The solace in pondering

I'm pondering the issue of association, where like minded people gather in cyber space to offer encouragement, support, etc for each other.

I'm pondering said site, located on a prominent women's website, one that offers numerous message boards for various interests.

I'm pondering a board, sanctioned, where there is discussion of a group of people, with this discussion advocating, encouraging, & embracing a view of an entire community as less than, sinful, and worthy of legal restriction.

Yesterday I was pointed at just such a board on iVillage, in relation to Rev. Ted Haggard and his resignation for illicit affairs. One post referred to this being the work of 'the enemy.' Well, doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that meant "we have seen the enemy, and it is you."

So I decided to post, and think my postings were respectful, but as with anything that will be a different viewpoint, it will not meet with wide acceptance, and of course... I knew this. And predictibly, the reaction was to basically buzz off and let us be bigots in peace.

Which leads me to my pondering, pondering how it is a prominent website for women encourages the continuation and perpetuation of this thinking. Would the KKK be given their own board to discuss and support each other? "Gee, last night... last night I was out just looking for minorities to hassle, when, would you believe it? a big group of *them* surrounded my car and told me to get out of here, they wanted no trouble. I'm really upset..."

Establishing little havens for the free flow of bigoted outlook does not sound like productive use of space. Yeah, I know, Christians believe gays are sinners and that we, not they are wrong... it's a legitimate social issue. Hmmmm, and so wasn't segregation, a half century ago. Didn't make it right.

A moderator has intervened on the board, warning of stronger action, when no violations have taken place. I've written this moderator, and of course expect precisely nothing to happen. I've provided four links that refute their assertion this is a support board, because the content of those four is decidedly bigoted and hateful. The most recent of which was a post to lead another to this: Homosexual Agenda.

I've said my piece there, or perhaps my peace, they undoubtedly are praying for my redemption, and nothing probably changed.

Or maybe one mind has begun to ponder, along with me.