I support Stella’s campaign against discrimination - Paul R.

Here's a letter from Paul:

I support Stella’s campaign against discrimination

Dear Editor,

Recently in this paper, a letter was published encouraging Christians to boycott the Sidewalk Café because they allowed a group of Guyanese citizens to hold an event at their establishment.

I find it interesting that a faith, which has suffered its share of persecution over the past 2,000 years because of their beliefs, would in turn attempt to persecute other groups of individuals for their beliefs.

As Stella mentioned in one of her recent columns, homosexuals and lesbians are humans just as we are and should not be discriminated against. For the record, I support Stella’s campaign against this discrimination. The gay community is a group of individuals who ascribe to a lifestyle that is condemned by Christianity, but does that give us a right to discriminate against them or encourage such discrimination?

Today in countries that are controlled by Islamic fundamentalists, there is State sponsored discrimination against Christians and Jews. These radicals believe their holy book supports this activity and God will reward them for this campaign. If a poll were conducted in the Christian community on this practice, the overwhelming majority would say that Christians should be free to worship, congregate and share their faith in these countries. Yet, in a country where there is freedom of religion, there are Christian radicals who are now calling for similar control over another group.

I do not and will not ever support discrimination against any group of law-abiding citizens. I do not believe in legislating morality. Who determines which set of morals should be followed? Laws should be made to protect ALL the citizens of a country. As long as an action is not violating the rights of another individual, why should there be laws against it? Murder, rape, stealing and other acts that violate the rights of individuals should have laws that are enforced. However, two consenting adults in a relationship do not fit this category and they should enjoy all the rights of other citizens.

I do support a Christian’s right to believe that homosexuality is a sin, but that should not equate to acts of discrimination. God will be the ultimate judge of the actions of His creation not our interpretation of the scriptures. At its core, Christianity should be about love, compassion and mercy and our message is one of compassion not condemnation. In fact, the only people Jesus condemned were the religious fundamentalists who rallied around religious law and neglected the important matters of the heart. He associated with those who were labeled sinners and his disciples openly defied the laws that were not related to the higher law of love.

Instead of discriminating against consenting adults who in many cases love and care for each other, we should stand up for the rights of all our citizens regardless of race, gender, religion, social status or sexual orientation. We are a nation of Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Atheists, Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese, Amerindians, Portuguese, Chinese, Caucasians, heterosexuals, homosexuals, males, females, young, old and many other groups; but above all else we are a part of the human race governed by the law of love, compassion and mercy.

In this election season, let’s stand together and focus on what needs to be done to improve our country and to bring peace and prosperity to our people. Let’s stand against the true evil of the senseless killings, crime, and corruption that is rampant in our homeland. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you; But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Paul R.