I just love Mudcatters, be they gay, straight, lesbian, bi, Chinese, HIspanic, Blonde, hairy armpits, whatever. Who people choose to associate with (because they are comfortable, or feel safer, etc.)has no bearing on what is right or wrong in the world. The simple fact of the matter is that people who are what they are by the grace of God, are discriminated against for something (like sexual orientation)in which they by and large had no choice in the matter. In my mind that is inherently evil, which means that I must use my ability as a bard to sing out against it. Anytime a young man or woman must hide their essential nature because they are fearful of physical and mental harm, this is a sickness which must be rooted out and eradicated. I am not bothered by Shambles acceptance of person's sexual orientation, I accept him at his word that he does not make his decisions about people on that basis. What bothers me is the attitude that as long as one does not make judgements on that basis that they have done enough. To illustrate what I mean let me tell you about the time that I was lecturing a visiting group of Irish Business owners and trade unionists on US Labor Law as opposed to Irish/Northern Irish/British Labor law. I had been asked by the School of Industrial Relations at Michigan State University to do the lecture. At one point we talked about the US civil rights movements and labor's role in the struggle. This obviously led to a discussion of civil rights in the North. At the break a very nice gentleman of the Orange persuasion came up to me. He was very genuine in his expression of regret over the discrimination that the Irish Catholics in the North had suffered. And he said to me the very words that I had heard otherwise very nice white people say to me about black people. "I know it is wrong, but I didn't do it. Why should I have to suffer, or even make it right" I was knocked out. It brought home the universality of the struggle. It is not good enough to recognize evil, avoid it, and not practice it. You insure it's spread when you do. You must actively root it out, and do your best to eradicate it. And so it is with the gay/lesbian/bi community. One's sexual orientation is not on my checklist of reasons to have someone as a friend. Is their lifestyle mine? Nope. Do I think God will punish them for it? I'm not smart enough to figure that out, they, as we all, will have to deal with God on that one. But I do know some things that God has communicated in very clear terms. Love one another as I have loved you. Judge not, lest ye be judged. Will I sing the songs of their struggle? You bet your life I will. As I said in the beginning of this long diatribe. Any time one is discriminated against because of what they are born, I am there.

And I think this is a very important thread.

All the best,

Big Mick