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Without an ounce of surprise, the new Pope does not seem to be winning any fans in gay blogland. Reading around, I have read a longlaundry list of all the things Benedict XVI has said and written in the past. Yes, he is ultra-conservative... on abortion, birth control, pre-marital sex, and yes... homosexuality. I will be the first to say that I don't agree with any of these things!
But c'mon folks, is this really a surprise? Did we expect to hear... "Hmmm, maybe we should really take another look at our policy about gay people?" If so, I'd like to know what drug you and Paula Abdul are on... and get me some pronto!
Sure, I can understand being a little upset... but it seems like a big waste of time and mental energy to get into too much of a tizzy about it. Sure Benedict seems even more to the right that JP2, but for those of us who are not Catholics (or do not practice)... does the Pope really have any affect on our daily lives? JP2 was around for most of my life... but never once did I ever shake my fists into the air and say "Darn You... Pope!"
Sure we can say that it perpetuates the belief the homosexuality is morally wrong and the oft-quoted "abomination." For those who share deeply conservative views, there is going to be no changing of minds any time soon... that is going to take generations (if even that)... and certainly it is silly to expect anything would change with a new Pope... whether he was conservative, moderate, or <gasp!> liberal.
But these days there is a need to compartmentalize everyone into a box... they call us evil, we call them evil back... or to quote the current President... you are either with us, or against us. The equation still holds: two wrongs don't make a right. I wish there was more of that Barack Obama/DNC speech feeling out there...
"We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states. We coach little league in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states."
But that just seems very Pollyanna-ish these days...
This all goes back to my "color me grey" mini-rant from last week.
Can I admit, without guilt, that I got goose-bumps when the bells rang announcing the new Pope or when the crowd roared when Ratzinger appeared on the balcony?
I am sure some on "my side" would view that as an act of treason... but does that make them any different from Ann Coulter (or those of similar ilk), who will gladly dub any Democrat the same thing without a second thought.
Right-Wrong. Blue-Red. Left-Right. While I have certainly be guilty of playing that way... I am starting to get tired of "the rules."
Middle ground is an endangered species and a respectful "agree to disagree" philosophy is increasingly the road less taken... or maybe I am just too much of a Libra.
</soapbox>
ADDENDUM: Ok, bad timing on my Paula Abdul line... we just kid you Paula, no harm meant.... Abdul says odd behavior not drug-related
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