The M.O. of Americans For “Truth”(AH?)
Americans For Truth (AH?) have a fairly prominent theme or modus operandi for how they get their “truth” out to readers. It’s a fairly simple one. “Don’t refute the message. Attack the messenger !”
Instead of simply refuting the arguments against them, they attack the very people who express their point of view. While holding the bible in their hands to boost the credibility of AFT, they use personal attacks to insult the sincerity of those making the opposing view points.
If one were to go to their page today or any day really but starting with the post at the bottom ”An Open Letter … ” dated January 5th, 2007 and work our way up to the top to “NEA’s Anti-Bullying Statement …” dated January 10th, one can see this trend of “blame the messenger” very clearly. I’m going to analyze the stories on the page today and then let you, the reader follow along in the preceding days to see how they handle this.
The first post we’ll analyze is “An Open Letter to Peter LaBarbera.” This was written by a person who comments on and reads Pams House Blend. It was an open letter addressed to Peter LaBarbera in which he states as a gay man who has come to Christ he can’t understand why AFT instead of helping people come to Christ as is commanded in the Bible and helping those that are truly needy, they only pick on a small minority of the population and work as hard as is possible to condemn in every way possible.
I wanted to start by pointing out an ideology that’s seemed to creep into Evangelical Christianity in recent years. When I came to Christ 9 years ago, I saw small bursts of it, but it appears that things have reached a fever pitch in recent years. Peter, there’s a big difference between not condoning homosexuality, and condemning it, and that’s where the Golden Rule applies in spades. I can understand how you feel the Bible condemns homosexuality, but I have a hard time understanding why you need to actively condemn it on at least a weekly basis in a very public arena. Didn’t Christ start a second epoch where the justice and wrath of God has already been fulfilled due to His sacrifice? Why the active campaigning against a people group you disagree with? These aren’t the money changers in the temple, these are the sinners Christ ate with.
Peter, how do your actions convey the Golden Rule? Do you love Pam, Autumn, and the rest of the gay community as you love yourself? Truly, do you? In what ways are you reaching out to the gay community to convey the love of Christ to them? How are you helping to defend the poor, sick, and weak? And let’s be perfectly frank here, telling people that they’re sick and perverted only makes them feel attacked, since in all reality, it really is a character attack. Are you showing the love of Christ to these people, or committing character assassination? Perhaps it’s time to turn away from press releases for a while, and actually follow the Golden Rule. You could volunteer with your local LGBT community center doing HIV prevention, and show them the love of Christ more than you ever will with hollow words. Perhaps at next year’s pride parade or leather ball, it would be more fitting to show your love in meaningful ways (such as passing out water bottles) rather than standing in judgement with picket signs. Or, perhaps we could see you actively campaign against other sins, such as gluttony (obesity in the Church, anyone?) divorce, greed, or any other myriad of sins. Constantly harping on the issue of gay sin while you ignore others only makes you look like a hypocrite, and turns away members of the gay community. Remember, you will have to answer to Christ when he asks if your actions deterred gay people from coming to Him, rather than leading them to Him. What will you be able to say?
If one were to respond how would they? Maybe by answering the questions asked? AFT, and in particular Sonja Dalton, apparantly an employee of AFT decided to pick up on a single mention of John MacArthur who wrote an essay decrying homosexuality and telling the author of the letter that he should “read his John MacArthur study Bible a little more carefully.” (emphasis theirs).
Next they attack his sincerity by commenting on his clothing and posting a picture of him from his own website and pointing out his t-shirt which instead of reading “Enjoy Coca-Cola” says “Enjoy Cock.” As we all know the clothes are what makes a man and not the other way around.
You see, Rick is also known as Blandella and, as you evaluate his criticism of Peter LaBarbera, you might consider his choice of casual wear (read carefully):
[image of Rick stolen from his website]
Caption: How I wish he were enjoying Coca-Cola instead
As Rick says on his website:
Ad Hominem Tu Quoque attacks are pretty wrong. I was sad to see none of my points were actually addressed, but my clothing choices were. Also, take my photo off your server, because it constitutes copyright violation.
