But this isn’t similar to what december said.
What if you had two job applicants, one of whom has religious beliefs that it is wrong to work on sundays, but promises to do so just like the boss asks, whereas the other applicant has no such religious qualms and also promises to work on sundays like the boss asks?
That’s an analogy more in line with the argument december presented.
Like it or not Gobear there are a lot of people who are not in any way bigoted or homophobic in any meaningful sense of the word, who wouldn’t relish explaining homosexuality to a six year old. In fact, I’d venture that these people make up the great majority. Hell, I wouldn’t want my kids learning about anything related to sex at such a young age and I’m not a bigot.
Why would I cancel a vacation on the off chance I might have to explain to my child about two men or two women holding hands? Given the times we live in, I’m going to have to answer lots of questions for him so why try to delay doing so?
I got news for ya…if I explained to little Aries that he wasn’t going to get to see Mickey Mouse after we planned a vacation to do so, he would damn sure want to know why. Him seeing 2 people who care about each other showing affection towards one another would be the least of my worries! 
Kids ask questions. Period. Mine has asked why God made people in different colors, why God lets bad guys win sometimes, how can the sky hold up all the clouds, etc.
Cancelling a trip because some gay people might be there is stupid.
I don’t believe so, Monstro - he was suggesting that screening out applicants due to certain religious beliefs would be screening them out due to their religion, which would be unconstitutional. However, I am suggesting that screening folks out for job related stuff (even if it’s 'cause of their religion) is okey dokey, so the concern that something is ‘tantamount’ to screening because of religion will always be unconstitutional because screening because of religion is unconstitutional.
I agree that if the person swears and affirms that they can perform the job duties even when they conflict w/their religion, you have to accept it (unless you can demonstrate that they’ve been unable to in the past). But to argue that anything connected w/a religious belief would be unconstitutional is, IMHO, wrong.
Now if that’s not what he was getting at, fine. But I believe that it was.
And why does explaining homosexuality to kids involve sex? What, do you tell your kids about the sex positions when you mention your wife? Why csn;t you people use your common snese and tailor your answers to a child’s level of understanding? All you have to do if your kid asks why those men are holding hands is to say, “Some kids have mommies and daddies. Those men are two daddies.” Simple, easy, and no sex involved at any stage.
I swear, do you accuse hetero couples of being sexual by walking together?
What’s there to learn? If they ask, tell them that the two men are holding hands because they love each other. Or is a six-year-old too young to learn about love?
You don’t need to say, “Well, Johnny, they’re holding hands because they enjoy fucking each other’s butts.” C’mon. There’s lots more to being gay than the mechanics of sex, and it shouldn’t be any harder to explain gay relationships to kids than it is to explain straight relationships.
Daniel
So then, do you keep your kids safely locked away from the rest of the world, lest they see a man and a woman holding hands and you have to explain heterosexual sex to them?
Because they “might” be there, sure. But at the time in question, they’re GUARANTEED to be there, and in great numbers. And I have no problem with a parent deciding “y’know, I’d prefer to put off this uncomfortable discussion until my kid’s a little older if I can help it.” Sure, there’s an off chance that you might see a gay couple at Disney at some other time, and sure, you might end up having that uncomfortable discussion anyway. But why not avoid a situation where it’s guaranteed to arise?
I have no problem with NYC’s annual Gay Pride Parade. I have no problem with young people going to see it. Heck, if I were more of a parade-watching kind of a guy I might go stand in the crowds myself. But I don’t think it would be terribly awful for me to decide my FOUR YEAR OLD isn’t quite ready for that yet, and decline to visit areas near the parade route in Manhattan on those grounds.
I wouldn’t have to explain why a man and a woman hold hands because they see mommy and daddy doing it all the time. You didn’t really think that one through, did you?
so explain that they are just like mommy and daddy.
Yes, sug, I’ve thoguht it through.
Dewey, I’d agree with you and your hypothetical 4-year-old to the extent that Gay Pride parades seem to have a tendency to get a bit risque. My impression of Gay Day at Disney, however, is that The Mouse frowns mightily on any kind of naughtiness, and the attendees are on their best behavior, so to speak. You are unlikely to witness anything more than couples holding hands or exchanging a quick kiss, exactly as you might expect from straight couples anywhere you go in public.
If that’s actually the case–hey, I haven’t been to Disney in 20 years–what would there be to explain?
‘Son, those two men are holding hands because of a tragic industrial Super Glue accident. Now, shut up and eat your snowshoes!’
Again, I’ve gotta wonder: broaching this topic is awkward and uncomfortable for even the best of parents, even when done in a completely nonsexual way. I can understand perfectly well not wanting to make that awkwardness a part of your vacation if at all possible, given that the whole point of a vacation is to relax. I am at a loss to understand why some of you are so bothered by a parent’s choice to try to control, to the extent possible, when and under what circumstances those particular discussions happen.
Oh wow, you really got me there! There’s just no possible response to that, is there?
Oh, wait, gobear had one. Whew! Thanks for the assist, buddy.
:rolleyes:
Again, Dewey, what’s to discuss? It’s not like you have to explain anything sex-related to your kid if he sees same-sex couples holding hands. And to the extent that you’re contemplating that the explanation has to be different than it is with opposite-sex couples, I would suggest that you’re quite definitely giving him the wrong message.
Maybe it is less risque. Maybe it isn’t. Why risk it when you can just delay your trip for a few days?
I certainly don’t think a parent should cover his kids’ eyes every time he sees a gay couple holding hands, but it seems perfectly sensible to avoid situations where there’s a reasonably good chance of risque displays cropping up.
I challenge you to find where I said he wasn’t a bigot…In fact I said in opinions were backward
What do my parenting skills, or lack their of, have to do with a discussion regarding the decisions made by a man & his wife with regards to how they choose to raise their children? Provided they’re not breaking any laws, it’s none of my, yours or Feingold’s business.
Quite frankly, I see apples & oranges with the race / orientation comparison in this case.
As pointed out quite eloquently by Dewey Cheatem Undhow
So Gobear, instead of having such knee-jerk reactions and using party-line cliche’s, ask yourself this: If you were 4, or for that matter 6 years old, would really see the black / gay comparision in the exact same light? I don’t see how you could answer in the affirmative.
Pryor has a trackable, well-documented public record. If you wanna disqualify him on those grounds, be my guest. But, whatever lawful & private decisions he makes in his home have no place in a PC laden public inquisition. Crossing that line between public and private is just another erosion of liberty and individualism, irregardless of the fact the man we’re discussing may himself have those same goals.
Ah, okay, then we’re really not in disagreement, other than the question of whether Gay Day at Disney is likely to include anything more than G-rated fun. On that, I defer to anyone with more knowledge of the event than me.
[Big Gay Al]
The “G” is for Fabulous!
[/BGA]
What’s so uncomfortable about saying that those two ladies are holding hands because they love each other? How is that a major issue? How is a kid going to be negatively affected by finding out that sometimes boys like other boys instead of girls?
I’m saying that broaching the topic may be uncomfortable for the parents, even if they are perfectly enlightened liberal souls who devoutly think the explanation should be both nonsexual in nature and the same as it is for heterosexuality. Call that an illogical hangup if you wish, but it’s there, it’s real, and I can perfectly well understand not wanting to deal with it ON YOUR FREAKIN’ VACATION.