If you don't mind being a bit shocked, take a look at these pictures from the Folsom Street Fair. (Warning: they are graphic.) This is an annual event in San Francisco, held again on Sunday, September 30, in which some of the city's outstanding citizens turned out to display their style and have a little fun. I wonder what the Islamic radicals would make of these picturesque displays. What a great recruiting tool this would be for them! Here is what they term the decadence of the West on full display.
I don't think this is typical of America, and even many Americans would find such scenes revolting. I am quite sure that even the liberal Democratic presidential candidates wouldn't be seen in a place like this. But I also recognize that when you have freedom there is going to be some excess. Even so, freedom does not excuse anyone from moral and social accountability. To criticize the abuses of freedom is not "censorship"; rather, is to exercise one's own freedom to dissent.
So take a look at this advertisement for the Folsom Street Fair. It shows gay activists in a mock reenactment of Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles at the Last Supper. To me this ad reflects anti-Christian bigotry pure and simple. Yet when the Catholic League protested the ad, Miller Brewing Company took its name off the poster but refused to withdraw its sponsorship of the fair. This, I suppose, reflects the growing financial clout of the gay community.
But imagine if a city fair mocked the sensitivities of blacks or Jews or, yes, gays in this way. There would be a national outcry! There would be front page articles. You would have heard about it on the evening news. Miller Brewing Company would run in the opposite direction and issue a strong condemnation. Is this the first you're hearing about the Folsom Street Fair's bigotry against Christians? That's because the slogans of "tolerance" and "sensitivity" don't seem to apply to religious believers.
Outraged? Go ahead and comment, and I'll forward all the reaction to the public relations office at Miller Brewing Company.
Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 12)
76. Dinesh the Homophobic Christian... Well, aren't they all, basically? So sexually up tight from centuries of repression, all that guilt to warp them as they develop, battling with themselves all the time. When I see a christian man railing against gays, I know that he's another Mark Foley, another Larry Craig, another HYPOCHRIST. And I also know that the sins that he's pointing to are sins that in his heart, he wishes he could commit... So, homophobe dinesh, how's your boyfriend feeling? Come out, come out, whatever you are!!! Stop hating that gay part of yourself so much! Stop being such a hypochrist.
Gays are generally a decent sort. Wish I could say that about christians.
Brian at 4:58PM on Oct 1st 2007
77. Can conservatives have it their way on everything -- including Burger King?
We live in a FREE Democratic society that has embedded in its constitution the separation of churchical and State related matters.
If Christians don't want to be involved with activities such as the street fair mentioned in the article.. their FREE CHOICE obligates them to refrain from participation. "I'M NOT GAY" (no pun intended) but I respect other individuals right be.
Imposing their dislike of homosexuality on a select portion of the population for Religious reasons cannot be a function of the state. At least not with the current constitution. CHRISTIANS are FREE to Preach and advocate against the practice, but the state should avoid getting caught in the trap of being an instrument of ANY RELIGIOUS OBJECTIVEs.
CHRISTIANS are also FREE to use their influence to persuade Corporations to stop supporting such groups and their activities; however, The corporations won't be interested in their RELIGIOUS beliefs, only the ECONOMIC IMPACT of losing their business vs losing the business of he gay community.
Left to consider is the issue of GAY CHRISTIANS, and GAY POLITICIANS many of whom are less than FREE to declare their status due to the response from many of their RELIGIOUS COUNTERPARTS.
Human expression whether from Gays or Straight people will only reflect our society. Its very interesting to note that the only items used by the author were CHARGED with SEXUAL INNUENDO! Is that the only aspect of Gay people. Why not a Gay Cleric at work, a Gay Service person, a Gay Police officer, a Gay High School student, or a Gay Artist at work, or a normal functioning Gay family...
Do these people exist and are the ONLY ALL ABOUT SEX?
Thankfully the author's viewpoint is not UNIVERSAL.
Peace!
dmode16340 at 5:04PM on Oct 1st 2007
78. A Question for the Christian Believers that have no doubt that Jesus is the one true lord, the only son of God. Who believe that their beliefs are completely true. The unshakeably Faithful. Those that believe absolutely that they are right. The Christianity is Truth with a capital T.
