Firefighters Forced To Attend Gay Pride Parade

[Memphis Slim]

No you are simply obsessed with hating gays, if a black fire chief had said "Hey you all have to go to the MLK day parade" and the guys turned round and said "No i don't want to go b/c i don't like blacks" you'd scream that the men were bigots and wouldn't mention the abuse of power of the chief.

Also why are the insults so certain to you ? is it b/c the gays did it ? this is all about gays for you and has little to do wit the general concept of freedom.

Being black and being gay are not the same.

All stereotypes aside. There is no act, behavior or way that defines blackness.....you just are.

However.....to be homosexual, there is an act or behavior that defines that you are homosexual. You must have "sex" with someone of the same sex.

As a black man, I really get tired of those comparisons. It ain't the same.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Being black and being gay are not the same.

All stereotypes aside. There is no act, behavior or way that defines blackness.....you just are.

However.....to be homosexual, there is an act or behavior that defines that you are homosexual. You must have "sex" with someone of the same sex.

As a black man, I really get tired of those comparisons. It ain't the same.

Shouldn't they have the right to simply dislike all people of another race and religion b/c it isn't their race and religion ?

 

[Kritish]

All of your lame-brained comments point to that!

Are you on the side of the firefighters or not??

I'm against you and your bigoted bull ****, and that's all that matters.

 

[squeekness]

People should have the right to disapprove of someone else, but that doesn't mean they have the right to verbally abuse and harrass. What is funny to one guy isn't so funny to someone else, that is why we have harassment policies in most work places, to keep these sort of things from happening. It does seem to me that if the crowds cannot behave or be civil, then maybe these parades should not be held. It's not fair to the marchers, whether the taunts are pro or anti-gay. How is this promoting good relations if it's some sort of verbal slug fest all the time, or are these taunts the exception to the rule?

 

[Hunter Rider]

People should have the right to disapprove of someone else, but that doesn't mean they have the right to verbally abuse and harrass. What is funny to one guy isn't so funny to someone else, that is why we have harassment policies in most work places, to keep these sort of things from happening. It does seem to me that if the crowds cannot behave or be civil, then maybe these parades should not be held. It's not fair to the marchers, whether the taunts are pro or anti-gay. How is this promoting good relations if it's some sort of verbal slug fest all the time, or are these taunts the exception to the rule?

I think we all agree on this Squeek, Verbal abuse is wrong period as is the forcing of someone to go to ANY form of festival, march, rally.

 

[hammy]

I guess i can only speak for myself here, personally if i saw it happen to a woman i'd be appalled and say something, if a gay dude did it to me i'd probably flip him the bird and laugh, maybe that's a "Male ego" thing but it feels like something i'd deal with myself.

Okay, I get that. And I think a lot of guys would probably react that way. But everyone is different and there are those who might not be able to shrug it off the way you would.

The issue first and foremost is about freedom and then we come to the subject of bigotry, at what point does freedom to disapprove become bigotry ?

We also have this bad habit of constantly pointing out the colour or sexuality of an offender if that colour is not white or if that sexuality is not straight as if somehow their sexuality increases the nature of the crime, being a jerk and offensive really is about an attitude not about a race or sexual preference and the offenders should be talked about on the level of verbal abuse not what the verbal abuse was.

I agree that a jerk is a jerk, regardless. But the nature of the verbal abuse is relevant, in my opinion. Some things go farther in crossing the line, are more 'personal' in nature or more threatening than others.

But I disagree that it is necessarily about bigotry. There are those people who simply will never approve of or understand the homosexual lifestyle. It doesn't make sense to them, it doesn't seem natural, and for some, it's downright disgusting. They have every right to their opinions, as long as they aren't out there trying to lynch gays or something, and they shouldn't have to defend those beliefs or be made to feel that they're some sort of weirdo because they don't approve of sodomy.

