I noted some time ago that the exgay network Exodus and some of its political allies periodically associate gay equality under the law with Nazism. I briefly connected this habit of the religious right with a web site by John Aravosis that compares religious-right speech with anti-Semitic speech. My own gut reaction was that while analysis of propaganda techniques is useful, Nazi-baiting tends be counterproductive for those who practice it.
Five months later, the comments are coming in again — resurrected recently by some remarks by Doug Parris of The Reagan Wing.
Now it becomes apparent to me, why the topic enjoys renewed popularity:
Yesterday, Atrios (via Jesus’ General) reported that the GOP convention’s opening prayer will be given by Sheri Dew, the childless, unmarried, Mormon head of Deseret Book. According to speech excerpts on both sites, Dew publicly shares Exodus’ belief that the battle against gay couples is somehow comparable with the battle against Hitler, adding that people who do not strive to smash gay civil unions are comparable to appeasement of Hitler.
For good measure, Dew on at least one occasion apparently scapegoated gay Americans and other alleged enemies of the family for her own inability to find a man willing to marry her.
I still maintain that there are few greater signs of one’s own insecurity and intolerance than to run around comparing other people’s lives and perspectives to Nazism.
Atrios offers a constructive response: A letter giving Dew a history lesson about Nazism and the persecution of homosexuals during and after the war.
>For good measure, Dew on at least one occasion apparently scapegoated gay Americans and other alleged enemies of the family for her own inability to find a man willing to marry her
I guess maybe she ignores the fact that she is unable to find a man willing to marry her because she is a (insert technical term for female dog).
BTW, Doug Parris, who sometimes infests this site, is associated with that Reagan Wing web site? I didn’t know that. I did know that there is more than a bit of silliness on that web site. Their “Do you believe in” page https://www.thereaganwing.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=8 is a case in point. One wonders why they don’t have a “Do you believe in…huge budget deficits” as a category. That’s about the only thing that Reagan left us with. And that’s about the only thing that his “intellectual” descendant Dubya will leave us with–if one ignores the little police action in Iraq.
Editorial comment: I’m generally amazed that those from the “famb’ly values” crowd vote for Dubya. My husband (of 26 years this Thursday, although we were really legally married–in MA–this past June 28) and I do not have any children, so, we won’t be particularly impacted by Dubya’s huge budget deficits or his environmental policies, both of which will have to be dealt with by other peoples’ children. But, on the other hand, we figure that, if the famb’ly values crowd doesn’t care about what their children will be left to deal with, why should we care?
/sarcasm
> I still maintain that there are few greater signs of one’s own insecurity and intolerance than to run around comparing other people’s lives and perspectives to Nazism.
I’m glad i’m not the only one who sees Aravosis that way. He’s a scary little twerp…
Oh, Marty, you forgot to advertise your web page.
Since the GOP has launched an anti-gay Jihad, it will be interesting to see how the GOP mouth pieces explain Congressman Ed Schrock’s apparent secret gay life. Since Schrock represents the Congressional district where Pat Robertson resides and where Regent University is located, it will be interesting to hear Mr. Robertson’s explanation of how Rep. Schrock received a 92% rating from the Christian Coation.
See: https://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=74982&ran=126361
On behalf of the gay communities, I would like to personally thank everyone who helped recruit Representative Schrock into choosing our lifestyle. So soon after the great Gov. McGreevey success, I’m glad to see our recruitment efforts continue to work so well, even on bold, defenders of the ‘merican family like Rep. Schrock. Soon our master plan to destroy the American family will be complete.
Heil Ellen!
Hey, if I manage to recruit Rep. Todd Tiahrt, does that push me up to the dinette set, or am I still stuck at the toaster oven? I’ve got a balance of 150 Gay Agenda Points for now.
It seems there was more than one opening prayer from a variety of people, or so the Agapepress reports. The original post here on XGW makes it sound like the only prayer was given by a nutball.
https://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/8/312004a.asp
According to the convention schedule for Monday, Dew gave the opening invocation during the day. There were also closing benedictions by Joni Eareckson Tada and Rev. Max Lucado, an evening invocation by Imam Pasha, music by various Christian entertainers, and speech by Zainab Al-Suwaij of the American Islamic Congress.
I don’t consider Dew a “nutball.” She is someone who has recently expressed exceptional anger and resentment toward same-sex-attracted Americans.
>I don’t consider Dew a “nutball.” She is someone who has recently expressed exceptional anger and resentment toward same-sex-attracted Americans.
Um, this is a joke, right?
You don’t consider Dew a “nutball”?
My question ignores the fact that she is beholden to a flying saucer cult (the mormons).
You really don’t believe that she is not a nutball?