Apparently teens around the nation are wearing white t-shirts to school today to show their support for sexual purity through abstinence before marriage. Fine and good. What's amusing is the reaction from some fringe groups.
But the Day of Purity is being watched with a wary eye by groups that promote sexual tolerance, such as the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The Day of Purity Web site accuses those groups of "a concerted effort in the schools and media to turn our youth away from traditional values."Is "sexual tolerance" code for promiscuity? If not, then what could possibly be their objection? Perhaps the Day of Purity people are wrong in thinking that various homosexual groups are pushing a promiscuous agenda, but from the groups' response it looks like they implicitly concede the point.
Or maybe the homosexual groups are just irrational.
"The word 'purity' in this context is morally self-righteous," said Alice Leeds, a spokeswoman for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. "It's redefining it in their context to conform to their frankly bigoted agenda."Right, and the phrase "frankly bigoted" is completely objective. Moron. Oops! I didn't mean to redefine your context.
Meanwhile, the kids seem to be pretty well-grounded in reality.
Participants said having the Day of Purity right before Valentine's Day is especially appropriate since teenagers often feel pressure to have sex with their girlfriends or boyfriends on the holiday.Destructive? Ha! Only because you aren't tolerant! Poor Kelly. If only she were more tolerant sex would lose all power to harm her physically or psychologically. And she'd be far more popular with the boys, I'm sure. Certain types of boys, anyway. No doubt leading to a life full of joy and fulfillment."A lot of girls feel that in order to keep their relationship, they have to have sex," said Kelly Cruse, 16, who plans to pass out sexual abstinence literature at her high school in Illinois. "I think this need for acceptance is very destructive to a girl."
These "tolerant" persons have dedicated themselves to the proposition that, in matters of sex, there are no standards and no objectively defensible morals. All it takes to upset them right out of their studded leather undies is the suggestion that others might feel differently.
Once one has accepted the premise of moral relativism, the "no standards" gambit frees him of the need to entertain criticism or doubt of himself. But to have that gambit challenged undermines the ramparts and threatens the edifice. So anyone who does challenge it, even if only in his own choices, must be destroyed if possible, defamed at the least. The "tolerant" folks' sense of self-worth absolutely demands it.
And from somewhere above the clouds there comes a faint but distinct basso profundo whisper:
"Mene, Mene, Tekel Upharsin."
Those are amusing reactions. Strange how some people who think conservatives are self-righteous and narrow-minded in this context can't see how well those terms define them, too. Well, not really strange...
Michael,
The Day of Purity is being organized by the Liberty Counsel who are most definitely a group of religious conservatives who are against abortion, gay rights and promote other aspects of the religious conservative agenda. Nothing wrong with that, everyone is allowed to advocate for what they believe in. However, I think that groups that oppose their policies should be concerned by any of the actions that they take.
Manish: "However, I think that groups that oppose their policies should be concerned by any of the actions that they take."
Any? So if they organize a soup kitchen to feed the homeless, homosexual groups should be concerned?
I think they only need to be concerned about activities aimed against their own interests, such as, apparnetly, chastity.
From the article:
But the Day of Purity is being watched with a wary eye by groups that promote sexual tolerance, such as the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The Day of Purity Web site accuses those groups of "a concerted effort in the schools and media to turn our youth away from traditional values."
What do you think they mean by "traditional values"? Here is the about page of the day of purity website. It's clear that its not just about abstinence, but also about stopping kids from "experimentation" which from reading the page suggests that it refers to being attracted to the same sex.
I doubt that it is within the scope of the Liberty Council's mandate to feed the homeless.
Manish: Maybe so. From the article it appeared to be mostly about abstinence, and that that's what the groups were objecting to.
Michael..I hate to drag out a done debate, but if you look at what each of the spokespersons actually said:
"The word 'purity' in this context is morally self-righteous," said Alice Leeds, a spokeswoman for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. "It's redefining it in their context to conform to their frankly bigoted agenda."
Eliza Byard, deputy executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, said in an e-mail that her group applauded any effort to promote healthy sexual choices by young people.
"Unfortunately, this program seems to have a limited idea of what that means and doesn't appear designed to provide the kind of information students really need," she said.
Manish: Right, by which I assumed Byard didn't think chastity was a "limited idea of [healthy sexual choices]".