Elephant in the room?

[Ruddman23]

+ 10

Huskers57, you come off as a rather intolerant individual as it pertains to this subject. No personal attack meant here (Attn: Moderator), but whether a person is the POTUS, a football coach, a janitorial engineer or otherwise, they are entitled to their beliefs/opinions and are guaranteed a voicing of them via the American Bill of Rights in forums both private and public. I haven't noticed anywhere in Ron Brown's employment contract that he must surrender those rights. You may not agree with his stance on the subject, but to besmirch his reputation or ability to voice them is out of line on this forum or otherwise.

[Porkchopexpress]

Ron Brown should just go back into his closet, eh? That's what some of you are saying? It's a sad commentary on our society, if so.

Are you saying Ron Brown actually came out of the closet at some point?

[RedBlack&Blue]

Huskers57, you come off as a rather intolerant individual as it pertains to this subject. No personal attack meant here (Attn: Moderator), but whether a person is the POTUS, a football coach, a janitorial engineer or otherwise, they are entitled to their beliefs/opinions and are guaranteed a voicing of them via the American Bill of Rights in forums both private and public. I haven't noticed anywhere in Ron Brown's employment contract that he must surrender those rights. You may not agree with his stance on the subject, but to besmirch his reputation or ability to voice them is out of line on this forum or otherwise.

Nobody's denying him that right.

The question is: should he be using his position as a very prominent Nebraska football coach to do so? (He's admitted that he does use his position to promote his ideology).

Many of us say no, he should not be using his position in such a manner. At the very least, he should tone it down.

[beans]

Too bad the world is hung up on "positions."

We'd have much more peace if we sought the lowest one, rather than the highest.

[CTBugeater]

Unless I'm mistaken I don't think anyone here (or elsewhere) is disputing Ron Brown's constitutional rights as an American to voice his opinion. However, that constitutional right does not shield him from any and all repercussions, which is the point I'm trying to make. I'm constitutionally protected to be able to walk into a bar and say pretty much anything I want, but the constitution doesn't protect me from getting punched in the mouth over it

True, he can't be legally fired for voicing his opinion as a private citizen, but due to the platform his position affords him also must come some discretion on his part about how he uses that...and he must be ready to deal with any and all repercussions as a result.

I disagree strongly with his position but I also disagree strongly that he should be fired. But if, as a repercussion of his actions, the negative energy impacting the football program outweighs his usefulness to the program, then I couldn't blame the administration for at least considering letting him go if it's what's best for the program.

[Huskers57]

.

[FeelLikeAStranger]

Ron Brown should just go back into his closet, eh? That's what some of you are saying? It's a sad commentary on our society, if so.

It's a good comment on our society that this type of ignorance is no longer welcomed or appreciated.

[Number12]

Ron has every right to say whatever he wants. I have every right to lose my respect for him...which I have. I'm troubled by the need of some
to judge others so harshly. I wonder if Ron has seen the movie "Bully"

[utsker]

Citizen Ron Brown spoke out at a public hearing against an ordinance protecting gay rights many will agree and just as many will disagree. However there are over 150,000 men and women in Afganistan who are serving there to protect his right to publicly express his opinion.

How many of those 150,000 are gay and protecting his right to say that gays don't deserve rights?

[utsker]

Ron has every right to say whatever he wants. I have every right to lose my respect for him...which I have. I'm troubled by the need of some
to judge others so harshly. I wonder if Ron has seen the movie "Bully"

Yep, simply amazing what people will do to others in the name of their God.

[Train]

Many people with different creeds and positions. If we fired everyone with a different opinion than us, there would be nothing but chaos. I love Brown as a football coach. I love his passion for the Lord. Yet I'm positive we will not agree on everything whether it be religion or football. He is still a keeper.

Not everyone has the same tolerance for all things. The more I read about homosexuality the more I question Paul's take on it in the New Testament. Why did God make them. Their brains work differently according to those that study the brain for a living. If God created all things then I'm confused. I have met several and worked with a few in my lifetime. They were that way from an early age as I understand. Some were confused and others knew right from the beginning. My tolerance has grown over the years just for the fact I'm not sure anymore.

