Washington, DC, October 4, 2006 GÇô In response to Tony PerkinsGÇÖ article for the Family Research Council titled GÇ£Pro-Homosexual Political Correctness Sowed Seeds for Foley Scandal,GÇ¥ Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, wrote to Mr. Perkins taking issue with his claims. The text of the letter follows:Dear Mr. Perkins:
I urge you to apologize publicly for the disturbing article you wrote for the Family Research Council titled GÇ£Pro-Homosexual Political Correctness Sowed Seeds for Foley Scandal,GÇ¥ claiming that the GÇ£real issueGÇ¥ in the scandal surrounding Rep. FoleyGÇÖs resignation is the GÇ£link between homosexuality and child sexual abuse.GÇ¥
We certainly agree that the actions of former Representative Foley are abhorrent and deplorable. Nonetheless, I was disturbed, but sadly, not surprised, that you used Mr. FoleyGÇÖs actions to perpetuate an old and despicable stereotype that gay men are prone to be child molesters. Your willingness to manipulate this tragic situation to engage in an anti-gay screed through such spurious and twisted correlations reveals far more about you than about this crisis.
As Jews, we know well the dangers inherent in broad, fear-inspiring accusations that blame societal ills on a particular social group. Mr. Foley, and not homosexuals as a group, performed these misdeeds. No group, homosexual or otherwise, bears responsibility. It is shameful for the Family Research Council to use one individualGÇÖs wrongdoings to cast a negative light on an entire group of people.
Even worse, you argue that concerns about appearing homophobic led earlier reports of Rep. FoleyGÇÖs behavior to be GÇ£discounted or downplayedGÇ¥ by House leaders, thereby showing GÇ£what happens when political correctness is put ahead of protecting children.GÇ¥ This is not only senseless, but it shifts the responsibilities from where it does belong.
Sincerely,
Mark J. Pelavin
"When we told up tolerance and diversity as the guideposts for public life, this is what you end up getting. You get congressmen chasing 16-year-olds down the halls of Congress."
See it for yourself here.
Nice guy huh?
And even better, this is going to backfire on their ignorant asses and result in even MORE lost Republican seats.
Thanks for posting this Kathy. I've been so angry hearing about this the last day. Thank you to the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
Jews have been on the receiving end of prejudice for a long, long time and some of them still remember it (I was dismayed to see home-grown prejudice flourishing, 40 yrs ago, in Israel). That's why they're often quicker than anyone else to discern it and to fight against it, no matter what form it takes. Once prejudice takes root, it grows faster than any other cancer. And once we allow it to grow, we're lost because, sooner or later, "they" will come for us, too.
Slightly OT, but amusing:
http://www.perrspect...
Clearly Mr Perkin's is wrong.