Gay Friends

We have many friends who are gay. We don't think of them as different in any way from other friends.

Sadly, a talented couple who had been together in our building since we moved into it many decades ago have now both died of natural causes. Both were first rate workers in their fields with a variety of social contributions. One died two years ago and the other several nights ago in his sleep.

As one who studied theology for 3 years, I am all too aware of the barbaric roots of the anti-gay and other equally vicious and too often murderous prejudices dating from primitive times -- women, Jews, and people from other 'tribal' roots.

We have been making some gains with our prejudices. Many still linger, sadly enough. It takes generations to curb prejudices and if people choose out the most vicious stuff from the ancient origins of their religions, we may be stuck for some time with murderous stuff.

When I was studying theology half a century back, we were beginning to end off some of these prejudices. But our Christian tendencies have been of late mired in Sarah Palin type murk.

Let us hope for better.
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"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
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Ed Kent [blind copies]