If I can be tolerant of gays, I surely can be tolerant of those that have rigid stances as well. I'm a fan of coach Brown as a man and a football coach. I'm not so sure that there are many gays playing football. Not so sure Coach Brown's stance on the subject has that much of a influence on recruits. This is a game for nasty boys with high expectations for playing beyond college. I personally don't think it makes that big a difference. There are things that I have a strong stance for and against. This isn't one of them. The only way this country survives with it's constitution and existing laws is to embrace tolerance. If not, with so many different peoples and religions the whole thing falls to pieces and what made this country great would be lost..

[gypsyhusker]

Hmmmmm, I just wonder if Ron Brown was the only person to speak out against the ordinance discussed at the council meeting. One thing is sure though, it is only because of his job that his comments are being written about in the article. If he wasn't a football coach with a high profile position, this wouldn't even likely make a thread in the cafe. He is being used by the media just as much as he uses the media in my view.

A Christian believes the bible and thinks that homosexuality is wrong. (Not shocking really) But then again, folks using his position at the university in an attempt to suppress his opinion doesn't shock me either. People do what they do and this topic does become devisive. Way too much is being put on what this one guy says. Maybe if everyone really lived what they believed, Ron Brown's comments wouldn't stand out so much.

Lots of stuff is wrong. Discrimination is just one of them.

[Scrollsker]

He attends banquets and is invited to speak....if you go to it then you should probably have an idea before hand on what he will talk about. Its okay to be gay and discount religious beliefs but not okay the other way around? This branches our to many topics and these people are still---> Hypocrites.

You can't advocate a belief by denouncing another, which is exactly what happens in our society; more often than not both are correct in their own way. Ron Browns' opinion is his own, nobody forces you to listen to it anymore than you are forced to comment on it. If he chooses to break rules, if he has broken any, then he will be reprimanded accordingly. Although I would like to note, for some reason it is okay to stand up for what you believe in nowadays as long as your motivation isn't God (involving Christianity)....isn't that discriminating the ones that are discriminating?

[utsker]

He attends banquets and is invited to speak....if you go to it then you should probably have an idea before hand on what he will talk about. Its okay to be gay and discount religious beliefs but not okay the other way around? This branches our to many topics and these people are still---> Hypocrites.

You can't advocate a belief by denouncing another, which is exactly what happens in our society; more often than not both are correct in their own way. Ron Browns' opinion is his own, nobody forces you to listen to it anymore than you are forced to comment on it. If he chooses to break rules, if he has broken any, then he will be reprimanded accordingly. Although I would like to note, for some reason it is okay to stand up for what you believe in nowadays as long as your motivation isn't God (involving Christianity)....isn't that discriminating the ones that are discriminating?

Of course both sides are discriminating and both sides are hypocritical with their selective arguments.

[YellowDent#2]

He attends banquets and is invited to speak....if you go to it then you should probably have an idea before hand on what he will talk about. Its okay to be gay and discount religious beliefs but not okay the other way around? This branches our to many topics and these people are still---> Hypocrites.

You can't advocate a belief by denouncing another, which is exactly what happens in our society; more often than not both are correct in their own way. Ron Browns' opinion is his own, nobody forces you to listen to it anymore than you are forced to comment on it. If he chooses to break rules, if he has broken any, then he will be reprimanded accordingly. Although I would like to note, for some reason it is okay to stand up for what you believe in nowadays as long as your motivation isn't God (involving Christianity)....isn't that discriminating the ones that are discriminating?

+1

[Prairie Sage1]

If he were a Muslim and flew to France to defend women wearing a Burqa, what would your opinion of be?

[MyBraska]

Unless I'm mistaken I don't think anyone here (or elsewhere) is disputing Ron Brown's constitutional rights as an American to voice his opinion. However, that constitutional right does not shield him from any and all repercussions, which is the point I'm trying to make. I'm constitutionally protected to be able to walk into a bar and say pretty much anything I want, but the constitution doesn't protect me from getting punched in the mouth over it

If not the Constitution, there are at least some legal protections for you from physical violence. However, short of that, I'm sure coach Brown is willing to take the consequences.