In the next piece the reprehensible woman, Sonja Dalton, strikes another blow with “Are Teenagers “Mature” and “Wise” — Or Are They Still Teenagers?“. This time the recipient is a 16 year old boy who was simply expressing his frustrations and anger after reading the information on AFT(AH’s) website on his MySpace page.
There simply is no respect anymore. No respect for beliefs, no respects for individualism, no respect for humanity. I just read my friend Emily’s note about a group called ‘Americans For Truth’ and I visited their website. It made me want to vomit and cry. This group is dedicated to ‘educating’ America and the world about what they call “The Solution to the Gay Problem”. This made me remember something else along those lines, it was called “The Final Solution to the Jewish Problem”. The ‘Final Solution’ to this imaginary malady was thought up by none other than Adolf Hitler. The solution as he saw it was mass extermonation and genocide. I want to know, where does all this hate come from.
[sic][emphasis AFT(AH?)’s]
This time Sonja goes right for the jugular by poking fun at the writing skills of the teen and his “misplaced emotion, arrogance, ignorance, poor logic, misinformation and lies”
I ran across this MySpace blog (below) a few days ago. It merits note. I have sat in a number of school meetings where board members, administrators, and teachers insist that 15-16 -17 year old high school students are “mature” and “wise.” This teenager’s post will henceforth suffice as my response to that claim. It is full of typos, misspellings, incorrect punctuation, and (most importantly) misplaced emotion, arrogance, ignorance, poor logic, misinformation, and lies. [emphasis mine]
She then goes on to “refute” the teens assertions. “Well, at least now she’s doing it right,” you might be saying. Instead she compounds on her own assertions that the teen is at best, unqualified to comment about AFT(AH?) or how he feels about homexuality, at worst a teenaged dummy.
She starts her “rebuttal” by picking apart the pieces that she wants to respond to. Her first response was to say that they never said “Solution to the Gay Problem,” but now that he mentions it, why not?
Her second response was to say that “AFTAH and its president, Peter LaBarbera, have condemned all abuse and violence against homosexuals, and have also condemned unbiblical messages such as Fred Phelps’ “God Hates Fags” protests (which are now targeting the funerals of American soldiers).” This was in response to the Nazi comparison the child used. This is a true statement on it’s face but untrue when looking at how the site tackles such things as ENDA and anti-bullying in schools with regard to LGBT students, and the website makes clear that they would pretty much prefer that gay people didn’t exist by his constant use of quotation marks around the word “gay” and “lesbian,” as if to say that they don’t. Peter LaBarbera has NEVER said that he advocates for violence towards homosexuals, but he doesn’t support legislation that would make it a hate crime to bash or kill someone because of their real or percieved sexuality or to teach kids that bullying others because of their real or percieved sexuality is wrong.
Her third response was to refute the boy’s comment that “[t]he same people who run this [sic]orginization also claim to be devout [sic]christians [sic]adn against the violence in Iraq and many other places in the world[,]” with the simple assertion that “AFTAH has not addressed Iraq.” Well, firstly the kid is probably wrong in his grammar and meant to say that “Christians run this organization and it’s Christians in general who oppose violence in Iraq and many other places in the world.” Secondly, this is a lie, doing a simple search on the AFT(AH?) website for the words “Iraq” brought up 40 entries, mostly this very article, but there were a few, and the refutations in each made it very clear that AFT is in support of the War in Iraq. Also a search of “War on Terror” on the site brings up two entries. Both using rhetoric that expresses support for. So while the kid was wrong on a technicality, the statement by Ms. Dalton, is a bold faced lie.
