KONY2012 or ME2012 ?

These days there is a lot of discussion, both online and in person, about the KONY2012 campaign. No need to explain or reference: just Google it!

I am totally in support of the principle that it is our collective duty to protect the children who are, or may become victims of this violent warlord.
I hope that the organizers of this campaign will reach the stated goal of bringing this menace under control and to justice.
I am also not sure whether their proposed approach is the best one, as I have read strong arguments pro and con.
I am not in any position to assess the sincerity of their effort, which some have called into question: only God knows that.

Having said that, here is my point:

How about starting a campaign to have each of us look into our own lives, to identify and eliminate those character and behaviour aspects we have in common with Joseph Kony?

I am not saying that any of you reading this note is in a league even close to this degenerate man, but think:

• Do you ever try to lord it over other people?
• Do you ever try to trick or force other people to do your job, or to do things that are mostly to your advantage?
• Do you ever look at other people's body and think of them as objects to be used for your own purposes? (Yes, consuming pornography is part of that!)
• Do you ever try to escape justice knowing full well that you have done something wrong? By justice I do not mean only the civic authorities and their laws, but even person-to-person justice.
• Do you ever do things for your own pleasure, even if it serves no other purpose whatsoever and does not benefit anyone, let alone the common good? (Like watching TV for hours...)

After all, this is what Kony is doing, isn't it? Each of us has very little to contribute to the solution of the Kony problem, although it can be argued that together we can. But each of us can do a great deal to curb those same issues within ourselves.
Therefore the same global logic of effectiveness applies here:

• KONY2012: Each of us can do little, but together we can produce a big improvement in the world.
• ME2012: Each of us can do little (because we do little damage), but together we can produce a big improvement in the world around us.

What do you think?

Heterophobia

Red Deer College will soon present a play called "Heterophobia", as part of "Diversity week". The play's theme is described as follows:

Imagine sexual discrimination reversed – gay is the norm and straight people are threatening the sanctity of marriage. Picture coming of age in a family vehemently against rights for straight couples. They speak at rallies against the dangers of opposite-sex marriage. Social norms are flipped on their ears, and extreme role reversal ensues.

While I understand the goal they are trying to achieve, I am puzzled by the approach taken. Is it possible that in order to present/explain a certain ideological position one has to resort to a preposterous scenario and ask the public to accept an absurd situation? Can't they come up with better arguments and methods and a more realistic/convincing situation?

So, here I ask some questions, for my own clarification, but in the hope that others will get clearer ideas too.

1) With regards to the play, how is it ever physically possible to have a society in which homosexuality is the norm? How would it sustain itself in terms of reproduction? What would a family look like? What does this irrationality say about the argument?

2) Why is opposition to the sanctioning of a homosexual life style seen as a phobia? Why are we expected to accept the fact that we are afraid of something (someone?) simply because we do not accept it? Are vegetarians afraid of meat? By the way, remember that the Catholic Church is all in favour of support and acceptance of people with homosexual tendencies. She only rejects the notion that a homosexual lifestyle is a positive thing. If people do not see the difference between these two concepts, I think that it's because of their faulty thinking: what do you think?

3) Should I become homophobic as I hear of more and more aggressive behaviour by homosexual activists against those who oppose their views? I am not afraid of homosexuals (I have many gay friends), but I am afraid of violent and bullying people. Is that the goal? Making me afraid and hence phobic?