coercion

[Carol]

Susan:
> Oh, goodness, Carol..do you really think that you can equate not
being able to buy clothes to fit you with being thrown out of your
family, fired from your job, beat up, murdered, and called names...
(which happens to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans gendered people)
> 
> I guess you are confusing being the Majority with being Dominant...
> 
> In the United States, I THOUGHT we had the moral ideal that the 
> minority rights would be protected..am I wrong?
> 
> In terms of toleration of my "lifestyle"...I assume you mean my 
orientation, which is that I'm a lesbian....Lifestyle is the idea 
that I'm choosing a wild, romantic sex filled life...well, that would
 be nice..but like most parents...I've chosen a humdrum, mostly 
dealing with kids, not going out and partying life...that's what I've
CHOSEN! I didn't CHOOSE to fall in love with my amazing partner...who
happens to be a woman..that just happened...just as I imagine you 
fell in love with your spouse...choice involved..
> 
> In terms of tolerance, there are many countries that are more 
tolerant of lesbian orientation...
> 
> Full marriage for same gender couples is presently available to
same-sex couples in seven jurisdictions. The Netherlands was the first
country to allow same-sex marriage in 2001. Same-sex marriages are
also recognized in Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Spain, and the U.S. 
> state of Massachusetts.
> 
> And in many countries, especialy the Scandanvian ones..there is 
tremendous tolerance of non-christian religion...and in fact, many of
the cathedrals in Europe have dwindling numbers of worshippers 
there...hence, much more tolerance of non-christians than here in the U.S.

>
Carol responds:
I thought we were talking about religion, actually. My bit about being
tall was only to indicate that we're all discriminated against in some
way (you and I for being "old") or at least outside the norm in some way.

But you seem to be ignoring my main point, which is that many
countries treat Christians or Jews (or women) much worse than Wiccans
are treated in the U.S, (being wished a Merry Christmas or denied a
pentacle on their gravestones). No one I know is going to stone you to
death or slash your face (as happens to women in certain Arab
countries for unapproved sexual relationships on the one hand and
wearing makeup on the other). Nor will you be forced to wear a burkha
(I do need to look up the spelling of that word). I, for one, am happy
to live in the U.S. (despite being annoyed by "happy holidays" and
other linguistic trends). I greatly prefer it to, say, Afghanistan or
Rwanda. Surely, you're not in danger of being beat up or murdered
where you live and no one is denying you the right to live with your
partner or practice Wicca in California, one of the most liberal
states in the union. BTW, add New Hampshire to the list of states in
which same-sex unions are legal as of yesterday.

And protection of minority rights should not be confused with denial
of the rights of the majority. (Freedom of religion is not freedom
from religion, etc.) Also, Christians were among the first religious
sects to be persecuted and still are in some countries. (Christians
and Jews are perceived as a threat by some fundamentalist Muslims, who
are determined to wipe out the entire West. I assume that you haven't
forgotten 9/11.)

Forgive my use of "lifestyle" for "orientation." I'm not up on the
latest trends in politically correct terminology, so I just use the
terms that are familiar to me. (I was once chastised by a
twenty-something for talking about an animal being "put to sleep"
rather than "put down." Exactly what made her euphemism preferable to
mine, which is technically accurate (the animal was put into such a
deep sleep that it never woke up) is beyond me.) At any rate, I
intended no offense. I'm not implying that you engage in immoral
behavior. as for my falling in love with my "spouse"--my ex-husband is
my *ex*-husband for good reasons.

Carol, thinking we should all count our blessings