Burning Sissies

When I was a child, one of the worst things you could call a boy was "sissy." By the time I entered junior high school (middle school), the word most often hurled at not-so-masculine boys was "faggot." When I was in my late twenties and doing student teaching, the word often thrown about was "gay." Among children and youth those words are more about mannerisms, lack of athletic prowess, bookishness, and differences than about actual sexuality. They are tools of conformity.

Another phrase we often hear is "be a man." In other words,

Be strong, not a sissy. Don't cry like a girl. Don't show pain. Don't show fear...

Peter Ould posted on his blog An Exercise in the Fundamentals of Orthodoxy (subtitled "Charismatic, Calvinistic, Anglican, PostGay - The Website of Peter Ould") "An Open Letter to The Orthodox Bishops in TEC," which includes a video. The video is a montage of footage depicting the execution by burning of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley interspersed with a written message. The text, in part, paraphrases Latimer's last words to Ridley:

It is time once again to be of good comfort and to Play the Man.

Be a man. Be strong, not a sissy. Don't cry like a girl. Don't show pain. Don't show fear...

That message came through loud and clear to Greg Griffith over at Stand Firm. First in "Peter Ould to TEC Bishops: Play the Man Again" Greg wrote:

Seeing as how so many TEC bishops seem to have been chosen from the winners of sissy contests, I'm not sure how well they'll respond to it, but it can't hurt to try."

Then yesterday, Greg titled his post about Mark Harris' commentary on Peter's video "Mark Harris Gets Squeamish; Peter Ould Mans Up."

Be a man. Be strong, not a sissy. Don't cry like a girl. Don't show pain. Don't show fear...

Peter's own response to Mark included this remark:

You know, one might almost think that I’m being accused of advocating such things (the burning of witches, heretics, homosexuals - though incidentally I know of no recorded instance of the institutional church ever burning anybody for being a homosexual), that I am such a wicked person who wills death upon those I despise.

Perhaps Peter ought to use the word "sodomy" when doing historical research. "Homosexuality" was not coined until the late 19th Century (and even searching using "homosexual" turns up this BBC article). Charges of "sodomy" were often added to the lists of charges against heretics. In some cases, "sodomy" was the heretical act prosecuted. And even if "sodomy" was not part of the official charge, it played heavily in the prosecution and conviction of many, such as the Knights Templar.

Not many of us may have been burned, but we have certainly been prosecuted and persecuted over the centuries, whatever label was used. Often in cases where sexual interaction was introduced in evidence, the "passive" partner was subjected to additional ridicule. Even today in many cultures the "passive" partner is the "faggot." The message is clear.

Be a man. Be strong, not a sissy. Don't cry like a girl. Don't show pain. Don't show fear. Don't be "passive" like a woman...

Peter wants the bishops to "man it up" and stand firm for what they believe, even if it brings about their [figurative] burning at the stake for doing so. They should be willing to be martyrs for what they believe is the "right Christian faith." But what of those whose "right Christian faith" is different from Peter's or the Stand Firm crowd's? Are we to be [figuratively] burned for holding on to our beliefs in the face of those who disagree with us? And are we martyrs or heretics? I can probably guess the answer.

Be a man. Be strong, not a sissy. Don't cry like a girl. Don't show pain. Don't show fear. Don't be "passive" like a woman...

...and don't challenge the "True Church."

I find a couple of interesting things about Peter's choice of Latimer and Ridley for his video message. While both were arrested, prosecuted, convicted and executed for standing up for their religious beliefs, Ridley's arrest and execution had as much to do with an act of treason as for his religious views. Also, in the context of 16th Century England, Latimer's and Ridley's views were the upstart and "heretical" ones. The Roman Catholic Church, to which Mary I remained faithful, represented orthodoxy in religion and theology. "Calvanistic" Peter would likely have suffered the same fate had he lived at that time--because he was NOT orthodox.

But it is not who was orthodox and who was heretic that are important for Peter. It is Latimer's words to Ridley that form the foundation of his message to the TEC bishops.

It is time once again to be of good comfort and to Play the Man.

Be a man. Be strong, not a sissy. Don't cry like a girl. Don't show pain. Don't show fear. Don't be "passive" like a woman...

Peace,
Jeffri