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Obama's Safe Schools Czar Advocated 'Queering Elementary Education'
CNS News ^ | 10/28/2009 | Fred Lucas
Posted on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:24:04 AM by IbJensen
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CNSNews.com) – President Barack Obama’s safe schools czar wrote a foreword to a book in 1999 that called for elementary school children to explore their sexual identities, for teachers to incorporate homosexual themes in grades K-5, for discarding a “hetero-normative” approach to education and for “acknowledging children as sexual beings.”
Kevin Jennings, now the assistant deputy secretary for education who heads the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, began the foreword to Queering Elementary Education: Advancing the Dialogue about Sexualities and Schooling (Rowan & Littlefield Publishers) by writing about the Columbine school shooting in Colorado and comparing it to the beating-death of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming and, from there, to the issue of intolerance in schools.
“We remain silent in the face of intolerance,” wrote Jennings, then president of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, an organization he founded. “We do little to teach the values of equality and justice. We simply fail to set any kind of expectation at all that these young people must respect each other even (especially?) when differences among them are vast and profound.”
“Nowhere is this failure more evident than when it comes to antigay prejudice, and nowhere is that particular failure more manifest than it is in our elementary schools,” wrote Jennings.
The book for which Jennings wrote the foreword includes essays from gay and lesbian educators that advocate teaching acceptance of homosexuality in elementary school and kindergarten. (The book is edited by William J. Letts IV and James T. Sears, who also wrote essays for the book.)
In his foreword, Jennings rejects the premise that sexuality should not be taught in elementary schools by arguing that it already is taught, but to instill and promote anti-gay hatred.
“I often find myself confronted with people who attack me for ‘bringing this issue into our schools,’” he wrote. “How laughable this statement is, I think. The reality is that this issue--anti-gay bigotry--is already in our schools. Little kids are learning to hate, and they’re learning it right now in elementary schools across America.”
“Face it: ‘That’s so gay’ has become a mantra of elementary-school children, a mantra invoked whenever a child encounters something or someone they do not like or understand or appreciate,” Jennings wrote. “But the hatred and attitudes they express are not the exception--they are the rule. And we shouldn’t be surprised when troubled people vent their rage in murderous fashions on those they learned it is okay to hate.”
Jennings also criticized conservative political figures in the foreword.
“I’ll admit that in a world populated by the likes of Jesse Helms and Gary Bauer and Pat Buchanan, we can’t blame our schools for all the prejudice we see visited upon queer people,” Jennings wrote. “After all, when the senate majority leader [Trent Lott] compares us to kleptomaniacs, it’s hard to blame bigotry entirely on one’s third grade teacher (although one wonders exactly who Mr. Lott had for his teachers given the profound level of ignorance that pours forth from his mouth).”
To accuse any individual who does not share Jennings’ opinion of hate is a means of silencing debate, said Gary Bauer, president of American Values, a pro-family advocacy group.
“I recall when Matthew Shepard was murdered and a number of people singled out James Dobson as being responsible,” Bauer told CNSNews.com. “Such charges are obscene. The only purpose is to try to silence debate and expression of traditional values.”
On page 9, one of the book’s editors, James T. Sears, states, “Acknowledging children as sexual beings or allowing males (particularly homosexuals) to teach in elementary grades dislodges the classroom from the ‘safe haven’ of heteronormativity.”
Sears, identified as an “independent scholar” living in South Carolina, continues, “Childhood innocence is a veneer that we as adults impress onto children, enabling us to deny desire comfortably and to silence sexuality.”
He also wrote, “Allowing children freedom to develop their sexual identities absent guilt or conditional love is an important attribute of queer households (and classrooms).”
"Heteronormative" is described in Chapter 9 as framing education in such a way that heterosexuality is normal while anything else is abnormal. On page 103, the chapter’s author William J. Letts IV, one of the other editors, denounces a text that explains the difference between boys and girls. He writes that schools push for boys to play with G.I. Joe action figures and girls to play with Barbie dolls as part of a larger social push.
“Boys don’t have to stand to urinate (nor do girls have to sit--they could squat),” wrote Letts, adding, “that’s just how they got conditioned.” Letts is a former elementary school science teacher.
