Comments on: The Brown Coffee Company’s Aaron Blanco Apologizes

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 23:48:13 +0000

JayC,

You need to slow down and actually read what’s in front of you.

That, or you’re someone who won’t take “yes” for an answer…

Happy Independence Day.

Sharon

By: Jay C.

Jay C. — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 05:54:25 +0000

Sharon-
Get used to what? A despotic nation that continues to federally persecute members of the GLBT Community???

Or perhaps a president who, as candidate, positioned himself as a champion of gay rights yet has done everything possible not to publicly align himself along the lines of Brown and still hasn’t pushed a same sex marriage friendly agenda?

Currently, in the United States, no state is compelled to recognize a same sex marriage legitimized in New York (or IA, MA, CT, NH, VT or DC, for that matter). Compare this to the situation in the 1960s where a mixed race couple could marry and the states were compelled by law to recognize that marriage.

Compare this to our neighbor to the south, where some friends will be getting married this weekend. In Mexico, Mexican states are compelled by federal law to recognize same sex marriages in Mexico City.

And it is naive to think that legalization of same sex marriages will eliminate institutional bigotry. This thinking begs us to believe that the institutions are not administered and enforced by people with their own beliefs and prejudices. In the 90 years since Women’s Suffrage and 46 years since the Civil Rights Act, women and minorities still today face discrimination and bigotry in all levels of society.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:31:09 +0000

It’s about time Aaron pulled his head out of his ass and said what he thinks. I’ll avoid his coffee and those who support his biblical worldview will rush to his store to buy it. As I’ve said from the start, if you don’t have the balls to defend it, don’t say (or tweet, facebook, etc.) it.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:59:24 +0000

a) the Plato quote is mainly to show what a complete ignoramus Aaron Brown is to invoke the most famous gay man in history to defend homophobic rhetoric

b) Plato’s thoughts on the treatment of homosexuals by governments shows just he opposite where NY State is concerned — NY State has shown itself to be the opposite of despotic, i.e. supportive of the civic rights of gays and lesbians — and as NY goes, so will the country. Get used to it.

Some straight people want to have it both ways – they want to say, “I looooove gay people. Some of my best friends are gay! But I don’t think they should have all of the rights that I have…” The legalization of gay marriage will not remove bigotry from a lot of peoples’ hearts, but it does remove institutional bigotry. If you hate gay people, go right ahead. Just don’t try to force others to live with the consequences of that hate.

By: Jay C.

Jay C. — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:32:34 +0000

While I disagree with him on a number of levels, Al does raise an interesting point. Does this vehement community of liberals merely limit themselves to Brown Coffee Company when calling for the exposition of those unreceptive to their way of life?

I can think of one friend, a really great coffee person and known homosexual, who had to hide his sexual preference while on farm visits because the nations this person visited not only did not share the lifestyle but have demonstrated violence against those who lived that lifestyle.

The logical extension of this current event is the “outing” of those people along the coffee chain who do not share the desire for equality and rights for the LGBT Community, right?

By: Jay C.

Jay C. — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:26:09 +0000

Sharon-
Isn’t your post a condemnation of our government as despotic then?

By: Jay C.

Jay C. — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:22:42 +0000

Al-
If you’re one of those minorities that married a white woman and truly believes that no one cares about your mixed marriage, then you’re telling yourself a lie. Mixed race couples in modern times routinely face discrimination and prejudice – or are you one of these people who would have us believe that racism and prejudice have been completely erased from American society in the years since 1964?

You desire to make the argument that there are two laws at issue here. However, this is not the case. This is America where we (supposedly) champion a separation between church and state. This means that we can (and should) have laws upon which the church and the state do not agree. This is so with abortion, contraception and the like.

At issue here is with state law and the recognition of equality for the LGBT community and their right to marry. This is a state recognition and does not force the church (or its believers) to marry people of their same sex. It does, however, enforce the equal treatment for these people under the law.

On the force of “God’s Law”, I can recall one large church in particular that forbade blacks from ordination, priesthood and salvation BECAUSE they were black – and, evidently, being black was the mark of Satan.

