The following is a letter and response published today, written to popular advice columnist Jeanne Phillips, known by the nom de plume “Dear Abby.” (It’s the second letter in the link.)
DEAR ABBY: I am a gay man who has been single for seven years. I met this guy, ‘Mark,’ about 10 months ago and we hit it off immediately. We have almost everything in common except that I'm a Democrat and he's a Republican. We both know how we feel about our political differences and decided to continue dating anyway.
My problem concerns my other gay friends, mostly Democrats, who don't like Mark because he's a Republican. I have tried explaining to them that we overlook our differences and concentrate on the many things we have in common, and they should try to do the same. But they no longer invite me to gatherings and their phone calls have ceased.
I feel hurt and rejected by my closest friends, some of whom I have known my whole life. I feel torn between them and Mark, who is someone I really care for. Is it wrong to continue my relationship with my boyfriend at the expense of my friends? -- POLITICALLY INCORRECT
DEAR POLITICALLY INCORRECT: Twenty-twelve was a particularly heated election year, with important issues at stake and negative campaigning bringing out the worst in many people. Now that the election has been decided, one would hope that inflamed emotions will settle down and life can return to normal.
I know several couples who have strong and happy ‘mixed’ marriages in which the spouses do not always agree politically. It is a shame that you would be required to choose between the man you care for and your longtime friends, who want to ignore that there are also gay Republicans.
I see nothing wrong with continuing your relationship with Mark; however, I think it may be time for you to expand your circle of friends if this is how your old ones behave. You'll all be happier if you do. Trust me on that.
A tired, familiar calling card of the left is accusing the right of being uncaring, hateful and intolerant of anyone demographically different (female, gay, poor, black and otherwise ethnic, etc…) from what liberals decry as the heterosexual white male patriarchal power structure.
Yet this letter exposes the left-wing prejudice and utter intolerance that often accompanies one of their designated “own” leaving the reservation.
A cogent observation from Snellville resident Jason Kean:
Interesting how the ‘intolerant, racist, homophobe Republican’ has no problem with the ‘tolerant, accepting, compassionate Democrats’, but they do with him. I wonder who is really more compassionate and tolerant.
