Homosexuality: Poland Needs No Advice from Americans or Britons (RMF24, Poland)
"The
debate that erupted across the Atlantic after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision
is quite instructive. There is no shortage there of extreme opinions. If we
fail to listen intently, it isn't hard to imagine what might soon await us.
There are, for instance, calls to legalize unions among more than two people
being quite seriously suggested. Once the traditional definition of marriage is
rejected, these arguments become difficult to rebuke. If marriage is not
exclusively between a man and a woman, then why not triangles, quadrangles and
whatever one wishes … Don't say we didn't warn you. We have."
Friends of mine have just returned from London. They've seen
a lot in their lives, but this time they were shocked by their short visit to Soho and the obscene spectacle that greeted them during the
weekend gay parade. I'll refrain from citing details, but it was not a favorable
impression. British gays had, of course, a reason to celebrate: the U.S.
Supreme Court decision on gay marriage was greeted with euphoria across the
entire rainbow world. Yet on Friday there was a terrorist attack in Tunisia during
which dozens of British tourists were killed. Yes the parade, in its
characteristic, decency-flouting fashion, took place anyway. I want to believe would
not have been impossible in Poland.
I base the belief that in our country sensitivity would prevail
on the impression that homosexual communities in Poland are for the most part
rather conservative. Yes - the group which wants to change the world is indeed visible
here, but it dominates only in the media. This can be seen in heated domestic
discussions, both on the limits of acceptable behavior during parades calling
for the same equality, and on whether the ethos of freedom at any price for the
Polish LGBT movement should dominate normal life. It
is worthwhile paying attention to these discussions, even if the subject is
entirely foreign to the average person's everyday concerns.
Contrary to the oft-repeated slogan insisted on about "someone
peeping under the covers," conservatively minded Poles have no appetite
for peeping. Rather, it's the homosexuals who keep waving bed covers and, more or
less provocatively, asking whether others have a problem with that. Most still do. Moreover – they have a right to have one. For
now at least, we still have the freedom of thought. It is the culture of the individual
that dictates if - and if so, how - we express these doubts, and what they lead
to. I prefer the culture of the individual and not of political correctness to
remain the determining factor here - and the culture of the person should hopefully
be of the highest quality.
I think gay activist KrystianLegierski, with his declarations about voting for
AndrzejDuda [presidential candidate for the right-wing Law
and Justice Party] has done more for the cause of gay equality than with all of
his previous activities. In doing so he crossed a barrier that to some seemed impassable.
This is also worth noting. Let's be frank: what's "under the covers" are
not the critical issues, but whether we are able to agree on questions that are
fundamental for the country and nation. If the gay community, taking care of
its rights, can avoid losing sight of the issues that are important to others, the
chances of compromise are greatly improved.
If in Poland this autumn there is indeed a change of power,
which is what everything is pointing toward, the problems of homosexuals will not
likely be regarded as the most important. Nonetheless, I don't believe any new
government should seek to avoid debating them. If both sides show willingness
to compromise, a lot can be achieved – on gay partnerships as well. The word "compromise"
is most important here, meaning both parties will have to give something up.
The Catholic majority will seek to ignore these issues and at best, marginalize
them; the gay minority will tend to magnify and blow problems out of all
proportion in keeping with the principle of moving the goal posts (first gay
unions, then gay marriage, then adoption of children, then …).
Conservative fears about the consequences of the rainbow
revolution are not as simple as "no … because no." However strange it
may sound within liberal circles, there is plenty of genuine concern about the
fate of the family, what informs family roles, and pressure being exerted on
all sides, both economic and moral. Any weakening of the institution of the family,
which the actions of the global homo-lobby are clearly leading, is in fact harmful
to us all. This is something most of us, apart perhaps from the most ardent
proponents of progress for the progress's sake, are able to recognize.
Unlike the U.S. or Britain - countries that are eager to
teach the rest of us tolerance – in contemporary Poland homosexuality was never
criminalized. Not only have we no obligation to explain anything to anyone, but
we can calmly consider what we have to offer. Perhaps that could be some kind
of reasonable compromise. Where this really about resolving life's basic
problems and not using them as a pretext for fighting the Church, civil
partnerships for gays could be a solution - if the LGBT
community were willing to confine itself to this …
One of Russia's Leading Anti-Gay Figures Changes his Mind (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
The debate that erupted across the Atlantic after the U.S. Supreme
Court's decision is quite instructive. There is no shortage there of extreme
opinions. If we fail to listen intently, it isn't hard to imagine what might
soon await us. There are, for instance, calls to legalize unions among more
than two people being quite seriously suggested. Once the traditional
definition of marriage is rejected, these arguments become difficult to rebuke.
If marriage is not exclusively between a man and a woman, then why not
triangles, quadrangles and whatever one wishes … Don't say we didn't warn you.
We have.
The LGBT community in the United
States immediately declared, furthermore, that this is just the beginning of
the battle. Now there is the question of a total ban on discrimination, for
instance, at the workplace. Here, the Supreme Court has somewhat complicated
the situation because this is a group that cannot be directly equated with
racial minorities. Even if there are indications that a predisposition to
homosexuality is innate, ultimate decisions about life are affected by many
factors. This, however, is unlikely to hinder anti-discrimination advocates. No
less interesting are the comments from the conservative side. Christians feel
marginalized, not only because the Supreme Court found in the Constitution
something that, in their opinion, isn't there. They, too, admit that such an
interpretation of human rights has begun to dominate public opinion. This
suggests that the pressure will continue to grow.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
The fact that in the face of increasing threats, not only
Islamic ones, the Western world is busy discussing homosexual relationships is
not cause for optimism, but such is the reality and there's no point being
offended by it. Perhaps it isn't too late to draw conclusions and try, in our
own backyard, to minimize the consequences of the likelihood of further divisions.
Yes, one party may think that this revolution is unstoppable and will soon get
everything it wants; the other one may count on this being a fad that will eventually
pass and that the status quo will remain. … Perhaps, however, instead of
waiting to see what comes, we should try to find our own way. Why should it not
prove to be the best?
