"It Gets Better" Anti-bullying founder...well...ur...bullies Christians

[prisonchaplain]

I found this a bizarre and sad story.

‘It Gets Better’ Creator Dan Savage Sparks Uproar From Christian Teens

Note that while the article says he apologized for saying the Bible contained (explative), that it condoned slavery, that it called for fornicators to be stoned, and that it justified the bullying gays get, his apology was sarcastic. "I'm sorry if I offended anyone, but the Bible kids can come back in now--I'm done bashing their Bibles." He continued, insinuating that they were (explative) for walking out.

The sponsor of this HIGH SCHOOL journalism conference had no apologies, and pretty much said that as would-be journalists they should be able to sit through a lecture they find offensive...the group congratulated the speaker on his well-thought-out comments.

It's just so much easier to pander to the majority and broad-brush ridicule "the Bible kids," rather than fostering sincere dialogue and understanding. Sadly, many Christians have become more sympathetic, but Mr. Savage finds it easier to lump us all in with Fred Phelps.

The kicker...when questioned, he said he had a right to self-defense.

[Vort]

Dan Savage is a known idiot and an embarrassment to all who associate with him. That's no surprise. What I find truly appalling is that the school district lacked the guts to issue a real apology for what happened and assure the parents that such a thing will never happen again.

[prisonchaplain]

Apparently this was a convention for high school journalists. Schools may allow students to attend the convention (it is national), but they do not sponsor or control its content. I wonder if there will be any pushback from schools that send the students (these conventions typically have close to 4000 in attendance).

BTW, on a brighter note, another gay advocacy group has condemned Savage's tirade: GOProud Condemns Dan Savage?s Anti-Christian Tirade - GOProud, Inc.

[DevtheWind]

Oh haha I heard about this... I agree with Vort though, Dan Savage is an idiot. And what's even funnier is that the foundations that he represented actually defended this lunatic. All I can say is that I am glad that people chose to leave.

[RMGuy]

To paraphrase Brother Gordon, "Isn't freedom wonderful"

-RM

[prisonchaplain]

Sometimes freedom is full of wonder (i.e. full of 'huh???')

[prisonchaplain]

I was hoping for some type of back-pedal, or apology from Savage, after the internet pushback. For me the issue is more how he spoken to an audience of high schoolers expecting to hear about opposing bullying--not whether he has a right to his views. As one columnist said, for college students this would be a non-issue--it's a rough and tumble world of debate. But for high school kids expecting to here how to encourage dialogue and oppose bullying to then be subjected to the speaker's bullying.

Well...he did apologize for calling those who walked out pansie ***'s...but no apologizes for his theological distortions: Columnist Dan Savage stands by comments on 'bulls**t in the Bible' – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

[carlimac]

Well at least the kids showed how to act when bullied. Just walk away. Don't whine and cry. Just turn your back on the bully.

Some suggest the walkout was pre-planned. I don't know if it was or not. Either way, it was a peaceful way to protest what was going on.

[prisonchaplain]

Those who suggest that it was pre-planned did not look closely at the video. Most of the children were visibly upset, with one wiping tears away. I think the were expecting an anti-bullying lecture from a gay perspective, not some 40+ year old homosexual venting vitriol towards adolescents because the religion of his youth labels his lifestyle as sin.

[DevtheWind]

Yeah. I don't know why it would have been pre-planned anyways... no point in it. I found it surprising on how many people clapped and cheered though, if anything I hope THAT was pre-planned lol