street lobbyists?

Gotta think forward on this one.

[JanMichael]

2. Well, maybe I am unrealistic tonight, OK?

I am thinking forward.

After I find a way to lose my anger, I am sure I will read your post in a different light.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. Oh, don't be mad at me...................

I'm on your side, and I agree with your idea. Didn't you read it carefully?

I wish, as you do, that "the world will be as one," as John Lennon so beautifully put it. But, I know it won't ever happen. In the meantime, we can see the world as one, on our own, and maybe that's how it starts.

Now, smile. We've got a good thing started, right?

:toast:

[liberalmuse]

3. I've known some asshole gays, but...

I have known so many more awesome people who just happen to be gay. Thanks to a gay, atheist couple, my daughter had Christmases when I didn't have money. They used to shop for bargains year round, and both my daughter and nephew would get a huge box of goodies every year. Not the usual crap, mind you, but coats, dolls from foreign countries they visited, science books, paints, mind puzzles and other creative activities, and a few really valuable things we still have to this day.

I'm sorry, but Warren's worshippers have nothing on the gays. Or the atheists. It's refreshing to know people who do nice things for you for no reason whatsoever. I'm tired of the, 'He feeds the poor' shit. He feeds the poor because he wants more converts to his cause. If he knew there was no way in hell the people he was helping would ever be Christians, there's no doubt in my mind that he would not be 'helping' them.