Thursday, January 13, 2005

Rivers of Rhetoric, Rivulets of Reality

Hip waders will suffice…

Calvin College, a local, Grand Rapids, Michigan college associated with the Christian Reformed Church, has been hosting The January Series, which is described this way.

"For 15 days in January, you are invited to join in the excitement of the award-winning January Series with its world of ideas, beliefs, and theories presented in internationally-renowned presenters. Calvin College, as a distinctively Christian, academically excellent liberal arts college, strives to shape minds for participation in the renewal of all things. We invite you to join us to question, evaluate, and reflect on current topics affecting our world."

I haven’t attended any of the lectures, though I do attempt to stay on top of what is being discussed.  The most recent speaker was the Rev. Eugene Rivers, and his presentation covered the topic of homosexuality.  Here’s a few things he had to say.

"On Tuesday, he said those favoring equal rights for homosexuals have skillfully cloaked themselves in the rhetoric of the civil rights movement in a clever attempt to draw broader numbers to their cause."

Followed by this.

"As an exercise in marketing and merchandising, this strategy is the most brilliant playing of the race card in recent memory,” Rivers said. “Not since the poverty pimps of 35 years ago who leveraged the guilt and sense of fair play of the average American to hustle affirmative action set-asides have we witnessed so brazen a misuse of African American history for partisan purposes."

He also had this to say.

"Frequently same-sex couples wanting to marry are white lesbians who seek the accouterments of family life and the proverbial white picket fence without the benefit of a father for the children,” Rivers said. “From their positions of socio-economic privilege, they insist that their desires must be viewed as rights instead of preferences."

I’m fairly certain Rivers comments will ruffle some feathers, or boas, as the case may be.

"Activist says gays steal civil rights rhetoric"

Posted by John Venlet on 01/13 at 06:17 AM
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