In what may be a passing era, the Republican party has been very successful (until now) in mobilizing support behind their candidates because of their "conservative" positions on abortion, same-sex marriage, sex education, and many other related issues. The films "Friends of God" and "The Education of Shelby Knox" describe the strong sentiments of people who support conservative stances on these issues as well as those who take more liberal positions.
Where do you stand on these issues? How important are these issues to you? You may reference either of the films or the discussions that we had in class. Be sure to comment for yourself and to comment on someone else's comment.
8 comments:
These issues are incredibly important, but I also think that too many people are taking the wrong stands against or for them. I personally don't think anything could motivate me to have an abortion, for example. But even how strongly I feel about that AND how strongly I feel that abortion is wrong for other people to do, I have NO RIGHT to take drastic "action" like others who oppose abortion have. People who bomb abortion clinics and carry graphic signs portraying their views and the views of God really piss me off. This is only adding to the issue and creating all new ones. I am devastated with the stereotype "Christains" are setting in today's society. These people are not Christians, and what they are doing is NOT the work of God. They ruin God's name by taking out their personal vendettas against who they consider to be doing 'wrong'. God's love should be shone to everyone, no matter what they do or who they do or what they believe. None of us have a right to oppose another for their differences. That's what we learned since before we learned the alphabet. That's what we learned is great about this country. But through growing up here and learning about America, it seems to be based on the opposite; how we've won wars and kept the inferiors in line. Once in a while people go crazy and travesty occurs. Such as the women's rights movement, and the voting laws for african americans, sexual education in public high schools, etc. Of course, these are terrible things that ONLY resulted by 'lesser individuals' bucking the 'foolproof' system of our glorious country.
BALONEY.
I know that this is all over the place, and hopps drastically between topics, but you know what, it merges from idea to idea quite fluidly. Yay for me!
Conservative views are that parents should be teaching their kids about sex and that same sex relationships are immorral. Liberal views believe that sex ed should be allowed in school instead of relying on people at home do it. Many students don't have parents who will talk about them about anything let alone sex. Most students in the film wanted change and to have a way to express themselves without being judged.
Many students try to educated themselves about sex and sometimes it doesn't work because of pregnancy and disease. Personally it doesn't bother me if my friends chose to be in a same sex relationship as long as they didn't push it on me or others who aren't into it.
The church people in the Shelby Knox film said that in the Bible that men and women get married if they're in love... but I don't get why it's such a big deal to people if same sex couples get married. Homosexuals shouldn't be criticized for who they love because it is their own lives and no one else's business. Some people who are born gay and others that choose it and who can decide for them who and how they should love. In the Shelby Knox movie when the homosexual students were going to court I don't think grown people should be telling them that "God hates homosexual people." If God created everybody then he had to have created homosexuals. I don't believe God hates his own creation. And I think it is unfair that states can ban same-sex marraiges because if people are in love they should get married like anybody else. I think it is wrong to discriminate against any people who are different than the mass population.
On sex education, I also think it is wrong when the church people make decisions for school. Churches shouldn't make decisions for kids like "abstinence only" and that you have to be married to have children. The teenage girl was saying how she saw pregnant girls in school all the time. My opinion is that even though it isn't healthy, girls sometimes feel that they are loved when they are in a relationship and have sex. I don't see it as a major problem. It isn't realistic that everyone is going to be abstinent and because of this they should have education about the consequences to having sex. They shouldn't be told not to, just warned of STDs and the risk of pregnancy.
I disagree with Chawna about the fact that abortion is always wrong BUT I do agree with her that no one has the right to tell people whether or not they can have an abortion. I'm pro-choice but there are times when I think it is really "messed up" in some instances that people get abortions.
I agree with Chawna about the fact that people claiming to do "God's work" are in fact doing just the opposite, if there is a God. The God I've heard about is supposed to be loving and forgiving not hateful. How would God hate something/someone he created?
Sexual education in schools badly needs improvement, or needs to exist at all. The fantasy of students holding to --- is totally unrealistic. They need to be educated on how to be preventive, not just told that they can't do anything. We students will do it just to do it sometimes. Education of young teens is completely necessary. We can't wait on this issue, come on America, help us do something about this.
For me, sex education is not a necessary part of my education at the moment, simply because I'm committed to staying celibate until marriage. But once I am married, I will have a need for the information presented in these classes. If these classes were not presented at FCS (which they are on a somewhat basic level), I would feel wronged, because the information presented in these classes is necessary for leading an adult lifestyle.
As for the gays and guns aspects of the film, I believe that, because America was founded on principles of religious and social freedom, same-sex marriage and gun ownership are perfectly acceptable ways to excercise your political freedom. I will most likely keep multiple guns in my home, so I care a little more about that, but same sex-marriage will not affect my life much at all, so I say live and let live.
RE: Chawna Rae
I agree with you that the stereotype "Christians" are far from what it means to be a true Christian, and that they are wrong to discriminate against people.
I also agree that abortion is wrong, except for in select cases in which there are complications that may end up with both the mother and the unborn child dying.
RE: Amber
I agree with your argument about marriage rights for gays, as I believe the same as you, that God would never hate his own creation.
The issue of teen pregnancy and comprehensive sex ed. is a difficult one for me, however, as I am torn between wanting to keep people from hurting themselves in that way and letting them live their own lives. I doubt I will ever come to a certain conclusion on this matter, it is just too complex. So, I guess I don't agree or disagree... :-/
I have to agree with Ryan, its ok, as long as no one pushes it on me. But, I think that kids should be taught sex ed in schools. they should also be free to make their own decision, if they want to "experiment" or not, they can live with the consequences. People don't have the right to judge others based on their sexual habbits. Personally, for me, I won't have sex with someone who I am not in a relationship with, but if someone else dissagrees with me, and wants to act like a whore, its not my place to judge them based on that. But I think that kids should be taught what can happen if unnecessary risks are taken. (like not using protection... etc)
Post a Comment