I've recently learned that I'm an extremist - denounced by our nation's President. I'm still coming to grips with this realization, as the thought had never crossed my mind that any of my beliefs were anything but mainstream. However, I suppose that's the way for us extremists.
 

LET'S START HERE

We all know that the first step, in any multi-step program, is to accept the truth which is this: I am a Right-Wing Extremist (RWE). This is a sobering reality. 

MY JOURNEY TO EXTREMISM 

It's strange that, in my opinion, my beliefs have been mainly consistent for over 40 years. Changes of which I am aware, seem to be unradical in nature. For example, in the 70's I came to understand that pollution was a bad thing and that we (mankind) needed to stop doing it. At the same time, I learned that I needed to be sensitive to discrimination. I came to understand that I might be subconsciously discriminatory in my thinking and that I should deliberately work to be aware of, and resist, such biased thinking. Long before that, as a matter of standard boy-training, I was taught that girls were usually smaller and weaker than boys and that we should be careful when playing sports with them and in gym class. It was difficult to understand this as a young boy, but we were earnestly taught that we needed to show girls respect and, to the extent possible, we should protect them if there was danger of any kind. As we progressed into high school, every one of my guy friends was shocked when their dad gave them a talk about responding to police if ever pulled over in our car. The instruction was the same for all of us - "Roll down your window then put both hands on the steering wheel. Your answers to the policeman will generally be either Yes, sir or No, sir. When they ask for your license and registration, tell them that the registration in the glove compartment and ask them if it is okay to get it. The policeman doesn't know what you have in there - maybe a gun. They might shoot you if you reach for it quickly."    

It's not that my thoughts and values have changed over time, it's that the opinion of others about my thoughts and vales have changed.   

I'M NOT A HATER - HOMOSEXUALITY

I understand that there are men in this world who are keenly interested in sexual contact with other men. Such a thought has never crossed my mind, and I know only a little about the sexual acts with which men may engage with one another. I find the thought of having a sexual experience of any kind with another man to be disgusting. However, as a believer in freedom, I affirm the idea that men may interact with each other, on a consensual basis, in any way they choose in the privacy of their homes. Truly, it's none of my business, as it should be. Similarly, the sexual preferences and conduct of any of my friends are also none of my business. That's why public declaration and affirmation of anyone's sexual preferences or conduct, whatever they may be, are generally inappropriate for good reason. Hundreds of sexual preferences of every kind, for things you've never heard of, or things you thought impossible, exist in the world. It is not wise to open the door to public affirmation for any, or all, of them. If you are doing so to find like-minded people, there are always means to find others with similar interests. 

Yes, I have religious beliefs about homosexuality, but my feelings about homosexuality have nothing to do with my religion. I simply find homosexuality repulsive, in much the same way that I find putting mayonnaise on a peanut butter sandwich repulsive. It's just the way I am. In spite of my repulsion for that which they do, I believe that homosexuals deserve the same respect as I might give to anyone else. Similarly, I believe, without qualification, that homosexuals should be free to live their lives in peace, without persecution or discrimination, from others. I condemn all violence against homosexuals. There are laws in the country to that effect, and I support them. 

THE PROBLEM

That's not enough, as determined by the liberal Left, and this is where the hatred comes in. In addition to the things stated in the previous paragraph, it is also required of me to show unconditional support and celebration of homosexuality. This support must be in the form of something like a hat, shirt, socks, bracelet, ribbon, button, bumper sticker, window decal, banner, flag, or Facebook image. Doing so confirms my support, and celebration, of whatever is supported and celebrated by those in the LGBTQ crowd. Failure to do so violates a de-facto law regarding one's attitude towards homosexuality. That is, a person's attitude falls into one of only two categories - support or hatred (which includes phobia). Therefore, the absence of support or celebration is proof of hatred and phobia.    

I've stated my beliefs and standards above. For those on the Left, this identifies me as a hater because I do not celebrate homosexuality. Moreover, all haters are lumped in with each other regardless of how their beliefs compare except to the extent that we have all refused to celebrate. For instance, my condemnation of violence against homosexuals in no way exempts me from complicity in any violence perpetrated against homosexuals. So, if some crazy walks into a gay bar anywhere and shoots up the place, I'm to blame, along with every other hater anywhere, because my failure to celebrate contributed to the violence. There is no middle ground and no court of appeals. Redemption is achieved only though total repentance. That is, I must celebrate homosexuality, fly the flag, apply the bumper sticker, and vote blue.  

Those of us in the scrambled brain crowd have difficulty with this notion. I don't want to celebrate homosexuality and believe that I have the right to do so. From my perspective, my right to not celebrate homosexuality is the same right exercised by homosexuals in not celebrating heterosexuality. It's called freedom. In this country, it is our right to believe what we want, and to celebrate what we want. I've never compiled a list to this effect, but I submit to you, as fact, that there are an unlimited number of things celebrated by some in this country that are either unimportant to me or are detestable to me. I'm tempted to post a few, but that might be problematic. My non-celebration of anything does not make me a hater, regardless of what you believe.

A FINAL THOUGHT

Perhaps, after reading the thoughts above, you find yourself composing a response. Most likely, you are contemplating an argument, explaining why my affirmation of a person's right to live their life in America as a homosexual, in peace, and without discrimination or persecution, is insufficient. Perhaps you are holding me accountable for the actions of others - actions from long ago or even the more recent past. The actions of people I do not know, or in no way supported. If so, I encourage you to consider this question honestly and carefully. 

Which one of us is the hater - me or you?