From a Listener:
“When Minuteman speaks about the freedom movement being inclusive to all people regardless of their race, ethnicity, culture, or sexual orientation, he cordially invites all those mentioned to come together. But Drake will condemn using pejoratives (such as the N-word) in one breath and then refer to gay people as “homos” in the next breath. Could it be, Drake, that you are a hypocrite? Do you believe that it’s “liberty and justice for all except homos”?
By the way, Drake: it is a total lie that gay people want churches to be lawfully compelled to perform same sex marriages. Gay people only want the freedoms that you already enjoy.
XXXXX
Reno, NV”
Drake’s Response:
Prejudism
OK, since you asked…
It will not be acceptable to use ANYTHING that causes division.
Derogatory ‘labels’ are the first order of division, Thus none of them are to be allowed.
No one is to continue references that diminish any other being no matter what that
might be.
I strongly suggest anyone who has any problem with another person, to look within
themselves and address whatever the basis of ‘their’ prejudice might be.
And yes, I have lived within prejudice because of the above. I grew up during the
beginning of the civil rights movement. My parents were very active in this effort and
as a child I was subject to hateful discrimination.
Judging a persons actions does not allow ALL of that particular oriented people to
be lumped in with the actions of an individual. It is that individuals actions alone that must
be considered.
Any person who is willing to stand up to the problems we ALL now face, is very welcome to be a part of what we are all trying to accomplish.
I may have screwed up and used used a label that should never be used…I do not remember.
IF I have, I will make every effort to never do that again…
However, exactly what reference is acceptable? Is there any ‘label’ that is descriptive yet not diminishing?
I offer that I am only human and as such prone to human error…I’m not using that as an
excuse, rather as a simple fact of being.
‘Gay’ people is just as denigrating as ‘homo’…
So…
I ask again, does any person deserve any label? If so, what of these is not discriminatory?
In the movie ‘A time to kill’, the racial us and them is made a point. Yet when the prejudicial was presented on the reverse side, the actions of the person, and all the values set forth in those actions were what was judged.
To bring this altogether…
We live on a planet with a great diversity of people. Our planet has become too small for separations, irrespective of the reasons.
It is past time to ignore ALL prejudices in order that we can unite as The Human Race.
Where a man is judged only on the content of his character, his actions, and the intent thereof.
I am well aware that I am very imperfect, and thus I do not feel qualified in any leadership role.
I only offer that ALL of us have a long way to go in order to become as we should be. Even so, I still look forward to that day. That this just might be able to be accomplished by very imperfect men and women who are only human.
Everyone has prejudices of one kind or another. We are now faced with the responsibility to refuse that forced division, contain our individual beliefs that are the basis of any division, so we can come together in the common cause of FREEDOM for ALL.
That is the call, nothing more, nothing less. I hope you can see that.
~ Drake
