I refer to the recent letter by Steve Oh on the homosexuals and Christian intolerance to them.

First of all, let's set the record straight, the article by Oh condemns homosexual behaviour and tries to uphold Christian intolerance towards it.

Quoting Oh: ‘Often those who are unwary are the unwitting victims and I have no doubt there are genuine gays who seek spiritual comfort but being told you can be gay and Christian is like telling an alcoholic you can be a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and still keep drinking your favourite alcholic beverage. Sadly you can't be that insanely contradictory’, it is clear that he disapproves of homosexual membership in his beloved Christian ‘club’.

The ‘greatest story ever told’ (according to Christians) is a story about the severe persecution of Jesus who lived and died for his unwavering beliefs and that his sacrifice will demonstrate to humanity the power of love and forgiveness. To be inspired by such a story whereby Christianity's main protagonist suffers such cruelty and intolerance and at the same time mete out the similar feelings of cruelty and intolerance to others; there is no denying that one is a hypocrite.

I am neither a homosexual nor a Christian. Personally, I am a private person and I tend to dislike outlandish behaviour, extreme displays of gregarious behaviour, especially people imposing their thoughts, beliefs and lifestyle on me. I am uncomfortable with public and sometimes extreme displays of homosexual affection and what Oh calls ‘militant’ gay behaviour. In the same way, I abhor ‘militant’ Christians who go out to convert, tries to ‘save my soul’, shouts ‘Hallelujah’ every five minutes and tells me that I will go to Hell if I don't believe in their religion.

However, I do not try to deny either the right to do so just as long as no real harm is done (ie, there is no violence or harassment). Also, one must realise there's possibly a large silent majority who lead very normal lives, minding their own business.

Therefore, I firmly stand-by the concept of tolerance and mutual respect and strive to realise the fine line between declaring your beliefs and harassing people with them and avoid the dangers of labelling and stereotyping a large group of people. These qualities of tolerance and mutual respect, I'm afraid, are not demonstrated by some.

Followers of the Abrahamic religions tend to sympathise with themselves for being persecuted so often throughout history. If you, given the history of the followers of your religion, do stand against persecution, my advice is please, look in the mirror - don't do unto others what you don't want to done to yourself.

Do not repeat the tyranny that your ‘enemies’ have imposed on your ‘brothers and sisters’ throughout history, just because they don't behave and act like you. And, if you're a leader of people, please get your message straight for it is bad to lead yourself down the road of hate and intolerance, it is a hundred times worse to lead another down the same path.