Friday, April 01, 2005
Who Would Jesus Hate?
In August of this year, the city of Jerusalem will host WorldPride, a 10-day event organized by the International Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Coordinators which will include a film festival, arts exhibition, conference for religious leaders and a parade through the city. Home to more than 630,000 people representing a wide range of national, religious, and socioeconomic groups, Jerusalem was chosen because the organizers believed that there was no better place to demonstrate "that human rights transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries, that our differences can be respected peacefully, and that love knows no borders."
Jerusalem is also the home to three of the world's most influential religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Although these religions are fundamentally alike they rarely seem to agree on much of anything.
This week, however, they united to show their condemnation of WorldFest in the Holy Land. One Islamic leader said that the event "is very ugly and very nasty" and will "make the Holy City dirty." (I suppose all the war and bigotry there makes it the happiest place on earth.) Undaunted by this, the festival organizers pledge that the event will be held as planned. I say, good for them!
Isn't it sad that once again religion seems to fuel hatred and divisiveness instead of love and unity? What are these people so afraid of? That the only difference between us is who we sleep with? That the lesbians will show their hairy ankles in public? That without somebody to feel morally superior to they would lose some of their power? Are gays the Christian Kryptonite?
Surely with all the other crap going on in the world a couple of drag queens marching down Main Street Jerusalem wouldn't be one of the signs of the Apocalypse. Shouldn't they be focusing their attention on more important things like hunger, disease, war or at the very least explaining how Jessica Simpson manages to be so popular without having one ounce of talent?
Jerusalem is also the home to three of the world's most influential religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Although these religions are fundamentally alike they rarely seem to agree on much of anything.
This week, however, they united to show their condemnation of WorldFest in the Holy Land. One Islamic leader said that the event "is very ugly and very nasty" and will "make the Holy City dirty." (I suppose all the war and bigotry there makes it the happiest place on earth.) Undaunted by this, the festival organizers pledge that the event will be held as planned. I say, good for them!
Isn't it sad that once again religion seems to fuel hatred and divisiveness instead of love and unity? What are these people so afraid of? That the only difference between us is who we sleep with? That the lesbians will show their hairy ankles in public? That without somebody to feel morally superior to they would lose some of their power? Are gays the Christian Kryptonite?
Surely with all the other crap going on in the world a couple of drag queens marching down Main Street Jerusalem wouldn't be one of the signs of the Apocalypse. Shouldn't they be focusing their attention on more important things like hunger, disease, war or at the very least explaining how Jessica Simpson manages to be so popular without having one ounce of talent?
