I am not bashing at all....just listen.

[my2kids312]

Here is my question. Should you force your beliefs on others and how far should you go? Now granted I am a Christian and believe in the principals of the Bible. So despite the fact that I believe that homosexuality is wrong, lets just go from the stand point of people and their comfort level. I just really do not want to see a female in a tuxedo bring another female to a prom and them hugging, kissing and dancing just like me and my boyfriend. I would just not feel uncomfortable. She speaks of tolerance but yet she speaks of letting her do what she wants to do, because it is normal to her. Well what if it is not normal to me? I come from the stand point of not even saying it is wrong...just assume with me for a moment. What if I just do not feel comfortable with it? Does my opinion not count? Do I discount everything I feel and believe just to make you feel comfortable despite my comfort? Is that really tolerance? It seems to me the question is Where is the line drawn? What else am I going to have to put up with just because you want it? Despite my uncomfortableness. It does not make her feel comfortable to come to the prom with a boy but I have the reverse problem? What if someone wants to come to the prom with a dog, next year? Yea you can call it silly but people years ago would probably have said the same thing? A girl, wanting to bring another girl to the prom? Never! But yes. That is the society we live in. I would not allow my daughter or son to go to that prom and be exposed to something I have raised them to believe is wrong, just because some other parent did not teach that to there kids. Now you tell me I am wrong? You tell me I am closed minded.? You tell me I have homophobia? I do not have homophobia, I just plain old believe it is wrong. I am not about to stand outside of your house with a bull horn and shout it at you, neither will I beat you up, I will not avoid you or even talk to you as if you are a human being. I just do not want your beliefs pushed on me just as you do not want yours pushed on me. I think now a days those who believe in Christian values have literally been bullied. We are talked about and bullied because we want to keep our way of life and we want to stand on the Word of God. So why am I wrong because you want to be right?b

[mainemusicmaker]

Mar. 13, 2010 at 9:57 AM

If laws were made based on people's "comfort" level, we'd be in a boatload of trouble.  You have the choice to ignore it, or let it rent space in your head.  That's YOUR choice.  Whether you believe homosexuality is a sin, or not, doesn't matter.  Every person has has basic human rights.  Your "comfort level" and MY "comfort level" has no bearing on those rights.

Segregation was HUGE due to "comfort" levels.  Think about that.

[my2kids312]

Mar. 13, 2010 at 10:12 AM

As far as segregation, which really bothers me when people make that comparision to homosexuality. No where in the bible does it say, people are to be segregated because of skin color. It does speak of men/women laying together. And I am still not bashing. I think gay people make some of the best friends in the world. They are wonderful people but I still do not believe in what they do.

(Original Poster)

[mainemusicmaker]

Mar. 13, 2010 at 10:22 AM

Unless you follow EVERY rule in the books that actually mention men/women laying together, I don't think it has any bearing on the situation.  There's books in the bible that tell you to kill your child if they're disobedient.  I'm guessing you'd NEVER follow that rule, right?  So, why do you have the right to pick and choose which ones you want to follow?  Because you Have. That. Right.  Your beliefs should not, ever, EVER, infringe on another person's beliefs.  Your rights should not ever, EVER infringe on another person's rights.

I'm curious, was this school a public school?  Did they receive federal/state funding of any kind? 

I ask because, once a learning institution accepts federal/state funding then the "privilege" of exclusion is lost.  What's done in parochial schools, which are run based on not only learning math, literature, etc., but also the bible, is the right of that parochial school.  Not so when it comes to a public institution.

I'm not bashing.  I'm just telling you how some, a LOT of people actually, feel.  Even some Christians I know feel this way.  You asked for a reason, an answer...a "why"...I'm just giving you MY spin on it.

