August 13th, 2013
As many of you know, Thomas Peters, the Director of Communications for the National Organization for Marriage (theirs, not yours), was critically injured in a swimming accident about a month ago. I’ve followed his progress on a website set up by his family to notify those interested in Thomas’ progress. It has been slow with tiny milestones measured in hours off a respirator and ice chips eaten. I don’t think anyone expects a full recovery.
I know that Peters has been an active and vociferous opponent of equality and an enemy of the belief that one should treat others with the respect you would appreciate. Nevertheless, he is a fellow human undergoing a tragic circumstance, and I believe that the harm he has caused has, ironically, come from a desire to do good. I fight his activism, but I wish him well personally.
Today he went into surgery to remove a broken vertebra in his neck, insert a metal replacement, and fuse it to the adjoining vertebrae. This is a challenging situation and a great concern to those who love him. If you pray, please include Thomas Peters in your prayers today; if not, please send him best wishes.
…
[I will be limiting comments on this thread to those that are positive and supportive]
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TampaZeke
August 13th, 2013
Best wishes and much metta.
Tina c
August 13th, 2013
Best wishes on the road to recovery.
Thanks for updating us.
Lindoro Almaviva
August 13th, 2013
Hope things change for the better Thomas. Lots of positive thought for you, your family and your wife.
codyj
August 13th, 2013
Heres good wishes for a speedy recovery,Thomas, altho Im a gay man,and an agnostic,and fully aware of your role in NOM, I’m truly saddened by your most unfortunate accident….Get Well Soon, Best Regards/Wishes….CodyJ
IT
August 13th, 2013
I’m glad to see you write this–it’s the right thing to do. Fortunately he’s young and fit and I hope he is getting the best care possible. Certainly we send him our best hopes and prayers for an uneventful surgery, and speedy (and hopefully, complete) recovery.
Hyhybt
August 13th, 2013
I hope Thomas Peters has a long and fulfilling life ahead of him. Thank you for filtering the comments; it’s shameful that such is even necessary.
TampaZeke
August 13th, 2013
Why can’t we do BOTH?
Why live in an either/or world when you can have both/and?
Bose in St. Peter MN
August 13th, 2013
Yeah, it’s been sobering to track his progress, and wish him and his family the best possible results during an incredible ordeal.
It has also struck me as a great testimony to the power of marriage to bring two extended families together. Glad that he and his wife have that support.
Chris Gable
August 13th, 2013
Our Episcopal Church parish, where 75% of members are gay people, is praying for Mr. Peters and his family in their time of need.
Chris Gable
August 13th, 2013
* We’re in Los Angeles.
Lindoro Almaviva
August 13th, 2013
Henri
August 13th, 2013
At least there is a teachable moment here. The singular of vertebrae is vertebra.
Timothy Kincaid
August 13th, 2013
Henri, yes it is. I fixed it.
I guess I’ve forgotten most of what I learned in Latin class some 37 or so years ago.
AdrianT
August 13th, 2013
My thoughts are with Thomas. I wish him the very best. Xxx
Larry
August 13th, 2013
Thanks for posting the update. I had forgotten that this happened. From the sound of it, things are going to be really tough for him. One serious issue with this kind of injury is the risk of pneumonia, since it sounds like he’s needing a respirator. The number of years he has remaining will depend a lot on whether or not he can breathe on his own. Christopher Reeve managed to go 9 years after his injury. I’ll pray for this kiddo.
kokas
August 13th, 2013
“We call for diversity, but there is very little tolerance for diversity of thought, even in the gay community”.
Indeed, my comment wasn’t even disrespectful or offensive and it got deleted. I don’t wish Mr Peters any harm, I was just asking why should people send condolences to an anti-gay activist when so many others are in similar situations or worse. Is is possible that some of you actually believe that gestures of good faith can change these people’s minds?? Whatever, not my problem.
Mr Peters, have a speedy recovery!
Lindoro Almaviva
August 13th, 2013
well, your question is easily answered:
To me, this reads Anyone who wants to send a get well message, by all means. If you have to question even the validity of this gesture, this is not the threat for you. Did you take a moment to see the threat for when he was critically injured?
And lastly, if you have to question the validity of the gesture, I would not be the one hanging to the tolerance banner. and i will leave it at that.
Dan
August 13th, 2013
Lindoro, the word you’re looking for is thread, not threat.
Lindoro Almaviva
August 13th, 2013
Thank you! I try not to use this excuse too often, but English is not my first language
TomTallis
August 14th, 2013
My hope for Thomas Peters is that this horrible experience teaches him humility and a willingness to live and let live.
Preston
August 14th, 2013
All life is precious and fragile. There are times when I need to celebrate our commonalities rather than differences. This is one of those times. Sincere wishes for recovery.
Timothy Kincaid
August 14th, 2013
For those who may have missed this the first time around:
[I will be limiting comments on this thread to those that are positive and supportive]
We rarely do this, but this is one such time. If you have other comments, there are other threads on which to make them.
Dan
August 14th, 2013
I wish Thomas Peters all the benefits that prayer has to offer!
TampaZeke
August 14th, 2013
Lindoro, I think the comment I responded to with “Why can’t we do both” was deleted so my comment might be misinterpreted or misunderstood. I was saying why can’t we have compassion, and give well wishes for recovery, for the victim of a gay bashing AND a person who has declared war on the gay community? Wishing that someone recovers from a tragic accident is entirely different from endorsing their agenda.
Lindoro, I don’t wish Mr. Peters well because I think he would do the same for me. I wish him well because I place our common humanity ahead of our philosophical differences. I hope that someday he may be able to do the same and become an ally rather than an enemy. Stranger things have happened and they often happen after such traumatic events. Even Paul had his “road to Damascus” experience according to the Christians’ holy book. I don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate the metaphor.
typical
August 15th, 2013
Timothy, are there any updates? I feel horrible about this…really so sad for a vital young man to be cut down like this…
Timothy Kincaid
August 16th, 2013
typical,
It appears that surgery went well and he’s being weaned off of the respirator. Now he’s in the long hard slog of physical therapy to regain movement and muscle control.
Hyhybt
August 19th, 2013
^Thanks for the update.
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