D.B.Tarpley's Amazing Ass Blog #15

Greetings and salutations people and peoplettes, You do it, I do it, we all do it. I am talking of course about engaging in pointless arguments with random strangers on Facebook. You know, the kind of arguments where you know going into it that neither of you will change your minds but which you enter into for the sole purpose of possibly zinging the other individual with one good line. It is all pride, it is all pointless, it is all human nature, and we all do it. That being said, I try to avoid these conversations whenever I can help it… especially if they involve politics or religion. For those of you who do not know - I am an atheist. Now I won’t go into the reasons for my belief system at this time, maybe in the future, and I am normally not militant in any way shape or form about my sense of right and wrong. I generally have a live and let live demeanor. And so now that has been said, I still, despite all my reservations, find myself being drawn into one particular conversation of this sort. ‘Homosexuality as a sin.’ – A current hot button topic. It can be said that my firm and solid belief that homosexuality is not a sin is a cornerstone of my belief in that is an example to my mind of something which is so common sense and yet people immersed in blind faith allow the dogma of ancient life and handed down rhetoric to make up their minds for them. It is almost as if people agreeing that homosexuality is a sin simply say, ‘it is because it is said it is, and that is that.’ I was recently made to think about my eagerness to engage on this topic when someone asked me whether or not it is any of my business if anyone feels this is a sin, or that I indeed have any business caring what another religion classifies as a sin to begin with. I had to take a step back and genuinely assess what I thought about that. In the end I came up with this, rationalization or not I will let you decide. The word ‘sin’ denotes wrong doing and makes an assumption of unequivocal rightness for the converse, just as saying ‘God said this’ makes the assumption that everyone within earshot agrees that there is indeed one undisputed God who all acknowledge and agree is the final authority on what is right and wrong. Saying I shouldn’t worry about the beliefs of others puts forth a very Buddhist vibe – live and let live and all that and wouldn’t it be a beautiful world if that were the case. Where I find this mentality hard to apply is when I go to my friend’s funeral and there are people on the curb shouting and carrying signs claiming that God is punishing America and that my friend died because America is allowing fags to exist. It is also hard to have a live and let live attitude when my 13 year old step daughter comes home crying and nearly suicidal because kids in her school are calling her a lesbian and bullying her… very hard. So when I hear someone, anyone claim that they feel homosexuality is a sin because some book written 1800+ years ago told them it was I have difficulty differentiating this ignorant asshole from all the other more dangerous ignorant assholes out there in the world. And maybe that is my mistake. Maybe I should allow them to remain ignorant assholes and go on my way, adopt a laissez faire attitude and just chill. But then I remember another group who did the same thing, the civilian population of Germany in the 30’s and 40’s. They were very laissez faire as their neighbors were carted off in railroad boxes. I try real hard to not be militant because I have heard equally ignorant ass atheists spitting hate at Christians and it becomes this whole bipartisan bullshit all over again where common sense flies by the wayside and venom is ever all. I try to have no problem with spirituality and applaud anyone who can find peace in such, several of my best friends are die-hard Christian to the core. But when it comes to issues where dogma makes people say things which common sense should tell them is wrong, it is very hard to keep my mouth shut. Love is not wrong. Saying someone is sinning or aberrant, or unnatural for doing something which is nothing but natural to them is a fallacy which I can no longer allow myself to tolerate. Perhaps the quiet way is better. I know it is easier and I wish anyone who can live with themselves the best of luck with it. But sometimes silence is the same as complicity. And I won’t allow myself to be that person. This is one of those moments in history when it pays to stand up and be counted and I have no doubt I am on the winning side. Until next time keep reading and have an amazing ass day.