[RNsteph]

Mar. 13, 2010 at 10:30 AM

Did you know that lesbians find the idea of being with a man uncomfortable?  She's going to be surrounded by a lot more heterosexual couples than anyone else will be by homosexual couples.  It is tough enough to be a teenager these days, imagine the courage it takes for her to be a lesbian teenager in a town that is clearly intolerant.  I applaud her courage and strength, and even though it might make other people uncomfortable, the only way to get used to it is to see it and just accept it for what it is. 

You may find it wrong based on your biblical beliefs but I have to ask, do you also find eating shellfish to be wrong?  Or wearing different materials to be wrong?  What about the numerous other rules in the bible?  It never ceases to amaze me that people base discrimination on what is in the bible, but it is all about picking and choosing.  I am completely serious here; what about bigamy or polygamy?  What about slavery?  That is all present in the bible, yet I highly doubt you have more than one spouse or own any slaves.

There has been such a huge amount of media coverage lately on civil rights that it is clearly making bigots (and I am not speaking about you, OP, just in general) and haters come out in big numbers spewing lies and deceit.  Look at what has happened in Uganda - the parliament and president are considering a bill that would make it punishable by death to be gay.  You know how that got started?  Good old boy American eEangelical Christianity.  They went over there, spreading lies about homosexuals and have now made it virtually impossible for anyone who is gay to feel safe in their own country.  

Granted, I got off track - I'm sorry about that, but the point I am trying to make is this:  incidents like this prom issue take root and become so much bigger than they have to be.  And they sow the seeds of hate that spread throughout the country.  That's a shame.  I think if a parent doesn't want their child to see a homosexual couple at a prom they should keep their kid home, but this other teenager has a right to go to the prom with the date of her choosing.  And I'm not even going to address the stupid dog thing.

[CheshireHope]

Mar. 13, 2010 at 2:05 PM

oh, you have a lot here i want to address.

