Homosexuality and freedom of speech--double standard?

[_asbestosman]

Is the following message an attack on anyone?

"My favorite color is red."

I would argue that it is not, even if your favorite color happens to be yellow, no, blue (aaaaaggghhhhhhh).

In some context it might be an attack such as somewhere overrun with Cryp gangbangers who are fighting the Bloods over whatever stuff they fight over.

Is "I support the KKK" an attack on anyone? I would argue that it is in fact an attack.

[_EAllusion]

Technically, you said that one statement is attack on other people, while the other statement is support of other people, and I said that one is an attack on other people, while the other statement is not an attack because it's about one's own attitude, and the attitude expressed does not itself contain an attack.

*scratches head*

I said it was different than an out and out attack, but could express implicit disagreement.

For instance,

The question isn't whether one attacks and the other supports, it's whether one attacks and the other doesn't attack. "I support homosexuals" is not an attack on anybody, even on those who don't support gays.

It tells them that they are wrong to think that it is wrong to support homosexuals. That's an implied attack. If someone thinks it is wrong to support gays, and you go around supporting gays, you are implying that you disagree with them - at least to the extent you don't think you are doing something wrong.

If there's a group of people out there who thinks it morally wrong to support the color red and you show up wearing a Red shirt that says, "Red. It Kicks Ass!" you are implicitly disagreeing with them. As I said, I think there is a difference between that and out and out attacking red-supporters.

[_Sethbag]

I don't even believe that "I support homosexuals" implies that those who don't support homosexuals are wrong. There are many ways that this statement can be construed. For example, it could simply be a matter of personal preference.

"I support the high school band" does not imply hostility toward those who don't support the band, or to the football team, or anyone else. It cannot be construed as an attack on anyone.

"I support the KKK" is an interesting example. On the surface it is just an expression of support and not an attack on anybody. The KKK themselves, however, directly attack others, and thus support of them implies support for the attacks they make.

The KKK and homosexuals aren't an equivelant category. Being homosexual doesn't imply hostility toward anyone, homosexual or not. Being in the KKK does.

And this is true even though there are religious fanatics who passionately hate gays. Being gay does not imply hostility toward such people. On the contrary, being gay only implies being the target or victim of such people.

[_EAllusion]

I don't even believe that "I support homosexuals" implies that those who don't support homosexuals are wrong.

I don't either. But I do think it implies those who say it is wrong to support homosexuals are wrong.

[_Ray A]

"It's all your fault, Noah, we told you not to harass the gay woodpecker."

[_asbestosman]

The KKK and homosexuals aren't an equivelant category. Being homosexual doesn't imply hostility toward anyone, homosexual or not. Being in the KKK does.

Good. I hope no one thought I was arguing that they are in the same category. I'm just getting people to think more than a simple support vs condemnation. Now for more fun. How about:

"I support incest" (between consenting adults).
or "I support cannibalism"
or "I support public nudity"
or "I support torturing / water boarding terrorists"

I'm not saying any of that is in the same category as homosexuality, but they don't imply hostility toward anyone except perhaps terrorists. I say peraps terrorists because supporting punishment of criminals doesn't necessarily imply hostility towards them. Likewise, supporting painful means of extracting life-saving information might not imply hostility. And no, I'm not justifying torture.

[_Sethbag]

Good. I hope no one thought I was arguing that they are in the same category. I'm just getting people to think more than a simple support vs condemnation. Now for more fun. How about:

"I support incest" (between consenting adults).
or "I support cannibalism"
or "I support public nudity"
or "I support torturing / water boarding terrorists"

Those are expressions of opinions respecting various topics, not overtly hostile to anyone in particular unless you're a terrorist, and thankfully terrorists have no standing to protest.

[_Ray A]

According to the Ponce de Leon High School website, David Davis teaches American government & economics, and American history.

The school's mission vision is thus stated (My emphasis):

Our Vision

The Ponce de Leon High School administration, faculty, and support staff visualize literate students who are seekers of meaning and knowledge and are using this knowledge to satisfy their curiosity about life's complexities as they explore. These students will discover the old and compare it to the new as they strive to clarify their own identity and understand a world of many cultures and different beliefs.

As these students progress through the educational process, they will recognize their responsibility for changing conditions detrimental to human development, opportunity, and community. They will promote equity, tolerance, understanding, and acceptance of all people.

The vision mirrors an educational environment that provides for the development of the potential of all students and allows students to progress at their own ability level - yes, an environment rich with language, the arts, mathematical exercises, scientific explorations, and a program that inspires the art of communication with confidence.
Looking to the future, students will harness knowledge to productive ways. The world of technology will be nothing new to them. They will have developed skills to enter the world of work or to enter another phase of education. Ponce de Leon students will be "lifetime learners."

According to the OP link:

Davis was demoted, and school employees must now go through sensitivity training.

In order to meet the school's vision, I would think that appropriate.