Regarding [a July 9 article in the Asheville Citizen-Times], “Franklin Graham Slams Obama for Supporting Gay Marriage”: “The most damnable and bloodthirsty tyranny that a nation can be subjected to, is that of a bigoted religious sect,” [by William] Stanton, The Great United States Exploring Expedition [published in] 1975.
Webster’s College Dictionary for the 21st century (fourth edition, emphasis added) defines a bigot as a person who holds blindly and intolerantly to a particular creed or opinion and who is narrow-minded and prejudiced. In his latest rant against President Obama, Franklin Graham blatantly displays his homophobic opinions by criticizing the president for purportedly disgracing the White House by lighting it up with rainbow colors. Presumably his intolerant rant is attributable to the Supreme Court’s recent opinion upholding same sex-marriage as a constitutional 14th Amendment due process right.
I would suggest that there is perhaps another dynamic at work with many others of Graham’s ilk. Studies show that people who hold strong anti-gay views may have repressed same-sex desires. Thus, homophobes should seriously consider some self-reflection. It would behoove Graham to look directly into a mirror and reflect on two simple questions: 1) Am I a bigot; and 2) am I a homophobe?
It is a shame that so many intolerant, narrow-minded church figures just cannot seem to get their heads into the 21st century. They thump upon, and frequently intentionally misinterpret, good, historic books that were written 2,000 years ago using the ancient mindset and language of those times. They fail to recognize that times do change.
For anyone who reads this, ask yourself if you are a bigot as defined above, and are you perhaps a repressed homophobe?
For the record, I am straight and happily married to the same wonderful woman for 38 years. My views on same-sex marriage have progressed with the times. Times do change. Get over it!
— Allan J. Fedor
Asheville
Allen Fedor’s letter is clearly written and provides evidence that Franklin Graham is a first class homophobe. Absolutely nothing to disagree with here. His last paragraph takes a twist. Why must he state “for the record, I am straight?” That makes no difference to his previously stated argument., unless he doesn’t want readers to wonder if he is gay? It’s not times that changes, rather it’s some people who change over time. We can decide where we want to place ourselves in the flash of time we influence. Others look to ancient writings as a reason to refuse to change and have no effect on their life’s time.
LOL, can you not wrap you brain around the concept that those who believe in the God and the Bible do not have to change to suit “21st” century ideals where heterosexual marriage rates are at their lowest and the only thing people are talking about is gays??? LOL, a culture of men who don’t commit to the mothers of their children, don’t need to work to have children, and can have children with multiple women who are themselves unable to care for them gives us something else. A nation of 93 million working age adults who simply don’t have to be productive to live., reproduce, or even survive.
There are far too many points to argue in your response in this media. Rather than that, how did you come to hate 93 million people in your lifetime? The Christian God and Bible may help you with that orientation. Over the course of human time, as a species we have moved towards more concern for people’s welfare, other than areas of the world dominated by destructive religious sects. Hopefully, our nation will continue to move away from those beliefs. Personally, I refuse to wrap my brain in hatred.