"It Gets Better" Anti-bullying founder...well...ur...bullies Christians

[prisonchaplain]

I found this a bizarre and sad story.

‘It Gets Better’ Creator Dan Savage Sparks Uproar From Christian Teens

Note that while the article says he apologized for saying the Bible contained (explative), that it condoned slavery, that it called for fornicators to be stoned, and that it justified the bullying gays get, his apology was sarcastic. "I'm sorry if I offended anyone, but the Bible kids can come back in now--I'm done bashing their Bibles." He continued, insinuating that they were (explative) for walking out.

The sponsor of this HIGH SCHOOL journalism conference had no apologies, and pretty much said that as would-be journalists they should be able to sit through a lecture they find offensive...the group congratulated the speaker on his well-thought-out comments.

It's just so much easier to pander to the majority and broad-brush ridicule "the Bible kids," rather than fostering sincere dialogue and understanding. Sadly, many Christians have become more sympathetic, but Mr. Savage finds it easier to lump us all in with Fred Phelps.

The kicker...when questioned, he said he had a right to self-defense.

[Vort]

Dan Savage is a known idiot and an embarrassment to all who associate with him. That's no surprise. What I find truly appalling is that the school district lacked the guts to issue a real apology for what happened and assure the parents that such a thing will never happen again.

Edited April 30, 2012 by skippy740
substituted guts for another word

[prisonchaplain]

Apparently this was a convention for high school journalists. Schools may allow students to attend the convention (it is national), but they do not sponsor or control its content. I wonder if there will be any pushback from schools that send the students (these conventions typically have close to 4000 in attendance).

BTW, on a brighter note, another gay advocacy group has condemned Savage's tirade: GOProud Condemns Dan Savage?s Anti-Christian Tirade - GOProud, Inc.

Edited April 30, 2012 by prisonchaplain

[DevtheWind]

Oh haha I heard about this... I agree with Vort though, Dan Savage is an idiot. And what's even funnier is that the foundations that he represented actually defended this lunatic. All I can say is that I am glad that people chose to leave.

[RMGuy]

To paraphrase Brother Gordon, "Isn't freedom wonderful"

-RM

[prisonchaplain]

Sometimes freedom is full of wonder (i.e. full of 'huh???')

[prisonchaplain]

I was hoping for some type of back-pedal, or apology from Savage, after the internet pushback. For me the issue is more how he spoken to an audience of high schoolers expecting to hear about opposing bullying--not whether he has a right to his views. As one columnist said, for college students this would be a non-issue--it's a rough and tumble world of debate. But for high school kids expecting to here how to encourage dialogue and oppose bullying to then be subjected to the speaker's bullying.

Well...he did apologize for calling those who walked out pansie ***'s...but no apologizes for his theological distortions: Columnist Dan Savage stands by comments on 'bulls**t in the Bible' – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

[carlimac]

Well at least the kids showed how to act when bullied. Just walk away. Don't whine and cry. Just turn your back on the bully.

Some suggest the walkout was pre-planned. I don't know if it was or not. Either way, it was a peaceful way to protest what was going on.

[prisonchaplain]

Those who suggest that it was pre-planned did not look closely at the video. Most of the children were visibly upset, with one wiping tears away. I think the were expecting an anti-bullying lecture from a gay perspective, not some 40+ year old homosexual venting vitriol towards adolescents because the religion of his youth labels his lifestyle as sin.

[DevtheWind]

Yeah. I don't know why it would have been pre-planned anyways... no point in it. I found it surprising on how many people clapped and cheered though, if anything I hope THAT was pre-planned lol

[HEthePrimate]

What Savage did was ill-considered, to say the least. Though I partially agree with him, that the Bible does contain offensive material--or material that could be taken as offensive when considered out of context of the biblical message as a whole--he could have made his point less aggressively, and in a less offensive manner. Especially when speaking to youth one has to be mindful of what's appropriate and what's not.

On the other hand, people do need to stop freaking out whenever someone *gasp!* disagrees with their religion.

[DevtheWind]

On the other hand, people do need to stop freaking out whenever someone *gasp!* disagrees with their religion.

They didn't freak out... They left peacefully with an idiot at the podium whose purpose was to talk about journalism, not bashing The Bible.

How in the world do you think they freaked out about this?

[prisonchaplain]

What is sad is that the Left has come to see Christianity as a Conservative enclave. Thus, there is no sense in dialogue, or helping sides understand each other. Instead, they see political value in bashing the other side. Quite frankly, I think Savage believes that by bashing the Bible and "the Bible kids" as he called them, he indirectly encourages those who stayed to lean towards the politics of the left.

[HEthePrimate]

They didn't freak out... They left peacefully with an idiot at the podium whose purpose was to talk about journalism, not bashing The Bible.

How in the world do you think they freaked out about this?

Well, visibly upset and wiping tears from their eyes seems a bit of an overreaction. I might have walked out, too, but more out of anger for his being an idiot.

Perhaps I overstated.

[HEthePrimate]

What is sad is that the Left has come to see Christianity as a Conservative enclave. Thus, there is no sense in dialogue, or helping sides understand each other. Instead, they see political value in bashing the other side. Quite frankly, I think Savage believes that by bashing the Bible and "the Bible kids" as he called them, he indirectly encourages those who stayed to lean towards the politics of the left.

