Asheville’s Finest
ByJustin Parker, Asheville City employee:
“The revealed law is the Bible. That is our culture. That is our background as a nation and as a state…the Supreme Court of the United States has even called the United States a Christian nation. You cannot say that this argument today is totally aside from religion. My religion and Christianity as the Supreme Court has said…we are a Christian nation. My religion says that the purpose of government is to promote good and to quelch evil, and it also says that a homosexual lifestyle is sin. Therefore…you are naturally going to exclude some religions in this proposal…by taking this proposal you take the risk offending religions that are more in concomitance with the history of this nation.”
Rev. Hamilton Fuller, Church of the Advocate:
“…If we were to do a theological poll among…this community, my experience suggests that it would be as varied as there are people. This is a Liberty and Justice and Civil Rights issue.”
Mayor Terry Bellamy:
“I’m not going to support the motion. I’m not going to support it now and I’m not going to support it when the information comes back.â€
6 Comments
February 12th, 2010 at 11:41 am
I wonder if the Mayor ever reads Earl Ofari Hutchinson? If not I think she should start with this…
The mantra of the civil rights movement has always been that an injustice committed against one is an injustice against all. That’s still true. It’s risky, no dangerous, business for blacks to forget that.
February 12th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Whoa. Wish I could have been there.
February 12th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
There’s a great scene from West Wing in which President Jed Bartlett confronts a radio talk show host who has used Leviticus 18:22 to maintain that homosexuality is an “abomination.”
President Bartlett: I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I have you here. I’m interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She’s a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff, Leo McGarry, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here’s one that’s really important because we’ve got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you?
Check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-zhNiGlogQ
February 12th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I caught a little of Michael Muller’s interview on Local Edge Radio while driving home in the horrorshow snow and the slick roads and the flayven glayven. Props, Michael! Well done.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:56 am
Thanks for the kind words, Tom. It was a lot of fun. Lesley and Blake are great hosts and made me feel very welcome (thanks to both of them for the opportunity).
By the way, Local Edge is going five days a week starting February 15. Be sure to check ‘em out!
February 13th, 2010 at 10:15 am
wow. thanks for posting the clips of the two police officers. and thanks for the officers for having the courage to stand up and put their heart and soul out there like that.