Like you, I'm of the "live and let live," camp. In fact, a couple of my favorite people in the world are gay men. But as much as you want tolerance for them and their lifestyle, you have to afford the same tolerance for those (such as those with religious beliefs) who disdain their lifestyle, because unlike the argument that it's the same as hating someone for their skin color, religious people do not see anything "wrong" with someone born of a different skin color. However, they do see something "wrong" with the homosexual lifestyle, based on their religious texts. If you're going to argue with that, than you're going to be arguing with their God.

 

[jaguarr]

1. It is about the gays. Like it or not. They are the offenders in this issue. They made this about them. You can't see that or you don't want to?

No, it's about abuse of power by a Fire Chief, forcing her employees to attend a function that they did not want to be with. I'm quite sure that it was more than apparent that they did not want to be there, so they got a bit of ribbing over it from the crowd. But it's not about the actions of the gay people in the crowd. They were in a public place and expressing their freedom of speech. The problem is that the firemen were in a place they were uncomfortable in because their jobs were made to depend on it.

2. And yes....It's also about the freedom to choose. The freedom for the firefighter to choose not to be subject to behavior they didn't want to be around. The freedom to be insecure if they want (though it's not insecurity). Deal with it. People are different. And some times they conflict with your beliefs.

That I agree with, as stated above. The firemen were forced to be in a place where freedom of speech and expression was being utilized in a way that offended them. If they'd felt like they had a choice to not be there or to leave, then there would be no problem. The actions of the crowd is really irrelevant in the overall picture, here.

Again how would you feel if these gay people were forced to attend a church rally where they were preaching the Biblical view of heterosexual relationships???

I don't feel people should be forced to attend or do anything they don't want to do, personally.

Why can't you give this same slack to the firemen without second guessing their motives?

I agree they should never have been forced to attend the function. But, I don't feel sorry for them one bit for being offended or upset by what they saw. It's not their cup of tea and everyone knows that, most of all the crowd I'm sure who saw an opportunity to give some guys who were obviously uncomfortable being there a bit of razzing to torque them off. But the issue has nothing to do with gay people or the crowd and what they did that so dramatically "traumatized" four grown men who have pulled charred bodies out of burned rubble. It has everything to do with an abuse of power by a boss and employees who were forced to be at an event that went against their personal beliefs. That's where the legal issues lie and that's where the moral dilemma lies as well surrounding this case. Don't use it as an excuse to demonize homosexuals.

jag

 

[Abaddon]

I agree they should never have been forced to attend the function. But, I don't feel sorry for them one bit for being offended or upset by what they saw. It's not their cup of tea and everyone knows that, most of all the crowd I'm sure who saw an opportunity to give some guys who were obviously uncomfortable being there a bit of razzing to torque them off. But the issue has nothing to do with gay people or the crowd and what they did that so dramatically "traumatized" four grown men who have pulled charred bodies out of burned rubble. It has everything to do with an abuse of power by a boss and employees who were forced to be at an event that went against their personal beliefs. That's where the legal issues lie and that's where the moral dilemma lies as well surrounding this case. Don't use it as an excuse to demonize homosexuals.

jag

Agreed. The issue here is the Chief's actions not the behavior of the crowd that attended.

 

[Kritish]

I agree they should never have been forced to attend the function. But, I don't feel sorry for them one bit for being offended or upset by what they saw. It's not their cup of tea and everyone knows that, most of all the crowd I'm sure who saw an opportunity to give some guys who were obviously uncomfortable being there a bit of razzing to torque them off. But the issue has nothing to do with gay people or the crowd and what they did that so dramatically "traumatized" four grown men who have pulled charred bodies out of burned rubble. It has everything to do with an abuse of power by a boss and employees who were forced to be at an event that went against their personal beliefs. That's where the legal issues lie and that's where the moral dilemma lies as well surrounding this case. Don't use it as an excuse to demonize homosexuals.

jag

Agreed one hundred percent.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Never mind things like global warming, health care and illegal immigration. We've got gays to terrorize!

