I had intended to include a snippet on this in today’s open thread, but the more I thought about it and considered what I might say, the more I realized it needed its own healthy beating in a dedicated post.  So I’m about to stick my foot in it so deep I’ll lose my blogosphere membership, I’m sure, but here goes anyway…

Let me preface this by saying I’m thinking aloud.  Essentially, I’m giving my curiosity and outspoken attitude room to wiggle and writhe a bit.  Although I cannot claim to have the answers, I have some guesses, so I’m going to air them here.  If I step on toes, so be it.  I always welcome a good discussion on such topics.

While it contains some interesting findings, most of which are somewhat or completely enlightening as such things go, all I’m interested in discussing is a particular section of this study.  The overall premise dealt with an analysis of the attitudes of black youth in America.  Some of it was surprising—delightfully so, in fact.  But not all of it.  The part I want to address is the brief mention of their views regarding homosexuals.

First, let’s state what we’re talking about.  This tiny quote is found at the end of the report: “On social issues, the surveys found that African-American young people are more likely to agree that homosexuality is always wrong (55 percent for blacks, 36 percent for Hispanics and 35 percent for whites). A majority of African-American youth also opposed legalizing same-sex marriages, (58 percent for blacks, 36 percent for Hispanics and 35 percent for whites).”

Now let me ramble a bit.

I expected the Hispanic percentages to be higher given how influenced that culture has been by catholicism.  I find the result pleasantly surprising and equally disappointing.  It should have been much lower.  All in due time…

Caucasians are such prudes.  I suppose their percentages could have been higher, but I’m truly surprised they’re as high as they are.

In both cases, however, we are talking about a significant minority of those polled.  That is promising no matter what else can be said.  After all, we’re only talking about one third of the whole.  That’s really not bad.

But on those percentages for blacks…  WTF, over?

Remind me if I’m wrong, but don’t blacks have a reason to abhor the idea of beating up on a minority?  What am I missing?  Aren’t we being a bit selective with our memories if it’s that easy to throw away the heretical premise that our ancestors were used and abused by the majority, and all so we can pick on another minority?  What’s up with that.

Oh, and another thing…

For self-proclaimed advocates of equal rights, I find it compelling to see the loudest voices in that area play both sides of the game with equal aplomb.  Isn’t that interesting?  Some of the loudest voices shouting “All men are created equal!” so the world might hear are also the loudest voices shouting “Homosexuals aren’t people! They don’t deserve rights or respect! They’re less equal!”  What a shame, I say.  It does call into question the very foundation of and dedication to the idea of equality.

You know what?  I’m also wondering what happened to tolerance.  That bell now rings hollow for those in the black community who are yelling that acceptance still has not arrived.  It gives me pause.  Apparently I have misunderstood the very idea of tolerance when it comes to people who are what they are.  It wasn’t long ago that the shoe was on the other foot and blacks were fighting to help others realize inherent differences do not a lesser human make.  But what’s good for the goose obviously isn’t good for the gander.

For a long time gays have considered the black community our truest friend because its members have been through all this before, and they still struggle to this day with the remnants of barbaric mentalities.  To see them so supportive of those same mentalities when they are aimed at another group of people being ostracized for who they are naturally smacks of double standards.

So it is with a certain sense of dysphoria that I see these numbers and am forced to ask myself precisely how a group that has for so long struggled in a similar manner can so easily—and in such large numbers—find it within themselves to visit the same misfortunes and mistreatments on another class of people.  Is it as simple as vengeance?  Perhaps the opportunity to kick the legs out from under someone who can now be treated the way their ancestors were treated for so long?  Is it cultural in a way I cannot fathom?  Honestly, I want to know.  If I’m now considered three fifths of a person by those who struggled against that very mentality, I want to know why.