Some thoughts of mine.

I was reading my friend Jamie's blog (http://www.blessedsoandso.blogspot.com) where she discussed the controversial issue of homosexuality...and that sparked a topic that I would like to write about.
I am not going to get into the semantics of weather homosexuality is right or wrong, however for the record I personally do believe homosexuality is biblically wrong. I am not trying to offend, I am just stating what I believe.
What I want to discuss is "Gay rights". Where we live we are given the 'right' to live and believe as we wish. However I do think that in some cases that freedom is denied us. I am proud to be straight, married and a mother...however if I organized a "straight pride day, or parade" I would be branded as someone who is being bigoted, and putting them down. So if that is the case, why is it OK for a "gay pride day" to not offend me? When it would deeply offend a homosexual if I had a "Straight pride day". Is it not what is good for the goose is good for the gander??
Speaking of religious freedoms, along the same lines, is it is very difficult to speak out when you are a believer. I am proud that I have Jesus Christ in my life and my heart, but when a Christian speaks about his beliefs, he is being bigoted against Muslims, Hindu, whatever....but if they are allowed religious freedoms, shouldn't we also?? Christmas is becoming a holiday that is no longer "acceptable" to other religions...and well Christmas is so commercialized now anyways, it has pretty much lost its meaning...but we encourage those of different faiths to celebrate their religious holidays(Ramadan, Hanukkah etc), can they not encourage us to keep ours(Christmas, Easter, etc)?
My rant today, just makes me want more and more to be able to state what I believe in. What would my faith be if I didn't have such strong feelings and beliefs? I don't think that it is right to hate, or judge people for being homosexual or of a different faith, anymore than I think it is right to treat people badly because they are drunks, or drug users, we all do things that are wrong, and to judge others is to place ourselves higher than them, which is also very wrong. We have groups in place that deal with Alcoholics....We have groups in place that deal with Drug use....I don't desire to offend anyone, I really don't, I just am slightly offended that I am not allowed to state my beliefs.
Of course When I mean that I want to have real freedom in stating my beliefs, you do have to understand that Berating, belittling and completely being rude about things is not my intention...I just want to be able to quietly state how I believe.