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October 29th, 2010
10:44 AM ET
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yesterday when i watched this report, i just kept on thinking to myself, "what's wrong with this world?" how can this be ok? there seems to be zero humanity these days.
I am awed by the Truongs. I hope some day I will have the depth of faith that they have to say they forgive this man and to pray that others forgive him too.
God bless these people and may they have comfort and strength in the days to come.
Religion must be stay out of this. That's what complicates the issue.
He is a school district vice president. He should have NEVER done what he has done. He's apology was not sincere. He is sorry for getting caught.
I bow my head to the parents for saying "I forgive you". I know how much he had hurt them. It's our job to forgive, and God's job to judge. There is a huge difference in "being spiritual" and "being religious".
My prayers for the parents, and I ask God to bless Mr. McCance.
No one was bashing this man for his religious beliefs. He was called out because in a position of power and policy in a school, you should never call out one group and tell them they deserve to die. This is especially true when it comes on the heels of many suicides by teens because of being bullied for being gay or the belief by others that the students were gay. I am a Christian as well, and the God I worship does NOT preach hate.
Again, it's always a problem with consistancy. Juanita Hall, I wish you would have watched the Anderson cooper video a little closly. He denounces name calling, yet you here are calling people "idiots." Again, It's always a problem with consistancy.
As a gay man, I live everyday knowing that I may be persecuted, bashed, jeered, or discriminated against. It has become a "normal" part of any gay person's daily life. Most of us live and even thrive within this air of non-acceptance and outright hatred. It is quite sad, that a man like Clint McCance can sit in full view of the nation, and twist around the truth that is so obvious in his heart. CLINT MCCANCE HATES GAYS! There really isn't any other way to get around it. Anderson gave him a plethora of opportunites to make such a simple statement, yes, you hate us or, no, you don't. Living in SW Missouri, and having actually been in the Pleasant Springs, AR area just within the past 7 days, I can tell you that even though it is a little out of the way, the people of that area are the kindest, warmest people you could ever meet.
For the record, I have been watching Anderson Cooper since his Channel 1 days in the early '90, and I have always thought his reporting to be fair and thorough. You've come along way Anderson! Thanks for standing up for us!
I am a heterosexual woman... I don't think it matters what my religious beliefs are as it relates to this incident. What I do believe is that it is the responsibility of a school official to demonstrate tolerance, diversity, an ability to allow others to express opposing views without intimidation or retaliation, and to offer a supportive environment for ALL students. Which is why I agree with McCance decision to resign. He, clearly, is not able to separate his personal beliefs from his professional responsibilities.
McCance statements were hurtful and I feel sad for his children who are being raised in this environment.
However, while his comments were vicious, hurtful and ignorant... parents and family members should prepare these young people for these kinds of comments. There are thousands of people who share the beliefs of McCance and will not hesitate to speak about it or retaliate.
McCance statements were horrible. But, as a community we need to prepare our young people and give them a greater sense of self-worth in order to endure the 'McCance's' in the world.
It's not fair to inflame the topic by asking a man of his beliefs, knowing that he already has a christian belief that opposes non-christian views, and then in turn berate the person for stating his belief's when you knew or reasonably should have known that he holds the views and beliefs in which he believes in. It's is for this and many other reasons why the christian feels bullied by the gay community, they already know what christains stand for.
Please leave religion out of this. Clint McCance is a complete coward. He's only sorry that this rant made nat'l news and he is scared for his family's safety. That is the ONLY reason he went on tv and apologized....hoping it would take the heat and hate off of him and his family. He hates homosexuals....if he didn't, those vile facebook posts would have never been a part of his vocabulary. And he never did apologize about his homosexual remarks...just his suicide remarks. Typical coward....if you're going to rant...be prepared to own it. Your apology was hollow and weak. Get back to us when you mean it.
Again, it's feel sorry and simpathy for the gay's but bash the christian, devalue the christian for stating his belief's, edit out the christian but herald the gay's. How sad. When will people have an open mind toward christians and the Bible for what it stands for?
I think this shouldnt really be an issue, while i do not agree with what was said, it was only words. We are all protected (black, white, male, female, hetrosexual, or gay) under the freedom of speech. We have the right to say what we want when we want without the fear of a reprocution. By demangeing him quit or firing him we are takeing away that right which we all share.