You jackass. Global warming is a myth, our health care system is perfect, and there's no need to worry about illegal immigration (after all they only take the jobs that you and me don't want to do ).

Terrorizing gays should be a way higher priority than those non-issues

 

[Kritish]

You jackass. Global warming is a myth, our health care system is perfect, and there's no need to worry about illegal immigration (after all they only take the jobs that you and me don't want to do ).

Terrorizing gays should be a way higher priority than those non-issues

But I can't go terrorizing gays tonight, my white robes have ketchup stains.

 

[hippie_hunter]

All of your lame-brained comments point to that!

Are you on the side of the firefighters or not??

First of all Kritish never supported the actions of the fire chief that forced them to attend the parade they didn't want to go to in the first place.

Second, he's not taking the fire chief's side. He's bashing you for being an ignorant homophobic bigot.

 

[hippie_hunter]

But I can't go terrorizing gays tonight, my white robes have ketchup stains.

Awwww

 

[Kritish]

First of all Kritish never supported the actions of the fire chief that forced them to attend the parade they didn't want to go to in the first place.

Second, he's not taking the fire chief's side. He's bashing you for being an ignorant homophobic bigot.

Amen, someone needs to relabel this thread "Celldog hates gays part deux".

 

[CristoTheSecond]

OK Celldog, I hate to break it to you but there's no secret headquarters for homosexuals where they sit around thinking about how to make straight people's lives miserable.

 

[Kritish]

Oh snap, there is?

 

[CristoTheSecond]

I wish you people wouldn't talk about 'black' people as if they are something different or compare skin color to a sexual preference. That's pretty racist if you ask me. There's no comparison between a "Gay Pride" parade and a "MLK Jr" parade and it's absolutely stupid to even make such comparisons. Sexual preference, race: TWO F***IN DIFFERENT SUBJECTS and TOO F***IN DIFFERENT TO BE COMPARED. This really pisses me off. We're talking about the lewd acts that some firefighters were forced to endure and, already, people are trying to compare race to sexual preference. Personally, I don't like the way homosexuals do things. Look at the lewd actions going on at the parades. Look at the way they try to ride the coattails of the black Civil Rights movement. Look at the way they compare their sexual preferences to race. Look how everybody who doesn't accept that lifestyle is branded a bigot or ignorant. I think we've gone far beyond what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home dammit!

 

[Kritish]

Celldog, stop making accounts.

 

[Erzengel]

It's getting too intense in here.

Let's liven it up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWwyjmSbJPs

 

[CristoTheSecond]

Celldog, stop making accounts.

Kritish, what makes it right? It's gone far beyond its original purpose. Now, it's demeaning the struggle of black people and sexually harassing firefighters.

When is it going to stop?

 

[Memphis Slim]

No, it's about abuse of power by a Fire Chief, forcing her employees to attend a function that they did not want to be with. I'm quite sure that it was more than apparent that they did not want to be there, so they got a bit of ribbing over it from the crowd. But it's not about the actions of the gay people in the crowd. They were in a public place and expressing their freedom of speech. The problem is that the firemen were in a place they were uncomfortable in because their jobs were made to depend on it.



That I agree with, as stated above. The firemen were forced to be in a place where freedom of speech and expression was being utilized in a way that offended them. If they'd felt like they had a choice to not be there or to leave, then there would be no problem. The actions of the crowd is really irrelevant in the overall picture, here.



I don't feel people should be forced to attend or do anything they don't want to do, personally.



