Flames at Pride reaction

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

I don't think you pick up the contradiction in the first two sentences. If you don't care, why do you think they should stick to hockey? What about the other non hockey things that they do (ie other parades, commercials, etc)? Should they stop doing those too? Or is it only this parade that bothers you? If it is, maybe you are homophobic (possibly without realizing it). There are lots of people on this board who felt that way at one point and have evolved with time and now are fully supportive.

I sat here for 10 min trying to draft up a response and then finally read this and realized you got it bang on. Lets not do any commercials, interviews, charities, cuz it isn't hockey.

[Illuminaughty]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

So you don't think Joe should make the trip out to High River to see the girl with leukemia on her birthday?
He should be taking shots against the garage door instead, and sticking to hockey?
One can't say they appreciate everything the Flames do in the community, like you said, and then say they should stick to hockey.

I applaud the flames on their charity work. I think visiting a sick kid and marching in a gay pride parade are two different things.

[mesaywee]

Something fun that I've taken up on the Calgary Flames facebook page is to click on the profiles of the people making thinly veiled bigoted remarks like "flames should just stick to hockey" or the outright bigots and bet if they're ugly white people or not.

Seriously, try it. Click on the profiles of the people and you'll notice almost every single one is an overweight or straight up awkward looking white person. I wonder what the correlation is, maybe educated people who take care of themselves are more likely to support a cause like this one.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Illuminaughty

I applaud the flames on their charity work. I think visiting a sick kid and marching in a gay pride parade are two different things.

Finally you've nailed it. One thing bothers you, the other does not.

Which, by the way, is not very libertarian.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Illuminaughty

I applaud the flames on their charity work. I think visiting a sick kid and marching in a gay pride parade are two different things.

How so? LGBT youth are some of the most at risk kids out there. To see their heroes supporting them is pretty special...it would have meant the world to me when I was a closeted teenager.

[Illuminaughty]

I think building your brand i.e. (interviews and commercials), charity edeavours and marching in a gay pride parade are different things. Leave social issues to politicians, isn't that why we elect them?

Let a sports team be just that, a sports team. People shouldn't be reading in to things that are non issues, like marching or not.

[Hells Bells]

I also see a difference between working with sick kids and marching in a gay/lesbian parade. Not that I have any issues with either.

If that makes me a homophobe to some of you for seeing a difference, so be it. I'm actually not at all though.

[ben voyonsdonc]

The Flames marching in the Pride Parade actually helps people. How did marching in the Stampede Parade help anyone? Did anyone complain about them marching in that parade?

[Hells Bells]

There is nothing wrong with marching in the parade. Nothing at all.

But to compare it to charity work for fatal illnesses is a bit much IMO.

This is more comparable to supporting race equality, gender equality etc... very important just the same, but let's not act like people are dying from it... sure, they face many obstacles, but whether they will live to see tomorrow is not one of them.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

There is nothing wrong with marching in the parade. Nothing at all.

But to compare it to charity work for fatal illnesses is a bit much IMO.

Both are about helping people, though. You've got fatal illnesses, groups that are high risk for suicide, etc. It's simply about helping people.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Both are about helping people, though. You've got fatal illnesses, groups that are high risk for suicide, etc. It's simply about helping people.

And I agree about helping people.

I just can't lump that kind of help in with dying children though.

Suicide is something universal, it's not only gays/lesbians. Only people with cancer can die from cancer.

[Illuminaughty]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Finally you've nailed it. One thing bothers you, the other does not.

Which, by the way, is not very libertarian.

As I've stated previously, I don't care if they march or don't march, the thing that I take issue with is, that this is still a hot button issue that garners so much attention. People are gay, cool, lets move on and tackle some other more pending issues like the economy or what to do about Fukushima, and not worry about what parades local sports teams chose to participate in.

I was just suggesting that calling someone a homophobe that doesn't agree with the flames marching in the parade, isn't necessarily true and not very tolerant.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Homophobia kills

Here are some stats:

LGBT youth are more than twice as likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.

Only 37% of LGBT youth report being happy and satisfied with their life. However, more than 80% of LGBT youth believe they will eventually be happy, with nearly half believing that they will need to move away from their neighborhood in order to find happiness.

With every verbal and/or physical harassment, the risk of self-injury among LGBT youth is 2 ½ times more likely.

LGBT youth are 4 times more likely to have suicide ideations than their non-LGBT counterparts.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

Homophobia kills

Here are some stats:

LGBT youth are more than twice as likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.

Only 37% of LGBT youth report being happy and satisfied with their life. However, more than 80% of LGBT youth believe they will eventually be happy, with nearly half believing that they will need to move away from their neighborhood in order to find happiness.

With every verbal and/or physical harassment, the risk of self-injury among LGBT youth is 2 ½ times more likely.

LGBT youth are 4 times more likely to have suicide ideations than their non-LGBT counterparts.

I'm not saying the Flames shouldn't show their support.

I'm saying let's not act like this is in any way the same as visiting sick kids. That's all.

[ben voyonsdonc]

By marching, the Flames are telling kids that it really is ok to be gay and that bullying is not acceptable. To me, that is a huge community service.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

I'm not saying the Flames shouldn't show their support.

I'm saying let's not act like this is in any way the same as visiting sick kids. That's all.

It is still a community service.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

By marching, the Flames are telling kids that it really is ok to be gay and that bullying is not acceptable. To me, that is a huge community service.

The Flames aren't telling kids they visit that it's okay they're sick and dying. Two completely different things.

One group needs support and be told it's okay to be the way they are... the other needs a lot more than that. They need organs or sometimes a miracle to even live another month. Nothing a hockey player tells them will cure them. Sure, it will brighten their day but that's all it can do besides raise awareness.

So what I'm saying is that the players can actually do more for the gay/lesbian community. Again, I agree with them marching, just don't agree with the comparison.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Illuminaughty

As I've stated previously, I don't care if they march or don't march, the thing that I take issue with is, that this is still a hot button issue that garners so much attention. People are gay, cool, lets move on and tackle some other more pending issues like the economy or what to do about Fukushima, and not worry about what parades local sports teams chose to participate in.

I was just suggesting that calling someone a homophobe that doesn't agree with the flames marching in the parade, isn't necessarily true and not very tolerant.

Doing one doesn't preclude doing the other. In no way does marching in the parade hinder the "pending issue" of the economy.

And, simply put, just because you think it's something to move on from doesn't make it so. Some people say the same about race relations. You don't get to decide when the issue's no longer an issue.

[ben voyonsdonc]

The comparison was based on the fact that the common argument against marching that the Flames should simply stick to hockey. If that was the case, the Flames, as an organization, shouldn't be going to visit sick kids, march in the Stampede Parade, or do commercials. I think that comparison is pretty valid.

[Illuminaughty]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

The comparison was based on the fact that the common argument against marching that the Flames should simply stick to hockey. If that was the case, the Flames, as an organization, shouldn't be going to visit sick kids, march in the Stampede Parade, or do commercials. I think that comparison is pretty valid.

It's not a valid comparison.

If the flames didn't march in any parade it wouldn't change my opinion of the organization. If they stopped doing all the charity work it would.