Follow-up - Tennessee county beats hasty retreat from call to ban homosexuals

[praying]

They can't stand the heat so they are getting out of the kitchen.

Tennessee county beats hasty retreat from call to ban homosexuals
(03-18) 18:56 PST DAYTON, Tenn. (AP) --

The county that was the site of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" over the teaching of evolution Thursday reversed its call to ban homosexuals.

Rhea County commissioners took about three minutes to retreat from a request to amend state law so the county can charge homosexuals with crimes against nature. The Tuesday measure passed 8-0.

County attorney Gary Fritts said the initial vote triggered a "wildfire" of reaction. "I've never seen nothing like this," he said Thursday.

But Fritts said it was all a misunderstanding.

"They wanted to send a message to our (state) representative and senator that Rhea County supports the ban on same-sex marriage," he said. "Same-sex marriage is what it was all about. It was to stop people from coming here and getting married and living in Rhea County."

Not that the issue of banning homosexuals didn't arise.

"I'm not saying it wasn't discussed," Fritts said. "Sometimes you had five or six people talking."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/03/18/national2050EST0804.DTL

 

[SqueezetheShaman]

"I've never seen nothing like this," he said Thursday.

Gee, ya think??

What a moron.

Well I certainly won't be visiting Rhea county anytime soon.

 

[Polycarp1]

Also from the article:

But 12-year-old Caitlin Kinney, attending the meeting with her mother, said she supported the commissioners' initial vote.

"I think they should go further, try to see if they can ban them," she said. "It's not a Christian thing."

It's unfortunate that this young woman has been taught that "the Christian thing" is to ostracize and cast out, not to treat with love and compassion.

"Inasmuch as you did it unto one of these...."

 

[SqueezetheShaman]

I wouldn't give her a hard time since she is only 12, but the grown, brains fully formed adults who think along these lines, do they think this logic out thouroughly? I mean, it isn't "christian" Well, neither is buddhism or atheism. What d'ya think they would like seen done to them?

 

[trunks2k]

I mean, it isn't "christian" Well, neither is buddhism or atheism. What d'ya think they would like seen done to them?

I'm not sure if that's the context she meant. The way I first read it, she was saying that the act of banning homosexuals isn't just a christian thing, IOW there's supposedly some secular basis to the law. But you could very well be right.

 

[Tangnefedd]

It would be funny if it wasn't pathetic, how can you even consider banning homosexuals???????????

 

[chalice_thunder]

Also from the article:


It's unfortunate that this young woman has been taught that "the Christian thing" is to ostracize and cast out, not to treat with love and compassion.

"Inasmuch as you did it unto one of these...."

Agreed - this is, in my opinion, tantamount to child abuse.

 

[burrow_owl]

how can you even consider banning homosexuals?

Seriously. Were they planning on setting up roadblocks? Or maybe the county attorney thought he'd be able to tell who's gay, cuz no gay man could possibly resist his charm, rugged good looks, and eloquence ("I've never seen nothing like this").

 

[SqueezetheShaman]

I'm not sure if that's the context she meant. The way I first read it, she was saying that the act of banning homosexuals isn't just a christian thing, IOW there's supposedly some secular basis to the law. But you could very well be right.

"I think they should go further, try to see if they can ban them,"


silly, it doesnt get much more obvious than that. lol go drink your coffee

 

[trunks2k]

"I think they should go further, try to see if they can ban them,"

Yes I know she said that. But I'm not sure if her statement "it's nto a Christian thing" was meant to be said as:

"Homosexuality is not christian, so it should be banned"

or

"Not only christians want homosexuality banned"

 

[SqueezetheShaman]

OIC

 

[praying]

Yes I know she said that. But I'm not sure if her statement "it's nto a Christian thing" was meant to be said as:

"Homosexuality is not christian, so it should be banned"

or

"Not only christians want homosexuality banned"

I vote the first. I think it is a real shame to teach children intolerance. I agree with Chalice it is tantamount to child abuse. A crime against humanity.

 

[chalice_thunder]

I vote the first. I think it is a real shame to teach children intolerance. I agree with Chalice it is tantamount to child abuse. A crime against humanity.

Especially in a world that needs more understanding, wise hearts - our children are the ones who have the capacity teach us GOd's love.

 

[trunks2k]

I vote the first.

Given her age and the area she lives in, I would be inclined to agree with you. But that's not the way I originally read it.

 

[Brimshack]

I think it also illustrates the shear bully-mentality of the folks in question here. As long as they thought they were just banning the members of an under-represented and easily discounted minority, they were wiling to act, but when they get actual scrutiny and questions from people with a little weight, they crumble like old cookies.

 

[Outspoken]

I think it also illustrates the shear bully-mentality of the folks in question here. As long as they thought they were just banning the members of an under-represented and easily discounted minority, they were wiling to act, but when they get actual scrutiny and questions from people with a little weight, they crumble like old cookies.

"when they get actual scrutiny and questions from people with a little weight"

Umm..that's the essenice of "bully-mentality". Using your "weight" to change someone's position.

 

[Brimshack]

Equivocate much?

 

[Philosoft]

Umm..that's the essenice of "bully-mentality". Using your "weight" to change someone's position.

Only in the sense that there is some ultimatum in place, or some unpleasant consequence for disregarding. No one was telling the commission they couldn't pass the statute in question or threatening them with harm if they did. The message was, "We can't believe you guys are being so stupid."

Knowing you, you might find some reason still to condemn them - judgmentalism perhaps - but it isn't for bullying.

 

[Smilin]

Well I certainly won't be visiting Rhea county anytime soon.

Not all of us who reside here feel this way Shaman.

You don't know how bad the politics going on in this state pain me
right now....

There are good people here, they just don't serve in political office.

 

[Smilin]

What d'ya think they would like seen done to them?

Sadly,
The same.

Ironically these are the same legislators who turn a blind eye
to all the farmers of the area mass-importing Mexicans to
work for slave wages, live in concrete buildings in order
to increase their profits.

You never see that reported in the news...

JUST THOSE DAMMM HOMOS AND EVOLUTIONISTS CORRUPTING OUR
CHILDREN....