Lauren (preciousmezzo@yahoo.com) didn’t care much for my earlier post concerning Senator Richard White’s bigotry, and left comments to that effect.
She didn’t care much for my reply, either, prompting her to send this happy little note my way:
I do NOT have prejudices against you. What I wrote about simply does not have anything to do with ME individually. What I wrote previously was stating simple fact! [The] Majority of Mississipians are not ready for that type of open exposure.
I am not condeming your way of life, nor am I asking you to hide it. Live your life the way you see fit, just as I do. I have many friends that are gay and I do not, nor will I condem their beliefs.
The only problem I had with you, as an individual, was your attack on Senator White. Where I see that he has done nothing wrong, you do. ALL I SAID was that he was stating simple fact. Racism and social prejudices in the 1960’s—- still exist today.
You have a right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and I am NOT telling you that you do not, for every American citizen is welcome to it. No one is stopping you from living your life in your own way. As long as you are happy, then what the hell are you worried about? Just because someone said something, you go and get all pissed off.
Well, wake up. Everybody talks about everybody. I don’t get mad everytime someone says something about white people, or christians, or God. I do stand up for what I believe in, but I do not condemn those that do not. Senator White was only speaking about his belief, just as you do everyday, I am sure. So, who are you to persecute him for his beliefs?
Bless her heart. I sent the following reply:
First, I welcome a discussion with anyone with strong, clear opinions — even those who hold opinions that differ dramatically from my own.
However: as long as you cling to the fantasy that you’ve been empowered to speak for “the majority of Mississippians,” you’re nothing more than a coward.
Have the guts to own your convictions, Lauren. Speak for yourself.
Second: You’re very generous to invite me to “go live [my] life as [I] see fit.” You are not thinking clearly, however, if you can’t see that laws which prevent me from marrying the person I choose to marry do, in fact, amount to someone “stopping me from living [my] life in [my] own way.”
In my original post, I pointed out very real parallels between Senator White’s comments and those of historical bigots. You can characterize that observation as an attack on or persecution of Senator White, if you like … but I think most fair-minded people will recognize that kind of shrill, inaccurate, and emotional exaggeration for what it is.
Meanwhile: does the fact that the “majority of Mississippians” declined to re-elect Senator White suggest to you, as it does to me, that his sentiments may not, in fact, be shared by the majority of us?
Mark
Add comment