Exodus spokesman Randy Thomas periodically blasts critics of Dr. Laura, broadly associating them with terrorism.
Exodus should be more careful of who it defends, as well as how.
Journalist Natalie Davis cites news sources reviewing Dr. Laura’s new book, in which the author assigns wives the role of sex slave pandering to a husband’s lust on demand.
Exodus undermines its own message and credibility when it defends snake-oil merchants, like Dr. Laura, who undermine femininity and marriage for personal gain or attention; and when it broadly smears the integrity of the merchants’ critics.
Dr. Laura’s critics are liberal and conservative, gay and straight, and they have legitimate moral objections to the woman’s antifamily values.
Memo to Exodus: Stop undermining femininity and marriage. Ask what Jesus would say to Dr. Laura — and to impressionable young women who are taught that looking and acting like a prostitute makes one more feminine.
Oh, one more thing.
I guess Exodus will start defending Oxy-Conservative Rush Limbaugh next.
Exodus defends Dr. Laura? The woman who spent her doctoral training time pulling fat pads off rat testicles?
Oh, my….
LOL, sounds like the old marriage advice of saying close your eyes and think of England, only for the 21st century.
Ah what do you expect? We are talking about an organization that thinks lesbianism is an expression of suppressed femininity. Any change in the God ordained status of the relationship of men to women or their gender roles is viewed as threatening. The days when marriage was viewed as an arrangement where wives traded domestic service and sexual favors for the financial support of their husbands are long gone. Women are no longer dependent on men for financial support and are no longer need to trade sexual favors and household choirs for financial support. The terms of the marriage contract have changed and advice like that is decades out of place.
Also, we are talking about a organization that thinks if people act enough like there socially assigned gender roles and believe strongly enough, their homosexuality will disappear. Unfortunately there are plenty of people who act like their gender is supposed to, but are not straight (can we say Rock Hudson? He must have lived a straight man’s dream!). Not to mention how many straight men get into drag or act gay for comedy (or other purposes like queer eye) and surprisingly do not develop an attraction to men.
I agree, Concerned Women for America know Terrorism in the same way the the Mormon Tabernacle Choir know how to make a Peach Martini. But let me say this. You note that the extra-chromosome folks down at Exodus call terrorists those who levelled Death Threats against Dr. Laura. As morally bankrupt as she is, I have to agree. Perhaps the only politically neutral definition of terrorism is the violation of law to achieve a political goal by a nongovernmental organization. As much as that doesn’t defend several organizations from “terrorist” attacks who have clearly been wronged(Chechnya, the Palistinians), it is as close as we can get to giving terrorism a definition that isn’t prisoner to present political stakes, no matter how noble they are. The point is, anyone threatening violence against Exodus or Dr. Laura, no matter how righteously pissed, is only handing ammo to the right wing thugs who routinely crucify us in the media.
I agree that Exodus would have been justified in criticizing the specific individuals who threatened Dr. Laura.
Unfortunately, Exodus’ criticism was sloppily targeted at gay activists.
“I agree that Exodus would have been justified in criticizing the specific individuals who threatened Dr. Laura.”
Yes, that is arguably true.
Mike said:
By their own reasoning Exodus should be held specifically responsible for this.
Indeed, they should. As Blinne Blog notes, Exodus is happy to condemn “the gay lifestyle,” yet does not condemn the attacks and murders of gay Christians. Those hate-inspired arson burnings of MCC churches are clearly terrorist acts.
Re: Dr. Laura. I’m no fan of the woman, but the idea that she is promoting “sex slavery” is nonsense. The idea that people SHOULD “put out” for their spouses even if they aren’t really in the mood is not the same thing as arguing for rape or slavery, both of which involve coercion. Actually, a lot of relationships would be improved if people were a little more accomodating of their partner’s sexual desires. Say “no” to your partner too much and you are likely to be dumped.
If your spouse is all over you for sex all the time (which sounds like coercion to me) and that bothers you, you are probably better off dumped.
Two thoughts:
1. Dr. Laura should re-read her Torah. The same chapters that forbid some homosexual practices also forbid sex during a woman’s period.
2. [tongue-in-cheek]A wife should have sex with her husband as often as he wants as long as the husband talks with his wife as often as she wants. [/tongue-in-cheek]
lol!
I agree that relationships are healthier when both spouses are accommodating.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear from Fox News and Jewsweek that Dr. Laura is promoting mere accommodation, nor is she even-handed in her perspective on sex and husbands.
Should wives routinely provide miserable sex to husbands? No; the couple should instead address what makes sex unappealing.
Are wives ever too pushy about sex? Yes, and Dr. Laura seems oblivious to the sexist implications of her advice.
If someone would like to read Dr. Laura’s book and come back with a more comprehensive look at her views on spousal roles, then by all means — go for it.
I’ve never had the experience of having a relationship where someone was “all over me for sex all of the time,” but I’m pretty certain I’d enjoy it. 🙂
I would too — if she were a woman and if we were madly in love with and committed to each other. Outside of that, I am happiest left alone.
I had one like that. Normally I wouldn’t have minded, but I felt like he was paying me with sex! It was dinner, I pay his way, then the bedroom. It just felt forced. If I pay for dinner or a movie, I am just being nice and all I want is company.
Needless to say that didn’t last long. I just don’t think someone should feel like they are required or expected to do it for any reason.
Well, engaging in that activity because one feels forced to do so strikes me as being just shy of rape. Though it may not be along of the Kobe Bryant allegations, it is certainly not consensual. And if it is not consensual, it should not happen.