Following last night's post An Open Letter to Dave Mustaine (thanks for the support, guys! It means a lot to me!), I wanted to write a bit of a follow up.
You see, I was raised in Christian household and my parents brought me up to love and respect my fellow man. They taught me about a God who loves and accepts everyone. About a God who took all the sinners under his wing. Surely this is a God who would want us to all be happy? Surely he doesn't care if you're black, white, pink, green or rainbow coloured? Surely he doesn't care who you're with as long as you're happy and putting good into the world?
Are my parents any less Christian because they taught me about love, peace and tolerance? Are they any less Christian for having friends who are gay?
Yes, the Bible teaches that homosexuality is wrong but it also teaches that you shouldn't have bowl haircuts (Leviticus 19:27: "You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads."); that fortune telling is wrong (Leviticus 19:31: "Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them."); that tattoos are a no-no ( Leviticus 19:28: "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.") and that those polyester trousers you think make you look like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever are against God's plan for the world (Leviticus 19:19: "You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed
together two kinds of your cattle; you shall not sow your field with
two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together.")
So, you see, the world's changed. Those passages are seen as insignificant in this day and age. So why is there still the hate? Surely Christians are supposed to be loving and caring, welcoming all into their world? Surely they should be drawing these people closer and showing them that yes, someone loves them even when they've been abandoned by their family, friends and, more often than not, society?
You see pictures of Jesus and what do you see? You see someone who's loving and caring. Not someone who's smiting a person just because they love their own sex and, goodness forbid, would like the same rights as everyone else! I'm sure that God would want everyone to have the same rights. Women, children, transsexuals etc. I'm sure he'd want everyone to be happy and feel safe, knowing that if something went wrong their (same sex) loved one would have the same rights as every other couple. I'm sure he'd want someone who was undergoing a sex change to feel safe walking through town at night, to not fear either the residents nor the police. I'm sure he wouldn't want people to have to flee their countries because they were under the threat of death just being a little different.
There's enough hate in this world without people sending out more hate to people who are already under enough stress as it is. And I do wonder how the people who spread this hate would feel if they were a practicing Christian in a country that bans Christianity? Oh yeah, it's still happening. There are places where you can be executed for being Christian, places where your opinions on gay marriage, or transsexuals, or the poor would be insignificant when you're wondering if you'll survive the day. I wonder how they'd feel then.
I'm thankful that I have a family who teaches peace, love and tolerance. A family who'd told me that they couldn't care less about who I date, just as long as I love them. A family who support and love others no matter what their faith, race, sexuality or gender. Surely they are the true definition of what a Christian person should be?
Much love, peace and hope to you all,
The tattooed, denim-mix wearing caffeinate novelist who occasionally looks like her hair has been styled into a bowl cut.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Saturday, 18 February 2012
An Open Letter to Dave Mustaine
~ Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, and, as Dave is entitled to his, so I'm entitled to mine. What I've read has touched me and I wanted to write something about it.~
A lie can be halfway round the world before the truth has got its boots on.
James Callaghan
Sources listed at bottom of page.
Dear Dave Mustaine,
I respect that you have a right to an opinion. I also respect that you've always been outspoken and, in the past, you've come out with some real pearls of wisdom.
However, lately you've been taking it too far. Not only have you made homophobic comments, you've also made transphobic comments. As a celebrity and someone people look up to, you're pretty much advocating the abuse of people who don't fall into line with your view of the world. LGBT people are already marginalised. They're already abused and murdered because of who they are. They don't need someone who's supposedly anti-establishment adding fuel to the fire. They don't need impressionable people listening to what you say and thinking it's okay to go and beat up someone because they're gay or because they're going through the horrors of a sex change. Have you even researched what it's like to be a transgender person? They're not cross-dressers, Dave. It's far, far deeper and more complicated than that. Have you thought about sitting down with these people and actually finding out what makes them tick?
How would you feel if it were one of your own kids? How would you feel if one of your kids was a little different to everyone else and someone came out with the comments you've been voicing recently? I'm sure that you would feel your blood running hot and, as someone who is, more often than not, outspoken, I'm sure you'd say something.
How do you think the people you're talking about feel? Do you care that you've probably marginalised some of your fan base?
I know what you've said isn't as bad as what others have said. But you have to look at it this way; you're someone of power. People take what you say seriously. Your words reach millions of people. And, in this day and age of the internet, they spread far faster than even you can imagine. See the James Callaghan quote at the top of this page. Once it's out there, it's very difficult to retract, especially in our age of lightening fast communication.
I'm not going to lie, Dave. Ignoring what you've said and done in the past, you've been an inspiration on how to drag yourself from the gutter and to the stars. You've created some of the greatest metal of my generation. But you also have the power to impress young minds. What would you prefer to impress them with; the power to create great music, or the power to create more hate in a world that already has enough of it?
Take care and may peace, love and hope be with you.
SOURCES:
I’m almost positive they’re trying to have the opposite effect. It’s not just in the schools. There are a lot of people being persecuted for what they believe in. There was that girl who was fired from a Macy’s in Texas because she didn’t let some cross-dressing dude into the woman’s dressing room. Come on! Are you out of your mind, Macy’s?
I think she was transgender, not a cross-dresser.
That’s not my point.
There’s a pretty big difference. And if we want to talk about persecution …
All I know is, if my wife walked in there and some transgender dude in a dress walked out, I would beat his ass.
