Where to begin?
Let’s suppose for a minute your storybook understanding of the universe held true and the paradigm you support was real (even though you use the term ‘Creator’ except for the title and the last sentence where you use the term ‘God’ – your belief system appears Judeo-Christian – please correct me if I am wrong here). Having been raised in that faith (although I took my own path in my beliefs as I grew old enough to understand that we cannot know definitively which belief system, including scientific belief may be true), I do know that the branch of the faith I was raised in believed in loving all of the Creator/God’s creatures and taught us do unto others as Christ would. I have not held this belief system for many years; however, these tenets remained a part of my core beliefs. If you purport to be a ‘Christian’ sir, your back-handed hatred is not reflective of that.
Now, all storybooks aside… The rainbow is a phenomenon made visible to the human eye most typically when the right combination of atmospheric moisture refracts the light spectrum via sunlight, revealing the full light spectrum of red-to-violet. Whether you believe the ‘Creator’ constructed this phenomenon or not is up to you and your understanding of the world.
Where I take great umbrage with you is where your understanding of fellow humankind diverges from mine and others. The rainbow flag was created as a symbol of a marginalized and persecuted community of LGBTQ2+ people in San Francisco in the 1970s. The spectrum of colours was meant to represent a spectrum of people and unity. In present day, it has come to be a symbol of acceptance, love and support for the LGBTQ2+ community, a community that has been historically persecuted and has remained strong in spite of the vitriol and real physical violence directed at them.
I sir am not part of the LGBTQ2+ community and I don’t suppose to speak for the community; however, as a fellow human being with several of my closest friends who are part of this historically persecuted and subjugated community, I ask you – what harm does it do to you to show love, support and acceptance for a community that has struggled for centuries just to live their lives as equals with their fellow country-people? I am a proud Ally of my LGBTQ2+ friends and if you believe in perpetuating the tenants of Christ, you sir should show love to your fellow humankind.
The rainbow is a wonderfully colorful and beautiful symbol, why should it bother you so much that one community uses it? Surely no one owns the rainbow? Furthermore, who doesn’t love colour being added to a drab thing such as a sidewalk? The world needs more rainbows sir and you need to re-evaluate what you are really so mad at?
Further, Cowichan Valley Citizen – way to further denigrate a fragile community in your regional district of which, many LGBTQ2+ people who live there do not feel safe by printing this opinion piece. What’s next, White Nationalists? Its 2017, take a look in the mirror folks.
David Handysides
Sooke