You're Not Special, We Are All Special

But if we are all special, then no one is special.

There have been many misconceptions and a few outright lies shouted by both sides of the homosexual/gay-rights/same-sex-marriage issue. Those who broadcast falsehoods are just plain wrong and often border on evil. Make no mistake, they exist on both sides of the fence. The particular whopper I wanted to address is homosexuals as a protected class of people.

This hype over gays being special, unique, and in need of protected status is bogus. It is akin to the radical racists who claim that everyone hates them because of their race. I harbor a particular distaste for most racists, (those who claim others are racists,) but it is because they are conniving, whining, manipulating operatives with subversive agendas; it is not because of the color of their skin. So, here's a news flash: gays are not special.

They are special to their parents, their children, their friends and associates, but they are not a special sub-set of mankind that requires preferential treatment or accommodations. The leaders of this movement want us to feel they are special because they want us to publicly and openly accept their way of thinking and living. But they are just like everybody else. Homosexuals are homosapians, with strengths and weaknesses, challenges and opportunities.

The lesbian couple in Oregon who sued Sweet Cakes by Melissa over the emotional stress of their rejection, obviously have issues that were present long before they walked into the cake shop. When you are doing something that is different or repulsive to many people, feeling hurt because you weren't accepted is like a smoker complaining of their cough. Not that we should be offensive to those who are different, but people also need to accept responsibility and the responses to their unorthodox actions.

God told a prophet over 2000 years ago, "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble". We all have challenges to overcome, phobias that need to be faced, and proclivities that should be controlled. We are all swimming in this soup together and we need to provide the support and help to others we can.

Recognizing the un-specialness of those with challenges is important to healing and health. Assigning a special classification prolongs the problem, it doesn't help with healing. Some individuals, such as children, the mentally challenged, or those with crippling diseases, need to be afforded special treatment and consideration. But rational adults, who have made their life choices, must accept the consequences of their actions, including acceptance or rejection.

The Lord also declared that we should have no sexual relations except with our husband or wife to whom we are legally married. The only reason he told us this is that sexual relations in any other setting; fornication, adultery, homosexuality, promiscuity, etc., will not bring us the happiness most of us are seeking. It is the same with abortion, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, murmuring, backbiting, lying, stealing, coveting, and a host of other actions. 

Sin is simply, any action which brings sorrow or pain to ourselves or to others. As a loving father, God advises us to avoid those behaviors. We may have a propensity to deviant behavior, and unwelcome thoughts may spontaneously pop into our minds at any moment, but it is our reaction, not the thought that defines us. The question is, do we change the thought and thereby dictate our actions, or do we foster, fertilize and fantasize upon the thought until it becomes a deed?

God's solution is to come unto him and his beloved son, Jesus Christ for strength and direction. 

The Apostle Paul told us "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." I think that sometimes, the escape he provides is from the cords that bind us, after we have succumbed to temptation, but the escape is none the less real.

The Prophet Nephi told his father, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

Jesus Christ told Joseph Smith while he was wrongly imprisoned, "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; . . ."

The promises for all mankind are that we can become the best we can be, we can find the happiness we seek, and we can help others achieve the same. May God continue to guide us to him, I pray in the name of his son, Jesus Christ.

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones....

First I was homophobic, now I'm xenophobic and I expect soon to be labeled climaphobic.

For those who may not be aware, these words are broken down at Dictionary.com as follows:

Homo is defined as:
-Someone who practices homosexuality; having a sexual attraction to persons of the same sex.

Xeno comes from the Latin word xenos:
-A stranger or foreigner.

Clima is the root of climate:
-The meteorological conditions, including temperature, precipitation, and wind, that characteristically prevail in a particular region.

Phobic is someone who has a phobia. A phobia is described as:
- A persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous.
- A strong fear, dislike, or aversion.

It has been the practice of liberal pundits to label opponents that can't be silenced, with an SAT word they calculate their critics can't comprehend. The assumption is made that any rational educated individual will agree with their hypothesis, regardless of its veracity or logic. All other dissidents can be lumped into homogeneous groups with maligning connotations and summarily dismissed.

When I didn't agree with the deviant philosophy of homosexuality, I was considered a homophobic. If this designation is said with a sarcastic twist, it makes one feel as though they are infected with a most repugnant malady. Nevertheless, attaching a moniker, even a noxious sounding one, does not change the facts of any disagreement; even if I agree to disagree.

Presently, those who are in favor of giving amnesty to millions of individuals who have broken the laws of our country by entering illegally. They are taunting those who would extradite these aliens back to their country of origin, as mean-spirited and xenophobic. Whether or not I am uncomfortable with strangers or foreigners I can’t communicate with has nothing to do with the economic damage imposed on our country from healthcare to social security by the blatant breaking of the law. If the law is wrong, it needs to be changed, but until then, it needs to be obeyed. Even parking tickets need to be paid, if not, why have a law?

As this neurotic behavior continues among the emotionally charged, but factually challenged; because of my disbelief in the ‘theory’ of global warming, I expect very soon to be labeled a climaphobe, a label I will wear nobly until science, not the technophobes change my views.