In Chapter 3, Kathy Bickmore writes, “The first reason to discuss sexuality in elementary school is that it is already present in students’ lives. Assumptions about children’s ‘innocence’ regarding sexuality are outdated.”
On page 21, Bickmore, who taught education at the University of Toronto, wrote: “Sexuality and homosexuality in particular, is generally seen to be unsafe content for young children’s classrooms. This assumption misjudges what many children already know about themselves and their world, and also misses the point of what helps an ‘innocent’ develop into a self-sustaining ‘citizen.’”
President Barack Obama. (AP Pool Photo/Jason Reed) This month, 53 House Republicans sent a letter to President Obama asking him to remove Jennings from the Department of Education.
“As the founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Mr. Jennings has played an integral role in promoting homosexuality and pushing a pro-homosexual agenda in America's schools--an agenda that runs counter to the values that many parents desire to instill in their children,” the letter said.
“As evidence of this, Mr. Jennings wrote the foreword for a book titled Queering Elementary Education: Advancing the Dialogue About Sexualities and Schooling. Throughout his career, Mr. Jennings has made it his mission to establish special protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students to the exclusion of all other students,” the letter said.
“The totality of Mr. Jennings' career has been to advocate for public affirmation of homosexuality,” it said. “There is more to safe and drug-free schools than can be accomplished from the narrow view of Mr. Jennings who has, for more than 20 years, almost exclusively focused on promoting the homosexual agenda.”
Jennings’ foreword indicates what kind of agenda he brings to his government office, said Bauer.
“A person’s history tells us a lot about what they will do in a position of power,” Bauer told CNSNews.com. “Most parents, including millions of people that voted for Barack Obama, will not be and should not be comfortable with someone like Mr. Jennings’ agenda for elementary school children.”
A spokesman for the Department of Education could not be reached for comment Tuesday despite repeated inquiries.
Also, two pro-homosexual rights groups--the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation--did not respond to inquiries from CNSNews.com about Jennings and the book.
Another essay in Queering Elementary Education says, “Choosing literature for children with explicitly gay and lesbian themes, characters and situations is a direct approach to including part of many children’s’ home lives.”
This essay by James R. King and Jennifer J. Schneider, both of the University of South Florida, further states on page 131 that, “Teaching homosexuality is precisely about differences, learning from differences and broadening the ways we understand others. The combined fears of sexual taboo and job insecurity (either real or imagined) have proved sufficient to keep homosexuality in the classroom closet. We can no longer afford the heterosexist elitism. Our students already know better (and worse).”
An essay by Kevin P. Colleary, who was a doctoral student in education at Harvard University, asserts on page 157 that, “Whenever a discussion of family or community occurs--both topics of greater importance in almost all grades K-3 social-studies curriculum documents--there is an opportunity to talk about gay and lesbian families, and/or specific communities or neighborhoods where many gays and lesbians lives in almost every major city.”
The book’s fourth chapter begins with a scene of kindergarteners reenacting Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It goes on to ask why not envision another reenactment. “Children have made a banner that says ‘Stonewall Inn.’” The reference was to a June 1969 riot by homosexuals outside the Stonewall bar, a riot viewed as a civil rights watershed event among gay activists.
That chapter was written by Betsy J. Cahill of New Mexico State University and Rachel Theilheimer of Manhattan Community College. The two go on to write: “Teachers can tell children about the lesbian and gay people they know or know about. In the video, It’s Elementary, a teacher and children brainstorm ideas about gays and lesbians. They listen to music by musicians such as Elton John and Melissa Ethridge. In a discussion the teacher points out that the musicians are gay. This is one example of how a teacher might formally teach about gays and lesbians.”
In Chapter 8, Eric Rofes, who taught at Bowdoin College, writes about whether he influenced any of his elementary students to become gay. He was only able to locate eight former students from an elementary class he taught 20 years earlier. He found that these students were not gay.
But he said an openly homosexual teacher can encourage a new generation of activists. “Finally, the greatest influence of openly lesbian, gay and bisexual teachers may be on students’ relationships to political activism, and social movements,” he wrote. “By witnessing up close the importance of political advocacy on a teacher’s job security and social position, children’s understanding of the importance of activism and its relevance to their lives might be enhanced.”
