Speak Compassion

“I know you are but what am I”

Pee Wee Herman

Today, I read Sonja Dalton’s almost childish attempt to deny that Peter La Barbera is partly responsible for the climate of hate and violence that plagues gays and lesbians.   In what sounds like retaliation, Sonja tries to paint Pam Spaulding as someone who incites violence against Christians.  She did this because Pam wrote and article about how Peter La Barbera is distorting and “milking” this story about a blog commentor threatening him.   What I find interesting is that Sonja posts some quotes from Pam and some news on recent gay bashings.  Sonja tries to write this off by saying that none of the assailants were Christians.   Sonja says:

Though none of the perpetrators have claimed to be Christians nor to have acted on God’s behalf (some are not yet identified), Ms. Spaulding blames these heinous crimes on “fundie” (fundamentalist) Christians — and she is not the only activist to make such claims.

To start with, Pam never claimed these assailants were Christians.  She did explain how fundamentalist groups like Americans for Truth, write this violence off.   Sonja fails to see the message that Pam is really sending.  No one is saying that Fundamentalist Christians are committing these acts of violence against gays and lesbians, but fundamentalist groups are most certainly making the battle cry to others to commit these acts of violence against gays and lesbians.   Sonja fails to see this because it might mean that Sonja herself is guilty and she is.

It is mostly Christian fundamentalist groups who spread fear and loathing about gays and lesbians.  This most certainly helps to create a climate where violence is going to occur.   These groups have claimed so many lies about gays and lesbians, some of which are so outlandish and wrong.    The claim gays are a “danger”, that gays are out to indoctrinate children, that gays are out to remove freedoms, that gays are a “threat” to religion.

Sonja fails to understand that you cannot use rhetorical language like “threat”, “Danger” and “Diseased” and not expect that you are promoting violence against the group you used that rhetoric towards.   I forget where I first heard this great analogy, but here it goes.

Sonja,

• You have cut and stacked the wood (using lies and misrepresentations about GLBT folks);
• Poured Gasoline of the pile of Wood;
• Place a stake in the middle of the pile;
• Run around the village telling everyone gays and lesbians are witches;
• Then act surprised when someone shows up with a match.

Sonja, you and Peter are extremely responsible for the climate of violence that plagues gays and lesbians.