Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: LEDominator
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: DigDug
Come on, Carbo. In an attempt to appear consistent, you only prove the absurdity of your stance. The reality is not that you are standing up for free speech, but rather free derision of those you've admitted you percieve as deviant.
Seriously. Carbo, your opinion on this matter is influenced by your own dislike of homosexuals. You don't always have to respect a person for telling the truth. An opinion that is based on ignorance and bigotry deserves no respect. You might as well say "Hitler as an evil man, but I respect him for believing that the Jews needed to be exterminated."
You are using flawed logic though. You are comparing two unlike things, and using it in a straw man context. I'll state for the record that I don't agree with the Homosexual lifestyle because I believe that there are certain factors that haven't been thoroughly explained. The difference is I don't advocate the destruction of or the singling out of those communities. I think the whole issue that people have is tolerance vs acceptance. I work with Gay people on a daily basis and have no issues with them, I tolerate the lifestyle they choose but it is not an acceptable lifestyle to me.
I only used that example because someone asked if he would respect someone for saying they hate Jews, and he said that he would. He's saying that it doesn't matter what a person's opinion is, he'll respect them for standing up for it. When really he was backed into a corner. He only respects Hardaway's opinion because he agrees with it.
While your conclusion may be correct I don't believe that your reasoning is.
In your statement, "Hitler as an evil man, but I respect him for believing that the Jews needed to be exterminated." you say the respect is for the belief. That is different than respecting someones admission of a belief.
Here is similar but slightly different example. Let's say that Tom Brady comes out and says he is gay right now while he is still playing football. That would take a lot of guts to do that in the sports world. Now, would you now have more respect for him because he is gay or because he admitted that he is gay in the face of possible negative consequences?
Do you see the difference here?