|
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
|
|
|
|
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
|
|
Opening Some Eyes
To the editor: Your guest writer Louis McBee, in his “On Second Thought” column (“Lessons from the Trenches,” June 6, 2007) was articulate and funny. This former candidate for Fort Worth City Council and mayor deserves credit for being honest to the bone and giving us an “exclusive” look into local politics. Mayor Mike Moncrief won’t give interviews unless you pander to his political policies and unless you refrain from asking pertinent questions regarding his leadership. He is only committed to avarice, and his cronies are, too. Moncrief & Co. have deep pockets being filled by the gas drillers in return for the perks offered via the mayor. He’s never going to break bread with anyone unless it benefits him and his staff. He has revealed himself to the knowledgeable public as being no knight in shining armor serving the city’s needs— just someone serving his personal agenda. Thank you, Mr. McBee, for your contributions to the truth. Cheryl Payne Fort Worth To the editor: Your column in Second Thought featuring Louis McBee was an eye-opener for all Fort Worth citizens. Mr. McBee is no milquetoast in his revealing approach to the city’s machinations. I voted for him, and it didn’t matter about his sexual orientation. I voted for his intellectual orientation and the integrity of his character. Mayor Moncrief marches to the beat of a different drummer than McBee, mainly that of a narcissistic demagogue. The mayor cares about his personal interests, not about responding to the constituents who elected him. I appreciate Mr. McBee’s heartfelt article and also the fact that you published it. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram would have consigned it to File 13 for fear of retaliation from certain city officials. Delbert Cantrell Fort Worth Hurray for “Gay Cure” To the editor: I just wanted to let you know that I’m impressed by Eric Griffey’s article (“Gay Cure,” June 13, 2007). It’s great that he was able to go into such depth. It’s unusual to read someone who has studied the nuances of the language around these issues and explained them so clearly. Also, I loved the cover art. Superimposing the inverted crosses on “Cure” speaks beautifully to what the ex-gay stuff is all about. The intriguing and challenging thing with the ex-gay ministries is that they live within a subculture that often has its own values, language, and logic. Part of that subculture is a sense of conviction that widely accepted evidence is tainted when it comes to gender, orientation, creation, sex education, climate change, and any number of other topics. Their ideologically driven version of the science in these areas often doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, but achieving widespread respect or credibility matters less to them than remaining ideologically pure. That gap between the conservative Christian subculture and mainstream America is exactly what makes the transition from being ex-gay to openly lesbian, gay, bi, or transgender such a challenge: Folks aren’t just changing their self-perceptions, they are often realigning themselves with a broader culture that their families, friends, and leaders had looked down on. The language, assumptions, and degree of independent thought all change. So the most distinctive thing we can do is help get the simple facts out, as you have done. Encouraging folks to tell their stories will make a bigger impact than having them vent their justifiable hurt and anger. Steve Boese Hartford, Conn. BeyondExGay.com To the editor: Eric Griffey says in “Gay Cure” that the Living Hope Ministry is trying to “de-gay” homosexuals, apparently believing that reparative and aversion therapy will cure them. What’s with these people? They must not have read the part in the Bible that says “Judge not that ye may be judged,” or “Those without sin cast the first stone,” or “Don’t try and take the cinder out of your neighbor’s eye until you’ve taken the log out of your own.” If those on the religious right truly want to do God’s work, why aren’t they looking for a cure for the ailment that seems to adversely affect almost every right-wing conservative— chronic hypocrisy? Just imagine how much better our world would be if all those so-called Christians could be cured of such a horrible malady. Maybe then they would follow the golden rule, treating gays with love and respect, instead of literally trying to scare them all straight. Sharon Austry Fort Worth
Email this Article...
