{"id":36930,"date":"2012-02-20T06:49:14","date_gmt":"2012-02-20T13:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=36930"},"modified":"2012-02-21T08:21:53","modified_gmt":"2012-02-21T15:21:53","slug":"forgiving-smothermon-praying-for-those-his-words-affect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2012\/02\/forgiving-smothermon-praying-for-those-his-words-affect\/","title":{"rendered":"Forgiving Smothermon; praying for those his words affect"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Lopez

Lopez, shown here in a report from KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, helped lead a protest in front of Legacy Church earlier this month in response to comments Pastor Steve Smothermon made to NMPolitics.net. \u201c\u2026we are taking all of that hate that that man has put out, and we are gonna send as much love as God calls us to, to send back on him,\u201d Lopez was quoted by KOAT as saying.<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019ve already forgiven Legacy Church Pastor Steve Smothermon for comments he made to NMPolitics.net and preached from the pulpit. I pray for him, but, more importantly, I pray for those his words affect.<\/h4>\n
\"Jesse

Jesse Lopez<\/p><\/div>\n

It is an essential element of Americanism, and humankind; we show love, respect and equality to one another. But laid in the fabric of American history lies the truth behind what has not always been so American.<\/p>\n

History tells us Native Americans had their land taken away, forced to follow Christianity, learn English, and learn the way of the \u201cWhite Man.\u201d Africans were brought to the United States to become slaves for the wealthy elite of white society. Women could not vote, much less run for office. The list goes on from one minority group to another.<\/p>\n

One compelling truth that binds each of these struggles together is that Christianity played a key role in the lack of fast movement toward equality. This is our history, the unfortunate truth of our country. Not all Christians showed hate, but many did.<\/p>\n

It took people dying, marches and protests, but in the end each group has reached a \u201cpoint\u201d of equality. We learned that separate-but-equal does not work, being a woman makes you no less than a man, and the color of one\u2019s skin has nothing to do with one\u2019s integrity.<\/p>\n

The LGBT movement\u2019s struggle<\/h3>\n

As we have entered the 21 Century, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender movement is embarking on its own struggle, one where Christianity, yet again, is at the center. People are dying, countries are divided, and families are being torn apart. Did we fail to learn anything from history?<\/p>\n

In brief, here is a GLBT historical perspective about which many of you may not be aware:<\/p>\n