Wednesday, August 2. 2006Niceness Is NOT as Niceness DoesTrackbacks
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Arrrrggh! that makes me so annoyed.
#1
on
2006-08-03 00:25
OH PULEEZE! I'd rather her say something like that than "die faggot die." Or ask to be moved to another seat, as I once saw on a plane, because the woman didn't want to be seated next to a "queer with aids." Especially as the woman was reading the Bible, I think it was a miracle that she didn't start spewing such invectives. Why do we expect, and often demand, that people change overnight? Did we learn nothing from the African-American civil rights movement? It's an ongoing thing, racism still exists. Homophobia still exists, it's also an ongoing thing. We need to just get over ourselves and be thankful for what we DO have. And yes, keep working for more, too...
#2
on
2006-08-03 08:27
Just getting back from some globe-trotting, so sorry not to respond sooner.
Yes, Kamasutra, of course I would take more offense to someone cutting off my head than someone slapping me in the face. But I'd still rather not be slapped in the face, know what I mean? Also, I don't make assumptions about people reading the Bible; in the same vein, I don't want other people to make assumptions about me and what's possible from me because I'm queer. Which is kind of the point of the post. And because something is an ongoing thing - a part of everyday life - does that mean we shouldn't explore it? Slights small and large happen to all of us everyday based on our race, religion, class, and sexuality, and I believe our re-creation and expression or those experiences lead to ours and others deeper understanding of them.
*In all fairness*... many many gay people make that assumption about gay couples having a childless life and a lot of gay people are even opposed to gay couples having children. And also the majority of gay people don't even want children and seem to be allergic to everything that screams, runs around and makes a fuss in public places (except for themselves then LOL.)
If we as gay people are not even unanimous on this issue then how can we expect straight people to agree or even be clued up about these issues (I don't know where Jan's from but her state/country might not even allow adoption etc of children by gay parents and her mind might not even go that far to even think about the possibility of it). Like old people are not clued up about what plays in their grand childrens' lives, straight people might not know what happens or interests us in our fast moving queer universe. From what you said Jan seems great. She didn't snub you and even made contact and proved to be interested and openminded enough to talk to gay people.
#3
on
2006-08-31 07:19
Rory,
I don't disagree. But in agreeing with you, especially with this: "...we as gay people are not even unanimous on this issue..." one has to wonder: is it really nice to make sweeping assumptions about anyone? Just as other gay people shouldn't assume my views on children without asking me, neither should straight people. I would, in fact, prefer that no one - straight or gay - was presumptious enough to assume my views on anything. Jan was great and very open. But I don't think that doesn't mean I can't hope to meet great, open people, who won't try to put me in a box of assumptions, too. And that doesn't mean I only expect straight people not to make assumptions. We should all try our best to treat every indivudal as exactly that. |
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