THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN VOICE

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN VOICE is dedicated to views of social, political, and spiritual importance. Arguments supported by facts and reason are welcomed. Mere statements of opinion and prejudice are not.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Dear Kirk Cameron: Homosexuality is Not Unnatural!



By Dennis McClatchey

Kirk Cameron, star of the 1980's sit com "Growing Pains," made news recently with his comments on homosexuality on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight. According to Mr. Cameron, homosexuality is "unnatural"..."detrimental"...and "destructive...to the foundations of civilization."
 
To be expected, those words created a chorus of outrage and support from many quarters. To those of us who found his notions outrageous he blames Piers Morgan. You see, poor Kirk came on the show simply to promote his documentary "Monumental" not to discuss his personal views on social issues. Although he holds steadfastly to those views and has gone on the Today show and Fox and Friends to repeat them while blaming Piers Morgan for giving his insights a platform.
 
First, why should we care what Kirk Cameron says? Second, he has a right to his opinion and a right to express that opinion when asked about it.
 
True. But, when someone says something that I feel is wrong, detrimental, and destructive that same right prevails. So, I choose to exercise my right to speak out in protest.

Homosexuality is not unnatural. Anything that occurs in nature is, by definition, natural. And, even Cameron has to accept the fact that homosexuality does occur in nature. Perhaps, though, to a greater degree than he realizes.

Naturalists have witnessed and documented same sex behavior in: Bisons, Brown Bears, Brown Rats, Caribous, domestic Cats, domestic Cattle, Chateaus, Chimpanzees, Dolphins, Marmosets, Dogs, Elephants, Foxes, Giraffes, Goats, domestic Horses, Lions, Orcas, Raccoons, barn Owls, Chickens, Gulls, Emus, King Penguins, Mallards, Ravens, Seagulls, and the list goes on and on and on.

 You see homosexuality is not just a phenomenon among us homo sapiens. (That's right. We are all homos, homo sapiens, that is)

 So, we can easily prove, through science, that being gay is not unnatural. Okay, it is the exception not the norm. But where does it say being exceptional is bad?

 Oh, I'm sure Kirk and his minions would prefer the word abnormal when describing gay behavior. Fair enough. But, being left handed would be considered abnormal with right handedness being the norm. Does that make south paws evil? Of course not.

 In order for homosexuality-or anything for that matter- to be evil or immoral it must first be a choice. It must be part of our free will. While science is still trying to sort out the question of whether homosexuality is nature or nurture, it seems clear that choosing to be gay is as logical as choosing to be straight.
 
Now, I don't know about Kirk, but for me being straight was not something that required a great deal of thought. When I became sexually driven-a time not by choice but by hormones-I did not have to set out a piece of paper, draw a vertical line down the middle and jot on one side the advantages of being gay and on the other side of the page the advantages of being straight.

 Let's see, I can be straight. I can date openly. I can marry and enjoy all the rights and privileges that society extends to married couples.

Or, I can be gay which may require keeping my love partner a secret, become estranged from my family, church, and friends. I would not be allowed to marry, open myself up to ridicule, being called a deviant, labeled as immoral by a 1980's sit com star, and possibly being bullied, beaten, and murdered.

 Oh boy, that gay life is for me! Please.
 
I am straight because I am and always have been attracted to the opposite sex. And, I trust it is the same kind of urges and desires that drives a gay person to his/her desired partner.
 
But, as long as we have the likes of Kirk Cameron judging and denouncing a gay person's orientation, there will be those who find comfort in calling out and hurting a person based on who that person loves.

As long as we allow the uneducated and the uncaring to classify gays as "unnatural, detrimental, and destructive to the foundations of civilization" we will continue to see young people confused, ashamed, and suicidal.

And, to me, that is about as evil as one can be.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Hey Rush--Do You Really Want To Complain About Paying For Contraceptives?

By Dennis McClatchey

Okay Rush, let me see if I understand this. You are outraged if your health plan is forced to pay for some woman's contraceptives. Right?

 Poor Rush. Why should he have to pony up a portion of his health premium dollar so some college kid can have sex? And, oh yes, even if the contraceptive is used for non sexual but medically necessary purposes, that matters little. I mean, he doesn't have ovaries. Why should he kick in bucks to save some "slut's" sex organs?

 So here sits cigar smoking Rush Limbaugh who is clearly and considerably over weight, a habit and condition that can likely lead to diabetes (if it hasn't already), cardio vascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, wearing a Cochlear implant-- a surgical procedure costing north of $50,000-- required because of a hearing loss due to his abuse of prescription drugs.

Here he sits complaining that his health plan will be required to fork out money for contraception. Rush, is that really an argument you want to have given your sorry state of health resulting from your sorry lifestyle choices which will result in higher health insurance premiums to cover your soon to be experienced health problems for all those who share your health plan? Do you really want to go there?

Birth control pills cost between $160 to $600 annually. Hey, one Cochlear implant would pay for 80 to 300 years of contraceptives. What a deal. And, listen to this Rush, birth control reduces the number of unwanted pregnancies which reduce the number of abortions. Good, don't you think?

And, if access to these pills is only available to those who can afford them, then the poor will not have access which means more children will likely be born into poverty placing greater strain on our welfare safety net. Bad, don't you think?

 And something else, Rush. The more a woman has sex does not translate into a requirement that she take more birth control pills. Apparently you missed the film we kids got to see in junior high. But, I bet if you ask nicely and politely some female friend will be happy to explain to you where babies come from and how her reproductive system really works.

Good luck!