The Observation Deck

Ryan Salo wrote:Thanks for confirming my thoughts.

Ryan...when did you choose to be straight instead of gay? Was it a tough choice? Did you make a pros and cons list? How much time did you spend weighing the decision?

Shawn Juris wrote:Wow, I didn't realize that they had the gay cause nailed down. I must be behind the times because I still believed that nature/nurture was an unverified theory at best. Boy, the things you can learn here.

Actually Shawn, it has been proven by the scientific community. There are many, many, many studies that have shown the phsyiological and more recently, genetic differences of gay individuals.

The only ones who don't accept it are those who chose to ignore sound science...but that tends to be those who also deny the possibility of evolution and think that people kept dinosaurs as pets 7,000 years ago.

Bryan,

You are one of the reasons this blog is turning into the Buzz, most people aren't like you unless they can hind behind a fake name, so I at least pat you on the back for saying things like you do with your name on it.

Lets get one thing straight, if you have a gene to be gay it doesn't mean you need to act on it just like the drinker doesn't have to drink and the guy with the cancer gene doesn't just give up. Once you have heard the truth that things are wrong you need to do your best to try to avoid it.

Being gay is not the worst thing in the world and I do not hate gays. I hope that they stop living in a sinful hurtful selfish destructive lifestyle. Sin can become a huge weight on people and I want people to live free from that weight. I do not wish harm on them I want them to change. I come from an attitude of love whether you see me as a bigot or not. I WILL NOT sit and let this culture accept open sin just like I would not sit and let Lakewood open strip bars or anything that is morally wrong or detrimental to society.

Ryan Salo wrote:You are one of the reasons this blog is turning into the Buzz, most people aren't like you unless they can hind behind a fake name.

I'm not sure exactly what that statement means. What are "most people like me" exactly?

You are posting hurful and derogatory comments about an entire group of people based off your own personal bigotry. I would hope you should expect people to be offended and clear up the inaccuracies you're stating.

Your entire thought process and complete disrepsect for a group of people is so very utterly concerning from someone who once ran for city council to represent the people of Lakewood.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:And since I'm apparently so dumb I better ask you...are you also saying the city doesn't officially recognize any other special weeks or celebrations throughout the year?

I don't think the city should endorse anything. If they have any special interest group weeks it should be stopped. If they have a cub scout week I disagree. The city is not there to recognize groups.

DL

I understand that you and I will probably never agree in regards to the interpretation of the Bible or on sin.

The point of this post, which has gotten off course was to state that the city should stay out of it. It is a huge can of worms. I think that any group should be allowed to meet and speak but they don't have to be recognized by the government to add legitimacy. Do we want other city council reps coming forward with everything under the sun just so they are viewed as equal?

The government needs to stay out of it.

Ryan Salo wrote:I think that any group should be allowed to meet and speak but they don't have to be recognized by the government to add legitimacy.

The city recognizes all sorts of groups as it is. This is just one more.

The government needs to stay out of it.

if that is the case, then where do you stand on all the recent laws against same sex marriage - keeping in mind that the laws had to be changed to prohibit gay marriage, not the other way around.

I agree that the government should stay out of it. Primarily because, regardless of my own beliefs, I really cant think of one solid (non-religiously based) argument against gay marriage.

I guess you are completely missing my point. It is always just one more. Is there any group you would not want the city to recognize?

Just because they haven't asked doesn't mean they won't in the future.

This topic needs to be discussed but seems to have greatly deviated from the stated original point.

All pandering is unfortunate.

I have said it many times, I would like to stop the generic-meaning broad- resolutions and acknowledgments of any and all groups that are not specific to individual citizens.

Peoples should be able to celebrate anything anytime they want ,it doesn't doesn't have to be on the docket to address at a City Council meeting.

That is when is becomes pandering.

It is annoying but apparently effective or politicians wouldn't do it.

Ryan, it appears you have a specific axe to grind here. Can you strengthen your argument by showing exactly which resources the city is expending on observing Gay Pride week that you think could be put to better use? Are they sponsoring a parade? Fireworks? A big gay carnival? What's the big deal here? Cities pass resolutions honoring one thing or another all the time.

If you think so strongly that Council should have other priorities, perhaps you should consider running again on that platform and see how many other Lakewoodites agree.

Run on an anti city endorsement platform? Yeah that would work, thanks for the advice. Thankfully I don't do things based on what others think.

I have been very active behind the scenes and that is how I want to keep it.

The big deal is when the city gets in a position to endorse certain things and not all of them they can become a target for lawsuit. Do you really want a group suing us because we said no?

I think it should just be a hands off issue.

BTW - Based on previous voting records I would love to see this idea of a city sponsored gay pride week come to the voters, it would probably be defeated by 75%.

It often pains me to see people use religion as a bigotted weapon. "Sin" and religion were used to justify many things including:

- Slavery
- Ban on interracial marriage
- Subjugation and second-class status of women
- "holy wars" killing millions of people
- The inquisition
- the crusades

And my list can go on and on.

As dl pointed out, I don't think that's what religion should be about. I'm a strong Christian, I have a deep love of God and I'm also gay. I'm proud my church is inclusive and open to all of God's people.

Using "stopping sin" as a reason to deny gay people dignity is disgusting. I wonder what Christ would say about that if he were to return right now?

Last time I checked Ryan, we were a country built on equality for all and the rule of law...not the thread of damnation and one person's definition of sin to rule the land. Your moral beliefs are yours to have and I would never deny you that. Unfortunately you seem to not give the same courtesy to others.

Bryan,

Totally off what the goal of my post was, but I have a question for you.

If a heterosexual couple friend of yours told you he was cheating on his wife what would you say? God loves you so keep doing it? If you would tell him he should stop what would you be basing that advice on?

Last time I checked God loves all of us but he wants the best for us, that means leaving sinful activities.

Thankfully salvation is not earned or all of us would go to hell.