If many countless billions of other people of different faiths, past and present, are also absolutely sure in their minds that their God is the one true God/Gods or that their religion is the one true religion, and have as much conviction that THEY are absolutely right and correct as CHRISTIANS have, what then makes you Christians the "real" right ones and all those other billions of people wrong? Tell me that. Tell me the thing that makes you all the right ones and all the people that are just as believing in their faiths wrong. You can't say "Christ" since they'd counter with their god, whom they think is just as swell.
What have you got? Nothing. Nothing at all, but myths, and they have those too. Dead in the water. I've never gotten even a slightly satisfactory answer to this one. Most answers include in them logical fallacies that you could drive a truck through. As if the arguers were on my side.
The fact that there CAN BE no answer to this question other than that Christians are egotistically deceiving themselves, one and all, doesn't seem to stop them from trying to answer it.
I've had answers like "My religion is NOT a fantasy! It's the one, true religion! It's real, all of it, at least in my mind." At least in YOUR MIND? Please no other ridiculous self-negating statements like that, don't waste time trying to go that route.
Nope, it doesn't look good. You got nothing. Soooooo, time to change yourselves to better reflect reality. Can't bring yourself to? Time to seek professional help. Psychoses are dangerous. It really IS that simple.
You too can find the peace that passeth all understanding, as long as you lack understanding
Brian at 5:11PM on Oct 1st 2007
79. From a marketing standpoint, what a stupid move by the beer company. Less than 1% of the population are gay and that leaves the other 99% to chose a new beer. About 85% of America are Christian and they will never drink a Miller Beer again---ever. Christians will boycott anything to do with Miller Beer and sell off their stocks.
Commoncents at 5:12PM on Oct 1st 2007
80. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE GOOD OLE DAYS OF FAITH, FAMILY, AND COUNTRY! WHEN WE WERE STRONG AND PROUD AND WE BELIEVED.... WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US?-Sue
-We grew up. At least, some of us did. The rest still cling to beliefs. Learn about THOUGHTS someday. They're updateable, so it's less traumatic to GROW...
Brian at 5:20PM on Oct 1st 2007
81. Dinesh said at the end of the article:
"Outraged? Go ahead and comment, and I'll forward all the reaction to the public relations office at Miller Brewing Company."
---------------------------------------
So Dinesh, what about the ones among us that are outraged at you silly Christians for being so petty and hateful and fearful and just plain stupid about everything not to your personal liking??? Why not send tham along to Miller as well? It's only fair, and at least someone reading the emails at Miller will know that we're not all stuck-up idiots.
Brian at 5:27PM on Oct 1st 2007
82. I love how they made the one black guy the central figure. Priceless.
Hits the hypochrists where they live, both their homophobia and their prejudice.
Brian at 5:31PM on Oct 1st 2007
83. Oh, and apparently Miller has already "pulled out" of the ad. Cowards.
Brian at 5:58PM on Oct 1st 2007
84. Denish,
I am literally AMAZED by you every time I catch sight of something you've written. When I think of all the horrible things that have been done (and are STILL being done) in the name of RELIGION on a GLOBAL scale...and you have the audacity to bring up a gay parade as being an earth shattering event in the grand scheme of things, how can I be anything but amazed?
I don't necessarily intend this as an insult (because I'm just giving an honest opinion), but you are one incredibly dimwitted, short sighted moron/person.
Now I realize that everyone has trouble being objective with there own self-examination from time to time, but YOU seem to make your own personal ignorance...a way of life! Truly Astounding Denish! I'll say this, your ignorance certainly gives the rest of us something to respond to during down time, so it's at least serving some purpose I suppose.
James at 6:35PM on Oct 1st 2007
85. Jesus loves me, yes I know
Cause the Bible tells me so
That is all I need to hear
And so I know I'll never fear
Nothing else is in my head
Except a book by guys long dead
Science isn't telling me
What I can and cannot see
I never, ever take a look
Since I only own one book
Jesus is my only thought
When others ask me what I've bought
Now I'll pluck out both my eyes
So that I can't see the lies
that Science tells us are the truth
I think that Science is uncouth!
