🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1473@bbxsda.UUCP> scott@bbxsda.UUCP (Scott Amspoker) writes:
>Yes.  Well put.  Homosexual people frequently defend themselves by
>saying that it is not a matter of choice and that at least 10% of the 
>population is gay.  I don't care if there was only *1* homosexual and 
>if he consiously chose to be homosexual - it's simply nobody's business.

It's nobody's business as long as it's nobody's business. But what if
somebody else thinks it's their business, too? They might do this, for
example, if they become aware of another person's behavior and they
don't like it.

We may say we believe in personal freedom, and even freedom of 
expression. But I don't know anybody who really acts like they do
all the time. For example, Scott, if I consciously choose to start
writing all kinds of things that you find insulting and offensive,
will you be willing to give your life to defend my freedom of 
expression?

Voltaire said he he would die to preserve your right to say anything
you want to say. How many people would be willing to do that? Nobody
I know, that's for sure. I know a lot of people who are willing to
make big sacrifices to guarantee their OWN freedom of expression
(including me), but who really, truly cares whether someone else
has all the same freedoms?

For example, Fundamentalist Christians are one group who seem to play 
the role of "niggers" on the NET. Whenever the rednecks of the world
need someone to run down and revile, they talk about the "fairies",
"faggots", and "homosex-shuls". But on the NET, when we need someone
to run down and revile, we recruit the Fundamentalist Christians.
I have a hard time figuring out the basis for considering either
homosexuals or Christians being more or less deserving to have their
practices interfered with or insulted. Of course, a devotee of either
camp would see obvious differences.

How many of us with all our wonderful respect for freedom of choice
and expression would really care to give our lives to guaranteeing
that Fundamentalist Christians will have the right to practice their
faith? Many people here will say what a terrible thing it is for a
homosexual to be insulted in the media, and stand by silently when
a Fundamentalist Christian gets the same thing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of Organized Religion. But if a 
person gets on the NET and wants to bash homosexuals, everyone will
try to stop them. If a person wants to bash Fundamentalists, it's
open season. Why?


--
Dan Mocsny				Snail:
Internet: dmocsny@minerva.che.uc.edu	Dept. of Chemical Engng. M.L. 171
	  dmocsny@uceng.uc.edu		University of Cincinnati
513/751-6824 (home) 513/556-2007 (lab)	Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0171