There's a new player in the debate on same-sex marriage in Canada.
U.S. Christian leader wades into debate
An evangelical leader from the U.S. Christian right urged Canadians to oppose same-sex marriage in a broadcast heard on more than 130 radio stations across the country Wednesday."It is clear here in the United States that the American people do not want same-sex marriage," said James Dobson, chairman of the Colorado-based Focus on the Family. He was speaking in a pre-recorded program with leaders of the group's Canadian wing. "I would hope that Canadians who also do not want same-sex marriage would be encouraged by what has happened down here."
Dobson suggested same-sex marriage is not a human rights issue and that passing such a law would destroy the institution and undermine society.
Great. Now we're getting advice from a man who has recently distinguished himself by picking a fight with a cartoon character and earning himself the nickname Spongedob Stickypants.
Were I an opponent of same sex marriage in Canada, I think I'd be inclined to tell Spongedob to sit down and shut the hell up lest his agenda be confused with my own. Because let's be clear, Dobson and his allies have an agenda that doesn't end with preventing gays from marrying. They want gays back in the closet. They long for a time when men were men. And women and children were property.
It's not that I don't think Dobson has a right to his views and a right to express them. As far as I'm concerned, they can give him a half hour on the CBC evening news. Let everyone get to know him better. I suspect that the more Canada learns about him, the more millions of moderate Canadians will be reminded of why they remain at least a bit nervous about installing Stephen Harper in Sussex Drive.
So speak up, Spongedob. What else is on your mind?
I happened across your Blog while perusing those with Canadian content.Being a proud Canuck who grew up in the tropics(!!) of Manitoba , & fled the winters for the west coast three decades ago , your quotes from James Robson on same-sex marriage caught my eye. Some years ago, I lived in So. Ca. for about 8 1/2 years. Most of that time was in San Diego, but I spent several years in Orange County as well.I saw examples of religious obsssesion that were disgusting beyond words.They were (for the most part), the very posterboy conservatives ; needing an enemy at all times.With the collapse of the USSR, they were apoplectic.I could, but won't; anecdote you into a coma. But one goodie ...in 1980, the 1st year Reagan ran for the Oval Office; I had gotten used to answering voter registration people in the affirmative while passing by; rather than even briefly explain my permanent resident status, & ineligibility to vote ; being Canadian.One well dressed woman at a booth in the Orange Mall, smiled & said to me as I walked on ; "Remember, sir, a vote for Reagan is a vote for Jesus."
Greg,
Call me cynical, but Robson's national radio broadcasts have less to do with opposing gay marriage and more with filling the coffers of his ministry and increasing his prominence in Canada. Televangelists love to profit on any issue that they oppose.
Robson's national radio broadcasts have less to do with opposing gay marriage and more with filling the coffers of his ministry
The two are pretty much intertwined. Dobson (and others like him) need something to stir up the faithful, and gaybashing fits the bill, so to speak.
But I think Dobson's afraid of what might happen (or rather, what might not happen) if gay marriage is legalized in Canada. After spending countless hours telling Americans that gays marrying means The End of Civilisation As We Know It, it would be rather inconvenient for him if Canada were to legalize same-sex marriage...and then NOT fall apart.
Who's Greg?
I agree that the profit motive is at play here, but I think it would be a mistake to assume that at least some folks like Dobson aren't also serious about their agenda. They won't be happy 'til they knocked us back to the 18th century, or some mythical version of it where everyone believed in the literal word of God (as interpreted by Spongedob Stickypants, of course) and nothing bad ever happened to anyone.
Sure, folks like Dobson are serious about their agenda but that's not the real issue here because what these people really are, in realpolitick terms, are astroturfing wankers for designed to tug at the waistband of Rovian wedge issues...after the Nov. election it's become a tried and true strategy, and as such and we can expect similar groups to start yanking on Mr. Harper's lates wedgie any day now.
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our take on this issue (warning whor-o-rama alert) is here
"Who's Greg?"
Shite, sorry POGGE. I meant no offense at all.
No offense taken, TH. I was just having fun with you. I figured you lost focus for a second there and thought you were at Sinister Thoughts instead of my house.
Dobson set himself up to be the anti-homosexual many years ago. He has written books, columns, begun an ex-gay ministry and hold conferences such as "Love won out".
His long war (everything in America today is a war) against homosexuals has secured him the dominant leadership of the "save American Values" effort.
This effort seems to have more to do with keeping the flock busy, with a feeling of impending doom, the enemy is at the gates. The result is a steady flow of funds to sustain the "ministry" until the next manufactured crisis can be dropped upon the people.
Dobson uses an old political trick, develop a need for an action, then deliver on the action. He appears then to be meeting the needs of people, having established in people's minds beforehand the action was needed,
He is good and that is why he has been successful in the United States. His approach does not work that well in Canada, he is the stereotypical American to many of us. Brash,has all the answers, and "why don't you all do what we do in America."
God can bless America, just keep his PR guy out of Canada.