Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Linda Harvey, in her article against homosexual marriage, makes a good point when she states, "If same-sex relationships become the law of the land, then homosexual marriage will be presented to America's schoolchildren as the equivalent of heterosexual marriage." If that occurs, then America will be guilty of teaching tolerance instead of intolerance and God only knows where that may lead us.

It is well known that children, because they are naive in the ways of the world, judge people by their actions and nothing else. They are drawn to anyone that shows them love and kindness and are fearful of those who are mean and hateful. Therefore, it is our duty to show them the necessity of disliking any homosexual that they have been tricked into liking because they were kind and respectful. Because these children wouldn't know gay from straight, they would just judge people by the goodness of their heart and not by whom those people love.

The quote, "Prejudice rarely survives experience," is validated by the polls that show that young people are more accepting than older ones and acceptance rises with education. The prejudices that I was taught about black people began to vanish as I was forced into being in the same high school with them in the 1960s. While being involved in sports, academics, and social endeavors, they showed the same characteristics (good and bad) as my white friends. As friendships began to develop, I began to wonder what all those adults had been so afraid of. The world did not implode and was actually better because of it.

Will we not find the world to be a better place when we finally decide to treat homosexuals with respect? Or should we just stick with continued condemnation by denying them their dignity and refusing to acknowledge their relationships? Our children have already begun to see through our veiled attempts at character assassination because two-thirds of high school seniors favored the legalization of gay marriage. They are probably wondering what we adults are so afraid of.

Shall our children lead us into a better future for all people or shall we continue to ridicule, mock, and isolate gays and lesbians both socially and religiously? The saddest part of the latter is that it is done in the name of a loving God, under the guise of a tolerant and free nation.

Jeff Ellis

Fayetteville, Ga.

www.familyacceptance.com