I agree they should never have been forced to attend the function. But, I don't feel sorry for them one bit for being offended or upset by what they saw. It's not their cup of tea and everyone knows that, most of all the crowd I'm sure who saw an opportunity to give some guys who were obviously uncomfortable being there a bit of razzing to torque them off. But the issue has nothing to do with gay people or the crowd and what they did that so dramatically "traumatized" four grown men who have pulled charred bodies out of burned rubble. It has everything to do with an abuse of power by a boss and employees who were forced to be at an event that went against their personal beliefs. That's where the legal issues lie and that's where the moral dilemma lies as well surrounding this case. Don't use it as an excuse to demonize homosexuals.

jag

In a nutshell........you remove all responsibility from the homosexuals for their behavior simply because you don't like the fact that these firemen didn't want to be there and didn't like the things that were happening?

Sounds to me like you're demonizing the real victims in this case. ...sounds like a "they got what they deserved" moment, to me.

I already agree with you on the abuse of power issue. But it doesn't just "stop" in the front office. Every person in that parade had a resposibility to be decent and respectable. "F--you firemen!" , doesn't fit into that category, free speech or not.

And for the record, we don't have total freedom of speech! There are lines that can be crossed where parties or persons can feel threatened. These firemen were more than out numbered and the crowd was obviously hostile. And you don't see anything wrong with that??

Kinda' surprised at you , Jag.

 

[Memphis Slim]

I wish you people wouldn't talk about 'black' people as if they are something different or compare skin color to a sexual preference. That's pretty racist if you ask me. There's no comparison between a "Gay Pride" parade and a "MLK Jr" parade and it's absolutely stupid to even make such comparisons. Sexual preference, race: TWO F***IN DIFFERENT SUBJECTS and TOO F***IN DIFFERENT TO BE COMPARED. This really pisses me off. We're talking about the lewd acts that some firefighters were forced to endure and, already, people are trying to compare race to sexual preference. Personally, I don't like the way homosexuals do things. Look at the lewd actions going on at the parades. Look at the way they try to ride the coattails of the black Civil Rights movement. Look at the way they compare their sexual preferences to race. Look how everybody who doesn't accept that lifestyle is branded a bigot or ignorant. I think we've gone far beyond what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home dammit!

I couldn't agree more! As I stated before....there is not defined way to be a black person. You don't have to "do" something to be black. You don't have eat certain foods, or dance, be athletic or like R&B or Hip Hop. Those are stereotypes. Black is just a state of being.

Homosexuality is definitely defined by an act. You must have sex with a the same sex.

 

[CristoTheSecond]

In a nutshell........you remove all responsibility from the homosexuals for their behavior simply because you don't like the fact that these firemen didn't want to be there and didn't like the things that were happening?

Sounds to me like you're demonizing the real victims in this case. ...sounds like a "they got what they deserved" moment, to me.

I already agree with you on the abuse of power issue. But it doesn't just "stop" in the front office. Every person in that parade had a resposibility to be decent and respectable. "F--you firemen!" , doesn't fit into that category, free speech or not.

And for the record, we don't have total freedom of speech! There are lines that can be crossed where parties or persons can feel threatened. These firemen were more than out numbered and the crowd was obviously hostile. And you don't see anything wrong with that??

Kinda' surprised at you , Jag.

I don't know this Method Slim guy. I don't know how he argues. I don't know if he's geniunely a troll or if he's just derided because of what he believes.

But, whatever he did in the past and WHATEVER his motives are in posting this...any person with common sense has to admit he's right.

 

[Kritish]

I don't know this Method Slim guy. I don't know how he argues. I don't know if he's geniunely a troll or if he's just derided because of what he believes.

But, whatever he did in the past and WHATEVER his motives are in posting this...any person with common sense has to admit he's right.

Yep, he's Celldog.

 

[CristoTheSecond]

Yep, he's Celldog.

Is that it?

Is that all?

You've actually compared me to another poster I know nothing about for the sake of argument?

God, man, you're willing to follow this through come hell or high water. Can't you just admit you're wrong for once? Even if this guy did do it to state something about homosexuals and if you DO find something wrong with such allegations, it doesn't matter.

You're wrong...and no three-word statements are going to change that.