Should children learn to tolerate gays?

Absolutely! I agree with everythign you said and as i mentioned in my response, I dont care for the whole "tolerate" thing either....

My opinion isn't important in this discussion,I just started it,I'm asking the question. By normal people I meant that I can accept them the way I accept everyone else,I didn't say they are mad or sick.Many people wondered what I mean by tolerance.Well in my country we're not tolerant that's the main problem.I knew it wouldn't be the same in yours but at least I tried to show what's the 'weather' like here.Do we tolerate their behaviour in public places and the effect they have on others - this is the idea.

"I think we should teach children to have respect for everyone.whether they are gay or hetero,blue or purple!"I agree this opinion very very very much. .....Could your tell me what the meaning is about blue or purple.

That's essentially what I meant when I said, "unless they attempt to harm them". I suppose I could have been more detailed. I do think that we (child or adult) should first treat others with respect until they show that they don't deserve our respect. Most people, even if we don't agree with them in general, should be treated with respect.

sorry ..you are much too generalistic..respect all elders...nonsense...there are all sorts of horrible and nasty people out there in the real world ..just becasue they are older does not command respect..teach your children to be tolerant and to beware at the same time..and give respect where it is due...

looks like we agree here..so there is some hope after all..lol...the problem we have in educating our children is all the outside influences on them that colur their development..peer pressure, tv, movies,books, pc games,mobile phones,music etc...we can only try our best but i fear we are fighting a losing battle..todays society is sick and getting sicker by the minute.....i really do fear for the moral fibre of our future generations.....

When you say not normal & not the norm, do you just mean in the sense that they are not the majority? That's accurate & I don't have an issue with that; but if what you mean is abnormal as in they have a disorder or something along those lines, that doesn't seem right at all. Midgets are not the norm, blue eyes are not the norm, etc- but they're all valid & normal enough variations of the norm- kwim? Why wouldn't mixed race marriages be normal & respectable? It should be a non-issue, no different than an exceptionally tall person marrying an exceptionally short person. Perhaps note-worthy in identifying the couple, but just not a big deal.

Look, first of all, I made it clear that I'm not against homosexuality or mixed-race marriage. Now, the definition of normal is pretty simple here (at leat I thought so): sexuality was given to men and to creatures in order to procreate. Two men or two women do not procreate. I don't care about political correctness, let's just call things by their name.

Look, I'm not normal, I'm 1.96 (or 6 foot 5). People point me out in the street and ask me stupid questions. But that's a different thing. I'm not normal because MOST people are smaller, the same as most people like kids. Why don't we take away the emotional conotation of 'normal'? That's what I did in my original response to that post, I talked about the 'norm', Is it the subject of homosexuality that makes people get worked up? Isn't it possible just to talk about it?

Why should people who are homosexual have to keep their relationships to themselves, but at the same time it is completely okay for an heterosexual couple to show their love in public? I am sorry, but what you basically said and implied is hypocritical and rude. It pisses me off that people think it is okay for a straight couple to hug and kiss in public, but when a gay couple even hug people are on their butts because it is ruining society. My friend is gay, but he is normal as me and you. Why do you think it is okay for him to have to keep his relationship private from society? Yet, you think it is okay for a straight person to be able to kiss, hug, and maybe even make-out in public because it was acceptable?I feel like you are saying to your kids, "It is okay to discrimination against homosexuals because I do not think it is wrong. They need to keep their relationships in private. But remember, heterosexual people can show off their girlfriends and boyfriends to the world! That's acceptable."I hate ignorant with a burning passion. Okay, so maybe you have a problem with the schools basically teaching kids that being different is bad? It is a moral. But a good moral. Whenever you want to believe it or not. I want to know why you think being gay is wrong. Give me a good reason. Religion? God made people in His image. People need to realize that religion should be about love and acceptance. Not using their damned beliefs as a way to prevent people from having certain rights. Think it is not natural? Explain gay animals. Explain the gay penquins that raised a rock as it was an egg. Even after they got an egg they continued to raise that. Unnatural? No. If you want to live in ignorant, fine. I just prefer having an open mind instead of a closed one.

And what happens if one of your children turns out to be gay? Are you going to say the same thing as you did now?

To respond to the both of you...yes, I strongly believe that a gay relationship is wrong. Have I had friends that were gay? Yes, I have and they all knew how I felt about it. I am not saying that you shouldn't respect that person. I never once implied that. I do, however, feel that it is not right for someone else to teach my children that it is okay to be gay. I am the parent of my children and not someone else has that right to do that. In response to the "what if one of my children turn out to be gay", I pray that that never happens and I speak out against that. I am a Christian and I do have strong values when it comes to gay relationships. God forbid one of my children did turn out that way. I would never accept that and, although i would always love my children, I would never condone or allow that person in my home. If you read the Bible, it IS WRONG. I have never mistreated or disrespected a gay person though. I pray for those people. Every one has their own beliefs and I shouldn't be critized for sharing mine, just like I don't critize you for sharing yours. As for me and my children, they will be brought up to respect everyone, but not to ever accept that kind of lifestyle. That is me and that is the way I raise my children in a Christian lifestyle. What you do is your choice. Don't down me for mine.

If a boy grows up wanting to wear dresses, then they are probaly transexual. Meaning that they feel like they are are in the wrong body. People are are homosexual are just like heterosexual people. The only difference that they might have is who they are attracted to. Some homosexuals might fit the stereotype, and some might not. Everyone is different. No one is the same. But I agree.

Your analogy is completely errroneous.."why the hell were they born like that"...becaus it is a genetic defect..i.e ..not normal....normality is objective not subjective...gays are not normal and there is no escaping that..the fact they are not normal doesnt detract from their rights as people and their right to be accepted for who they are NOT WHAT THEY ARE...

if it is not normal then why are they born wanting to play with dolls and wear dresses when there a boy and if there girl why do they do guy things? like i said i know ppl wont agree with me. they are also born with more of the femine genes if they are male and if they are female they have more male genes in there dna. I dont think God would create it like this if it wasnt natural. and the thing about ppl born with both parts is natrual too b/c they are born that way how can you say its not natural if they were born like that its not like they chose to be that way. I have even seen dogs hump other boy dogs or the other way around and i believe i seen the same in other animals too. isnt that proof right there that it would be natural? Animals were the most Natrual beings on earth. If not then why does it happen? like i said earlier i dont think God would make it that way then say its not natural. they were naturaly born that way. I do agree with you a little bit though I know that some of them are not naturaly born that way and just get confused as they grow.