(Original on www.kaizers.no, Text backup here)
Here's the very short version of the Frelsesarmee story...- The salvation army suspended a member because he is homosexual and has a boy-friend.
- A Norwegian newspaper asked some Norwegian artists what they say about this.
- One of the artists asked was Geir Zahl from Kaizers Orchestra, and he said that even though he definitely doesn't support the Salvation Army's view, some of the band do, and that this whole story will not mean that Kaizers won't support Salvation Army anymore (as they've done before). Plus, he doesn't really understand why homosexuals are always so eager to become martyrs.
- This statement was critized fiercely by media and other bands.
- Geir Zahl explained further what he wanted to say - that the Bible says that "men should not be with men" and that some in the band live after the Bible. Which does not mean it is okay to discriminate anyone. But as homosexuals are a strong and educated group of people, whereas the drug-addicts and homeless that the Salvation Army helps are not, the debate has become fairly onesided, and it's easy to take the position of the "strong group".
- On kaizers.no, he explains his position in further detail. The article was orginally meant as a letter to the editor, but was too long to actually make it in the paper. (It's also too long to be translated here =;-))
He eludes the points that are already given above - there's two minorities facing each other, the homosexual and the homeless drug-addicts, and the homosexual have the stronger lobby. Also, political correctness forbids that anybody talk bad about minorities fighting for equality. So everybody just closes their eyes for the homeless drug-addicts and stands on the politically correct(er) side - neglecting the fact that the homosexual lobby uses a campaign that was meant to support the homeless for their purposes. Plus, it should be possible in society to discuss things, also controverse and unpleasant topics, without having one "general accepted meaning" you are not allowed to argue against - and without stamping someone "pathetic" just for opening his mouth, without giving him an opportunity to explain his view.
That's the very short version now - hope I got the point across. The article is worth a read in any case, so learn Norwegian! =;-)