I don’t know a person who has not offended the Golden Rule by saying or doing something that hurts someone unlike themselves. Further, I recognize myself in a continuing struggle to achieve the ideals that define us as Americans. I know that measuring against those ideals and the Golden Rule is the right thing to do, despite our failing to do the right thing 100% of the time. Keeping to common rights, respect and rules for equal treatment is just not easy.
Our City Commission and Mayor have not in any way whatsoever “unleashed a Pandora’s box of sexual anarchy” as accused. What seems to be misunderstood is that people of all sexual orientations are not new creations any more than are people of all races, religions, all Christian denominations, socio-economic backgrounds or educational attainments are. And, there is nothing new in anyone’s desire to be a visible and welcomed part of the community. To think the City Commission and Mayor have allowed something to “escape” that did not exist before is perversely ridiculous.
I also find the self-righteousness a selective reading of any common moral code.
The language and spirit of public temper tantrums being thrown are not leadership from a faith or civic perspective. They are “brazen outrages” and “troublesome politics,” which have repeatedly crossed the line. I have no problem with the City adopting a guideline that those speaking during a public meeting of the Commission to be on-topic to the matters at hand. That is not curtailing anyone’s freedom to express disapproval; it is a standard of keeping the conversation on what is being considered for our common benefit.
What is going on now is simply ugly bullying. It must and should stop, and I am sad that it continues to find any forum to be heard. It can only lead to more hate and more bullying.
Finally, I want to express my appreciation and respect for the City Commissioners for their decorum and especially for Mayor Harless for her grace in words and actions taken through this period. We have witnessed aggressive character attacks, some in the name of Christianity, that would have had me very angry and arguing the civic and faith value of the assaults right then and there. The Commission and the Mayor have not done this.
By ordinance, behavior and example, our Commission and Mayor have chosen to treat all citizens with the same level of rights, respect and decency … even those who are confused to turn the topics into hate. Those confused should mirror the model set by our Commission and Mayor.
Editor's Note: This opinion piece was written in response to another posted on this site a few days prior. A link to that column is included below in case someone needs to refer to it for proper context.
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