I watched that this morning. Peter Sagal, from NPR's "Wait, Wait. Don't Tell Me" tweeted it. It was very difficult to watch, but worth it. This guy was very brave to put himself out there like that - especially being an elected official in conservative Texas.
Never ascribe to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Spellbinding is a good description.
Upon reflection several friends at school were pretty obviously gay. I don't recall it making a difference at the time. Certainly doesn't make a difference to me now. I hope they are all happy with their lives however they have chosen to live it.
David O'Meara wrote:... however they have chosen to live it.
Except, of course, that it wasn't something chosen.
Guys, we are starting to get off charter for Meaningless Drivel.
I believe, IMHO, that gay people are made by God, and its not a choice. And my God doesn't make mistakes, so its clear that is OK to be gay. But this is a very hot political topic these days. Probably too hot for MD.
By the way, this Wednesday, October 20, is a Wear Purple Day ("Spirit Day") to raise awareness and honor the memories of the young men who have recently committed suicide after homophobic abuse.
fred rosenberger wrote:especially being an elected official in conservative Texas.
Many parts of Texas are quite liberal. I'm not sure about Fort Worth, where Joel Burns is from, but Austin is definitely not bible-belt.
Jelle Klap wrote:Is intolerance over there really that bad?
We're talking about high school age kids here, hence the "It Gets Better" message, implying that quality of life improves after high school. Frankly, I think its true for most people (you couldn't pay me enough to go back!).
Joe Ess wrote:Many parts of Texas are quite liberal. I'm not sure about Fort Worth, where Joel Burns is from, but Austin is definitely not bible-belt.
True, Austin is fairly progressive. When asked if I'm from Texas, I often joke "No, I'm from Austin."
@Pat, I don't think my post was off-topic. I just wanted to be sure to dispel any notion that, despite what right-wingers would like to believe, that being gay is hardly just "a poor choice". (Not that that's what I think David meant at all!)
It shouldn't matter what someone else thinks. The bullying and the hatred have to stop. That guy is all sorts of awesomez!! I really want to know what the 2 sentences he couldn't read were.
Michael Matola
whippersnapper
Ranch Hand
Joined: Mar 25, 2001
Posts: 1721
posted
0
Gregg Bolinger wrote:I really want to know what the 2 sentences he couldn't read were.
Michael Matola wrote:That he himself had contemplated suicide?
Probably that he went a lot farther, perhaps pulled out his Dad's gun, and came very very close to pulling the trigger.
@Bear, I was not talking about the whole thread being too touchy, just the "its a choice" vs "its born in you" argument, is never going to be resolved here in MD, and some times, that discussion goes way out side of the nice friendly karma that we love here at the ranch.
BLOCK: That story that you said youve never told before, you actually couldnt bring yourself to tell before the chamber on Tuesday. Can you share any of what that experience was with us now?
Mr. BURNS: It was just really a very dark place, a very difficult place where I considered taking my own life. And I had actually written out four or five sentences, and just the very - A, The very graphic nature of them was just too hard for me to go through. And then, I had a realization while actually reading it of my parents hearing that and how if it was hard for me, it would be really hard for them.
I also realized, I guess in retrospect, that that really - the specifics of where I was that one afternoon, which happened to be, you know, locked in my parents' bathroom actually, really is not so much the story as that for adults, we have to take on this issue of bullying and suicide. And then to the teenagers, and that it does get easier if they just let themselves live long enough to get to that point.
0
