Precisely what I was thinking.
I salute those two sailors for not kowtowing to the bigoted and narrow-minded.
Little kids are amazingly open and tolerant. They just go on basic values, like love and warmth and food and happiness and playmates. They don’t give a shit about such silly things as “This person is not like me therefore I do not like them”. Only adults do that.
You want gay people to hide away, not even letting them share a quick, chaste kiss, and you think *you’re *the more tolerant one?
**Buchanan ** - For the sake of your children and your family I hope you keep any homophobic sentiments and attitudes to yourself, or better yet, change them.
If one of your children happen to turn out to be gay, you are going to cause them a lot of pain and suffering if you make them feel like being gay is something that is wrong, or that makes you feel uncomfortable. I am begging you, pleading you, please do not make the mistake that my father and many other parents make with regards to raising their children. Accepting and affirming the rights for same-sex couples will not make your children turn gay, but if they do happen to be gay, it will make your relationship with that child so, so much better, and it will make their lives so much happier. So please, knock this off, for the sake of your kids. Take the advice of everyone else here if the situation and question comes up from your 4 year old, and treat the situation calmly and rationally. Explain to your child that people do not choose who they are attracted to and who they fall in love with, and that’s the end of it. Please, please, please listen to what everyone else is saying here.
What’s this “they” you speak of. Like it or not, (hetero) sexuality is public and ostentatious in day to day living and has been for decades. Advertising, daytime TV, cheerleaders, sexualized children’s beauty contests (a la JonBenet Ramsey), most media directed towards teenagers, etc - very often has sexual undertones. And in the case under discussion, there isn’t anything sexual about it - just a homecoming kiss between two people who love each other, who haven’t seen each other in quite a while. Serving our country, no less!
If you’re heterosexual, it’s OK - expected, even - to have a photo of your SO or spouse on your desk at work. It’s OK to bring them to work parties, picnics or other business-type functions or trips. It’s OK to announce your marriage or anniversary. But you expect same-sex couples to pretend that they are single and androgynous? In 2012, and after the repeal of DADT? That’s just…unrealistic.
And incest is absolutely not in the same spectrum as homosexuality, seriously.
I don’t understand how you can say you’re more tolerant. Really? You’re the one who wants gay people to Don’t Ask and Don’t Tell - for your comfort. Nobody is asking you to pretend that your spouse doesn’t exist, but you want gay people to do just that - so you can delay telling your children that sometimes people of the same sex have romantic relationships, because you don’t like the idea.
Have whatever views you want and voice them loud and proud - I mean that sincerely. I support your right to voice your opinion whenever you see fit, whether or not I agree. In fact, I was in the USNR and would have fought for your freedom to do just that, blah and etc. However, you want gays and lesbians (and those who believe in their rights) to censor themselves just so you can pretend like it’s still 1958 - and you think you’re the tolerant one? The mind, it boggles.
Also, Una’s post was awesome. 
It is a Navy tradition. Perhaps if you have a problem with a such a public kiss no matter who is kissing, don’t take your children to the ship’s homecoming. Or show up after said tradition takes place.
You mean this one?
OK - good points, and my viewpoint has changed - just a little bit. I think I could tell my children without so much of an issue.
Actual witnessed conversation between my friend and her four-year-old:
And such the world changes, for the better.
Good for you!
And as a parent one really needs to be ready for questions to come up when you were NOT planning to address them – kinda paradoxical, ain’t it?
Really?
OK, that’s very cool.
Thank you.
And frankly, homosexuality was the easy one. Alcohol, drugs, sex - piece of cake. Financial issues and developing a work ethic - ongoing (like the rest), but not difficult to broach. The hard one was genocide. I really wasn’t ready for that when it came up. Racism was tough, too.
I think that’s totally untrue. Little kids can be unbelievably brutal to each other. They are totally capable of being vindictive, nasty, hateful little monsters, and they are eminently capable of singling out another kid for needless torment.
Yes, but it’s usually because the other kids has cooties, not because they are a different color or have two daddies.
I had anticipated a more close-minded approach based on your original post. Good for you to listen with reason and logic (even if it’s just a little bit).
Well, we don’t exactly know what he’s going to tell his kids…
I sympathize, Buchanan. But the wheels of history are turning.
In the Navy, yes, you can sail the seven seas.
In the Navy, yes, you can put your mind at ease.
In the Navy, come on now people, make a stand.
In the Navy, can’t you see we need a hand.
In the Navy, come on, protect the motherland.
In the Navy, come on and join your fellow, man.
In the Navy, come on, people, and make a stand.
In the Navy, in the Navy.
Congratulations, gay sailors!