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03/19/2007
Former AFA staffer gets self disinvited from reunion BBQ
Back when the American Family Association's "news" outlet was called Agape Press, this was a familiar sight on the site's front page:
The organization used to regularly run commentaries from Joe Murray (who also served as a staff attorney for the AFA), and the gay-unfriendliness of more than a few of them ruffled our feathers. We always wrote Mr. Murray off as just another "pro-family" pawn who stood lock-step with his gay-demonizing parent organization.
Well, fast forward to March 2007. Mr. Murray did not stay on board when Agape Press became One News Now, and he instead now writes for a Philadelphia area publication called The Bulletin. It is in this new, non-AFA affiliated press outlet that Murray, in a piece regarding conservatives' reaction to Peter Pace, lets us know how he really feels about his former bosses:
The American Family Association, a pro-family organization and former employer of this writer, sprung into action sending out this "action alert": "Homosexuals working to get Marine general punished for comments calling homosexual act immoral." AFA then warned that the homosexual lobby "already forced [Pace] to back down a step," and urged supporters to defend Pace and "take a stand for our troops who cannot get involved in this political situation." AFA, like others, had pulled out its red herring.
This is not a political situation, but instead it is a situation where a high ranking official made comments that judged individuals, not ideas. Pace singled out gay soldiers during a time of war and told these men and women that they were immoral. His comments, as a military official, were over the line and not defensible. AFA, like other "Christian" groups, chose to run to Pace's aid and such an act suggests borderline bigoted behavior from an organization claiming the mantle of Christianity. This is disturbing.
If troop safety is AFA's primary concern, and not fear-mongering, why hasn't AFA demanded Bush bring these soldiers home? Does it really think the "political situation" of gays in the military presents a greater harm to soldiers than the bullets flying in Baghdad or are other motives being subtly conveyed to an America populace who are already fearful, thanks to past action alerts, of the "homosexual agenda?" Conservative groups had an opportunity to bring a sense of Christian compassion to this debate, but opted instead to scare supporters into believing homosexuals were trying to raise the rainbow flag over the Pentagon. This is not political activism based upon Christian principle; it is fear mongering based on the politics of man. This is the siren song of the Chicken Little trick. By demonizing a whole group of individuals and characterizing them as storm troopers coming for the children of Main Street America, pleas for increased donations can be issued to fight this epic battle. Translation: Fill the coffers by fueling fear. Is this what family values have become? If so, we best be preparing our last will and testament.
Wow! Someone just got their name removed from the Wildmon family's "fight the war on Christmas" list! Bravo, Joe!
Interestingly, Murray's condemnation would seem to us to speak to more AFA practices than just this latest Pace-centric one, as their "fear mongering" action on this issue wasn't at all out of character. He, as someone who has real inside knowledge to their operations, would seem to be releasing years of pent up aggression in one cathartic burst. And that, my friends, is just a fun, fun sight to behold!
Mr. Murray, you still may not view us as your equals or support our rights. For now, however, you have a bit of our respect.
Running At The Wrong Pace [The Bulletin]
(H/t: Pam's House Blend)
*RELATED: Video: Wildmon fires up the video cam [G-A-Y]
Your thoughts
Given that Murray was the one to famously declare that "Christians have become strangers in their own country... The Sodomy Squadron has been flying high", I think it's funny that he claims that the AFA characterizes queers as "storm troopers coming for the children of Main Street America". Someone's dwelling a little on military imagery, I think.
Still, Murray gets lots of credit for apparently being intelligent enough to see through all the bunk and bilge that makes up the AFA's "news" and commentary sites.
Posted by: Katter | Mar 19, 2007 3:02:21 PM
Murray's forte always was to be as over the top in his wording as possible. I think he tries to shock. But yes, this is certainly a refreshing thing to witness. If more conservatives would speak out against the nuttiness of groups like the AFA, it would actually help their cause greatly.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Mar 19, 2007 3:08:24 PM
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