This changed in 1978 when the church leadership claimed that they had been given a “revelation” to allow blacks to higher levels within the church. Taken at face value, this is a MONUMENTAL change in church policy and represents the Voice of God issuing edicts within our lifetime.

So what we’re saying is that after millenia of blacks not being worthy of salvation, the Almighty has suddenly changed his mind???

Today, that pre-1978 ban on blacks is being taught as a God-given policy.

But of course, that is a religious discussion and not germane to what is happening in our legal system today. What is at hand is the legalization of equal rights for people who may believe different than you.

Are you really one of those who wishes to persecute them because they believe different than you?

Kinda reminds me of a story about a poor, Jewish carpenter named Jesus…

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:04:03 +0000

Brown Coffee Company’s apology was a lie rooted in the fear that their true sentiments might hurt business. Based on their latest blog entry, they are emboldened by the fact that there are other bigots in the world. So… they have taken their apology down and re-assessed. Now the message is, “Intolerance sells coffee! No apology necessary.” The fact that people will come and buy merchandise in support of their rhetoric doesn’t make that rhetoric right. Theirs is a myopic worldview based in fear and dread – not Classical Wisdom. Invoking Plato, the HOMOSEXUAL’S HOMOSEXUAL in defense of anti-gay rhetoric is, at last, the most laughable and ludicrous thing of all. “Homosexuality,” Plato wrote, “is regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments just as philosophy is regarded as shameful by them, because it is apparently not in the interest of such rulers to have great ideas engendered in their subjects, or powerful friendships or passionate love-all of which homosexuality is particularly apt to produce.” I hope that BCC and all like-minded people can finally just get over it. What is “natural law” for one isn’t “natural law” for everyone. Live and let live, BCC. Or as Plato said, “Any man may easily do harm, but not every man can do good to another. “

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:47:51 +0000

While the “classical philosophy” post is gone, a new one is up today, check it out.Aaron describes the controversy as “…when you say things that cut a little close to the quick for some people you can expect a range of reactions”. See, we liberals, gays, hippies, etc. just need a thicker skin. Additionally, in order to take the focus off his company, he’s hoping some U.S. military operation will happen; “…hoping maybe our military decided to bomb Bermuda or something so the subject could be changed”. How about another priest molestation? Or maybe another Midwest tornado to blow the smoke in another direction? School shooting? Sure he’s being cute, his entire response has been flippant. He goes on to say how all the press has actually given him extra business (from all his right wing followers); “…I think we had our second biggest sales day ever, second only to the last day before Christmas last year”. You know, I’ve really been wanting to cut this Aaron some slack and believe he really isn’t a hurtful bigot but this last post really “cuts to the quick” on just what a mean and bitter person this fellow is. He should listen to the “…friends (and businesses–get it?) in this industry that… can no longer associate with [him] because of [his] beliefs”. You are a businessman Aaron, keep your right wing beliefs to yourself and just sell coffee and you won’t continue to find yourself in hot water. Walmart doesn’t get customers by posting just how mean and hurtful they are to suppliers: they keep their methods to themselves and the ignorant masses just keep coming to the sweatshop leader in droves.

By: Al

Al — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:34:58 +0000

Jay C, it is not the same. (BTW: I am one of those minorities and I married a white woman and I live in the Oklahoma and no one cares).

There are two issues here. One is the law, that is man’s law, and the other is God’s law. God’s law is clear, even to those of you who believe in no God, because it has been written deep in your heart.

It is a no brainer that men and women were created different right down to the DNA. Gays want to say there is no difference and that one can just mix and match the sexes. This is dishonest-biologically, morally, and spiritually.

To associate this issue to skin color is also dishonest because a black man and a white man are not different before God, nor biology.

Choose for yourself which issue you wish to debate and we can go from there.

God’s law which is also the law of nature is very clear on this point. God created a man to be with a woman and not man with man or woman with woman. I scratch my head wondering why I need to explain this.