Dalton’s 4th condemnation of the child is in response to “They are not asking you to take part in anything you don’t want to, they aren’t even asking for your blessing.” The teen is very right in this. The LGBT community in America isn’t asking anyone to take part in anything they don’t want to. That’s why America has what is called freedom. The LGBT community doesn’t want their blessing. That is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. What the LGBT community is asking for is to stop being used as political footballs and be given the equal treatment and minority protection (i.e. hate crimes, non-discrimination laws) that any other minority group is entitled to. The LGBT community cannot ask for the blessing of any church and expect it. The church has to make that decision on it’s own. Will it cast off that teaching of the Bible as it has with eating pork, shellfish, shaving of beards, stoning adulterers, or animal sacrifice, as it did with anti-miscenigation, or will the church embrace ALL of God’s children who come unto him regardless of the “sins” that are committed? The response? Not so nice:
Contrary to our young friend’s assertion, homosexual activists are indeed asking for society’s blessing — something most would admit. Not only do they want to redefine marriage and family to accommodate their aberrant lifestyles; they advocate teaching homosexuality and transgenderism as positive lifestyles to very young children. Moreover, homosexual activists routinely smear those who disagree with them as “haters” and ultimately will push for “hate speech” laws against those who affirm the truth that God condemns homosexual practice. (Already, Christians in foreign countries like Canada, Great Britain and Sweden are being persecuted under such pro-homosexual “hate speech” laws — yet American homosexual activists for the most part are not renouncing the growing pro-”gay” totalitarianism abroad.)
Concluding her rebuttal she says it’s “not hate but Truth” that AFT(AH?) teaches. Laffably she goes on to say:
There is abundant secular research to confirm these aspects of the homosexual lifestye (see the website of NARTH, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality). And people can overcome homosexuality, as proven by countless ex-”gays” living contented lives across the world.
If teenagers are so “mature” and “wise,” then why do we send them to school to learn? Maybe these “educators” should spend less time adoring youthful impudence and more time with adults to regain proper perspective. The fact is that teenagers are not yet mature or wise, but they can attain both qualities in due time, through prayer, studying God’s word, and experience, including actually researching what groups like Americans For Truth believe rather than making up lies about us.
In my conclustion about this article, Ms. Dalton needs to do some research into what the word “secular” means as NARTH is by no means a secular organization, only an arm of the right-wing “ex-gay” myth propaganda machine who is discredited by every single credible mental health organization. Also she might need to actually research some of the material on Americans for Truth before she tries to spin so fast her head explodes as it did with this MINOR.
Sadly though, the irresponsibility of this organization shows through once more. Not only by copying the entire post and violating the fair use policy of the Internet, she actually posts a link to the young man’s MySpace page, which will not be linked here out of respect for the age of the youth involved, opening him up to a series of possible hateful commenters. “Pro-family” indeed.
The Next article titled “Shaking Up Gender Assumptions — Destroying Teenagers” she criticizes a book review by the SF Chronicle. In her attack on the book/review which is actually very eloquently written and discusses things from a transgendered person’s point of view with her own very eloquently written “Nuh uh! LA LA LA! I can’t hear you! My upbringing, and the Bible tells me you’re wrong! LA LA LA! Don’t listen to them. I’m right, they’re wrong!” Actually what she really said was this:
- “Real women” have two X chromosomes, and they do not have a male sex organ;
- Adult homosexual and “transgender” activists, like lesbian writer Chris Beam, often affirm confused “GLBT” youth in dangerous and wrong behaviors;
- Nothing is sadder to see than a confused young person who has been deceived into renouncing his God-given identity and sexuality;
- Churches need to prepare to intervene with vulnerable boys and girls (kids from dysfunctional, broken, or abusive homes; kids that don’t “fit in”; kids that have been molested). Godly men and women need to come alongside vulnerable kids, put their arms around them, reinforce their God-given identity, and motivate them with a vision of the fulfilling life they can enjoy.
It’s clearly apparant by her brief (miss)ive that Sonja’s reading comprehension borders on that of a 4th grader who beleives she has all of the answers and is always right. In Sonja’s brain metaphors don’t register that’s why the focus on the physical and not the actual brain chemistry of the person involved. She doesn’t even try to refute the historical references listed because “If it’s not in the bible, then it’s not true.” Right? Anybody?
Then the old straw-man argument that “homosexual and ‘transgender’ activists often affirm confused ‘GLBT’ youth.” First of all, there’s no need for the scare quotes around transgender or GLBT since they actually do exist. Secondly what activists do is show love and compassion and tell “confused” youth that no matter what their personal truth is they will be loved. That God loves them for who He made them to be. If He made them born a boy on the outside and a woman on the inside and to embrace who they are because God made them like this and God made them in His image, male and female. How quickly she forgets her scripture.
Her conclusion is that “Churches need to prepare to intervene with vulnerable boys and girls (kids from dysfunctional, broken, or abusive homes; kids that don’t “fit in”; kids that have been molested).” What exactly this has to do with transgendered youth, one really can’t say.
