Posted on 02/15/2005 11:16:43 PM PST by Keyes2000mt
The recent revelations regarding Maya Keyes, the daughter of Ambassador Alan Keyes came as no surprise to me. I’m one of the few thousand who knew about her romantic relationship with a young woman from New Jersey, but I believed it was none of anyone’s business. The more I read the blogs of Maya and her friends, the more I became convinced the struggles of young people with their identity were not intended to be viewed by the world.
I’ve kept silence and have committed the matter to prayer. Now that a host of media outlets are reporting the Maya Keyes’ story, there’s not much point in keeping silence and some of the misleading information appearing in the press has to be answered with truth. My goal is not to harm Maya, only to show where certain facts have been distorted.
1) The Lesbian?
Stories continually point to Maya’s self-proclaimed Lesbianism, but there’s more to it than that. Maya broke off her romance with the woman who along with her, was plastered across the leftwing of the blogosphere last fall. However, another love was just around the corner.
On her blog on November 22nd, she posted the following entry:
I got back yesterday from California, where I had a blast^1000 spending time with the "Aldo", who I already miss so much I'm ready to get on the next plane back to San Fran…
When we finished getting intoxicated with natural beauty we returned to somewhere I felt far less at home - Travis Air Force Base. Yes, yes, I know. An anarchist staying on a military base... quite incongruous, I know. It is just evidence of how much I love the "Aldo" that I would set foot on the place. [And evidence of how much the "Aldo" loves me that he would put up with me for that ten days, through the amazing insanity - but that's a whole nother story.]
*sighs*
He is magic, and magic with fuzzy hair - where on the East Coast can I find that?
Is Maya Keyes intentionally deceiving gay rights activists in order to get housing and a guaranteed Ivy League education? No, like a lot people her age, she’s confused and searching for her identity. Sadly, in the midst of a confusing time in her life, political opportunists in the gay movement are ready to exploit her vulnerability, naiveté, and a difficult family situation for their own ends.
2) Kicked out for being Gay
The second issue with Maya’s story is that various media reports have said her father kicked her out for being a lesbian. The story is worth some consideration. Many have openly wondered with what came out in the campaign why Keyes would wait until now to kick Maya out.
As I watched events unfold back in September, I harkened back to a statement Keyes made to the City Club of Chicago when asked about the role of gays in the GOP. Keyes reminded the audience all are sinners and then said, “Which one of us wants there to be a heartless rejection of our other abilities, of our other virtues, of our other qualities because we have sometimes stumbled?...There's no contradiction between defending the institution of marriage and understanding that even when you look at somebody and you know that they're in sin you can still remember that they are children of God, because God remembers and you treat them as such and respect them for those that He would always value in them. And that's why Christ spent so much time with sinners. He didn't just see their sin, he saw the possibility of their salvation and so should we." During the months that have followed, Keyes practiced what he preached and continues to. Despite the overblown rhetoric, Alan Keyes didn’t kick Maya out for being gay and my source on that is none other than Maya herself.
In her Blog on January 30, 2005, she wrote: “A couple days ago I got my official two-week warning I have to be out of this apartment; so finally for real I'm getting cut off. I got no severance or anything like that from my sudden termination of employment (don't I have freedom of speech? the right to protest Bush without losing my job? Hehe... most people would think that working under a parent would be security but for me it's quite the opposite.) “
Well, first of all, the two weeks notice gives us less the picture of Dr. Keyes tossing Maya’s stuff on the curb and more of him telling her it’s time to get out on her own. Secondly, her participation in the counter-inaugural in Washington, DC is listed as both the reason for her being fired and being thrown out of her apartment. Both actions in this light seem more than reasonable.
You can’t work for a Conservative organization by day and join anarchist far-leftists by night in opposing the President. It’s a conflict of interest that raises the specter of whether you can be trusted with sensitive information. ABC7 news reported a family friend told them Maya has not been barred from the family’s residence only from the apartment Keyes and the staff of his new organization are using and she was, at the time, living in.
More to the point, getting involved in subversive groups can be destructive to your career if you want a job that requires a background check. Maya may not realize this, but as a former member of the National Security Council, Dr. Keyes must understand how such rash youthful actions can come back to bite people when they’re older. Perhaps, he hoped that his action would serve as a reality check.
Family Matters
As to whose right in the issues between Maya and Alan Keyes, it’s not really for us to say. Some, have harked back to Keyes’ statement on Mary Cheney to suggest divine retribution, as if God reached down out of the sky and turned Maya Keyes into a lesbian in order to punish Alan Keyes. Others have said they’re not surprised by the reports because of the type of man Alan Keyes is and that Keyes fully deserves this. If there’s any justice in this world, such people will be judged by the opinions of their disgruntled 19-year old children.
The challenge of parenting is daunting and sometimes requires tough love and hard choices. Alan Keyes isn’t the only parent to have to tell a child they had to move out. There’s more to this story than the media would have us believe, because it’s the story of a family and there’s nothing more complex. As such, we should defer judgment on the way Alan Keyes handles his family life to God.
Spare me your Stuart Smalley Zen. Describing small, furry, house pets that say "meow" as "cats" is not character assassination.
