Wow! All of this is disconcerting. I am a gay male and have been lucky enough to have had very little hatred and discrimination brought upon me. There is so much I want to say here in response to the video and to past comments.
To start, I understand the circumstances behind the video; Redsox fans in the Yankee bleachers. Yes, the song is offensive. Yes, the surrounding people awful for allowing it. Regardless of the song's words, humiliation is a product of fear and hate. However, how does one deal with such humiliation?
Violence. I spent several years training in martial arts, and regardless of the belief of those who think it the skills will arm them with the martial ability to destroy their enemies, they are wrong. The philosophy of martial ability is to prevent a fight. The art of war is not to declare war but to prevent it as much as possible. The Red Sox fans did well to simply sit and wait out the atrocity since there was no actual threat of physical violence (one must discern threats carefully). There is a portion in The Art of War which declares that in order to produce fear and submission of a threat one should cut off the head of the messenger and have it returned to the one who threatens, however, that is to be done only under circumstances where it will prevent further threats and worse, War. If the action is only going to bring about needless war, then the above action should be rethought. Violence and physical self defense is not always the answer. Dignity and preservation is always the answer. Careful and thought out correction. And of course, always respect for one's enemies (hence a bow before any sparring in martial arts). Anyhow, that may or may not make sense to everyone. We all have a tendency to come from a place of attack and defense. It's within our animal nature.
As for being a gay male. There are paths I have chosen in this life, paths that have been chosen for me, and paths that are merely a product of circumstance. I for instance, chose to become a massage therapist. The fact that I have to become certified and licensed is a path chosen for me. The fact that I can't work until I am certified and licensed is a product of circumstance. The path of a homosexual male is neither an easy one nor one I would have chosen for myself. Sure, I can be rebelious of social confinment, but I never particularly liked the 'homosexual lifestyle' or 'underworld'. I've tried celibacy and avoiding relationships. I still develop crushes regardless. I've fallen in love in spite of myself and have developed relationships. Point is, I can try with all of my might NOT to be homosexual, but it's not going to work. I can have sex with women or not have sex at all, but my orientation will always be toward men whether I want it to be or not. To try to deny those feelings would be a lie to myself.
Does the above mean I must tolerate hatred? No. But, one must understand that every situation and every belief will be subject to someone else's intolerance and hatred. Excuse me for going to the other extreme here, but even the white male straight christian who attends church everyday and believes a certain way will be subject to someone else's attacks. No one is exempt. I hate the word 'tolerance' because it lacks understanding. I once had some born again christian friends who were against homosexuality. They voiced to another friend, about me, 'hate the sin, love the sinner.' That was offensive and I never spoke to them again. Do I hate them for it? No. That is their belief and I understand where they are coming from and respect it, though I don't agree with it. However, their attitude of me was 'tolerance' and not respect, and I can't accept that. Sadly, that may be the only option with so many different beliefs around and so many people refusing to research and understand one another.
Moral, just as I as a homosexual expect to make the same wages, live the same good life as anyone else, the Red Sox fan should be able to sit where ever they like (and the Yankees fan, as well). Does this mean that it won't be met with hatred? Of course not. Is there a solution? No. The only solution is maintaining one's own dignity.
To start, I understand the circumstances behind the video; Redsox fans in the Yankee bleachers. Yes, the song is offensive. Yes, the surrounding people awful for allowing it. Regardless of the song's words, humiliation is a product of fear and hate. However, how does one deal with such humiliation?
Violence. I spent several years training in martial arts, and regardless of the belief of those who think it the skills will arm them with the martial ability to destroy their enemies, they are wrong. The philosophy of martial ability is to prevent a fight. The art of war is not to declare war but to prevent it as much as possible. The Red Sox fans did well to simply sit and wait out the atrocity since there was no actual threat of physical violence (one must discern threats carefully). There is a portion in The Art of War which declares that in order to produce fear and submission of a threat one should cut off the head of the messenger and have it returned to the one who threatens, however, that is to be done only under circumstances where it will prevent further threats and worse, War. If the action is only going to bring about needless war, then the above action should be rethought. Violence and physical self defense is not always the answer. Dignity and preservation is always the answer. Careful and thought out correction. And of course, always respect for one's enemies (hence a bow before any sparring in martial arts). Anyhow, that may or may not make sense to everyone. We all have a tendency to come from a place of attack and defense. It's within our animal nature.
As for being a gay male. There are paths I have chosen in this life, paths that have been chosen for me, and paths that are merely a product of circumstance. I for instance, chose to become a massage therapist. The fact that I have to become certified and licensed is a path chosen for me. The fact that I can't work until I am certified and licensed is a product of circumstance. The path of a homosexual male is neither an easy one nor one I would have chosen for myself. Sure, I can be rebelious of social confinment, but I never particularly liked the 'homosexual lifestyle' or 'underworld'. I've tried celibacy and avoiding relationships. I still develop crushes regardless. I've fallen in love in spite of myself and have developed relationships. Point is, I can try with all of my might NOT to be homosexual, but it's not going to work. I can have sex with women or not have sex at all, but my orientation will always be toward men whether I want it to be or not. To try to deny those feelings would be a lie to myself.
Does the above mean I must tolerate hatred? No. But, one must understand that every situation and every belief will be subject to someone else's intolerance and hatred. Excuse me for going to the other extreme here, but even the white male straight christian who attends church everyday and believes a certain way will be subject to someone else's attacks. No one is exempt. I hate the word 'tolerance' because it lacks understanding. I once had some born again christian friends who were against homosexuality. They voiced to another friend, about me, 'hate the sin, love the sinner.' That was offensive and I never spoke to them again. Do I hate them for it? No. That is their belief and I understand where they are coming from and respect it, though I don't agree with it. However, their attitude of me was 'tolerance' and not respect, and I can't accept that. Sadly, that may be the only option with so many different beliefs around and so many people refusing to research and understand one another.
Moral, just as I as a homosexual expect to make the same wages, live the same good life as anyone else, the Red Sox fan should be able to sit where ever they like (and the Yankees fan, as well). Does this mean that it won't be met with hatred? Of course not. Is there a solution? No. The only solution is maintaining one's own dignity.
If it wasn't so funny, I'd think of it as insulting.
