Summary and Strong Response

Here's my second English paper, a Summary and Strong Response. I got a 95 on it! :) Tell me what you think!

"In Suburb, Battle goes Public on Bullying of Gay Students” Summary and Strong Response

In the article “In Suburb, Battle Goes Public on Bullying of Gay Students”, written by Erik Eckholm and published in the New York Times on October 1st, 2011, Eckholm discusses the lawsuit against the bullying of gay students in Anoka, Minnesota. Eckholm points out that there have been years of harsh conflict between advocates for gay students and Christian conservatives. He also points out that the lawsuit, filed in July on behalf of six current and former students in the Anoka Minnesota school district by the Southern Poverty Center and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, is attempting to end the demands of the school district that all staff should remain neutral on matters regarding sexual orientation and that teaching about sexual orientation is not a part of the district-adopted curriculum. They claim these demands are a “district gag order” that have undercut anti –bullying and –suicide efforts. Eckholm suggests the irony of the fact that most of these schools are in Michele Bachmann’s, a Republican presidential candidate for the 2012 races, Congressional district. He also mentions that Bachmann is a member of the Minnesota Family Council, a Christian conservative group who lobbies that the school district should not change. Tom Prichard, president of the Minnesota Family Council, believes that “Accepting two moms as a family is advocacy. . . No tolerance for bullying, but these groups are using the issue to press their agenda.” However, Eckholm includes, others beg to differ. “This policy clearly sends a message to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) kids that there is something shameful about who they are and that they are not valid people in history,” states Jefferson Fietek, a drama teacher at Anoka Middle School for the Arts. As an advisor for the Gay-Straight Alliance, he reveals that he knew several gay or lesbian students who attempted or seriously considered suicide. Eckholm concludes his article by quoting the Minnesota Family Council’s website, which says that depression among gay teenagers is often the fault of gay rights advocates who create helplessness – “when a child is deliberately misinformed about causes of homosexuality and told homosexual acts are normal and natural, all hope for recovery is taken away.”
Although I don’t endorse homosexuality at all, I do agree that bullying, regardless of the case, is wrong. However, demanding that Christians accept homosexuality takes away our freedom of religion. I believe that Eckholm insinuates that Christians are the main reason for homosexual suicide, and he does not elaborate fairly on the reasoning of Christian conservatives as to why they refuse to endorse homosexuality.
Bullying is wrong; there is no excuse for anyone to partake in it, let alone Christians. The Bible commands us as Christians to love our neighbor: “…'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' (Mark 12:31a).” When Christians bully, they are not obeying this commandment. Sadly, suicide can be the result of bullying. This is not to be tolerated, regardless of the sexual orientation of the victim. However, we as Christians should not be expected to accept the homosexual lifestyle. The Bible – which is the Christian’s standard of reference - states that homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord – “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22).” Forcing us to accept homosexuality is forcing us to give up our freedom of religion. Forcing us to not speak against homosexuality is taking away our freedom of speech. Forcing us to not write about our view of homosexuality is taking away our freedom of press. We have just as much a right to freedom of religion, speech, and press as do homosexuals. Eckholm also fails to mention the Christian’s view of homosexuality, which is that homosexuality is neither normal nor natural. The Bible teaches that God created the anatomies of males and females differently for the purpose of marriage between the two. Sexual relations were created by God to be between a man and his wife. We must think about the effect of AIDS, a deadly disease that often results from homosexual intercourse. We must also consider the fact that heterosexual relations enable reproduction, while homosexual relations do not. What does this insinuate? I believe these facts confirm that homosexual relations are not natural and not according to God’s design. Schools should not risk the innocence and safety of other students by allowing homosexuality to be flaunted in their systems for many reasons; which Eckholm does not elaborate on. For one, many children are sheltered and unaware of this unnatural affection. Parents purposefully shelter these children to preserve their innocence. Allowing them to be subjected to homosexual affection is dangerous to their innocence and mindset. Homosexual affection, if allowed to be openly shown in the halls, will cause extreme discomfort for many children, either to witness or to be pressured to participate. Because of this, the policy enforced by the Anoka, Minnesota school district is wise in regards to protection of their heterosexual students. However, I do think that Eckholm did an acceptable job presenting the need for bullying policies. Those who are exposed to bullying should be adequately protected. It is unfair to be picked on because of one’s sexual orientation, regardless of the views of the other person. The Anoka, Minnesota school district could and should do a better job protecting their students from bullying by having more adults available in halls throughout the day and during extra-curricular activities; adults with strong views against bullying and strong personalities that demand respect, such as coaches. Those who are caught bullying should be subjected to detention for the first offense, detention with extra-curricular suspension for the second, and the risk of being expelled for the third.
Eckholm falsely portrays Christians by only representing that they are fighting against the homosexual agenda. It seems he attempts to portray the illusion that Christians do not love “outcasts” or those who are different. He couldn’t be further from the truth! Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfector of the Christian Faith, showed love to everyone, not just Christians. He was friends with hookers and tax collectors. He did not bully these people for their lifestyles, rather they changed because they wanted so badly to follow Jesus and be just like Him. He is the example that Christians are compelled by the Bible to follow. If we, as Christians, truly love our neighbors as ourselves, we would not bully them, but with our quiet, Christ-like attitude, we would minister to them and show them Christ’s love. It is not up to us to change their lifestyle – we are only expected to exhibit the love of Christ to them. The truth is that many Christians I know of completely accept the homosexuals in their lives without endorsing their behavior. My great aunt and uncle have a son, my second cousin, who is a homosexual and has three children with his partner. Although my great aunt and uncle do not encourage the behavior of their son at all and are grieved at his choice in sexual orientation, they accept him, his partner, and their children and love them very much. They do not harass him for his sexual orientation; they do not make fun of his decisions. They simply love and accept him as he is. That being said, I do believe that the phrase “love the sinner, hate the sin” applies here. Just because we love our homosexual friends and admire homosexual artists does not mean that we accept their sinful lifestyle. I admire Elton John and Lady Gaga immensely as musicians; however, I am not supportive of their lifestyle or views and boycott their songs that endorse their lifestyles and views that I believe are contrary to the Bible.
In conclusion, I believe that Eckholm did a very poor job demonstrating the true beliefs of Christians towards homosexuality, and a very biased job of distributing the blame of homosexual suicide mostly to them. While we believe that homosexuality is sinful, we should follow the example of Jesus Christ by loving our neighbors, even if they are homosexuals. This does not mean that we should be expected to endorse their lifestyle. We have the right to speak against their lifestyle and protect our children from being subjected to homosexuality.















Works Cited
The Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1984, 1990, 2008.
Erik Eckholm. “In Suburb, Battle Goes Public on Bullying of Gay Students.” The New York Times 14 September 2011.