66 replies to this topic

[NSFather]

so everyone should just forget their heritage and history? that does not make sense. I was born here but am Italian and I'm very proud of that. I'm not about to forget or ignore my heritage.

Its easy for you as a white man to wish away the NAACP, they do not benefit you.

I'm not saying that at all. Culture is great. I love going to the Pacific Rim Food Festival, Festival Da La Familia, Italian Festival, etc. I guess it boils down to where you think your identity is. I would never think about going around calling myself a German-American. I'm not German. I'm not German-American. I'm American.

I don't want to wish away the NAACP. I just think they've done more harm than good lately. I would have to look this up, but I believe the standard of living among blacks has gone down over that last 50 years, not up. I would suggest that Blacks shouuld look up to are Barak Obama, Condeliza Rice, and Collen Powell, not Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson.

[Steve Heard]

I don't want to wish away the NAACP. I just think they've done more harm than good lately. I would have to look this up, but I believe the standard of living among blacks has gone down over that last 50 years, not up. I would suggest that Blacks shouuld look up to are Barak Obama, Condeliza Rice, and Collen Powell, not Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson.

That's funny. Most opponents of the NAACP say they aren't necessary any more because the standard of living for blacks has gone UP over the last 50 year. You say it's gone down.

50 years ago schools were segregated, blacks did not have equal protection, equal opportunity, etc. Heck, lynching wasn't even against the law. Blacks were not allowed to marry outside of their race in most states, were banned from stores, neighborhoods, schools and parks.

While we still have a long way to go in many respects, and while the hip-hop culture serves to further marginalize a segment of the black population, overall, things are better.

By the way, what makes you think that black people look up to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton? Is it because they are in the media? It's the media that puts microphones and cameras in front of their faces. Black America doesn't do that.
Furthermore, Jackson and Sharpton are not representatives of the NAACP.

I do think, however, that the NAACP should change its name and mission, to be more inclusive, and advocate for the rights of all citizens.

[swmr545]

The parade was interesting. We had a huge number of people from the faith community that took the brunt of the assaults from the anti-gay protestors. When they finally realized that just by focusing on these people they were missing the rest of us (that was the plan from the start) they stopped and just yelled things at us.

One sign had churches spelled "chuches" and another sign had it spelled like this: "chuhes". They were printed signs, so we all had a good laugh.

Also, they were relentless when it came to harassing members of the religious faith, saying they have turned their backs on Jesus (they even said this to the Jewish members walking in the parade) and that Sacramento is the next Sodom.

One girl yelled at me "eeeeewwww, you hate girls!" so I asked her if she liked them, she said yes. So I said she's either bi or a lesbian...she didn't get it.

Their protest was so mellow this year as opposed to last year (no1 tried to hit us with signs or spit on us). But what was sad is that they brought out their young children (4~7 years old) and those kids were yelling "faggots go to..." and stuff like that. And they say we corrupt our youth.

[mylo]

People just aren't tithing as consistently as they used to. The poor churches have had to drastically cut their printing costs, and look where it gets them! It's sad, really.

[October15]

Their protest was so mellow this year as opposed to last year (no1 tried to hit us with signs or spit on us). But what was sad is that they brought out their young children (4~7 years old) and those kids were yelling "faggots go to..." and stuff like that. And they say we corrupt our youth.

When the anti-gay trucks protested our church the guy brought his teenage son. One of our members tried to talk with him and he actually listened and was pretty reasonable. Glad that you didn't get wacked with signs or rocks or whatnot this year. Still don't get where this is coming from because I've been around some pretty conservative Christians and they would never act in this way. I have the gut feeling that it has a lot less to do with any kind of faith that they might have and more to do with a redneck kind of mentality...the same group that would be KKK in the south. Again, definitely doesn't represent Jesus' teachings. The spelling thing kind of reinforces this for me.
And, unrelated...hey man,...hope your job is going well.

[October15]

I'm not saying that at all. Culture is great. I love going to the Pacific Rim Food Festival, Festival Da La Familia, Italian Festival, etc. I guess it boils down to where you think your identity is. I would never think about going around calling myself a German-American. I'm not German. I'm not German-American. I'm American.

Complete sidetrack: I'm going with German American or European American under "other" when I have to fill in something on a form because I'm sick of getting stuck with Caucasian when other people get cool things like African American. My wife just shakes her head. Am I the only one that thinks Caucasian sounds like some kind of strange dog? I know...Caucasus mountains and all...still seems weird to me.