In an essay addressing how universities can work with school districts, Kate Evans, a professional writer, wrote on page 245, “University administrators can place student teachers only in schools that include sexual orientation in their anti-discrimination policies. If university allies discover local districts without such policies, they can work toward change by speaking at school board meetings and talking with professional contacts.”
In the book’s final chapter, Margaret Mullehern and Gregory Martinez, both of Boise State University, write about the challenges of including homosexuality in school multicultural programs.
“As teacher educators, we feel responsible for educating pre-service elementary teachers about how they can help children understand the damaging effects of homophobia and the positive contributions of gays and lesbians,” they wrote on page 255. “Thus, the decision to include sexual orientation in our multicultural education courses was easy.”
“However, as this chapter details, teaching queerly required more than a conviction,” they continue on page 255. “Confronted with a lack of knowledge and remnants of the homophobia we had grown up with, we had to peel back layers of fear and discomfort and educate our selves.”
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Is this what you voted for guys?
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Now,now,there is nothing wrong with a little fisting every now and then.Your ass needs love to.
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Now,now,there is nothing wrong with a little fisting every now and then.Your ass needs love to.
Come on bro - were talking about elementary school here.
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What's wrong with what he wrote?
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Come on bro - were talking about elementary school here.
I thought this guy was a fan of NAMBLA.Isnt there motto "sex befor 8 or else its too late"?Does this surprise you?This is the type of giy Obama likes.Its one radical after the other.
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What's wrong with what he wrote?
Hedge - these idiots in the education system push this agenda to the detriment of others. They focus on this crap while ignoring reading, math, and writing.
They focus on this crap while these kids cant even point out nations on a map.
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WTF is going on, I remember when I was in school I went to math, english, history...... classes, now all of the sudden the school thinks it is their job to teach morality etc. As a parent that is my job not some fucking clown at school.
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I don't see anything wrong with trying to stop obvious prejudice at a young age. Nor do i see a problem with more males teaching in elemetary schools. It's far to PC, children need strong influences from both male and female teachers and they should be taught acceptance of all people regardless of race, colour or sexuality.
Schools are not just about - math, english, science. It's about teaching children and young adults how to become functional human beings. Leaving everything up to the parents is a foolish idea just because you gave birth to a child doesn't mean you are the sole provider of all knowledge.
I find it more disgusting when parents teach their hatred and bigotry to their children it continues to feed the cycle, just like it does in Israel and Palestine. Just as i would find it disgusting if school teacher taught the same thing.
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WTF is going on, I remember when I was in school I went to math, english, history...... classes, now all of the sudden the school thinks it is their job to teach morality etc. As a parent that is my job not some fucking clown at school.
Obama: "Judge me by those I surround myself with"
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I don't see anything wrong with trying to stop obvious prejudice at a young age. Nor do i see a problem with more males teaching in elemetary schools. It's far to PC, children need strong influences from both male and female teachers and they should be taught acceptance of all people regardless of race, colour or sexuality.
Schools are not just about - math, english, science. It's about teaching children and young adults how to become functional human beings. Leaving everything up to the parents is a foolish idea just because you gave birth to a child doesn't mean you are the sole provider of all knowledge.
I find it more disgusting when parents teach their hatred and bigotry to their children it continues to feed the cycle, just like it does in Israel and Palestine. Just as i would find it disgusting if school teacher taught the same thing.
Sorry, KC - elementary school must focus on the basics reading, writing, math, civics, etc.
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Sorry, KC - elementary school must focus on the basics reading, writing, math, civics, etc.
In your opinion. But like it or not they have a far greater influence than that. Look at how much time they spend, quality time, with children. I'm not advocating pushing a certain belief system on them or a political system etc. I am advocating like others, that tolerance should be taught. Children should be educated on the different people in this world and country. Only then will we stop seeing the ignorance we do today.
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In your opinion. But like it or not they have a far greater influence than that. Look at how much time they spend, quality time, with children. I'm not advocating pushing a certain belief system on them or a political system etc. I am advocating like others, that tolerance should be taught. Children should be educated on the different people in this world and country. Only then will we stop seeing the ignorance we do today.