I remember several anti-Keyes people who were busy spreading the lesbian rumor and chastising the mods for pulling the threads while this is still being kept private.
I'm going to respond once and no more. If people have anything original to say I'm not going to respond:
1) The Mary Cheney Flap:
Alan Keyes' specifically refused the bait to judge the Cheney family in that interview:
SIGNORILE: Now, Vice President Cheney, of course, has a daughter. She is gay. He used the word gay. He says he has a gay daughter. He seems very proud of his gay daughter. It seems like real family values and certainly seems like preserving the American family. Is his family un-American?
KEYES: No...
Simply put the Mary Cheney is a logic question. Simply put, if fire fighters where jackets, and Jack's a firefighter, by definition Jacks wears a jacket. If homosexuality is selfish hedonism and Mary Cheney is a lesbian then she's a selfish hedonist.
If all A's are B's, C's an A than she's also a B.
He's also said that he would not exempt his own daughter from the truth and that's all he really has to say.
I repeat my statement in the article regarding those who will judge Dr. Keyes based on the comments of his 19-year old daughter and will now withhold further comment until someone has something original to say.
They aren't even worth the effort to argue with, honestly.
You make a good point. I think the value is for those reading along who can see how hateful and hypocrtical those who "bludgeon" others in Jesus' Name are.
This is all about spiritual arrogance, imo. Just as an aside - did you know that the most common form of "better than" that Americans hold is that they think they are "more spiritual" than others :-)
Not everyone has a problem with feeling "better than", of course. But we sure run across them on these Keyes threads don't we :-)
There is no question that you are trying to assassinate the character of those you disagree with here. You are not trying to discuss anything with them. You are not trying to find common ground with them. That's obvious. So I just wonder - do you apply your loathing of such an attempt to yourself?
And you didn't answer - how is that you are so receptive to be contempuous? Is that a Godly quality when you do it but not when others do. How does that work for you?
Careful, cross the line from hyperbole to outright lying and you could find yourself in the same place as #53.
As for hostility, even Christ couldn't stand those that value the honor of men over the honor of G-d.
This is not a private matter. This is a public matter. Alan Keyes has chosen to a "public" person. That has benefits and it has detriments. He has chosen to tell people how they should live their lives and he has chosen to condemn people.
Now the spotlight is on the state of his family life. And it is part of the public debate and discussion. Mr Keyes needs to step forward and talk about this, imo.
Ah, I see you're laying the groundwork, so you can declare victory, and run away.
That's fine. I'll still be freepin' when you get back.
Take your best shot. Are you or aren't you a Christian?
As for hostility, even Christ couldn't stand those that value the honor of men over the honor of G-d.
Where does Jesus say that He is contempuous and hostile? Where does Jesus say that He teaches other to be so?
I agree. Unfortunately for you, all these threads taken on balance, will show those on your side have been more interested in attacking Keyes than justifying *why* you were attacking Keyes.
I'll take that field position
Why? Because you said so?
You are not trying to discuss anything with them. You are not trying to find common ground with them. That's obvious. So I just wonder - do you apply your loathing of such an attempt to yourself?
Nope. Why aren't you trying to find common ground with me?
And you didn't answer - how is that you are so receptive to be contempuous? Is that a Godly quality when you do it but not when others do. How does that work for you?
Define "so receptive" and I'll answer.
Do you always employ "false dilemas" when your victims won't roll over?
I'm not the one shooting. Or are you forgetting your insistence Keyes defend himself for honoring G-d, and Country.
Where does Jesus say that He is contempuous and hostile? Where does Jesus say that He teaches other to be so?
He doesn't, but I'll take my chances with Him for defending the innocent rather than attacking them.
Here is a Merriam-Webster definition:
able or inclined to receive - open and responsive to ideas, impressions or suggestions
He won't but he should. He's caught between a rock and hard place. He'll now claim it's personal family business and hide behind that.
That would be a mistake on his part. He really can't "hide" :-)
The public is aware of a lot more than it used to be. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard that 58% of Americans are aware of the oil-for-food scandal, for instance.
If Mr. Keyes chooses to try and "hide" from this - he will hurt himself even more in the public eye.
How clever. Is it any wonder your missives inspire contempt?
I'll say it again: define "so receptive" and I'll answer.
He shouldn't have to hide, nor should he have to defend himself. Though by the rationale you've outlined, John the Baptist deserved what he got.
Welcome to the adult world.
Now quit whining and get on with your life.
And follow your dad's example. You'll note that he's not here taking cheap shots at you.
I did define it. And I used a dictionary definition so we could both agree.
Now the ball is in your court. You said you would answer - now we will see if you will keep your word.
Are you saying that he is going to hide? Welcome to the world of adulthood. People "have" to explain themselves all the time. And the adults do it. Children "hide"
By your logic people would not have "free will" to act as they choose. Is that what you mean to say. We are not living in heaven, we are on planet earth where things that "shouldn't" happen in a utopia - do happen. Adults deal with the world as it is and try to make it better. Children "hide" and play victim and blame others.
Are you a Christian?
so: 7. adv emphasizes a quality
adverb: modifier of verb or adjective
dyslexia: impaired ability to understand written language
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