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If you are reading this paper, more than likely you are a college student.
If you are a college student, more than likely you have sex on your mind.
If you have sex on your mind, more than likely you have or will experience its magical and terrifying caress.
Sex is a wonderful dance between people, but it can be scary and painful, both physically and emotionally. To make yourself sexually available is a very empowering and vulnerable thing.
Sex is a power struggle between those involved, as well as in politics and daily society.
College is a time to become independent from your childhood and explore that which you are free to become. But as we all know and deny, with all this freedom comes consequences.
Even though sex happens before college, it is far more tangible on a campus with thousands of young adults who are balancing liberation and stress.
A college campus presents a twisted form of reality. Everything is real, but many of the habitual activities are fleeting. Within this dizzying reality, many questions come into focus. One such question is sexuality.
College should be a safe haven to explore your identity, and it often is, but there is a difference between drunken heart to hearts, dining hall rants and conversations with trained counselors.
I think everyone needs a combination of talking to friends and counselors. I have considered seeing a counselor just to see what it’s like but have fought against it. I had visions of lying down on a couch, babbling to prevent awkward silence and then defending myself against some stuck up stranger that I’m not crazy — which would make me sound crazier.
But in reality, it’s not like that. Just because counselors are trained does not mean they will treat their patients as “Type A, B, C, etc.” Their training does not make them less personal or prevent them from seeing individuals, but it allows them to know what questions to ask. There are no solid answers to any of the problems human beings have. There are answers that help, but without certain questions and personal explorations, no one knows what those answers are.
If going to a counselor or group therapy is not an option you want to seize, then do not ignore the many campaigns that can be found on the Internet.
For example, The Trevor Project is a national organization “providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth,” according to its website.
The Trevor Project offers a free hotline to call at all times, as well as a letter service for non-time sensitive issues. The website is packed with information and resources to help yourself and others.
Sex, relationships and just day-to-day living is hard enough for those who are straight. But, people who are not straight must add the additional pressure of society.
I am a proud supporter of gay rights, but I completely respect those who are opposed. However, I do not respect those who intentionally hurt others. If you want to vote against gay marriage, fine, but don’t go out of your way to single people out. One off-hand comment here and there may not seem that bad, but if it makes someone the slightest bit weary of stepping out of their house in the morning, then it is poisonous.
If you don’t like gay people, then drop the fascination and focus on your own lifestyle. Go protest, go vote, go sign petitions. You can win legal battles, but the fight against gay existence is one that will never be won.
I am not an overly religious person, but I am spiritual. I believe that there is some greater being that started this all. My parents raised me Christian, but really want me to simply have faith. Faith should be a simple thing to have, but it has become such an important political tool that it has become harder to purchase and harder to construct anything stable with.
There is some being that created us, and while we have some control over our own evolution, if attraction was meant to be one way, then I think the great powerful being would make it so.
A version of this article appeared in the Oct 12 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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People that hate/do not respect gays because they are Christian are picking and choosing parts they like from the Bible. I am sure they do not beat women or own/sell slaves, do they? Oh right, because that is outdated and does not apply anymore. But the part about homosexuality? Definitely still applicable. I am surprised the cognitive dissonance created by that hypocrisy does not bother such people. Such a shame, to be so narrow-minded!
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"Such a shame, to be so narrow-minded!"
My thoughts exactly.
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/spews chunks all over the LCD screen of his MacBook.
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/spews chunks all over the LCD screen of his MacBook.
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If you're reading this and you wrote this article, more than likely you're name is Meg.
If your name is Meg and you write things that are going to be published without considering what you're actually implying, more than likely you should stop.
If your name is Meg and you realize that you just suggested that anti-gay people go publically 'protest' gays (and that you respect them for doing so) while simultaneously stating that your heart melts because children about worried about their public image based upon their sexual preference, you should (more than likely) apologize to everyone that read this article and reconsider publishing anymore of your 'thoughts' in a place that represents Virginia Tech and its student body.
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"If you don’t like gay people, then drop the fascination and focus on your own lifestyle. Go protest, go vote, go sign petitions. You can win legal battles, but the fight against gay existence is one that will never be won."
She is simply stating that despite trying to protest and to come up with laws to hinder the gays, that you can fight all you want against it, but the gays will still be there and the gays will still win.
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"My parents raised me Christian, but really want me to simply have faith."
Faith in what? Faith isn't just some happy feeling, there has to be an object, idea, person, something that you have faith IN.
"if attraction was meant to be one way, then I think the great powerful being would make it so."
He has. Genesis 1-2, Matthew 19:4, Mark 10:6
"When I heard one of my kindergarten students say, “I don’t want God to hate me because I’m gay,” "
What a sick world we live in, that a 5 year old should even understand what "gay" means, or that you would assume that they do.
"Kindergarteners are innocent and pure"
Apparently not.
"They should worry about birth control,"
Ok, well that made me literally LOL. Haven't you had to take a Bio101 class at some point in your educational career?
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"if attraction was meant to be one way, then I think the great powerful being would make it so."
He has. Genesis 1-2, Matthew 19:4, Mark 10:6"
Too bad those really don't support your argument. Haven't you read the Bible? Or do you just use it as a weapon when it is convenient for you? How Jesus would have wept at your intolerance.
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Hahaha lucky for me I don't need the bible to tell me who I'm attracted to. There's nothing wrong with a 5 year old understanding same sex relationships as they understand other relationships. No one is teaching the 5 year olds what obsessors obsess about going on behind locked damn doors.
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You're kind of all over the place here but you seem like you need some help. Don't let others turn you off from Christianity and remember that we all are imperfect. Some people take the Lord's objections with Homosexuality too far and it becomes something awful. They forget the truth that Christ brought and the love he preached. Just because you are compelled to sin doesn't mean that Jesus is somehow blocked of from you. We all are compelled to sin and the fact that some focus on your sin more than others doesn't make it greater. A homosexual fails just as much as everyone else, no more no less. I say that because I want to emphasis that you have the same opportunities for redemption in Christ that we all have. I'll end with a quote from Him "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." Mark 8-35 If any of this is striking a cord with you there are fantastic faith groups on campus and if not then that's okay too.
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[non-biblical citation needed]
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" sex is a wonderful dance between people ". yes , if you are one man and one woman in a marriage relationship. i think gay individuals involved in " unnatural " sex should be concerned with what 1 COR 6 :9 ,18 has to say.
sadly , the homosexual lobby seems to be in control of the CONGRESS and the WHITE HOUSE. the " agenda " has been partly successful in persuading people that homosexuality // gay marriages are ok. children will be taught and persuaded that homosexuality is moral , natural and good. high school students will learn " perverted " sex acts as part of " safe sex " education. for those who " have ears to hear and eyes to see " that once the good ole usa and the rest of the nations accept the homosexual lifestyle we better be ready for the " sequel " to SODOM AND GOMORRAH. have a nice judgment day !
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Way to go against everything Jesus Christ taught. Have a nice judgment day, too, selah.
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Way to go against everything Jesus Christ taught. Have a nice judgment day, too, selah.
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If you don't mind my asking, what exactly did you seek to accomplish with this comment? It just seems to be controversial for the sake of stirring anger. Remember also that Christ said to love thy neighbor and would you talk to someone you loved this way. You may know the law of God but you lack understanding of the truth of God. Good fruit cannot come from a bad tree in the same way that righteousness cannot come out of anger. It is admirable that you desire to be a faithful servant of the Lord but remember that Meg is as well and it's improper to speak hatefully of the Lord's servants.
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How is someone who admits she is not a Christian one of the Lord's servants?
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We all are the Lord's children Nony and whether Meg realizes it or not she is apart of the Lord's plan. It's not something that one can decide.
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But as many as received him, to them gave he power to BECOME the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)
Being a child of God is conditional upon believing in that God, which Meg has already admitted she does not.
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But she was raised a Christian which means that as a child she accepted Christ. She is a sheep that has strayed and Jesus will bring her back into the fold. Who among us has never strayed from God. If any man claims to have never gone through periods of doubt then that man is a liar.
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Having Christian parents and being "raised Christian" does not a Christian make.
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Using an antiquated syntax does not intelligence prove.
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Hate the sin, not the sinner. I'm Christian and I treat homosexuals like any other people. I don't approve of their lifestyle but I'm not hateful or unwelcoming towards them.
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It's sad that, especially in a grand university as our own, there are still people that do not understand the heartache and suffering that gay men and women endure on a daily basis. Did your parents threaten to kick you or tell you you'd have to enlist in the armed forces just to get by with no financial support from them? Have you ever felt like you wouldn't be loved by someone you have known for years based on a principle part of your own human nature that should mean absolutely nothing to them? Even if your morals tell you to disown, shouldn't your human rationale tell you to love?
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It's sad that, especially in a grand university as our own, there are still people that do not understand the heartache and suffering that gay men and women endure on a daily basis. Did your parents threaten to kick you or tell you you'd have to enlist in the armed forces just to get by with no financial support from them? Have you ever felt like you wouldn't be loved by someone you have known for years based on a principle part of your own human nature that should mean absolutely nothing to them? Even if your morals tell you to disown, shouldn't your human rationale tell you to love?
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I thoroughly enjoy these comments by those that seem to be so unsure of their faith to need to spout their view on the street corner. I appreciate that these good Christians will allow the strayed lamb Meg to re-embrace God as her savior even if she is currently such a faithless heathen. Your intolerance to those who don't have your opinions or deviate from your sexual orientation would certainly make your savior, Jesus Christ, proud.
