Article “Rick Perry draws comparison between homosexuality, alcoholism during California visit” starts off by saying:
“Texas Gov. Rick Perry drew a comparison between alcoholism and homosexuality during a California visit that also dealt with economic issues.
“Perry’s comments to the Commonwealth Club of California came after Texas’ Republican Convention on Saturday sanctioned platform language allowing Texans to seek voluntary counseling to “cure” being gay.”
WATCHDOG: We are no admirer of Rick Perry, but we are of the truth.
What Perry actually said was that his family history might indicate he is pre-disposed genetically to alcoholism but, if so, he could choose not to drink.
He made clear that he was not addressing whether homosexuals were simply so inclined or genetically so programmed, but he was making the point they could choose to abstain from such activity.
As Perry is quoted later in the article “I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way…”
Some writers and editors, with the encouragement of their publisher, will purposely mislead to write a sensational headline and opening paragraphs that will draw attention. The attention they should all draw is to be fired.
Frankly, we don’t understand Perry’s quote, but for another reason. At first reading, we took it that he was speaking of his on life. Upon revisiting it, we just don’t know whether he was or simply speaking hypothetically.
I think Perry was suggesting that even if it is genetically based, that doesn’t make it right. People may also be naturally disposed to alcoholism or rape or bullying. Is does not imply ought.
And so his comparison of homosexuality to alcoholism, suggesting that both should be resisted because they’re not wholesome activities, in his mind, is what’s bothering people.