Posted by Stuart Gilman (67.68.68.65) on December 14, 2002 at 04:55:27:

In Reply to: Re: Ossama Bin Laden Revisited posted by Nick Stone on December 10, 2002 at 08:54:36:

In the same way that we get into a profound conundrum when discussing Mass Murderers, I have tried elsewhere to receive direction on a specific gay issue.

I have no difficulty viewing all humans as equal, and equally imperfect. It may seem, to the laws of Man, that a serial killer is bad and a true pacifist is good. Both are to be viewed equally, except when personally confronted. Now, the confrontation can be by a pacifist. Example, we know pacifists that are worse zealots and bigots than "normal" persons. We know conservationists and vegetarians that are fanatics and some who actually intrude upon us, personally. Then there are gays who lead exemplary lives, would-be killers who take medication to be pacified and never harm anyone... and so on.

We are not to judge, nor to be partisan, except when we are threatened and even then, we must be certain that our personal lives are truly threatened. If someone starts to tap on my head when I am reciting the long obligatory prayer, ideally I should give him honey. But I doubt I have such a capacity. Is he to be viewed less perfect than myself. No. Do I have a right to act? I believe so.

When we dive into partisanship, whether as to causes or politics, the dangers of more severe. We ought not to speak of political leaders who, whatever their rationalizations, use weapons that murder, whether claiming defence or offense or religious protection, ethnic protection, racial protection.... We, as individuals, can never never never know the truth. We can only pray for peace. We can even beg for peace. Grovel for peace. Let us not pick and choose or try to create a gradient of evil in any way. We must be Baha'i, as imperfect as we are. Nothing else matters.

seg

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