I tend to agree with MEGoody. Swift's essay is very disturbing, and its venomous punch is wrenching. But I cannot say "terrifying", and I fear that too many people are taking such extremism too seriously.
I agree that there are indeed homosexual activists with an agenda, and that we must recognize and counter their efforts. But if we simply polarize the debate we will destroy our country even as we try to save it.
There has always been a silent majority, but we do ourselves and them a disfavor by assuming their agreement with our assessments. It will take an immense effort of good will to awaken the conscience of our nation, but one necessary way to defend marriage against the "gay agenda" is to defend it against the growing apathy about hetero offenses against marriage. This may not be the most attractive message to many "moralphobes", but it is much more rational than claiming that extremist rants are the heart of the "gay agenda".
- Gordon
A very quick response - the extremist homosexuals that you seem to consider fringe are the leaders, the savants, the visionaries of the "gay" rights movement. The spokespeople who go on TV and are interviewed for public consumption consciously preserve a "mainstream" appearance and demeanor - no flamers, no leather studded jockstraps, no butch women with facial hair, etc. And they purposely keep their message falsely toned down, asking for merely "equality".
But if you read what they write for "in house" consumption, check out footage of "Gay Pride" parades, and read what they consistenly engage in as well as consider a legitimate lifestyle (for instance, in Britain homosexuals have demanded to be allowed to practice cruising for anonymous sex in public bathrooms as part of their culture), and, worst of all, their use of public schools as indoctrination and recruitment centers - I think you'll change your viewpoint.
Have you read "After the Ball" or the summary which has been posted on FR a lot? Or really checked out EdReform's and Scripter's links?
There's more info on FR about the homosexual agenda in one place, than anywhere else on the internet.
In this issue, more and more, we have to be on one side or the other. And the other side fights dirty, and will fight dirtier before it's over.