Ok, but who is teaching hate like this guy is claiming?
We are so far behind in math, science, etc, it seems to me we reallyl need to focus on those items first.
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Ok, but who is teaching hate like this guy is claiming?
We are so far behind in math, science, etc, it seems to me we reallyl need to focus on those items first.
It's the children themselves that pick up these things. Whether it be from each other, some teachers, parents or tv. They are being taught directly and indirectly that it is okay to dislike homosexual people, that it is okay to call someone a ni**a etc.
This needs to be stopped and addressed or regardless of how may mathematicians you have in this country it won't amount to sh*t in a continuing hateful society.
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Mainly, our schools should be educating, as far behind as they are despite lots of $. Teaching particular morals often crosses acceptible boundries, whereas, it can promote an agenda, whether that be a religious agenda, pro-gay, liberal, etc.
I see what kc is saying. Unfortunately, since the typical American nuclear family is much more f-cked up than it used to be, someone has to teach these kids how to behave and become good adults...but it's a very fine line. Too many teachers have already crossed the line with liberal agendas (and they should be reprimanded).
"they should be taught acceptance of all people regardless of race, colour or sexuality". Yes, this is true, but many of the proposed lessons cross the border. I'd rather focus on punishment when a child ridicules another that is different and making general statements about accepting all races, class, color, sexual orientation, etc (and enforcing). We shouldn't be focused on teaching kids about gay lifestyles and exploring sexuality. That's bullshit. I'd take my kids out of school if that becomes more widespread (if I had kids).
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It's the children themselves that pick up these things. Whether it be from each other, some teachers, parents or tv. They are being taught directly and indirectly that it is okay to dislike homosexual people, that it is okay to call someone a ni**a etc.
This needs to be stopped and addressed or regardless of how may mathematicians you have in this country it won't amount to sh*t in a continuing hateful society.
Oh please. give me a freaking break. We have never been in a more PC mode than right now.
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It's the children themselves that pick up these things. Whether it be from each other, some teachers, parents or tv. They are being taught directly and indirectly that it is okay to dislike homosexual people, that it is okay to call someone a ni**a etc.
This needs to be stopped and addressed or regardless of how may mathematicians you have in this country it won't amount to sh*t in a continuing hateful society.
Really thats funny, how in the world did I manage to learn that certain things in society are OK and others aren't, with out the school system teaching me? Well it was called a boot in the ass from my father, amazing how a little discipline works.
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Agreed kc, we have to talk about tolerance with kids. It's the manner and extent that it's done. Too many gay activist groups are taking the lessons too far.
And that goes for everyone, if we want to discourage racial slurs, then it has to be unacceptible for everyone to say. Several of my black friends call each other n-gga quite often. Doesn't bother me but I won't say it...but I can see how a younger impressionable person may pick up on that differently.
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Lets all have tolerant little idiots running around who cant read or write, cant do math, cant tell you about history or basic civics, yet knows how to put a condom on a cucumber.
Thats sounds like a good plan to me!
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I just think it's wrong for schools to be part in demonizing of a entire group of the society.
That's what eg Islam is all about.
Remember, in Muslim countries, homosexuality is illegal, and sometimes even punishable by death sentance.
I thought we were better than that?
As for males as teachers...
Back when we our parents were kids, a much higher percentage of the teachers were male.
And back in the 50's, a teacher's salary was typically HIGHER, not lower, than the salary of an engineer or an economist.
Since then, the status of the profession has fallen.
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I just think it's wrong for schools to be part in demonizing of a entire group of the society.
That's what eg Islam is all about.
Remember, in Muslim countries, homosexuality is illegal, and sometimes even punishable by death sentance.
I thought we were better than that?
As for males as teachers...
Back when we our parents were kids, a much higher percentage of the teachers were male.
And back in the 50's, a teacher's salary was typically HIGHER, not lower, than the salary of an engineer or an economist.
Since then, the status of the profession has fallen.
I dont see where we can go wrong focusing mostly on the basic issues and subjects. In fact, many years ago, a HS degree was the present equivalent of a college degree because the curriculum has been so diluted and dumbed down over the years to accomodate these other nonsensical issues.
