Propaganda Poster: Beware of Recruitment into the Homosexual Lifestyle
Friday January 25, 2008
A common which the Christian Right tries to make against gays and efforts to increase social acceptance of homosexuality is the idea that gays want to "recruit" others -- especially children -- into their "lifestyle." People who know gays and understand homosexuality find this position absurd, but it does seem to follow logically from the starting assumptions which the Christian Right has about homosexuality generally.
Read Article: Beware of Recruitment into the Homosexual Lifestyle: Godless Sodomites Will Subvert Heterosexual Christian Society
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This morning, I was thinking of another post I made yesterday about how Xians deride atheists who attack Xianity–while so many Xians, for so long, have attacked anyone and everyone who isn’t Xian.
This morning, I was considering what a change it has been in my own life to go from thinking the whole world has to think like me (when I was a Xian), to realizing that it doesn’t matter whether people agree with me or not (in most cases).
I think the Xian mindset that is always “on” is proselytizing and converting others. So, when someone doesn’t agree, they see that “different” thinking as being dangerous. It’s like a theif thinking everyone else wants to steal his stuff.
If all I ever do is consider how to take other people’s stuff from them, and I hang out with others who are like-minded, it’s not much of a stretch to suggest that I might end up thinking everyone would steal from me, given half a chance.
And if I spend all my time in a cult that focuses on making people agree with its ideology (that I view as “my” ideology), then if someone has a different ideology, I’m likely to think they want to take my ideology away from me–and make me one of *them* instead.
In other words, I doubt that Xians who are hardcore can even think in terms of gays just wanting to be able to be openly gay (openly themselves)–and not really caring whether other people join them or not.
You’ve pointed out before how Xians seem seriously threatened by others who simply say, “I’d like the right to have my own ideology and be treated equally and left alone by Xians who disagree with me.”
I think it might be going beyond the threat of “If one person is allowed to have this, others might follow suit.” I think it goes to a real paranoia that other people, who aren’t Xian, are just as bent on “converting” others to their point of view.
While I like coming to places like this and posting to like-minded people, I am not threatened by the fact that others think differently or disagree with me. I’m only bothered when they try to impose things on me or disallow my freedom of speech or Constitutionally allowed actions.
It’s funny how frequently Xians accuse others of wanting to “convert” people–when it’s the Xians who are hell bent on converting people. I’m not saying that there aren’t non-Xians who seem to need validation via agreement/popularity. But it’s not a mandate with most nonreligious groups. It seems that wha
[I hit ’send’ by accident before I was done typing.]
…what’s good for the goose isn’t good for the gander in this case. Xians can promote conversion in any way, shape or form. But if someone else hints at it, they’re a threat and a danger to society.
On top of the reality that 9 times out of 10, Xians are accusing people of it when it’s not even founded, the hypocrisy reading is off the charts.
Well said, Tracieh!
The homoerotic tone of that poster amazes me, considering its original time and place. I think there is a subliminal message. Despite the homophobia rampant in the military, then and now, gay or bisexual men (and women) do indeed feel the need to serve their country, no matter how badly it treats them, and don’t forget that in the army there’s lots of naked guys sharing the same facilities. A gay man might consider himself to be in hog heaven. Perhaps this poster is a subliminal recruitment message aimed at gay men, at a time when the army needed every piece of manmeat it could get. Oops, I mean every RECRUIT it could get…um…
–Dave
RELIGION IS FAIRY TALES FOR GROWNUPS
(AND GROWNUPS SHOULD KNOW BETTER.)
I was debating with an Evangelcal friend who stoutly maintains that sexual orientation is a choice that people freely make. He can’t seem to see it any other way. I wish you could have seen the expression that crossed his face when I told him that professional researchers seem to think that those who maintain that it is a choice are probably somewhat bi-sexual, since bi-sexuals are able to choose. If anyone out there is thinking of using this point in debating, I advise caution. It could get violent.
After they reach 14, the blockhead template is in place and it is almost impossible to remove or alter.
John, what is it with you and 14 year olds?
(RE: your comments on this week’s articles)
Ron, that doesn’t make any sense. If homosexuals and heterosexuals aren’t able to choose their sexual orientation, then neither are bisexuals.
A gay man is not going to join the military just to ogle other men in the showers. He can go to a gym for that. Gay men (and women) join the military to serve their country. To suggest otherwise, even jokingly, is insulting.
If homosexuals could choose to be heterosexuals, then it stands to reason that heteros could choose to be homos, therefore making us all bi-sexual.
Were there gyms and showers around during WW2 to the extent they are today? Especially in less urban areas?
I would also suggest that many gay men and women, and heterosexual/bisexual men and women as well, join the army not always only to serve their country, but also to gain access to education, and to learn useful skills that will help them after they are discharged. In fact this is probably the ONLY thing attracting poorer American youth to the military, especially today.
Insulting others, either jokingly or seriously, is one of my favorite hobbies.