@Arac Burt
If the Christian community doesn't impose their anti-gay beliefs into the gay community, would the gay community impose their lifestyle into the Christian community? I believe the answer to that question is no. Changing the system to allow gay-marriage is not imposing gay lifestyle into the Christian community (separation of church and state).
Religion and homosexuality should be separated in the political world and in our personal life. If you aren't for gay rights, then keep it to yourself. It isn't like the gay community wants to turn the entire world gay.
I don't believe this is a "slippery-slope question". It is a question which asks where Clint McCance position comes from; and it so happens (to me its not too surprising), that he bases his position on his Christian belief. Of course he would say it will affect the safety of the children. This was California's proposition 8 propaganda. Target the children to draw the hearts of the parents. People who still believes in this view would obviously state what they believes in.
Haha. And for your information... Homosexuality is practiced in the animal kingdom. Look it up! Homosexual behavior in animals. Very well documented. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Arac, I don't think CNN or anyone is dragging religion into this. Anti-gay sentiments and bullying (behaviour) are a symptom of people's beliefs. Your beliefs were shaped by your own upbringing, education, and of course your religiosity. So let's try to fix the symptom by addressing the causes. If we educate everyone (which also addresses upbringing), there is one last thing left: religion! You would feel less hate if you didn't have something that "controls" your beliefs. You can think more freely (creativity and morality are not opposite ends of a continuum). We needed religion to organize society, at a certain time and place. Remove religion in the equation and make a guess how things would have taken shape. Give science a try some time. We have more urgent issues like sustainability (feeding ourselves) and environmental degradation, than treating each other badly because of what we were told to believe in.
This guy and all these so called religious types give religion a terrible name. The first thing I learned as a child is that GOD loves everyone.I watched this guys apology last night and it was not sincere. He was sorry he got caught and was forced to resign because of how he and his family are receiving death threats.His comments were beyond vile and evil.I stongly agree with ELLEN hetrosexual people have to step up and not accept this unacceptable behavior.I would rather have a thousand gay friends and not one like this dispicable so called human being. I AM HETROSEXUAL and I beleive in GOD and I also beleive that GOD does not want us to act the way this idiot is acting. I am constantly defending The right of gay people at work. IT seems that some religious people feel they are better than others....NOT.
after watching 360 on Clin't apology i think he is lieing thru his teeth. He is just saying he is sorry about his anti gay issue bcause he got caught posting it. He does not mean in any way. Maybe sorry about the suicides but not his hatred for gays.
I would like to extend my condolences to this couple and thank them for speaking up. Your son would be just as proud of you as you are of him.
Thank goodness for the internet! Without it we would not know what truly lives in this man's mind and heart. I doubt the community would have elected him if they had known his true values.
It is a sad legacy that he has left his children, to know that they will be thrown away if they are destined for a path he does not understand.
I did't bring religion into this! If you were listening to the News Interviewer he asked the school official a question of if the Bible says homosexuality was wrong, he replied "yes!" This line and premis of questioning challened the school officials religious belief's. This is slippery slop line questioning that leaves way for Bible bashing and christian bullying for denouncing a lifestyle that even natures animal kingdom don't even practice. If this is about child safety then stay with that topic.
Don't bring a religion into this!
This was all to do with the safety of the children, gay or not.
He is a school official, and he was wrong.
You believe what you believe Arac. I am a christian and I can't find the part in a bible that says "go ahead and abuse people just because you don't like it"....
Having watched 360 coverage of Clint McCance's "apology," last night, I couldn't help but notice that he kept apologizing for his comments about suicide, but not what he said about gays. He was very careful and spoke cautiously and in my opinion, it's what he didn't say that is the most telling. He's got his tail between his legs now and he's trying to save himself and like most cowards, he'll say anything to save his own skin.
I think that CNN is bashing that Arkansas School leader for his religious belief's! Why is it when the gay community bashes the Bible and christians nothing is said. This is bullying also. I wish CNN invited me to a interview. The Gay comminity already know's that their lifestyle is not part of the christian lifestyle yet they bully the world into forcing christians to accept it and embrace it.