Speak UP: Where Is The Tolerance?

I use Facebook. I am sometimes embarrassed to admit it, because I know I could make better use of my time, but I enjoy keeping up with old friends in distant places and peeking into the lives of all my friends and family near and far. I often chuckle at quotes or cartoons that others post. I rarely pass those along, but I enjoy the laugh. But one that is going around today makes me sad. I am not going to post it, because I would rather not perpetuate it. But the gist of it is that a well know national fast food chain supports several "anti-gay" organizations. I use quotation marks there because those are their words not mine. I personally do not think that most people are anti things, they are usually pro something else and the other side uses that term to make them appear as haters. No one wants to be known as anti this or that. Notice how both sides of the abortion issue use "pro" to describe themselves. As soon as we label people as anti something, it is easy to make them seem like unreasonable, narrow-minded and discriminatory. Unfortunately this is often done in the name of tolerance. What I would like to know is, where is the tolerance for my point of view?

I guess that is why that cartoon made me so sad. It is pitting people against one another. If you asked most of my friends if I am a hateful person, I would hope most of them would say no. I, however, support marriage as a religious institution that should be reserved for heterosexual couples. I also support the rights of states like California to decide for themselves, through popular vote and legislation to define marriage as the majority of the citizens or legislators see fit at this time. I do not think that those beliefs make me a hater. I also believe that each citizen in this country has the right and the freedom to support the causes that they feel important with not only their vote or their voice, but also their wallet. If groups in support of gay marriage would like to boycott this fast food chain and speak out against their policies, then that is their right, but don't call me a hater for doing the same thing. I looked up some of the organizations that the company in question has donated to. There were quite a few, but as a sampling it included the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Christian Foundation and the Focus on the Family Foundation. I do not see "anti" anything in those names. It just makes me so sad.

Many of my friends and family stand on the opposite side of this issue from me. We believe different things. Why does that make me a hater? Several of my dear friends have posted the cartoon. I tried at first to just stay out of the conversation, but finally had to put my two cents in. In my head the tone of this comment was not at all rude or confrontational, so I hope it does not come off that way. I hope also that this post comes off the way I intend. I am not angry, just confused and hurt. This was my comment on Facebook. Let me know what you think. Please be kind if you have an opinion. We can disagree without name calling. We are grown ups and Americans...it is supposed to be what we do best, but I think we may be losing that.

"I have seen this one quite a bit today and I don't even know how to approach this subject in a tactful, non-confrontational way. I do not like being labeled homophobic, prejudiced or as an intolerant hate monger for having a religious objection to certain behaviors, but I am not afraid of people who are gay, nor do I hate them. I object to adultery too, does that make me a hater as well? Why am I not allowed to have a religious belief? Why does having and opinion make me a hater? I do not understand how someone taking their personal earnings and putting them toward whatever causes they believe in is hatred? What happened to freedom in this country? I am not asking anyone to believe as I do, but I am asking for the freedom to believe it, and for the freedom to support that belief in a peaceful manner. The only hatred and name calling I see is coming from the other side of this. Perhaps this is not the place for my big mouth to be opened, but I honestly do not understand. I support the right of the people of California to make the decision on this, and they have. Twice. People supporting prop 8 is not hateful. They are speaking their mind with voice and with money. Anyone in support of gay marriage has the right to do so as well. And anyone offended by the way that this business uses their profits can and should boycott. That is using their voice and their money to support what they believe in. But please stop calling me a hater for what I believe..."

Quote of the Day: "I believe with all my heart that civilization has produced nothing finer than a man or woman who thinks and practices true tolerance."

 --Frank Knox writer and U.S. Secretary of the Navy