[jafount]

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[jafount]

I do think, however, that the NAACP should change its name and mission, to be more inclusive, and advocate for the rights of all citizens.

Isn't this called the ACLU?

so everyone should just forget their heritage and history? that does not make sense. I was born here but am Italian and I'm very proud of that. I'm not about to forget or ignore my heritage.

Its easy for you as a white man to wish away the NAACP, they do not benefit you.

Funny. I was talking to my mom over the weekend about my own Heritage. Her Father was 100% Portuguese, Mother 100% Italian. They made my mom and her four brothers and sisters speak ONLY English, so they would better be able to communicate and have more opportunity in the US. They knew what their Heritage was, they just wanted to be part of *this* country. Considering that was only 60 or so years ago, I'd say America is a weaker nation as the result of multi-culturalism.

More focus needs to be on how to bring people together and on common ground, and LESS on what sets everyone apart.

Mom always said, "just remember, you're special....just like everyone else."

Swmr, had you not publicly flaunted on this board, the fact that you are gay, I'd have never known, just as I would never know if someone is black, or asian or middle easter, etc. I'd have accepted or rejected your opinions and stance on subjects, based on what you had to say, NOT what your sexual orientation is. YOU are the one who has flaunted it, essentially screaming, "accept me, accept me!" My bet is that most people don't care that you're gay.

Most people probably just want to log onto this forum to get some sense of community, which is another lost aspect of yesterday's America. Not a single person ever logged onto this forum to make a deliberately hurtful comment about gay people or any other brand of American on here, that I've seen. In short, get over yourself. Have inner pride in who you are, not WHAT you are. thats what really makes a person, right?

[MSgt]

Should the Chinese be allowed to have their Chinese New Year's celebration? Or Mexicans celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Irish and St. Patty's Day?

Gay is not a race or ethnic group. You are trying to compare apples to oranges.

[brown]

us straight people have parades honoring love & sex too, here you go:

Love Parade in Berlin - http://en.wikipedia....iki/Love_Parade
http://www.berlin-li...lin-love-parade
Here's this years event (its huge!)- http://www.loveparade.com/
There's also a Love Parade in Chili - http://www.loveparade.cl/
Carnival in Rio -http://www.myvillage.com/datingphotos/sexparade.htm
Budapest Sex Parade - http://fleshbot.com/...rade-020654.php
and for those of you who think San Francisco is only about gays, here's the San Francisco Love Parade (women and men) http://www2.sflovefest.org/

we've had parades honoring our love and sex long before gays did so don't feel left out

Love Parade is awesome! You ever get a chance to go?

[MSgt]

Their protest was so mellow this year as opposed to last year (no1 tried to hit us with signs or spit on us). But what was sad is that they brought out their young children (4~7 years old) and those kids were yelling "faggots go to..." and stuff like that. And they say we corrupt our youth.

I think any promotion of the gay life style does serve to corrupt our youth. So do the people yelling obsenities at you during the parade, so does TV - there are many things that contribute to this, this parade being one of many.
The people who subject their 4 - 7 year old children to this are crazy. I don't know what they could have been thinking. Letting their children yell those things is even worse. The thought of those children yelling those things at the parade participants makes me sick to my stomach.

[swmr545]

Gay is not a race or ethnic group. You are trying to compare apples to oranges.

Regardless, we have a gay culture, just like there are ethinic culture celebrations.

[swmr545]

Swmr, had you not publicly flaunted on this board, the fact that you are gay, I'd have never known, just as I would never know if someone is black, or asian or middle easter, etc. I'd have accepted or rejected your opinions and stance on subjects, based on what you had to say, NOT what your sexual orientation is. YOU are the one who has flaunted it, essentially screaming, "accept me, accept me!" My bet is that most people don't care that you're gay.

Most people probably just want to log onto this forum to get some sense of community, which is another lost aspect of yesterday's America. Not a single person ever logged onto this forum to make a deliberately hurtful comment about gay people or any other brand of American on here, that I've seen. In short, get over yourself. Have inner pride in who you are, not WHAT you are. thats what really makes a person, right?

How had I flaunted my sexuality? I bring up topics that are (what I consider to be) important. They are related to mainly the LGBTQ community. And thru those discussions, I have come out. I don't PM every single person and say "hey, I'm Gay! Isn't that fabulous?"

As for people not caring if I'm gay or not, they will still be saying things (positive and negative) about me via their comments about the LGBTQ community, so at least with me being out, they know that they are directly saying it to someone that is connected to their life one way or another...even if it is thru an internet forum.

