Archive for July 7th, 2008
Anti-gay rants are pathetic and dangerous
By AquaWoman – Posted Monday, 7 July 208
4 comment
Enough is enough. Sooner or later a gay person is going to be attacked
in the Cayman Islands by some demented person who was encouraged by
the steady stream of anti-gay hate that is being spewed over our radio
airwaves via two popular talk shows.
I wonder if the more sensible people in our country are aware of how
bad it’s been since the ridiculous “gay kissing incident†and the
suggestion that we should adopt a bill of rights. Why haven’t
government officials or the police spoken out against this
inflammatory talk that has filled the airwaves in recent months? Do
they really think this is acceptable? One caller to Radio Cayman’s
afternoon talk show said that we should bring back stoning for gays in
Cayman. He wasn’t joking. Shockingly, the host of the show did not
hang up on him or condemn the barbaric and dangerous comment in any
way. The caller was allowed to keep talking for another five minutes
or so!
Rooster’s morning talk show is the scariest. The host of that show is
passionately anti-gay, so much so that one has to wonder what it is
that motivates him to protest this one particular issue so vigorously
and consistently. But he’s not alone. Call after call comes into the
show from agitated men who are alarmed by the thought of gay people
holding hands in public. Most of these callers show the classic signs
of men who are struggling, consciously or subconsciously, with their
own sexuality.
These men sound like textbook cases of repressed homosexuality. Maybe
they are, maybe they aren’t. But they sure do talk the talk. Just
listen to their own words. Virtually every day, numerous callers to
both of Cayman’s radio talk shows repeat what has become the
unofficial Caymanian slogan for gay hate: “They can’t shove it down
our throats.†Hmmm… It’s interesting that so many of them keep
articulating their stand against gay men with such a loaded phrase.
The host of Rooster’s talk show host recently made a comment that was
bursting with subconscious meaning: “It’s the snake that sneaks up
behind you that you have to watch out for.â€Â
Paging Dr. Freud.
Cayman’s anti-gay hot heads just don’t sound much like the guardians
of pure heterosexuality they claim to be. They seem more like
tormented souls desperately trying to camouflage or compensate for
their own hang-ups and desires. If they only knew that many people are
snickering at them every time they go off on one of their hate-filled
rants. Any smart person who has been around for a while knows that the
biggest anti-gay bigmouths are almost always the ones who are creeping
around in the shadows secretly lusting for Liza Minnelli music.
Knoxman: Dearest Aquawoman, It is unfortunate that your verbage
online today shows that you clearly do not understand the issues here
or that you just do not care.
Your quite valid message of not harming “gays” physically is equally
clothed in misguided rants regarding the character of Caymanians who
are anti-gay, thus totally ineffective – in fact it may have added
fuel to the fire. Also it clearly displays your lack of understanding
of the Caymanian society, whether you are Caymanian or not.
What is clear with this case is that the Cayman Islands have never
been a place of extroverted displays of such behaviour. The fact that
other countries have been worn down to accept (thanks to Hollywood)
that being a homosexual as being “normal” is neither here nor there
for most Caymanians and I can assure you that those that feel that way
do not have any pent up desire to be one. I would hazard to guess that
most Caymanians would not want to see homosexuals in Cayman with these
types of public displays and as such the Cayman society should be free
to decide what is best for the society as a whole. It is really quite
inappropriate for another culture, country or person (other than
Caymanians) to decide what should be the best for the Cayman Islands.
And to date, what Caymanians have said is that they do not want
Homosexuals roaming the streets displaying what the people find
disgusting behaviour. The same is probably as true for some of the
“Soca style heterosexual” behavior that we see infusing our culture
from overseas.
Unfortunately, the socialist UK Government in particularly seems bent
to create a little microcosm of their country here. From where I sit,
I believe that they have not done too well of a job creating a decent
and functioning society in the UK. Their immigration and
constitutional issues make ours look petty. It is obvious that you are
of the same irk as them and I suggest that you refrain trying to
change our country.
Additionally, I suggest to you that in future you are more considerate
of the local culture if you are from overseas and if you are
Caymanian, please try to find your true Caymanian self.
Michael: There is no “sooner or later” for Cayman; we have
already had 2 murders this year where both victims were gay, in
addition to numerous violent and verbal attacks on gay citizens,
including gay Caymanians. If the “free press” of Cayman don’t want to
say that then they are obviously not a free press. Free speech means
that ignorant bigots can say what they like on the air and run for
office, and free choice means we can avoid the businesses who
give money to the station for advertising. I agree with Aquawoman that
it is a well-noted coincidence that so many “real men” who take issue
with gays turn out to be unable to deal with their own internal
struggle: As pointed out, Ted McTaggart and Larry Craig, both
Conservative, both publicly anti-gay, are just two excellent recent
high-profile examples. Why can this not be so in Cayman? What is
it about so many people here that they feel that homosexuality is an
import, that true Caymanians are just not capable of such a terrible
thing?
Sadly, Mr Knoxman rubbishes the satirical but spot-on analysis above
with the usual xenophobia we are so used to here, tarnishing the
bright future of bright young Caymanians. I think this lady DOES care.
