An elected state representative of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City recently committed a grievous disservice to the people of the state.
Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City) did an excellent job of misrepresenting her constituents and the State of Oklahoma when she spoke using what many would consider to be homophobic rhetoric.
The media has made numerous reports about Kern's quote "I honestly think it's the biggest threat ... our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam, which I think is a big threat." Many opinion threads have pointed out she has a right to express her opinion as granted by the First Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights.
I can't argue that fact, however, when a person is elected to represent the people of a district, city, state, etc., their voice ceases to be their own, and they now must consider what consequences their words will have on their constituents.
In my opinion it's ignorance and intolerance that are the greatest threat to this nation. Kern's comments are evidence of her own ignorance and intolerance of at least two groups of our society and the issues concerning them.
Kern said, "Not everybody's lifestyle is equal, just like not all religions are equal." Yet, the Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
Kern also said in her lecture that the "homosexual agenda is destroying this country." She went on to say, "Gays are infiltrating city councils," and that student organizations such as the Gay and Straight Alliance are entering our schools to "indoctrinate" our children.
Kern said she taught school for 20 years, but then said, "We're not teaching facts and knowledge anymore folks. We're teaching indoctrination." According to Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary, to indoctrinate has two definitions: to instruct, or "to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view or principle." Well, I'd have to agree in Kern's case. Her lecture most certainly provided a sectarian point of view regarding Islam and homosexuality.
Her remark regarding the duration of societies that have embraced homosexuality only lends more evidence to this argument. She said, "Studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than a few decades." What studies indicate this? Ancient Roman and Greek cultures accepted homosexuality and each lasted for centuries.
Kern's remarks made it quite clear that she is in fact ignorant of the role of homosexuality in ancient history, the place of gays in our society, and also the health related issues concerning homosexuality. Her comments further demonstrate that she has little understanding of Islam or the Quran. In fact she knew quite well what the ramifications of her remarks were as she said, "Talking to you like this today puts me in jeopardy."
Elected government officials have a duty to represent the interests of their constituents, and to remember that when they speak they are in fact speaking on behalf of those constituents. Also, the people, as members of a democratic society, have a responsibility to elect representatives who will represent them best and who will at least have the common sense not to use such intolerant rhetoric when speaking in a public forum.
- Carrie Cronk
Be the first to comment on this article!