Telling me that things fall down
And how a cricket makes a sound
And how planets spin around the sun
And how the gears in watches run
I do not need to hear the facts
I only need religious tracts
And prayers to our Great Lord above
Who blinded me with Bible love
It feels so good to be so dense
To live behind an iron fence
To shelter fragile minds from truth
Indoctrinating them in youth
Feed them tales of God above
And all of His undying Love
And How he put things in this place
Plain as the nose there on your face
That seem to say that He's not real
That's the lying Science deal!
He put them here to fool us guys
When we try to use our eyes
We know better, yes we do
Science is at best, untrue
At worst a strange Satanic plot
To show what is real, and what is not
Why should we care what is real?
We still have the Christian deal
Believe in God, at any cost
And look to others like we're lost
Hope for God to make it clear
When the Rapture cometh near
With nonbelievers left behind
You'll all be sorry that you whined
Of how we're descended from some beast
(I don't believe it in the least)
No Thanks I say to Science stuff
I think that I have had enough
Of facts and reason, Truth and Hope
I'd much prefer to be a dope.
Brian at 6:31PM on Oct 1st 2007
86. Denish,
I am literally AMAZED by you every time I catch sight of something you've written. When I think of all the horrible things that have been done (and are STILL being done) in the name of RELIGION on a GLOBAL scale...and you have the audacity to bring up a gay parade as being an earth shattering event in the grand scheme of things, how can I be anything but amazed?
I don't necessarily intend this as an insult (because I'm just giving an honest opinion), but you are one incredibly dimwitted, short sighted moron/person.
I realize that everyone has trouble being objective with there own self-examination from time to time, but YOU seem to make your own personal ignorance...a way of life! Truly Astounding Denish! I'll say this, your ignorance certainly gives the rest of us something to respond to during down time, so it's at least serving some purpose I suppose.
J Sanderson at 6:39PM on Oct 1st 2007
87. Denish,
I am literally AMAZED by you every time I catch sight of something you've written. When I think of all the horrible things that have been done (and are STILL being done) in the name of RELIGION on a GLOBAL scale...and you have the audacity to bring up a gay parade as being an earth shattering event in the grand scheme of things, how can I be anything but amazed?
I don't necessarily intend this as an insult (because I'm just giving an honest opinion), but you are one incredibly dimwitted, short sighted moron/person.
I realize that everyone has trouble being objective with there own self-examination from time to time, but YOU seem to make your own personal ignorance...a way of life! Truly Astounding Denish! I'll say this, your ignorance certainly gives the rest of us something to respond to during down time, so it's at least serving some purpose I suppose.
J Sanderson at 6:40PM on Oct 1st 2007
88. I HAVE BEEN TOLERANT LONG ENOUGH, NOW THE LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED. IF THE GAY COMMUNITY DOESNT SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE HERE... IF THE COMMUNITY ISNT GOING TO STAND UP AGAINST THIS DEGRADATION AND ABUSE (THIS TIME AGAINST CHRISTIANS) THAT THEY SAY THEY PUT UP WITH IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.. HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO STAND UP FOR YOU, IF YOU WONT DO THE SAME FOR ME? I'M DONE.
TAMI at 7:19PM on Oct 1st 2007
89. Dinesh claims his right to express one's freedom of dissent by critizing the gay parade. And yet, he does not accept the right of others to critize bush, the iraqi war, and the republican party in general. Where did they dig this guy up?
gshort3011 at 7:10PM on Oct 1st 2007
90. BRIAN, ARE YOU AN ATHEIST OR MAYBE YOU'RE A CLONE? YOU KNOW ONE CAN BOTH BELIEVE IN THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE AND BELIEVE THAT WE MUST TAKE CARE NOT TO THROW OUT OUR HUMANITY AND FAITH IN THE NAME OF SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS. THANKFULLY WE ALL ARENT AMOUNG THOSE THAT BELIEVE MAN---NOT GOD---IS IN CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PLANET AND ITS INHABITANTS. WE HAVE THE CHOICE TO BELIEVE THEIR IS SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ONES SELF...
LAURI at 7:20PM on Oct 1st 2007