quoting OP(my replies in blue),

Here is my question. Should you force your beliefs on others and how far should you go? no ones' beliefs/religion is better than someone elses;. so no you sholdn' push or force your beliefs on anyone. Now granted I am a Christian and believe in the principals of the Bible. So despite the fact that I believe that homosexuality is wrong, lets just go from the stand point of people and their comfort level. I just really do not want to see a female in a tuxedo bring another female to a prom and them hugging, kissing and dancing just like me and my boyfriend. this is not something you should concern yourself with as long as she isn't kissing, hugging, and flirting with you why do you care who she is with? I would just not feel uncomfortable. She speaks of tolerance but yet she speaks of letting her do what she wants to do, because it is normal to her. she's not wanting to do whatever he wants she wants the same privilege of going to prom wih her girlfriend. Thats it.  Why should  straight couples be the only ones to go to prom. many people see prom as a right of passage.Well what if it is not normal to me? its not a matter of what is normal for you its a matter of equality. I come from the stand point of not even saying it is wrong...just assume with me for a moment. What if I just do not feel comfortable with it? Many people are no comfortable with t but its never been an issue of comfort. we have laws rigt now that some people are comfortable with bu yet we ALL follow them. Does my opinion not count? your opinion matters but its that fact it comes down to making it fair to ll not just fair for some. Do I discount everything I feel and believe just to make you feel comfortable despite my comfort? you don't have to discount anything if a situation makes you uncomfortable move away from it. like if the lesbian coupe is dancing near you move to apart place. or how abut ignoring them. i use to dance with my friend girls at prom if hey didn't have a date would that have bothered you too seeing  straight girls dancing together? If not then why should seeing two girls both you so matter?? Is that really tolerance? yes letting a lesbian couple to prom would show tolerance. it would show that our world is changing, and growing. It seems to me the question is Where is the line drawn? where to draw the line of same sex couples? wow thats sad. they arehuman just like you and I and deserve to be treated with he same love, compassion, kindness, that you ould give to straight  people.again it comes back to equality. What else am I going to have to put up with just because you want it? Its not just because someone wants it. this is a very selfish way of looking at the world. its discrimination and it needs to be ended .Despite my uncomfortableness. It does not make her feel comfortable to come to the prom with a boy but I have the reverse problem? this is sad. its not a matter of being comfortable which i all you seem to be worried about it your own confort.  it a matter of equality. its a matter of human society growing and changing.   What if someone wants to come to the prom with a dog, next year?this is another sad argument.. if it was a service dog like a seeing eye dog would you have an issue with it being there but for someone to take a dog as a date would never happen. places don't animals in their buildings let alone bestiality is against the law.  Yea you can call it silly but people years ago would probably have said the same thing? A girl, wanting to bring another girl to the prom? Never! But yes. That is the society we live in. I would not allow my daughter or son to go to that prom and be exposed to something I have raised them to believe is wrong, just because some other parent did not teach that to there kids. Now you tell me I am wrong? You have the right to keep your children to going to prom if thats what youreally want to do. but its not a matter of teaching a child that their love is wrong that parents are lacking to do. its parents that teach that same-sex coupes are wrong and try to shelter their children from it are the ones are aren't teaching their children, love, compassion, kindness, and  understanding. You can't call out mothers who chose to teach their child that everyone(human) is equal. .You tell me I am closed minded.? i do believe you are closed minded because you've chosen to ignore that struggles that many same-sex couples go through over something so simply dealt with like a prom. You tell me I have homophobia? I do not have homophobia, I just plain old believe it is wrong. i can't say that yor homophobic either but you sure shows some of the signs of it. I am not about to stand outside of your house with a bull horn and shout it at you, neither will I beat you up, I will not avoid you or even talk to you as if you are a human being. I just do not want your beliefs pushed on me just as you do not want yours pushed on me. I think now a days those who believe in Christian values have literally been bullied.  You speak of Christians being bullied, wrong thing for you to say.  I'm Pagan and we pagans have beenslaughtered by Christians, I can't wear my pentacle  without a Christian claiming I'm a satanist,  I've been jumped and beaten in school by Christian students in a public school, i've had a Christian woman try to do an exorcism on me in Wal-mart when she noticed my Pentacle necklace. We Pagans are still talked about. Christians still spread rumors and lies about us.We are talked about and bullied because we want to keep our way of life and we want to stand on the Word of God. You can still live YOUR LIVES based on you "God's word" but not even in this country believe in your "God".So why am I wrong because you want to be right?  what makes you wrong is the fact you would rather make all the rules and law based off of your religion. That n itself is pushing/forcing your beliefs/religion on others which you so strong voiced yo didn't want to do and you don't want to do to others. once more i say its not about who is right. its all about equality.

[older]

Mar. 13, 2010 at 2:06 PM

She speaks of tolerance but yet she speaks of letting her do what she wants to do, because it is normal to her. Well what if it is not normal to me?

If it is not normal for you, then YOU don't do it, but should your views prevent  others from enjoying what is normal to someone else? What if they are uncomfortable with your heterosexuality, should I have the right to say to you, don't be that way? of course not! then why should you judge someone else when it doesn't involve you?

You have your right to beleive it is wrong but you do not have a right to prevent them for being themselves, your views on any subject should have no say on anyones life.

 

[KristiS11384]

Mar. 13, 2010 at 2:26 PM

No, you're still bashing and you reverted back to the lame "beastiality" argument because you don't have any solid ground to get a foothold on. The lesbians int his news article aren't trying to "shove their beliefs down your throat" which is exactly what you're doing by saying it's wrong They simply want the same rights as everyone else. The problem is that people like you think it should only be the way YOU see things and trample on the rights of others. You cry foul when you don't get your way like a spoiled, petulant child.

[KelleyP77]

Mar. 13, 2010 at 2:58 PM

Thing is, it's not about anyone's comfort level. It's about civil rights. Period. Taking someone's civil rights away based upon race, religious affiliation, sexual identity, etc. is discrimination.

[caitxrawks]

Mar. 13, 2010 at 5:35 PM

Um...no.