[CS-FSLUG] Canadian bank, intimidation?

[R. Thompson]

On Sun, 2004-10-03 at 16:46, Aaron Patrick Lehmann wrote:
>   Given these feelings, should I display
> that rainbow?  

   OK, suppose you display the rainbow, wouldn't you be identifying
yourself with the group behind the project and all that they stand for? 
Or, you may have done it out of fear of reproach from your fellow
workers or the public that is expecting you to align yourself with their
cause.
 
> I do believe homosexual activity to be a sin, and not something
> people should be engaging in.  I also know that if the SS is ever chasing a
> homosexual, I will let him or her hide in my closet.  Possibly we should
> develope our own sticker.  Possibly with a cross on it, and Jesus' "new
> commandment" to love one another on it?  When asked, we could explain that our
> religion commands us to love all men and women.  That while we cannot condone
> sin, we love sinners, or at least try.

    Interesting idea, lets put the tolerance of these 'rainbow' people
to the test, would they object to a non-homophobic Christian putting on
display a symbol or sign of Christ's love for sinners?

    What concerns me the most, I think, is that a cowardly group would
use my employer to set my fellow employees and a segment of the public
against me because I could not in good conscience make a public display
of solidarity with their cause (which is offensive to a number of
religious groups).

    My sign might read that I'm Dei-phobic, for the fear of God is the
beginning of wisdom.

    Ron T.

> Aaron Lehmann
> 
> On Sun, Oct 03, 2004 at 02:08:34PM -0600, R. Thompson wrote:
> > Leafing through yesterday's local paper I came across this article.  I
> > find this offensive, that some small group within the bank would use
> > your fellow employees to intimidate objectors while the bank management
> > stands by and either endorses this project, or does nothing.  Here is
> > the article (please excsue any typos).
> > 
> > >From the Prince Albert Daily Herald, Saturday October 2, 2004, page 7.
> > 
> > "Bank clerks asked to display rainbow sitickers
> > Jennifer Kwan, The Canadian Press
> > 
> > Toronto -  Thousands of Royal Bank clerks are being asked to display
> > rainbow stickers at their desks and cubicles to promote a safe work
> > environment for gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
> > 
> >    The rainbow sticker program is being organized by an employee
> > diversity group within a department of the bank and targets 2,000 clerks
> > at a Royal Bank "warehouse" in Toronto, as well as smaller satellite
> > offices in Mississauga and Guelph.
> > 
> >    The three-month pilot project dubbed "rainbow space" mirrors a
> > program known as "space safe" used to promote gay pride at colleges and
> > other workplaces in the United States.
> > 
> >    "During the Nazi regime, a pink triangle was used to label gay men
> > and a black trangle was used to label lesbians or tother
> > 'anti-socials,'" says a newsletter advocating the use of the rainbow
> > stickers.
> > 
> >    "In the late 1970s, the rainbow flag was developed to represent not
> > only pride in having survived and thrived in a world that has often been
> > a hostile place, but also pride in the extraordinary diversity of the
> > community."
> > 
> >    Bank spokesman David Moorcroft said Friday the program, launched this
> > month, is employee-driven and not part of the company policy.
> > 
> >    "The program is not going to be rolled out bank-wide," he said.
> > 
> >    But Moorcraft said the company is open to employee feedback on the
> > initiative.
> > 
> >    The newsletter distrbuted to 2,000 employees states that displaying
> > the sticker will show bank employees that homophobia will not be
> > tolerated.
> > 
> >    "Voluntarily displaying this sticker shows gay, lesbian, bisexual and
> > transgendered coworkers that they can feel safe with you, and show
> > unsupportive co-workers that you won't tolerate homophobia," it states.
> > 
> >    The head of the Canada Family Action Coalition, a right-wing
> > Christian group, says the newsletter implies anyone who doesn't display
> > the rainbow is therefore homophobic."
> > 
> > Ron T.
> > -- 
> > Ron G. Thompson, |^|
> > Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
> > www.petomai.org   ron at petomai.org
> > "Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as doves to their window?" Is
> > 60:8
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> > http://cs.uninetsolutions.com
-- 
Ron G. Thompson, |^|
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
www.petomai.org   ron at petomai.org
"Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as doves to their window?" Is
60:8