As for people getting some sense of community, there is a gay community in Folsom, and in Sacramento. The gay community in Folsom is more closeted because of the attitude of the majority of the citizens. Regardless if they don't want to say bad things about the gay community or a gay person, they do. And I do have inner pride of who I am. I am a male, I have an Asian and European ancestry, and I am gay. I also show that pride visually and publicly. If you have a problem with that, then you get over it.

Do not put me into a box to make you more comfortable. I was in a box and repeatedly shoved back into that box by my peers, teachers, and strangers each time someone would make a homophobic comment. I tried to lead a "straight" life so I wouldn't have to deal with crap from my peers, teachers, and strangers. So that I could live my life w/o fear of being harassed, beaten, or killed. But I reached my breaking point, and I came out, and I will not go back in just because it makes other people more comfortable. I am who I am. Love it or hate it, I won't change.

Anyone can be proud of themselves in the privacy of their own home, but it takes courage to flaunt it in public; regardless if it's your race, religion, gender, socio-economic status, body type, medical condition, it takes courage to stand up to the world and say you are different and proud of your individuality.

I have worked hard on becoming who I am, and I am still working on who I am going to become. In the meantime, I have learned to roll with the punches, to wipe off the spit, to turn around and not engage when I am being yelled at, to duck when a rock is being thrown, and to get out of the way when a sign is being swung at me. And I go through that because of ignorant people, hateful people, and because I am not shy about who I am.

[mylo]

Fabulous

[supermom]

How had I flaunted my sexuality? I bring up topics that are (what I consider to be) important. They are related to mainly the LGBTQ community. And thru those discussions, I have come out. I don't PM every single person and say "hey, I'm Gay! Isn't that fabulous?"

As for people not caring if I'm gay or not, they will still be saying things (positive and negative) about me via their comments about the LGBTQ community, so at least with me being out, they know that they are directly saying it to someone that is connected to their life one way or another...even if it is thru an internet forum.

As for people getting some sense of community, there is a gay community in Folsom, and in Sacramento. The gay community in Folsom is more closeted because of the attitude of the majority of the citizens. Regardless if they don't want to say bad things about the gay community or a gay person, they do. And I do have inner pride of who I am. I am a male, I have an Asian and European ancestry, and I am gay. I also show that pride visually and publicly. If you have a problem with that, then you get over it.

Do not put me into a box to make you more comfortable. I was in a box and repeatedly shoved back into that box by my peers, teachers, and strangers each time someone would make a homophobic comment. I tried to lead a "straight" life so I wouldn't have to deal with crap from my peers, teachers, and strangers. So that I could live my life w/o fear of being harassed, beaten, or killed. But I reached my breaking point, and I came out, and I will not go back in just because it makes other people more comfortable. I am who I am. Love it or hate it, I won't change.

Anyone can be proud of themselves in the privacy of their own home, but it takes courage to flaunt it in public; regardless if it's your race, religion, gender, socio-economic status, body type, medical condition, it takes courage to stand up to the world and say you are different and proud of your individuality.

I have worked hard on becoming who I am, and I am still working on who I am going to become. In the meantime, I have learned to roll with the punches, to wipe off the spit, to turn around and not engage when I am being yelled at, to duck when a rock is being thrown, and to get out of the way when a sign is being swung at me. And I go through that because of ignorant people, hateful people, and because I am not shy about who I am.

----Well said Swmr. An interesting note. As strong as my personal beliefs are--I still hold to a stronger value that states all people should be allowed their own beliefs. Your choice to let others see your beliefs or your lifestyle-no one else's. Now those who do not feel comfortable seeing your lifestyle also should have a say- it is after all a free country. The truth though is that sometimes when you see something you don't like- you have to turn your head. Like a kid wearing a mohawk and sporting pink hair. Other times when you see something you don't like you just can't be quiet. No matter how PC the issue. I think I understand Msgt view as well as yours--but I won't tell you your views shouldn't be on this forum. Truthfully I shudder at the thought that one of my kids will end up "that way". I know what a hard road that would be for them. It would also force me to re-analyze some of my own beliefs and values. As a mother I don't think I could ever reject a child because of their sexual orientation. Perhaps many others feel the same way- and this is why there are always such strong reactions to the Gay Community when they are flagrantly out in public. I would be more comfortable with just a parade of normal people chanting for gay rights than to see people dressed in clothing that appears sexually charged.