Before I sink my fingers into this discussion, let me state my place:
I represent ONLY MYSELF. Though I am a member of various clubs, both academic and social, my opinions are mine and mine alone.
So here goes...
Firstly, the general purpose of the BHS chapter of the Gay-Straight Alliance is to provide a meeting place for people to openly discuss their sexuality, be it gay, straight, or whatever else. I believe what the GSA is trying to promote is excellent and wholesome: tolerance. We should be teaching our children to be tolerant of ALL differences: race, gender, and yes, sexuality. When we start getting picky with what good values we preach, we build narrow-minded elitists who think their way is the only right way. (this is a BAD thing...and I won't even BEGIN to tap into my extensive years of history lectures)
Patience, but not kindness? Love, but not respect? Tolerance, but only when we deem it deserved? A structure built on such an irresolute foundation cannot last.
Secondly, the GSA is NOT a "conversion group" where student push their orientations down other students' throats. I've been to all the meetings, and not ONCE has ANYBODY even HINTED a "go gay!" comment at me. I am very comfortable with being a straight member of the GSA, and as a straight person, as a HUMAN, I am very pleased to see a group like this exist, where people from different walks can come together and feel safe. Shouldn't we encourage kids, no matter how different and diverse they are, to get along?
We've fought wars over the stupidest, smallest things...we as a generation are working to promote tolerance so those wars don't happen again. This Gay-Straight ALLIANCE is about building bridges, not walls.
Thirdly, it's really sad to see Christians railing against this group and its members. This is the hardest subject to dispute, because it is not my place to judge anyone's faith, or the quality of their relationship with God, but I do feel as though the judgment (on all levels) needs to end. So many quotes run through my mind here, most notably Gandhi's "I love your Christ, but I hate your Christians." What a horrible example we set when we preach love and salvation, but we speak hatred and condemnation.
In Matthew 22:37-40, when the Pharisees asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, He responded: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
It does NOT say "love your neighbour as yourself...unless he's gay." It also doesn't say "love your neighbour only as long as he meets your standards of divine perfection." Nobody is perfect, and how dare we as Christians preach the love of Jesus while we spit fire and brimstone at those who aren't walking as "godly" as we are. The Bible teaches that the love of Christ and the salvation that He offers is for EVERYONE. Let's practise what we preach, for once. Enough of this holier-than-thou mentality. The Bible says all sins are the same in God's eyes, so what makes you, a liar/cheater/thief/adulter
Christ surrounded himself with all types of people; He was slow to judge, and quick to love. Shouldn't we do the same, regardless of our religion? I see more atheists loving on people than Christians sometimes, yet aren't their motives just as justified as ours? Religion has ruined enough relationships; it's time to go back to the basics and embrace each other as fellow human beings. Idealistic, yes, but a worthy cause, no matter what philosophy you identify with.
Fourthly (stepping AWAY from religion...), it is the Constitutional RIGHT of Bentonville High School students to form a club such as the GSA. The Constitution itself, the document on which we build our entire country, says this, in the First Amendment:
"Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, or of the press; or THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The United States Supreme Court voted in 2003 to legalise gay sexual conduct on the grounds that prohibition of such private sexual conduct violated the Constitution and the Equal Protection Clause. We have the right to be gay or straight or bisexual. We also have the right to form a club rallying people of similar interests together. Not everybody in the U.S. is a Christian, and so not everybody is expected to abide by the same moral rulebook. Again, with the law, you can't pick and choose which parts to uphold and which parts to disregard. If you wanna get rid of the GSA, then you have to get rid of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Bible Club, the Black Student Union, the Student Teen-Age Republicans, the Young Democrats Club, and shoot, while you're at it, get rid of the Future Farmers of America and the Future Business Leaders of America...all of these are clubs which cater to specific types of people with specific interests. There's a whole wide world out there; we should embrace the variety of life that comes with it.
Fifthly, don't you dare go talking about your taxpayer dollars funding sodomy and immoral sex education. (because I assure you, the GSA preaches no such things) I am 18, I've paid taxes for a while now, and I manage my own money too, so don't get started with the whole "you're not an adult, so you don't know what you're talking about" bit. We are on an even playing field in regards to the validity of our opinions. My opinion is this: I am PROUD to pay my money to a state and a school district that encourages and allows the formation of diverse clubs. Bentonville High School has provided a safe haven for students who repeatedly incur the ridicule of others...who are we to take that away from them, for legal or moral reasons? For once, some kids have a place where they BELONG.
This is our free America. We don't have to meet underground by candlelight; we don't have to deny involvement or risk being shot; we don't have to worry about our lives being threatened because of what we believe in. This is our RIGHT, signed, sealed, and delivered by the Founding Fathers, and I would be hugely honoured to see all Americans abide by it. Our freedom was paid for with blood, and our debt is continually paid for with money. I'm glad my money provides a building where people from all walks are welcome. That is, without a doubt, what I want my future to be invested in.
Sixthly (it's almost over, I promise), a round of applause to the people who made the GSA happen. To the club sponsors, the student founders, and Kim Garrett: what you've done and what you're doing is a wonderful thing. Everything they taught us in grade school about respect and kindness is being held true through the formation of this club. I have never been prouder to attend such a fine institution of higher learning.
Seventhly (I'm getting all emotional, so this is the last point, for sure)...to the adults (and the students) who push against this group and its goals:
There is a bright new world out there. We are the rising leaders, followers, lovers, fighters, producers, and consumers of the future.
In view of all lifestyles, I think it is a fine thing that we may gather, on any level, for any reason, to share our beliefs. WE will be the ones to fix the problems caused by the dictators of generations past. WE are the ones who will inherit the problems of our parents. It is our job and our responsibility to be catalysts for positive change.
It is a wonderful thing, to see students at a young age becoming involved in the issues of our little spinning rock. I simply cannot and will not stand on the side of anybody who tries to prevent this kind of progressive acceptance from happening. It started with race (civil rights), it moved to gender (womens suffrage), and it's moving to sexuality. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel once said "What we learn from history is that we do not learn from history." It's time to erode away our ignorance, in favour of an educated, intelligent, progressive new generation of able-minded and able-bodied students.
Finally, as humans, we possess the remarkable power to significantly impact the life of another human. Unfortunately, we mis-yield our abilities and cause more destruction than creation. Well I have great faith that my generation is working against the scars of history. We've got an awesome future ahead of us, and we will not back down from the challenge that surely comes with reconstructing a badly damaged worldscape.
Well I've spoken MORE than my fair share's worth. Take it or leave it, I guess. And whoever you are, love all.
"I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write it." -Voltaire
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