I want to agree, but when one side is trying to help the other side understand that he's going to burn in a lake of fire and brimstone for all eternity because he likes boys, you can see why the gay guy is not going to be interested in listening. Maybe BOTH sides can come up with more constructive things to say.

Anyway, back to what we agree on--Dan Savage behaved like an idiot on that occasion.

[prisonchaplain]

Savage was not speaking to the Christian Coalition Youth Corps. He was speaking to high school journalists, supposedly about bullying and the plight of gay youth in schools. Instead of helping the audience understand their pain, he chose to villify the Bible and to paint Christians--including those in the audience--as foolish, and perhaps even dangerous. He was condescending in the extreme, and these teens rightly felt humiliated.

And, frankly, females, when they are shocked and ridiculed, do sometimes respond with tears. I would hardly fault them for it--especially adolescents, who are often very aware of how their peers perceive them.

[DevtheWind]

I want to agree, but when one side is trying to help the other side understand that he's going to burn in a lake of fire and brimstone for all eternity because he likes boys, you can see why the gay guy is not going to be interested in listening. Maybe BOTH sides can come up with more constructive things to say.

Anyway, back to what we agree on--Dan Savage behaved like an idiot on that occasion.

Sure, the Bible is quite clear on what happens to them, so why lessen the seriousness of our teachings to make a minority feel comfortable so they don't get upset? As for the gay guy not listening, too bad for him. It's his choice. He chose a lifestyle that went against God and his teachings and is fine with it. As for both sides coming up with something constructive to say that wouldn't offend either side, I would love to see that happen, But I'm still waiting for it.

[FunkyTown]

Sure, the Bible is quite clear on what happens to them, so why lessen the seriousness of our teachings to make a minority feel comfortable so they don't get upset?

And what does the bible say about what happens to 'them'? Please quote chapter and verse that I might learn.

[Hala401]

I must have wakened feeling al-self destructive this morning.

First I want to make it clear that I am trying to repent of my feelings about christians in general. I know that many are devout, caring, loving people. I was so abused by them and taught such hate that...

From my very biased and narrow point of view, I wish that the LDS would not call themselves christians, and this conflict nearly made me discontinue meeting with the missionaries more than once. So we finally arrived at a compromise. To me, the LDS are the 1.0 version and the rest are 8.1. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the restored church, and the rest are largely apostate.

For me, the LDS are one of the few churches who really try to do what Jesus Christ said to do. I realise that there are many exceptions to my prejudice, including specifically "Prison Chaplain".

So, I think that Dan Savage's use of profanity negated his message immediately. However, we can gain points of thought even from those we disagree with. In many ways, the Bible, especially the OT is pretty messed up in places. No I would not with to be stoned on my wedding day.

While I am neither gay or lesbian, and frankly just do not "GET" the issue, if God wants someone persecuted, it won't be by me. I have heard messages from the pulpit that made me want to slink out of the church in the most shamed way imaginable. Things like "All Muslims will go to Hell", John Hagee, "Gays should be vomitted from our midst", made me feel deep shame.

I am so happy that I will never be an Elder in the church. As a woman, my only job is to be loving, sweet, kind, and caring, and that is challenging enough.

[prisonchaplain]

In many ways, the Bible, especially the OT is pretty messed up in places. No I would not with to be stoned on my wedding day.

While I am neither gay or lesbian, and frankly just do not "GET" the issue, if God wants someone persecuted, it won't be by me. I have heard messages from the pulpit that made me want to slink out of the church in the most shamed way imaginable. Things like "All Muslims will go to Hell", John Hagee, "Gays should be vomitted from our midst", made me feel deep shame.

I am so happy that I will never be an Elder in the church. As a woman, my only job is to be loving, sweet, kind, and caring, and that is challenging enough.

Oh I understood where the former Bro. Dan was coming from. He too grew up in church (Catholic, if I read right). Thus, I am disappointed in his intentional skewing of the Bible. He meant to inflame his audience--especially those who are LGTB. And this is why those high school Christians felt humiliated and ridiculed. What I learned from Savage's exposition is that he really has hatred and bitterness towards Christianity. I learned precious little about what the Bible really says.

The Bible is not messed up--anywhere. The Laws of Moses, given to a theocracy, were meant to uphold an ideal society that followed hard after God. To whip out a verse and say, "The Bible would have 85%+ of us stoned to death on our wedding night," is an absurd application. Again, he meant to inflame, not educate.

Some of our clergy, especially in bygone eras, were not careful in their speech. They condemned the sinner along with the sin. They failed to see the pain that came with the temptation. They often did not distinguish between sincere Christians who were afflicted with a horrific attraction, and rebels who decided to glory in their alternative sexuality and to spurn the church.

I'm not God, and I find no pleasure in pronouncing his judgements. However, on the great day of judgement there will be some severe retibutions laid down--and his decisions will come without hesitation or repentance. Every knee will bow and say that God is God, holy, just and righteous in all his ways.

Edited May 1, 2012 by prisonchaplain