National Post (National Edition)
Trost and homosexuality
Re: Trost stands by his ‘gay lifestyle’ comments, Mar. 29 So, Conservative Party leadership candidate Brad Trost is uncomfortable with the gay lifestyle.
The article indicates he’s aware that nobody can control what happens privately. However, any one of us can come up with any number of things with which we’re not comfortable.
I’ve grown beyond tired of gay activists, and activists in general, labelling someone as a hater, or phobic, simply because they express disagreement, or discomfort with an idea or a lifestyle.
So, I demand an answer to the following question: Is it possible to be uncomfortable with something, without acquiring the label of hater, or phobic?
The rule seems to be, ‘I don’t like what you say, so, you’re not allowed to say it’.”
Is this really the society we want to create? Is this really a “tolerant” society?
If we’re talking about the rude and disrespectful ways in which a differing viewpoint is expressed, that’s a discussion worth having. But, to disallow the expression of a viewpoint, simply because one dislikes it, is not the so-called tolerance I would teach any person. Jerry Pryde, Stoney Creek, Ont. There are plenty of vegetarians (and many Hindus) to whom eating a hamburger is morally reprehensible. Does that equate to hate speech against meat-eaters? Shall the omnivores among us rise up to take offence at this?
Can we not just live with the fact that we ALL are likely engaged in some practices that others of us view as wrong, unpleasant or distasteful?
As long as rights are being respected, let’s all chill out and stop trying to change the world’s mind on everything. Humans’ views are wide-ranging, often in conflict with each other, and evolving over time. Let’s get over it. Daniel Adam, Calgary Like anyone else in Canadian society, Conservative leadership candidate Brad Trost is entitled to his views on homosexuality.
However, as someone seeking to represent the general populace, I view his remarks as offensive and discriminatory toward the tens of thousands of gay men and women — and their innumerable families, friends and colleagues — he would be serving were he elected.
Therefore, while he may continue to maintain and espouse his apparent homophobia, such behaviour will only serve to establish his unsuitability as a political leader in Canada. Robert Miller, Montreal