Her ass.
What?
You mean her ass.
The dude in the dress?
http://read.mtvhive.com/2011/12/19/dave-mustaine-interview/
When asked if he supports gay marriage, Mustaine said, "Well, since I'm not gay, the answer to that would be no." Dave was then questioned if he would support legislation to make marriage between a man and another man legal. He replied, "I'm Christian. The answer to that would be no."
http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=169975
Follow up to this post here: Dear Dave, Let's Sort It Over A Good Cup Of Tea
A lie can be halfway round the world before the truth has got its boots on.
James Callaghan
Sources listed at bottom of page.
Dear Dave Mustaine,
I respect that you have a right to an opinion. I also respect that you've always been outspoken and, in the past, you've come out with some real pearls of wisdom.
However, lately you've been taking it too far. Not only have you made homophobic comments, you've also made transphobic comments. As a celebrity and someone people look up to, you're pretty much advocating the abuse of people who don't fall into line with your view of the world. LGBT people are already marginalised. They're already abused and murdered because of who they are. They don't need someone who's supposedly anti-establishment adding fuel to the fire. They don't need impressionable people listening to what you say and thinking it's okay to go and beat up someone because they're gay or because they're going through the horrors of a sex change. Have you even researched what it's like to be a transgender person? They're not cross-dressers, Dave. It's far, far deeper and more complicated than that. Have you thought about sitting down with these people and actually finding out what makes them tick?
How would you feel if it were one of your own kids? How would you feel if one of your kids was a little different to everyone else and someone came out with the comments you've been voicing recently? I'm sure that you would feel your blood running hot and, as someone who is, more often than not, outspoken, I'm sure you'd say something.
How do you think the people you're talking about feel? Do you care that you've probably marginalised some of your fan base?
I know what you've said isn't as bad as what others have said. But you have to look at it this way; you're someone of power. People take what you say seriously. Your words reach millions of people. And, in this day and age of the internet, they spread far faster than even you can imagine. See the James Callaghan quote at the top of this page. Once it's out there, it's very difficult to retract, especially in our age of lightening fast communication.
I'm not going to lie, Dave. Ignoring what you've said and done in the past, you've been an inspiration on how to drag yourself from the gutter and to the stars. You've created some of the greatest metal of my generation. But you also have the power to impress young minds. What would you prefer to impress them with; the power to create great music, or the power to create more hate in a world that already has enough of it?
Take care and may peace, love and hope be with you.
SOURCES:
I’m almost positive they’re trying to have the opposite effect. It’s not just in the schools. There are a lot of people being persecuted for what they believe in. There was that girl who was fired from a Macy’s in Texas because she didn’t let some cross-dressing dude into the woman’s dressing room. Come on! Are you out of your mind, Macy’s?
I think she was transgender, not a cross-dresser.
That’s not my point.
There’s a pretty big difference. And if we want to talk about persecution …
All I know is, if my wife walked in there and some transgender dude in a dress walked out, I would beat his ass.
Her ass.
What?
You mean her ass.
The dude in the dress?
http://read.mtvhive.com/2011/12/19/dave-mustaine-interview/
When asked if he supports gay marriage, Mustaine said, "Well, since I'm not gay, the answer to that would be no." Dave was then questioned if he would support legislation to make marriage between a man and another man legal. He replied, "I'm Christian. The answer to that would be no."
http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=169975
Follow up to this post here: Dear Dave, Let's Sort It Over A Good Cup Of Tea
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Month of Letters
February become the month of letters. A great little project which encourages us not just to slow down and enjoy the company of others but utilise the often unappreciated postal system.
I'm already a huge letter writer. I love sending and receiving things through the post so I thought I'd try and keep a log of everything I send in February. You're more than welcome to join in (even though I know we're a few days into February. But who's counting? It's the thought that counts. :) ). You can find the information at:
Month of Letters
Feel free to keep a record of what you send and post it up. Let's make the world a better place, one letter at a time!
February 2012
1st - Letter to a friend in America
2nd - Letter to a friend in the UK
3rd - Card to my sister in London
4th - Package of goodies to a friend in Greece
5th and 6th - Package to a friend in the UK and a letter to a friend in Ireland
7th - Letter to a friend in Australia
8th - Card to a friend in the UK
9th -
10th -
11th -
12th -
13th -
14th -
15th -
16th -
17th -
18th -
19th -
20th -
21st -
22nd -
23rd -
24th -
25th -
26th -
27th -
28th -
29th -
I'm already a huge letter writer. I love sending and receiving things through the post so I thought I'd try and keep a log of everything I send in February. You're more than welcome to join in (even though I know we're a few days into February. But who's counting? It's the thought that counts. :) ). You can find the information at:
Month of Letters
Feel free to keep a record of what you send and post it up. Let's make the world a better place, one letter at a time!
February 2012
1st - Letter to a friend in America
2nd - Letter to a friend in the UK
3rd - Card to my sister in London
4th - Package of goodies to a friend in Greece
5th and 6th - Package to a friend in the UK and a letter to a friend in Ireland
7th - Letter to a friend in Australia
8th - Card to a friend in the UK
9th -
10th -
11th -
12th -
13th -
14th -
15th -
16th -
17th -
18th -
19th -
20th -
21st -
22nd -
23rd -
24th -
25th -
26th -
27th -
28th -
29th -
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