She tries to make false connection between same-sex attraction, and transgederism with abuse, neglect, and broken homes.
Finally she makes the assumption that since she’s Christian, only Christianity knows the answers and that “Godly men and women” should influence these youth. Well she’s right, sort of. Men and women of God have a duty to fulfill in helping their brothers and sisters on the journey of life. Jesus is quite clear on this.
This does not mean pushing those who are weaker, smaller, or different down in the mud. This means helping them traverse the road. We assume she “helps” by forcing people to Christ, but that’s also not what He said. He wanted his followers to bring people to him through kindness and His love. What she does is neither kindness or love.
Moving along we have this lovely piece by, none other than, bath-house, and gay bar “researcher,” Peter LaBarbera. In his article he highlights some interesting pieces that he liked from another Christianist reverend that picks on the “un-Godliness” of Barack Obama and his pastor of the Trinity Church in Chicago. The point that really sticks out to me is a hypocritical one.
- [C]ommitment to the plenary authority and centrality of the Bible does not describe Barack Obama’s Christianity. In fact, Obama picks and chooses what parts of the Bible he will accept or reject. For example, on the subject of same-sex relationships, Obama writes,
“I am not willing to have the state deny American citizens a civil union that confers equivalent rights on such basic matters as hospital visitation or health insurance coverage simply because the people they love are of the same sex—nor am I willing to accept a reading of the Bible that considers an obscure line in Romans to be more defining of Christianity than the Sermon on the Mount.”
Hypocracy at it’s most flamboyant. While Mr Labarbera did not write this he did take note to say it was of key importance. Therefore he is a hypocrite as well. There are MANY passages in the Bible that people do not follow today such as eating pork and shellfish, trimming the hair and sideburns, and women don’t cover their heads. There’s more but we don’t have all day.
The Grand conclusion of the page from January 10th is the attack on the NEA (National Education Association.) In “NEA’s Anti-Bullying Statement Promotes Approval of Homosexuality“ Peter LaBarbera attacks the NEA instead of debating their message that bullying is wrong and to use real or percieved sexuality as an excuse is wrong as well. How does he attack it? Basically by shouting that the NEA “Promotes Approval of Homosexuality.” Which is not exactly what they are doing. Again he misses the point. When the NEA wants to do away with bullying and decides to include sexuality in their message, what they are doing is pointing out the all too real reality that the NUMBER ONE way kids are bullied is by their apparent weakness or differences whether real or percieved, which is usually translated by the words “faggot”, “fag”, “homo”, “gay”, “dyke”, and “rug-muncher,” and also the occasional brutal ass kicking that follows.
You might be thinking to yourself “Oh my gosh! My kids would never say anything like this!” And you’d be wrong. As this writer was a former child he can clearly tell you that no matter what other children’s parents were like or believed they taught their kids, the hurtful words, remarks, and physical actions are learned from somewhere, either unconciously through their family, their church, or their friends. In America’s public schools it is difficult enough to be a teenager but to be a real or percieved LGBT student life is infinitely more difficult. Threats of violence and harsh words are thrown about on an almost minute to minute basis.
Peter’s solution: “Why can’t schools simply ban all “bullying” or abuse of ANY students without getting into the homosexuality promotion business?”
The response is a simple one: They’re not promoting homosexuality. They’re saying that students need to respect others regardless of what their religious beliefs and teachings tell them is wrong about homosexuality and not use their religious beliefs and teachings to attack other students. Basically, it’s a ‘keep it to yourself, grin and bare it’ mantra. Clearly something Peter LaBarbera should take note of.
Clearly AFT(AH?) cannot simply answer direct questions or refute the content of a message, instead they must attack the sincerity and integrity of the person who wrote the message. That is their Modus Operandi. The attack the messenger, not the message mentality has led them to having little, to no credence in the progressive blogosphere other than something to easily pull apart, dissect, and present the real truth behind their lies. This is ours.
Crossposted at Get-The-Skinny
RSS 11. January 2007 (16:21)Filed under: Americans for "Truth", Fundies, Lies, Peter LaBarbera, Sonja Dalton
