i think the billboard should be allowed, but i think that anyone who believes in it is a moron. that’s my take on it.

As for the debate on censorship/regulation. In a way atlmalcontent made some very good points. It can come across as being a hyprocate when, on one hand you tell people if they don’t like gays then don’t have gay thoughts or gay sex, etc, just walk the other way; while on the other hand you’re saying these anti-gay billboards are offensive. Shouldn’t you then follow your own advice? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a negative person nor an unhappy person, I’m a supporter.

If I see a billboard showing a grotesque picture of an aborted late term fetus, should I be offended if I had an abortion or am pro-choice? (hypothetical) Should billboards promoting breastfeeding offend formula feeding moms or vice-versa? Should these offenses be regulated/censored?

You appear to be one of those all or nothing people by suggesting that any form of regulation means total and utter loss of freedom. That kind of mentality scares me a hell of a lot more than a single instance of “censorship”.

Something that disturbs me is the fact that in recent years, it seems that political and social debate has been watered down into soundbites. Ignoring the complexities of issues, we’re left with a false dichotomy of two extremes as our only options. So, you can either have SOCIALISM!!! or NO GOVERNMENT!!! - there is no in between.

Unfortunately, real life doesn’t work that way. Obviously, it’s harder and takes more time and attention to actually explore an issue from all sides, taking into account all the nuances and acknowledging that nothing exists in a vaccuum. All that stuff can’t be boiled down into a nice, 5-word soundbite.

(Btw, Barack Obama has some good stuff to say along these lines… my friend Jmac posted an excerpt from his book The Audacity of Hope here: http://safeashouses.blogspot.com/2006/10/from-shelves.html)

Sorry, but malcontent has a point.

And a big difference between me and the Christian right, probably the biggest, which would make me nothing like them, is that I actually do try to see both sides and fully investigate the information; rather than blindly believing one thing and eliminating all else that doesn’t align with my faith. Because I don’t agree with bigotry and hatred, and don’t think they has a place in society, isn’t because I just feel that way, or because the Lord told me so; it is because they are harmful. Hate and bigotry lead to violence and intolerance, and if beings against those things, and for compassion and tolerance, makes me Christian, then great, but that isn’t even what the Christian right are about.

One final note: Just because I don’t agree with your all or nothing mentality, doesn’t mean I am any less right or wrong than you. It is called an opinion. Additionally, it has been proven time and again that you don’t agree with me, so understand that I get that, alright? What I don’t understand is why you continue to come here, and set out on your mission to demean me on my blog. People can disagree without being so negative and offensive to one another. If you don’t like what I have to say, stop reading it. The reason I said you were unhappy, is because you are only negative when you comment here. That speaks more volumes than anything I would say about you. Read it or don’t, I don’t care, just don’t be a jerk if you are going to try and have a conversation with me. It makes you look like a whiny pissed off child.

Now, you may be excused to wallow in your misery.

I have a backbone. I posted MY opinion. It takes a backbone to do that. Also, I am not proposing censorship, I am proposing regulations to prevent hatred being spread amongst the masses. In case you didn’t know, hate can cause people to do bad things; wouldn’t we want to prevent that if we could? Per your example, The KKK are another group that shouldn’t have billboards spreading hate; they are a violent and evil group that should not be allowed to spread their messages in this manner. These regulations that I questioned would prevent this kind of hate, but wouldn’t censor them. There is a fine line between censorship and regulation.

Also, I challenge you to keep in mind, that this actually wasn’t an argument, as you suggested, it is my opinion. I never said that the event couldn’t be, or shouldn’t be, advertised, but I do believe that the way in which they chose to advertise it is hateful and bigoted. The regulations that I suggest would prevent this bigotry, and simply require them to advertise what they are having, an event, NOT a de-gayification holy war, and a “true alternative” to homosexuality (of which the only one is denial).

And I have read 1984. But by suggesting that book, it tells me that you are equating any “censorship” to a totalitarian society, which is preposterous. You appear to be one of those all or nothing people by suggesting that any form of regulation means total and utter loss of freedom. That kind of mentality scares me a hell of a lot more than a single instance of “censorship”. There can be a happy medium between total loss of freedom, and some necessary regulation of it.

Additionally, I have no problem with you commenting on my blog, but I would sincerely appreciate if you wouldn’t be derogatory in the manner with which you speak to me. I don’t deserve that for having a differing opinion, and it doesn’t hammer your point home any harder.