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12/19/2008
'Oh, I do': The comparison couldn't get much more direct!
It's one thing if you choose to overlook the messages that Rick Warren has sent to the LGBT community. However, it's quite another when you ignore what was actually said in order to make point.
We say this after reading the following over at the pad of our bloggy pal Chris Crain:
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One thing [those complaining about Rick Warren] cite is how [he] supposedly "compared" or "equated" gay marriage to incest and polygamy in explaining his support for Prop 8 in California:
"I’m not opposed to [gay marriage] as much as I’m opposed to the redefinition of a 5,000-year definition of marriage. I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and call that marriage. I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that a marriage. I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage."
This is neither "comparing," nor "equating." In fact, Warren specifically draws a distinction between that which he does not oppose -- gay marriage -- and the parade of horribles he thinks opening up redefinition of marriage will lead to -- incest, pedophilia and polygamy.
The proverbial "slippery slope" is used when the speaker knows his audience sees no real problem with the proposal at hand, and so must be jolted to attention by what would somehow inevitably follow:
"If you raise taxes, it will slow the economy, put people out of work, throw us into a recession and require socialist bailouts to get us back on track."
Does that "equate" or "compare" raising taxes with socialism? No.
Recognizing Rick Warren's argument as slippery slope and not comparison does not make his claim any more reasonable, but it does make it less offensive -- although clearly offended is what we do best on our side, rather than meet arguments head to head, with confidence that ours is the stronger position.
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Only problem with Chris' logic? He completely leaves out the crucial part of the BeliefNet interview, wherein Warren absolutely confirmed that that he was drawing a direct comparison. The "Oh, I do" part:
So again, you can absolutely think gay people are overreacting or whatever. But Rick Warren has, in fact, both compared and equated our bonds to pedophilia, incest, and polygamy. He also has said that we should not have active sex lives, even if our orientations are found, without a doubt, to be biologically rooted. That is much more than a "slippery slope," Chris: It's inexcusable rhetoric that has already slipped into the cellar of fair and reasonable discourse!
Lowering the volume on Warren-gate [Citizen Chris]
Your thoughts
Everyone also seems to ignore the reported comments Rick Warren made when he was at a conference in Uganda, a nation that criminalizes homosexuality, a while back.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803281265.html
"Dr Warren said that homosexuality is not a natural way of life and thus not a human right. "We shall not tolerate this aspect at all," Dr Warren said."
Posted by: Joshua | Dec 19, 2008 2:49:29 PM
Warren is such a creep. I'm really bummed that Obama would kowtow to these fundamentalist thugs.
Posted by: John | Dec 19, 2008 3:01:04 PM
You don't invite a pedophile to a childrens' birthday party!
You don't invite an arsonist to a Fourth of July party!
You don't invite an armed terrorist on board the aircraft that you are flying in!
Posted by: tonykw | Dec 19, 2008 6:17:57 PM
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