Ray Richardson

As the resignation was being reported and discussed on one of the message boards, an author mused something to the affect of, "When will Republicans quit being so anti-homosexual?" I found that comment funny and troubling, all at the same time. It prompted me to pose a question that went largely unanswered on the message board, so I will pose it here as well and broaden it to other issues.

If you do not support the concept of "gay marriage" and you do not support the passage of "gay rights' legislation," does that automatically make you "anti-homosexual / anti-gay?" To take it a step further, if you do not support "affirmative action programs" does that make you "anti-minority?" If the answer to either of these questions is "yes," the broader question is why?

I know the radicals/activists will say, "You must support these basic rights or you are homophobic and racist." I know this because these are charges hurled against me most everyday because I am against this sort of government intervention into our lives. I find it interesting that they make these accusations without even a discussion of the issues at hand.

Personally, I am not anti-gay. What someone does in their private lives is between them and God. While I have very strong feelings about what the Bible says regarding homosexuality, I do not believe I should impose those beliefs on another person's private life. Now to the hard part É. I am completely against the "gay agenda" that is being enacted in our nation. For me, it is not about the gay part, it is about the agenda part. I am against special interests asserting themselves into the arena of public policy and having special legislation enacted that only benefits their cause.

The United States Military has a policy in place that essentially says, "Don't ask, don't tell." My personal philosophy is a little different. I live by, "I won't ask, you do not have a right to tell me because I do not want to know. It is none of my business." It may seem a little na•ve; however, I am completely un-interested in the sexual escapades of my fellow man or woman.

When their private lives, however, delve into the arena of public policy, it becomes my business as a citizen. In America, it seems we are determined to create various victim classes, where everyone opens up their private life for public consumption and public sympathy.

I do not support my fellow man or woman being mistreated because of the color of their skin, their country of origin or the faith they follow. I believe, truly believe, in Doctor King's dream, that a man or a woman will be judged by the content of their character and that alone will determine their station in life. I also believe in the right of my fellow citizens to pursue their lives without harassment from small-minded individuals or groups determined to interfere with their pursuit because they are different. That does not, however, call for creating special distinctions in our system of laws designed to place special emphasis on a particular group of people.

I find the "all or nothing" attitude from various special interest groups disturbing. It creates an atmosphere of disharmony that does not reflect reality. While it creates a "them versus us" mentality that stirs passions, ignites activism and raises money, it does nothing to promote understanding and goodwill amongst fellow Americans.

It seems unreasonable to assume that one is "anti" anything simply because they may oppose bad legislation, or don't approve of a person's private life being played out in public. The more modest times of the Victorian age still hold value in our society. We are diminished as a people by the overt sexual attitudes displayed among our citizens.

The truth is simply this. Special legislation designed to protect a particular group or class of people is wrong. It is built around the false idea that it is creating "social justice" in our society. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We do not want social justice in America, not in any real sense. If we did, we would have it. Instead, we have politicians who play on the fears and stereotypes the mainstream media puts forward and then they play to an audience. True social justice is not about elevating one group or another. True social justice is about treating all people equally, no one any better or any worse. This does not occur when you pit one group against another for political and fund-raising sake.

I am a good example. I believe we are all God's children, no better and no worse, equally loved by him. In our society, however, because I do not support aggressive legislation that treats homosexuals as a special class of people, I am considered homophobic. The same applies to racism. Because I do not support affirmative action programs, I am considered a racist.

The truth is, I want all of my fellow citizens treated the same, no better and no worse than anyone else. That day, however, will never arrive in America. As long as we have politicians who pander to special interest groups and special interest groups who use their efforts to gain power with pandering politicians, true justice will never occur. Disharmony and lots of fund-raising around these issues will rule the day and America will continue to be the worse for it.

Ray Richardson is a longtime Westbrook resident and has also served as president of the Westbrook Chamber of Commerce. He has a morning radio show on WLOB, a TV show on FOX 23 and is involved with many community organizations. He can be contacted at ray@rayrichardson.com.

Ray Richardson is a longtime Westbrook resident and has also served as president of the Westbrook Chamber of Commerce. He has a morning radio show on WLOB, a TV show on FOX 23 and is involved with many community organizations. He can be contacted at ray@rayrichardson.com.