Shit, I get people in college trying to intern with me who cant even write a damn sentence!
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I dont see where we can go wrong focusing mostly on the basic issues and subjects. In fact, many years ago, a HS degree was the present equivalent of a college degree because the curriculum has been so diluted and dumbed down over the years to accomodate these other nonsensical issues.
Shit, I get people in college trying to intern with me who cant even write a damn sentence!
Totally agree.
FWIW, what this is about is IMO a "counter attack/reaction" to the Religious Extremists/Creationists who's been trying to influence the curriculum for years.
I am all for leaving the education to the professors and the experts, and not have the politicians interfer in it.
That's how I think it should be.
What the politicians should decide on, is instead on what kind of resources that should be given to the schools, and how much.
That is something they could be expected to have an opinion on.
Not have an opinion on what kind of "truths" that should be told the school kids.
Leave that to experts.
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333, there is no doubt the focus absolutely needs to be on the basic subjects. That is the foundation of school. Teaching tolerance is a side priority and should not interfere with the basic subjects. I agree that the subject needs to come up but enforcement of ridicule, sexist, racist behavior is more important. Pro-gay activists want to set ciriculum to include gay lifestyle teaching...that is unacceptible!
Looks like Obama appointed another leader with views outside mainstream...shocking
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Totally agree.
FWIW, what this is about is IMO a "counter attack/reaction" to the Religious Extremists/Creationists who's been trying to influence the curriculum for years.
I am all for leaving the education to the professors and the experts, and not have the politicians interfer in it.
That's how I think it should be.
What the politicians should decide on, is instead on what kind of resources that should be given to the schools, and how much.
That is something they could be expected to have an opinion on.
Not have an opinion on what kind of "truths" that should be told the school kids.
Leave that to experts.
I dont see where politics needs to involve math, geography,, writing, reading, etc.
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As far as public schools go...religious groups (particularly christian) have lost. Game over. Now we need to enforce the rules equally and make sure overt liberal agendas are quashed.
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It's the children themselves that pick up these things. Whether it be from each other, some teachers, parents or tv. They are being taught directly and indirectly that it is okay to dislike homosexual people, that it is okay to call someone a ni**a etc.
This needs to be stopped and addressed or regardless of how may mathematicians you have in this country it won't amount to sh*t in a continuing hateful society.
These left wing goofs NEVER learn.Ask any boy on the playground whats the worst insult and its ALWAYS to be called a fag.The left has tried to push gay shit for years but still EVERYONE hates homos.You can try to teach it until your blue in the face and everyone still hates fags from the time your in the first grade on.
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These left wing goofs NEVER learn.Ask any boy on the playground whats the worst insult and its ALWAYS to be called a fag.The left has tried to push gay shit for years but still EVERYONE hates homos.You can try to teach it until your blue in the face and everyone still hates fags from the time your in the first grade on.
I don't hate homos.
I am no big fan of the gay lobby.
But definitely don't like to see gay bashing.
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These left wing goofs NEVER learn.Ask any boy on the playground whats the worst insult and its ALWAYS to be called a fag.The left has tried to push gay shit for years but still EVERYONE hates homos.You can try to teach it until your blue in the face and everyone still hates fags from the time your in the first grade on.
Even homosexuals know that. Remember what happened to Perez Hilton, after he called Will.I.Am. that. Hilton got bopped right in the eye.
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I don't hate homos.
I am no big fan of the gay lobby.
But definitely don't like to see gay bashing.
Hedge - i find that that issue becomes much more heated when either group focuses on it.
When i get resumes, I want people who can read, write, and have good communication skills. i dont give a fuck about their political views and tolerance of other groups.
Either they can do the job or they cant. Their function of getting the job done is a sole result of having a solid foundation in the basic subjects that are supposed to be taught in elementary school.
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I don't hate homos.
I am no big fan of the gay lobby.
But definitely don't like to see gay bashing.
Its not about hating them.Its that EVERY boy,from the time he can speak,is insulted by being called a fag.There is a reason for that.Its a distasteful lifesyle.The media and the left have tried to normalise it for years and yet NO ONE thinks its normal other then homos themselves.Think about this,if you had a kid,would you be happy he was gay?All the teaching and indoctrination cant change it.
