Lord Carey in epic homophobic Godwin outburst
Discussion
JonRB said:
NoNeed said:
Sorry to sound thick but does that mean it isn't an irrational fear like other phobias?
Well, yes and no. It is an irrational fear or hatred in the same way that racism is. You can see that racism is a learned attribute by watching very small children playing. They are blind to ethnicity. Racism developed early in human history, humans having been social animals living in groups since they first fell from trees. That homophobia is a cultural thing is apparent to anyone who studies societies such as those of classical Greece and Rome.
Derek Smith said:
I realise now how lucky I was with my parents' method of upbringing. There was never any pressure to make me go to church or, as importantly, not go to church. They introduced me to 'foreigners' without comment.
I feel the same.There was an interesting program on BBC last night about Grammar Schools. Those that seemed to escape their socio/economic chains/biases (bright kids from poor families in rough areas) were brought up by parents who, rather than provide answers, taught their children to make discoveries about the world for themselves.
My parents, I am glad to say, haven't a racist bone in their bodies. My father, a working class Irishman who became, through economic migrancy, a middle class bloke, used to be traditionally sexist and a bit homophobic. He is still a tad sexist, but has educated himself, with help from his sons, not to be a homophobe. Learned behaviour can be unlearned.
Bill said:
I'm no Latin scholar, but strictly speaking wouldn't homophobia be an irrational fear of similarity?
Homophobia is in fact a word that combines Latin and Greek. There would be a certain irony, however, in reading it as fear of similarity, as many homophobes seem to think that they might catch "the gay" merely from being near "one of them". Derek Smith said:
garyhun said:
Derek Smith said:
I realise now how lucky I was with my parents' method of upbringing. There was never any pressure to make me go to church or, as importantly, not go to church. They introduced me to 'foreigners' without comment.
I feel the same.There was an interesting program on BBC last night about Grammar Schools. Those that seemed to escape their socio/economic chains/biases (bright kids from poor families in rough areas) were brought up by parents who, rather than provide answers, taught their children to make discoveries about the world for themselves.
It's quite amazing what parents do for their kids (I'm 49 without any so don't have the experience myself) and I have to take my hat off to those people who take young minds and help them develop into rounded, grounded, generous, productive, loving individuals.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Derek Smith said:
When they bring their friends around it is like the United Nations, although as my eldest said, like walking through central London.
My feeling is the majority of Brits do not yet understand this. London is no longer "British". Anywhere amongst the masses (especially outside the sanctified square mile) it rapidly becomes apparent that English-looking people and English-speaking (first language) people are rapidly becoming a minority.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff