Posted on 12/29/2004 7:05:18 AM PST by Joe Republc
SOVO BLOG
Ex-NFL star, anti-gay preacher, dies
Former NFL star Reggie White died on Sunday at the age of 43. He was one of the National Football League's top defensive players for a decade. He was also a minister, which led to his nickname, the Minister of Defense.
And, White made certain everyone knew his thoughts about gay people.
White was invited to give a speech to the Wisconsin Legislature in 1998. Here are some of the highlights of that speech:
White said the United States has gotten away from God, in part by allowing homosexuality to "run rampant." Homosexuality is a sin, and the plight of gays and lesbians should not be compared to that of blacks, White told lawmakers.
"Homosexuality is a decision, it's not a race," White said. "People from all different ethnic backgrounds live in this lifestyle. But people from all different ethnic backgrounds also are liars and cheaters and malicious and back-stabbing."
White said he has thought about why God created different races. Each race has certain gifts, he said.
Blacks are gifted at worship and celebration, White said.
"If you go to a black church, you see people jumping up and down because they really get into it," he said.
Whites are good at organization, White said.
"You guys do a good job of building businesses and things of that nature, and you know how to tap into money," he said.
"Hispanics were gifted in family structure, and you can see a Hispanic person, and they can put 20, 30 people in one home."
The Japanese and other Asians are inventive, and "can turn a television into a watch," White said. Indians are gifted in spirituality, he said.
"When you put all of that together, guess what it makes: It forms a complete image of God," White said.
White later apologized for his remarks about race, saying he was trying to bring people together and not use stereotypes.
I'm a football fan and admired Reggie White's talent on the football field. You could make a serious case that he is the man who changed the NFL's free agency system. When he signed with Green Bay, he helped lead that team to Super Bowl victories.
Admiring talent is not the same as admiring the man himself. White's intolerant views on the struggle of gay people seeking equal rights will always be part of his legacy.
Posted by Ken Sain, Washington Blade News Editor| Dec. 28 at 11:57 AM | ksain@washblade.com
Of course, I saw Reggie play football on TV many times. But I was most privileged to see and hear him at Promise Keepers last summer. The guy lived the Gospel, and gave a lot of time and money to helping people. A true role model in a time sorely needing role models.
So what does Google News put up? "Ex-NFL star, anti-gay preacher, dies". That's all the blog writer needed to know to consider Reggie unworthy of admiration. So much for tolerance.
-- Joe
When I die I hope the headline reads "anti-Democrat dies".
His speech made me a fan, not his playing.
Homosexuality is a decision?
Stupid press...this man wasn't anti-gay...he was pro-biblical design for men and women.
Heck, if that's on his gravestone, he should be proud. Two noble careers. One as a NFL lineman, the other as a bulwark against sodomy.
What do you think it is?
Well, it ain't a race.
No, it's a result of parental rape of a child.
You gay?
Hi MaineRepublic,
I didn't intend to turn this into a 'What's the cause of homosexuality?' thread. There are plenty of those around here.
Do you think Reggie's comments make him unworthy of general admiration for his life?
-- Joe
There's no scientific evidence that it's anything else.
Reggie was All Pro God
He feared the Almighty One...and tried to bring the message of salvation and the need for obedience to God's word into the world he was born in and into the did the work God gave him to do.
I believe Reggie was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven with the words of his Lord and Savior..."Well done..good and faithfull servant"
"Ex-NFL star, anti-gay preacher, dies" ... and what's wrong with being in strict oppostion to filth, vileness, perversion, sickness, depravity, repugnance, wrong doing and just plain evil?
Nothing. Nothing at all.
Also, this gay flap was such a small part of his life.
-- Joe
Do you honestly think that all homosexuals were sexually abused as children?
Sounds to me that Reggie was pretty much on the mark.
Exactly.
It was a microscopicly tiny part of a very large, well lived, loving, kind, Godly, virtuous life which blessed everyone it touched.
Leave it to the lefties to ignore the ocean of virtue in favor of a small piece of driftwood on which they build their opinions.
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