Editor's note: The following opinion piece reflects the views of The Grand Rapids Press editorial board.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI ? There is a growing national debate about gay rights and marriage equality, issues that can be discussed passionately and respectfully. And even when sides don?t agree, everyone can benefit from a responsible community discussion.
Former state Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, did little to advance that debate last week with a bigoted post about gay people on Facebook.
Agema is discovering something that many people learn these days by the time they get to high school: There are consequences for posting offensive things on social media.
The former Grandville state representative last year was elected as a Republican National Committee member, a high-profile post within the party. He drew national attention after posting to Facebook an article titled "Everyone Should Know These Statistics on Homosexuals."
The 2005 article purports gay people are prone to pedophilia and more likely to be murdered than heterosexual people. It also says they have a filthy lifestyle.
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To be clear, we condemn the characterization. It?s wrong. It?s disturbing that Agema would post such an article and shocking that he would later defend it.
As the critical fires spread, Agema did little to tamp them down. He told supporters in an email that he didn?t ?write these words, I simply posted them.? But also ?I will dig in and fight even harder to defend our conservative values from these attacks by liberals in the media, and even in our own party.?
There are calls for Agema to resign because of the posting, coming from within and outside the party.
Agema no longer holds public office. Whether he best represents the Michigan GOP and can continue to be effective in his role is a decision for party members. Agema has a track record of saying blunt, controversial things, so the party either knew what it was getting or should have.
Discussions on difficult subjects quickly turn into unproductive shouting matches when adjectives like ?filthy? are tossed around.
Agema could have demonstrated leadership in his new role, and guided a forceful yet compassionate debate as Michiganders and the rest of the nation work toward a resolution.
Instead, he chose to inflame and divide, and none of us are better for it.
Dave Murray is the Grand Rapids community engagement specialist. Email him at dmurray@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter @ReporterDMurray or on Facebook or on Google + .
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/grpress/~3/Omy8huLWM1Q/lost_opportunity_dave_agemas_f.html
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