Comments on: Are People Who Oppose Gay Marriage Bigots?

By: Désirée

Désirée — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 16:28:27 +0000

wow – so much hand wringing trying to justify bigotry as not really bigotry. I don’t care what their motivation or reasons are. If they are acting in a bigoted manner (and opposing marriage *equality* for whatever reason) is acting in a bigoted manner. It is saying “you (gay person) do not deserve the same thing that I reserve for myself” How is that not bigotry? Claiming it is from the bible or from your pastor or your fishing buddy simply doesn’t matter. It’s bigotry. I’m not going to get my panties in a twist feeling bad about calling something what it is.

By: Priya Lynn

Priya Lynn — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 15:33:10 +0000

Eric in Oakland, you win the thread – great point.

By: ZRAinSWVA

ZRAinSWVA — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 14:07:13 +0000

TampaZeke, you make a great point. The reality in those days, though, is that you might have had one or two television stations and access to one newspaper. The opportunity for hearing alternative views was far-and-few between--and to go against the 'norm' was to risk being ostracized. I know, having grown-up in rural Appalachia. Today, though, one has to be intellectually lazy to not encounter a host of differing viewpoints on a daily if not hourly basis. My point being, there are a great number of people out there who deliberately choose to limit their news sources to those that are 'comfortable'. If they do so, in my mind, they are choosing to be intellectually lazy bigots who likely don't want to have a conversation that challenges their world view. They are generally not worth my time because they really just don't care to think outside their little box and don't want anything to challenge their worldview.

By: Eric in Oakland

Eric in Oakland — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 06:09:07 +0000

I am slightly confused about why we are asking this question. We can’t even agree on the meaning of the word, which is a prerequisite to deciding who fits in the category. And if the only difference between a non-bigotted opponent of gay rights and a bigotted opponent is some nebulous emotion or degree of animus, then what practical difference does it make? Either way they are opponents and their opposition is based on something other than sound evidence or rational discourse. You can’t reason someone out of a position that they did not arrive at through reason in the first place.

If we were discussing the opponents of desegregation or women’s suffrage, would we be asking this question?

By: TampaZeke

TampaZeke — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 22:00:38 +0000

Let me put it this way.

I grew up in rural MISSISSIPPI in the 60′s and 70′s and I’ve NEVER met a SINGLE person who self identified as a “bigot”. I’ve also NEVER met a SINGLE bigot who didn’t take offense at being called a bigot and I’ve known hundreds, if not thousands, of bigots personally. I’m even related to quite a few of them.

Think about that.

By: Lynnette C.

Lynnette C. — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 15:13:46 +0000

OK, I may be a bit of a pollyanna, but here goes.
I have met bigots, and I have met fear. This is what I discovered.
Rhinocerous’ are not bigoted, they are blind. What you ask? Simple. A Rhino will charge anything in its path that it does not understand (see). People do the same thing. If we do not understand the action, belief, feelings of another we attack it. What creates the attack? Fear of the unknown. Fear of the possibility this thing in front of me could hurt me. Fear that, “I feel these “feelings” is it possible that am gay?” No, attack, that way the feeling will go away.
No diffrent than a rhinocerous attacking a moving jeep, it could be another rhino for all our blind, one-horned bully knows.
Allow this thought to roam around for a moment…if we do not understand the process another goes through, straight or not, do we also attack in some form? Does that make all of us bigots?
Just askin’

By: Jarred

Jarred — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 08:43:29 +0000

Seriously, I’m always amazed at people who want to make excuses for why those who would continue and support the oppression of any disadvantaged group aren’t such bad people, but are willing to immediately assuming that my intent is to be hateful and dismissive when I say, “Excuses and motives don’t matter. If you contribute to the oppression of others, you will be viewed as someone who does exactly as that.”

By: Jarred

Jarred — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 08:37:25 +0000

Timothy: Again, you’re making assumptions. I can think someone is bigoted and still speak persuasively. And sometimes, “Hey, no matter how nice you think you are what you are doing is not acceptable, not cool, and not something a nice person does,” can be a very powerful and persuasive argument. Especially if you force them to focus on the outcomes of their actions rather than their self-perception, as the latter can often be completely disconnected from the reality of the former.

Also, I don’t think that thinking someone is a bigot means I have to hate them. Please quit attributing thoughts and motives to me.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 01:17:36 +0000

Jarred

I guess it comes down to this: do you want to persuade them and change their minds or do you want a reason to hate and dismiss them?

By: Jarred

Jarred — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 23:20:41 +0000

I really don’t see why I should extend the benefit of the doubt to someone who clearly has no intention of extending me the same courtesy.