tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post2801578419221881182..comments2023-06-08T18:12:39.596-04:00Comments on Water Over Rocks: Letter to Our YouthAndy Bachmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12793260246107995501noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-24103895219078941162010-10-03T09:16:42.201-04:002010-10-03T09:16:42.201-04:00Thank you so much for your message. As a gay man ...Thank you so much for your message. As a gay man I truly appreciate it! I do know that there are actually more people in the world who support your right to be who you are than not. We are just bombarded with negativity from rappers and bigots that profess that our lifestyle is wrong. I respectfully disagree.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12514474150506649455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-18594262833005831082010-10-02T14:35:31.323-04:002010-10-02T14:35:31.323-04:00Well said. Thank you.Well said. Thank you.Bruce Weinernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-82238263563764206642010-10-01T23:56:52.588-04:002010-10-01T23:56:52.588-04:00Thank you for your words, Andy, we are lucky to ha...Thank you for your words, Andy, we are lucky to have you in our community. Let's use the internet for healing and to support all the LGBT teens out there who may not feel safe or supported in their communities.Liza Brunanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-5033947222693503352010-10-01T21:19:07.531-04:002010-10-01T21:19:07.531-04:00Thank you-beautifulThank you-beautifulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-33218823755657797042010-10-01T20:29:39.900-04:002010-10-01T20:29:39.900-04:00thanks you for your comments. I too was outraged b...thanks you for your comments. I too was outraged by this story and very saddened. <br /><br /> According to the NYTimes, Rutgers was planning a "Civility initiative" to start just when the tragedy happened. It struck me that at PS321, they start first grade with teaching children how to be civil and kind - And at Rutgers, they still have to teach these lessons.<br /><br /> Of course all this new technology has created more complex issues but still - It's so disheartening that people use their computers, webcams etc. to humilaite other people.<br /><br /> I guess this could be considered a "teachable moment" but so sad that someone had to end their life due to feelings of shame.mamainwaitinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834947594971447699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-90068601544710281602010-10-01T18:05:32.456-04:002010-10-01T18:05:32.456-04:00Kol HaKavod, Rabbi! With allies like you, there is...Kol HaKavod, Rabbi! With allies like you, there is no stopping the march toward true equality for everyone!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17793570351875728060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-6600368722106411482010-10-01T17:32:00.014-04:002010-10-01T17:32:00.014-04:00Andy -
Beautifully written message...thank you fo...Andy - <br />Beautifully written message...thank you for expressing these thoughts, which I hope many of us share with the people of our communities.<br />EricEric Sirokahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11296175154727072567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-24993394533521446242010-10-01T01:12:08.016-04:002010-10-01T01:12:08.016-04:00Andy,
I have to thank you this letter made me smil...Andy,<br />I have to thank you this letter made me smile and brought a tear to my eye. Even though you didn't directly say it you letter seems to allude to making those erased by hetro-normativity and general dislike visible again. As someone who identifies as bi and has a boyfriend I feel like no one in the queer or straight communities value me because I'm not (fill in blank) enough... It's nice to be included I just wish more people would be inclusive to all.<br />Let all the erased be visible and the silenced be heard. <br />Ken Yehi RatzonRebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09713074381406679287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-23137311614355043272010-09-30T21:45:03.246-04:002010-09-30T21:45:03.246-04:00I stumbled upon this on Gawker, and just felt comp...I stumbled upon this on Gawker, and just felt compelled to say: <br /><br />Living in North Carolina and identifying as part of the LGBT community hasn't always been easy. I live in a fairly liberal area of the state, but homophobic and transphobic attitudes are never that far away.<br /><br />It really encourages me and warms my heart to see straight allies (especially religious leaders) decide to stand with this community and say, unequivocally, that love is not something to be feared or hated. That we need to value and appreciate every human and that we need to say to every single kid, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, that they are loved. And that they have worth.<br /><br />Rabbi, thank you for writing this. It's entirely possible that your wonderful perspective will save a kid's life... or at least make those teenage years (which are generally awful for everyone) just a little bit better. Which is much, much more than most people do. <br /><br />Much respect and gratitude.Sethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-83451015817549260762010-09-30T20:01:06.063-04:002010-09-30T20:01:06.063-04:00Thank you for this beautiful post Rabbi. It has m...Thank you for this beautiful post Rabbi. It has made it's way to Gawker.com, Facebook and it is my prayer that your words and the message it inspires spread and resonant far and wide. Again, many thanks, Your Catholic Message Spreader!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-83278130923432313442010-09-30T15:32:46.105-04:002010-09-30T15:32:46.105-04:00Excellent, well said. I thought the same thing Sa...Excellent, well said. I thought the same thing Sandy did...can it be emailed out to all Academy and 7th and 8th graders (we should have their email addresses via Yachad), and perhaps there is some way to target families who we know have kids. And we've also tried to keep in touch with the kids in college, they could probably use a letter like this also.Amandanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-64648051493239058592010-09-30T12:40:43.384-04:002010-09-30T12:40:43.384-04:00I really appreciated reading your letter. Adolesc...I really appreciated reading your letter. Adolescence can be such a difficult journey, and many do not even consider their rabbi as a source of support and counsel. I hope more rabbis will make it known to our teens that they can be someone that will listen to them, no matter what they bring to the table.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01245974523353359677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-29051775455260673382010-09-30T12:29:19.835-04:002010-09-30T12:29:19.835-04:00Thanks all--Sandy, feel to share widely and after ...Thanks all--Sandy, feel to share widely and after this week, let's convene a community conversation about making sure we're all sending the right messages to our kids.Andy Bachmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12793260246107995501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-76273276671117867342010-09-30T11:51:17.867-04:002010-09-30T11:51:17.867-04:00So right on, Andy!So right on, Andy!Jeff Zoldannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-75337139377248463182010-09-30T11:42:10.589-04:002010-09-30T11:42:10.589-04:00Thanks Andy, this is great. Now how can we make s...Thanks Andy, this is great. Now how can we make sure that the right audience sees this?<br />Sandra HartogAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-480763369736326403.post-87207854844189800482010-09-30T11:12:01.902-04:002010-09-30T11:12:01.902-04:00Thank you.Thank you.Michelle Lynn-Sachshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07206099293341628402noreply@blogger.com