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Oh, did God really write the Bible? He should have gotten a copyright because its been used in so many out of context and hurtful ways. I don't think Meg used it as a weapon, actually she makes no reference to the Bible.
And I think she meant that God would have made people straight when he made their anatomy and soul. We know God didn't actually write the Bible...I think if God had just wanted to make all people straight, then he could have tinkered a bit and made no possible gene or thought pattern exist that would attract people to the same sex.
But some people may say that God made people faulty to test them. So, okay...if you believe God is so powerful and has a plan for everyone (pre-desitination) then how can you condemn people for doing what they feel is natural? I thought Jesus was suppose to be tolerant and forgiving.
No, do no not take my words to the extreme and say that I condone murdering, etc. But what does it hurt to have people in love? Is it gross for you to watch or think about? Honestly, a gay couple making out in public is just as gross as a straight couple's PDA.
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I would highly recommend reading the Bible to answer these questions. I could pull the quotes out now to explain the answers but it would far more rewarding for you to discover them yourself. If it's your first time reading the Bible I envy you, I remember my first time it was a wonderful journey of spiritual discovery. And if you don't feel like reading it that's cool too but the answers you looking for are in that book.
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hokie1
did God really write the Bible ?. men , under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ( who is GOD ) TRINITY > FATHER / SON / HS
wrote sacred scripture. you might want to look up: 2 Tim 3: 15 & 16 for the proof. it is my prayer , hokie 1 , that one day you will indulge yourself in God's wonderful instruction for daily living while on this earth , and come to a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ. // john 3:16
.
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If you've taken VT's class: "Judaism, Christianity, and Islam" and really read a lot of the Bible and studied from secular and non-secular POV's, you'd know that there are a lot of contradictions and quotes that can easily be taken out of context. Also, a lot of the passages are parables, meant to teach lessons--they aren't actually true...which goes to show that there is and should be a spirit to Christianity and other faiths. ...It is possible to be spiritual and faithful without adhering to every rule of a certain religion.
You believe what you want to...but don't go around verbally abusing other people for their thoughts. I'm glad you feel so strong and brave being a bully on the internet to someone who works hard for her school's paper. She writes in the Opinion Column as well...that exists to allow people to have their horizons a little bit broadened. We are in college...grow up and realize that not everyone thinks like you. Open up your mind and see that we are all on this planet together and connected. Some being made us all and I'm sure that being wanted more peace than there is...but how the hell can there be peace when petty crap like this exists?
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Why would you tear down a fellow Hokie and human being?
I'm not saying that we can't share our opinions or critique others. You should speak your mind, but do it in a respectful manner.
You’ll never be respected or listened to if you’re so narrow minded and extreme.
Believe in your God...but accept that others have their own. How can you possibly expect people to be okay with you believing in one God if you do not allow others to believe in their own?
Go and live the life your God gave you instead of tearing apart the lives of others. If gays, etc will burn in hell then fine...go live your life and let them live their own. If they want to be saved, I bet they'll let you know. And yes, many people try to save or help others because they think they are doing the right thing and that's amazing and kind but there is a difference between being genuine, concerned, and caring as opposed to being ruthless, mean, and ignorant.
The Bible isn't a weapon, so don't go throwing passage as people. Jesus is not meant to be a villain, so don't go depicting him as such. The opinion column is not suppose to be Law, so don't take it as such. Your day is not suppose to be wasted on getting so angry at one tiny fragment within your amazing University, so don't blow it up.
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*typo: don't go throwing passages at people
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Half the sentences in this article don't even mean anything:
"Sex is a power struggle between those involved, as well as in politics and daily society."
-This could be completely deleted out of the article and it wouldn't change anything
"I think everyone needs a combination of talking to friends and counselors."
-Is this a serious sentence?
"Sex, relationships and just day-to-day living"
-This sentence needs a comma before the "and"
"I am not an overly religious person, but I am spiritual"
-I dont think Ive read more of a pathetic, irrelevant excuse for a religious debate in my entire life.
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"Sex, relationships and just day-to-day living"
-This sentence needs a comma before the "and"
__________________________________
Before you go trying to point out errors in someone's piece, perhaps you should take a 4th grade English refresher. The comma is optional before "and" in that instance.
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But... everyone should use the Oxford Comma.
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"Gay people...(should worry about using) Birth Control"
What in tha &*$*?
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Dear Meg Law,
You are a terrible writer. Terrible. Get a clue and for the love of god get an editor. Please don't insult CT readers and the university with any more of your sophomoric and illogical columns again. This is embarrassing.
Sincerely,
Everyone
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thank you sir.
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