It is the homophobic ostriches and dinosaurs here that do not really
care, for they allow their primitive and irrational beliefs to poison
our image worldwide. Yes, they may have good intentions, but they
are blinded by faith and a lack of true facts.
Let us remember something, many of us “indigenous” (ridiculous term
here) Caymanians are the descendants of African slaves – that may not
sit well with many who want to avoid this issue but it’s there and
it’s true. I am proud of my heritage. I may have had no choice in the
matter but I will not ignore the struggles my ancestors had for me to
have my place here. Anyone that believes there were no homosexuals in
Africa, or on those first boats, is deluded and too insecure to deal
with history and biology.
Can you imagine what the feeling towards gays was in those days?
Perhaps in Africa long ago it wasn’t a problem, just like it wasn’t a
problem in Rome (I will come back to that gem in a moment). It was
thanks to the tenacity of European missionaries, the uneducated mind
of the African ancestor and the fear that came with the aggressive
conversion to Christianity (oh, how so many here forget/ignore the
brutal conversion) that we have these beliefs instilled in us. Ask any
anti-gay Caymanian or Jamaican why they are against gays and most will
answer with reference to God or The Bible.
So interesting that so many here cling to the book and beliefs that
were forced on our ancestors through intimidation and fear. Do you
really think our ancestors, who were worshipping all kinds of deities,
welcomed this with open arms? No, they either accepted or were beaten
or even killed. Fast forward a few hundred years and here we are,
repressed and brainwashed, haters with no rational basis for hate.
THIS is why you don’t see much public display from gay people, because
they fear for their LIFE. Who are the ones creating this fear? The
pastors and talk show hosts, who take advantage of their low-educated,
eager-to-feel-special flocks. I’m a very fortunate young Caymanian; I
have good parents, I listened at school and had great higher education
overseas. This has given me a questioning mind, able to see beyond
hate and embarrassingly stupid statements using impartial logic and
reason.
Knoxman and others – you may never ever agree or accept this but
homosexuality is NATURAL, i.e. it is part of nature. Many species have
homosexual tendencies, dogs, dolphins and monkeys, to name a few. It
is the belief that we are unique, special, gods chosen people that
keeps many from raising their consciousness and letting go of their
selfishness to see that we are all linked. Clinging to the Bible quote
that God gave man dominion over all creatures shows ignorance of germ
theory for one.
Just because we are a small island doesn’t give us the right to spew
hatred and attack “foreigners” for speaking for civility and
acceptance (I don’t like the word tolerant). Is my brother
“abnormal” because he “chooses” to be gay?Do the village fools
honestly believe that he chooses to be in hiding, paranoid, scared for
his life? He doesn’t want to parade in the streets waving flags, he
wants to be accepted – as he cannot change the way he feels about the
gender of his partner, just as I cannot help my choice of gender in my
partner. Who are you to be superior? By the way, while we have the
Queen on our (Tax Free) currency and take advantage of the MANY
benefits afforded to us, the UK and her laws dictate most of what
happens here, and I am glad of that as I wouldn’t stay in another
Jamaica or other backwards Church-controlled society.
Yes, there may be issues with the UK and others but what on earth
possesses you with the belief that by maintaining such hatred we will
be better than them? There are no real answers; we are an evolving
society in Cayman, as is the UK and all. Yes, I am aware of
cultures when I visit Dubai for example, and wouldn’t advise anyone
visit Iran (unless you enjoy watching gays being hung) but that
insinuates they have the right idea. These cultures stone adulterers
too – not many Caymanian men left if that happened here! Point being,
this is not Iran or Dubai, this is Cayman – a so-called accepting
melting pot of social democracy.
Back to Rome, I always chuckle at the “when in Rome ..” line, as it’s
clear that most people who use this line to moderate their gay-hate
have no clue as to the history of Roman culture, where homosexuality
was very public and “normal” not only ok, but it was quite normal for
a young boy to be “groomed” by a family friend. Nero was married
to a man and 11 out of the 12 emperors were gay!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_ancient_Rome
Caymandude: When someone tries to defend the homosexual
lifestyle I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it
to be an abomination… End of debate. I do need some advice, however,
regarding some other elements of God’s Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend
of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can
you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair
price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in
her period of menstrual uncleanness – Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is
how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbors.
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus
35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there ‘degrees’
of abomination?
7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have
a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses.
Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes
me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing
garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really
necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town
together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we just burn them to
death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep
with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
#2 – Have you tried E-bay? Check some of the shady Third World
countries for going rates.
#3- See #4, and get your wife to find out.
#4- Don’t smite, be polite. Invite the neighbors over for a cookout.
Make sure you got rice and peas.
#5 – Just send the neighbor to the drug areas — they will take
care of him, probably more efficiently than the police and definitely
less red tape.
#6- It’s only a top ten abomination if you’re gay and eat shellfish.
PS don’t include shrimp with #4.
#7- Try contacts — nobody will know the difference.
#8- How bad is the hair cut? If they have a Nike sign carved in their
head – stoning for sure.
#9- Latex or Cotton gloves? Who do you think is going to the Superbowl
this year?
#10 – I personally believe in private burning, brings the family
together. Maybe you can include #4, make it a full family day?
I certainly hope this clears up some of your questions.