Michael Sam....You're so gay....

     I don't follow sports.  I do however hear about things like the Michael Sam kiss thing.  So I guess he was a projected 3rd round pick and then came out as gay and was taken in the 7th (last) round?  And if there is any "guy's sport" its football.

     100 years ago, a picture on the internet :) of a woman in short pants would've caused a stir.  50 years ago a picture of an inter racial couple kissing would've caused an uproar.  Those things seem kind of benign now (except to Donald Sterling and Cliven Bundy maybe).

     So where are we going to be in the future about a couple of gay men kissing on the interwebs??

     I was told, "yes but God doesn't talk about mixed races in the bible and he does talk against homosexuality"...  (Moses was married to Zipporah, an Ethiopian).  But the bible does talk harshly about fornicators (unmarried folks getting busy....) in the exact same light as homosexuality.  So in that vain, wouldn't the "bible" be against unmarried college players "putting it out there" on draft day with a sloppy kiss on their girlfriends?  How far do we want to take our selective outrage or shock or disgust on things???

     In the end, I think that I'm of a "generation" that is probably a little shocked when I see a couple dudes kissing, but that is more visceral.  It's in the same way I am shocked when I see a kid walk up with 4-5 piercings in their face.  I think maturity allows you to see things beyond the visceral reaction and use your logic (and love).  Too often we search for support for our emotional/gut reactions rather than slowing things down to think objectively.

     I wish Michael Sam the best.  He's gay.  I don't think that's the way life is "supposed" to be.  You often hear homosexuals comment they wish they weren't as it would make life so much easier.  But really I think that any uproar is fear based.  Do we think that if we don't act outraged are we condoning the behavior?  If we think it through, is this a worse "sin" than others???

     I'm not outraged.  In fact, I don't really think about it at all beyond this blog.  It has nothing to do with me or my life......leave the guy alone

To kiss or not to kiss...

     My 13 year old had his first girl come over to visit yesterday...It made Kathy and I freak out a little.  There are a few schools of thought on how to approach things.  We've had several "talks" with the kids about "things" over the years, but now its getting real.

     The Duggar approach.  If you've seen the show 19 kids and counting (they may be up in the 20's by now, who knows...) they had a system for their kids were only allowed to hug side-to-side, they weren't allowed to ever be alone.  It's basically a first kiss on the wedding day scenario.

     The Jase Robertson approach.  If you've seen Duck Dynasty, Jase is the 2nd oldest brother and has 2 teenage sons and a little girl.  He says, "Lips on lips, hands on hands".  His idea is you've got to give them first base.  But hands don't go anywhere else....and neither do lips....

     Okay fine, we watch a lot of TV....

     The "here's a pack of condoms, be careful" approach.  This approach isn't on any of the TV shows I've seen but it for sure is out there.  You basically assume that the kid is going to get himself going sexually at some point and you prepare him for it.

     I think there are solid points to be made by all 3 of these approaches.  Like all decisions and choices there are pros and cons.  I plan to sit down today/tonight with my young man and discuss respecting women, future goals, present risks, and see where it goes.

     I think that the biggest anxiety is always the fear of the unknown and by communicating, I'm hoping that the anxiety created by talking about such subjects is able to diffuse the anxiety about potential sticky situations he finds himself in down the road....