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Its not about hating them.Its that EVERY boy,from the time he can speak,is insulted by being called a fag.There is a reason for that.Its a distasteful lifesyle.The media and the left have tried to normalise it for years and yet NO ONE thinks its normal other then homos themselves.Think about this,if you had a kid,would you be happy he was gay?All the teaching and indoctrination cant change it.
If any man does not want to hit this, there is definately something off in my book.
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Ok, this settles it, gayness is a disorder. If you are a guy and not rurned on by Eva Mendes or Christy Canyon, there are serious issues that need to be addressed.
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Its not about hating them.Its that EVERY boy,from the time he can speak,is insulted by being called a fag.There is a reason for that.Its a distasteful lifesyle.The media and the left have tried to normalise it for years and yet NO ONE thinks its normal other then homos themselves.Think about this,if you had a kid,would you be happy he was gay?All the teaching and indoctrination cant change it.
I usually tell gays this:
If there was a pill you could take that would make you straight - would you take it?
And their response is usually "no".
::)
Some are actually a little straight up honest (pun intended).
And says that they would take that pill without any hesitation.
It can't be gay to be gay, if you follow me.
All I'm saying is basically - if it happens, it happens.
It can happens to the best of us, just ask Tom DeLay.
I used to be throwing around fag as an insult a lot.
But not really a lot these days.
Sorta came to reason that I was a bit of a hypocrite, bashing Islam for being fundamentalist and rigid and shit.
While still using slurs like that.
So it sorta faded off.
Not a big deal. And I'm no Sister Mary. :-*
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Ok, this settles it, gayness is a disorder. If you are a guy and not rurned on by Eva Mendes or Christy Canyon, there are serious issues that need to be addressed.
Swing voters are per definition gay.
They picked Obama over Sarah Palin.
How is that possible?
She's MILF like you'd never seen anything like it.
MM...
Sweet. Ass. Sweet.
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Swing voters are per definition gay.
They picked Obama over Sarah Palin.
How is that possible?
She's MILF like you'd never seen anything like it.
MM...
Sweet. Ass. Sweet.
Damn hedge you forced me! ! ! ! ! !
A girl with a gun to me is just irresistable.
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Its not about hating them.Its that EVERY boy,from the time he can speak,is insulted by being called a fag.There is a reason for that.Its a distasteful lifesyle.The media and the left have tried to normalise it for years and yet NO ONE thinks its normal other then homos themselves.Think about this,if you had a kid,would you be happy he was gay?All the teaching and indoctrination cant change it.
These left wing goofs NEVER learn.Ask any boy on the playground whats the worst insult and its ALWAYS to be called a fag.The left has tried to push gay shit for years but still EVERYONE hates homos.You can try to teach it until your blue in the face and everyone still hates fags from the time your in the first grade on.
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What, is this like your standard response to everything now? Typical left wing ass clownery, you say anything against gays, blacks, mexican........ The lables come out, must be in the KKK or a Nazi or some other stupid shit, that shows you don't know a fucking thing about any of the things you try to lable people with.
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Come on bro - were talking about elementary school here.
Last time I checked, many of us grew up on Bugs Bunny, who crossed dressed, wore lipstick and has kissed male characters on numerous episodes. And we laughed. This was introduced to us in elementary school and before.
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Last time I checked, many of us grew up on Bugs Bunny, who crossed dressed, wore lipstick and has kissed male characters on numerous episodes. And we laughed. This was introduced to us in elementary school and before.
Watching bugs bunny ( a cartoon rabbit) wear a dress and kiss a male cartoon character did not make me thing it was OK to cross dress and kiss men. It was funny, it was a cartoon, and the character was a rabbit.
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Those were the good old days.Unfortunately many whites are so fearfull of being labeled a racist that they wont EVER stand up for their race.Guys like 240 are nothing but self hating race traitors who will swing on the day of the rope.Its all coming around again though.Look at eastern europe,white supremacy is on the rise,anti-semirism is on the rise.
In this country some whites are getting it together.