[Pops]

He's persecuting gays? As someone that posts as Nuke1970 stated on an LJS blog.

the quote you gave with this is misrepresenting the bible saying homosexuality is a sinful act

The Bible As A Sex Manual

So, as others have pointed out before, we use the Bible as if it is a sex manual, telling us what is and isn't acceptable in the eyes of the Lord your God. Thereby delineating out those whom it is okay for us to judge, and toward whom it is okay to direct all kinds of nastiness and holier-than-thouisms.

The reality is that the Bible is not a sex manual. I know, shocker. Right? Actually, it's a good thing (depending on your particular level of sexual prudishness – personally, compared to the Bible, mine is pretty high). You see, the Bible not only promotes marriage between a man and a woman, but it insist that that marriage be within the same faith. Not only should a wife be subordinate (Ephesians 5:22), but she should also prove her virginity... lest she be stoned (Deuteronomy 22:20-21). Oh, and the whole thing would probably be much better if it were arranged (Genesis 24:37-38). And that's just the warm up act.

According to the Bible, if a woman's husband dies and she hasn't had a son, she must marry his brother and have intercourse with him until she has a son (Mark 12:18-27). Sometimes, biblically wives are good, but concubines are better. Many of the “men of God” were not only married, but at least three of them had more than one concubine (Abraham, Caleb, Solomon) and they remained “men of God.” But like I said, “biblically wives are good” and there's no such thing as too much of a good thing. Right? So, why not have may wives? God frequently blessed polygamists (Esau, Jacob, Gideon, David, Solomon, Belshazzar).

As far as sexuality and the Bible's perspective on woman as property and as slaves... well, as you can imagine, it does not get any better.


Making Choices

The point is this: most of us have matured enough theologically to recognize that we need to contextualize the writings of the Bible, and because of it we have moved passed using these examples as the end-all-be-all on acceptable practices of sexuality. However, somehow, we have not managed to apply the very same understanding to the Bible verses that have become known as the “clobber verses” in the Bible. “Clobber" because they are the verses most used to clobber people who are gay or who support gay rights.

That is really interesting when you consider that, of all the topics I just mentioned, sexual orientation is the only one that is not a choice. Polygamy, concubines, marrying your brother's widow? All choices, and we have decided to “get over” the biblical directives for them. Sexual orientation? Not a choice. (There are those who still argue otherwise, but the science is clear, so I'm not even having that discussion). So many Christians just aren't able to get past that one. Equally interesting to consider: it is actually more of a choice to judge and marginalize people over being homosexual, or, bi-sexual, or queer; than it is a choice to be homosexual, or, bi-sexual, or queer. Yet we judge them and not ourselves.

Since we clearly have a difficult time letting go of the clobber verses, let's take them one by one and very briefly consider what is really going on in them. It should help us arrive at a clearer picture of what the writers of these scriptures were trying to tell us. What we will find is this: as we get caught up in judging others over what we want the verses to say, we miss the opportunity to understand how to be the people God is calling us to be.

As we get started, we all need to be on the same page on one thing. When the Bible was written, the earth was flat, the sun orbited the earth and the idea of a person having a sexual 'orientation' was completely foreign.

http://www.thegodarticle.com/7/post/...y-bashing.html

[Pops]

Hmmmmm, I just wonder if Ron Brown was the only person to speak out against the ordinance discussed at the council meeting. One thing is sure though, it is only because of his job that his comments are being written about in the article. If he wasn't a football coach with a high profile position, this wouldn't even likely make a thread in the cafe. He is being used by the media just as much as he uses the media in my view.

A Christian believes the bible and thinks that homosexuality is wrong. (Not shocking really) But then again, folks using his position at the university in an attempt to suppress his opinion doesn't shock me either. People do what they do and this topic does become devisive. Way too much is being put on what this one guy says. Maybe if everyone really lived what they believed, Ron Brown's comments wouldn't stand out so much.

Lots of stuff is wrong. Discrimination is just one of them.

I do find it odd that certain Christians pick out certain parts of the bible to be against and then preach about it...yet leave other certain parts talking about sex completely alone

[BakNthday]

JIHAD

1
: a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty; also : a personal struggle in devotion to Islam especially involving spiritual discipline

2
: a crusade for a principle or belief

Basically, Ron has embarked on what I would consider to be a sort of Christian Jihad. He is embolded by any critiscism, and, has set himself up to be a martyr for his cause. Usually, these kinds of situations don't end well.