Out of all of NOM’s failed campaigns of late, this one will be the biggest failure:
You’ve heard about leading gay marriage activist Dan Savage’s vile attack on Christian teens at an anti-bullying assembly at a Southern California high school this week.
But did you know that President Obama has endorsed Dan Savage and his “It Gets Better” campaign as a core part of the official White House campaign against school bullying?
Is this what stands for “anti-bullying” inside the Obama White House?
Please take a moment right now to tell President Obama that Savage’s hostility toward Christians has no place in an anti-bullying campaign.
They actually have a pre-printed letter that you can send to President Obama:
But I was appalled by the hostile anti-Christian rant recently unleashed at a Southern California high school by Dan Savage, founder of the “It Gets Better” campaign.
I see that Savage’s “It Gets Better” campaign is prominently recognized on the White House website as a model for anti-bullying programs across the nation. Is this truly the sort of example that your administration wants to hold up for a model to the nation?
It got so bad as Savage cursed the Bible that a number of students quietly got up and walked out of the auditorium. This isn’t the sort of “bully pulpit” our nation needs.
Of course, you’re free to edit their letter, so if you’d like, take a moment to send President Obama a letter, through NOM’s website, thanking Dan Savage for the tireless work he’s done to help LGBT teens.
Joe points out that all of this is really much ado about nothing, as the walk-out was very likely staged. The more I watch the videos, the more I tend to agree. Fundamentalists are nothing if not constantly dishonest people:
As I’ve mentioned here before, this so-called “walkout” was very likely staged and prearranged by Focus On The Family, whose anti-Day Of Silence event was also taking place on April 19th and who that very day posted quotes from the involved students. For those unaware, FOTF asked Christian parents to keep their kids out of school on the annual day for observing anti-bullying campaigns.
If you watch the clips closely, you’ll see that students begin to get up and leave before Savage even says his first sentence about religion. You’ll also note that FOTF strategically placed a high-rez camera to capture the three rows of the audience of 2800 that walked out. These students, who exited with smirks and at least one “thumbs-up” to the camera, didn’t feel “bullied” or “offended,” they were asked in advance to attend and then walk out. Faked fakery, but quite well executed considering the result.
As I said, I think Joe’s right. If so, congratulations, Focus on the Family, on using teenagers to pull off a well constructed lie.
The militant anti-gay lobby continues its campaign to promote bullying in schools under the guise of religious beliefs. Their evil agenda is to force their way into schools, via the “religious beliefs” trojan horse, and launch their right wing social engineering experiment to make anti-gay bullying acceptable and “moral.”
I’d like the members of NOM to join the ranks of other religious cults (e.g., Heaven’s Gate, Order of the Solar Temple, and Peoples Temple) and commit mass suicide. But, unfortunately, it looks like we’re both destined for disappointment.
I agree that it was a staged walkout, although I am not certain of that. This is a prime example of how unhealthy fundamentalism is for people, but especially impressionable young people. These were journalism students. In the arena of ideas, people must expose themselves to the full range of ideas, regardless of whether you agree with them or not. Hearing things that you disagree with molds your opinions, and may even strengthen them, wherever they may lead. Keeping a closed mind is intellectual suicide.
They do not have an intellectual, rational mindset. Even if you disagree with someone, you listen to their ideas. At the very least, you think, “I do not agree with this person, but listening to this enlightens me as to where this person is coming from, and what they believe, how they believe it, and why they do so.”
I have personal experience with this. When I first attended NYU 25 years ago, I was still a born again Christian. I enrolled in religious classes. I embarrassed myself greatly by turning in papers which declared that Jesus was the way to salvation. My professors didn’t know what to make of it.
I learned nothing, and struggled mightily. Why? Because instead of seeing myself as a student, who needed to learn, I believed that I already had all the answers. Needless to say, that is not an attitude that helps a person who is entering freshman year at a University. It cost me my education.
The NOMbies don’t have to commit mass suicide. I’d settle for relocating themselves to outer space.
This is the letter I sent, made from their template:
I am grateful for the White House’s emphasis on creating a safe and civil school environment for children of all ethnic, social and religious backgrounds. This is a goal that we all can share.
I see that Savage’s “It Gets Better” campaign is prominently recognized on the White House website as a model for anti-bullying programs across the nation. THIS TRULY is the sort of example that your administration wants to hold up for a model to the nation!
I urge you to publicly THANK Dan Savage, making it clear that your administration SUPPORTS this.administration SUPPORTS this.
I can’t say I agree with how Dan Savage phrased things in his speech. It really was “in your face” and I can see how it would be insulting. That said, I find it interesting that WE are supposed to sit and take it when THEY get in our faces yet they get bummed out when it happens to them and they leave so as not to have to hear that stuff. HIS method highlights how they talk to and about us. Don’t give it if you can’t take it, kids.
Boo hoo. Somebody tells the truth about their book and the President is supposed to intervene? They really need to get a grip.
I think if Obama is going to say something about Dan Savage’s (perfectly reasonable) comments, he should do so right after condemning NOM for being cynical, lying, rascist a******s that promote bigotry and fraud (reparative therapy) and break political funding laws.
In case you are interested, Michael L. Brown is putting out a multi-part anti-Dan Savage screed on Townhall today. If you wish to contact him you find him at ‘AskDrBrown’ at ‘Line of Fire’ (his radio show).
I’m a big fan of blasphemy, and one of my favorite things is watching the irate screaming Christians creating an ever-larger audience for it. After they milk their feigned offense to the max over Dan uttering the horrific words “bu11$hit” and “pansy-a$$ed,” they are left facing the futile task of refuting the truth of Dan’s comments. And without reason on their side, the only tools they have are shouts of anger, outrage, lies, wrath, and empty threats. They must be longing for the good old days when blasphemy was literally a prosecutable crime, but I think it’s safe to say that those days are gone forever. It’s a good reminder of how far we’ve come in the battle against organized religion’s power.
I think that Obama should think about what he’s going to change in the world.Also i think that that we need a godly military-man that knows whats coming up in the world,but he needs to believe in God ,and reads the bible.I just think that they just need a man that knows what he’s doing.
Mckenlly, if a president really “knows what he’s doing,” he wouldn’t be reading the Bible to guide him. I’d much rather know that he’s read the Constitution.