From: SECBH@CUNYVM.BITNET
Newsgroups: alt.politics.homosexuality
Subject: re: Conversations with Our Killers
Date: 13 Aug 92 19:05:16 GMT
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

In article <palane.713415222@pv7428.vincent.iastate.edu>,
palane@iastate.edu (Paul A. Lane) writes:

(While it is clear from two interchanges than Mr. Lane and I have
considerably different views on the Christian Right, I will limit
my response to these two points as I think they are very important.)

>There was a clear implication that if the Christian right gains control
>(although they have for the last dozen years or so), there would be an
>event comparable to the holocaust.

Perhaps this is one major source of our differing viewpoints.  I do
not see that the Christian Right has been in control "for the last
dozen years".  The country has certain been steered toward the
right nationally, but I think that the influence of the Christian
Right has been a muted force at this level for the most part --
so far.  Certainly in some states and definitely in some localities
the Christian Right operates as a potent and cohesive political
force with a very high profile.

That may well change as a result of the current presidential camgaign.
The Christian Right has a strong base and in Pat Buchanan they achieved
a national focus.  The Republicans desperately need this vote and
are courting it unabashedly...Dan Quayle has been the darling of the
Christian fascists for years and the "family values" emphasis in their
campaign in lieu of substantive issues is a descent into scare tactics
and fear mongering.  The fact that Pat Robertson and Pat Buchanan
are speaking from the national convention platform is ominous.
"The Party of Lincoln" indeed, Lincoln must be spinning in his grave like
a top.

The Christian Right and its anti-democratic goals have been legitimized
by the Republicans, but the price may be to see their party take a
sharp turn to the extreme Right and out of the control.

>My primary objections have been to excessive use of
>some terms, in particular, those relating to mass murder.
>Very few homophobes would call for mass slaughter.

I find this less than reassuring.  Few Germans called for the
extermination of the Jews, and yet it was quietly engineered and
implemented not only in Germany but with the willing cooperation of
collaborators in many occupied countries.

The disorganized anti-Semitism of Germany in the 1920s was very
effectively tapped, manipulated and finally harnassed by the
National Socialists.  Hate crimes against homosexual men and women
have grown rapidly during the past few years especially and are now
more frequent in national statistics than racially-oriented hate
crimes.  Religious and political demagogues regularly attribute
all manner of calamities to us.  The resevoir of hate is there to
channeled.

You have on the Christian Right a solid
core of "intellectuals", i.e. - the Christian Recon-
structionists and others independent of them, who firmly believe that
the death penalty is appropriate for homosexual relations and who
advocate the abolition of the U.S. constitution in its present form.
There is no lack of Christian Rightists with slightly less extreme
views who would be quite willing to compromise most of the Bill of
Rights and most anti-discrimination legislation.  I do not find this
insufficient fuel for a persecution scenario, and I think we err
seriously if we think Americans are any less capable of bestial
behaviour than the Germans of the 1930s.

Gay people turned their backs for the most part on the issue of
discrimination and gay rights during the 1970s.  We members of the
rank and file had very little interest and gay leaders struggled to
create the organizations which today may save our necks.  We laughed
while the Christian Right worked hard and steadily to mold opinion
and gain influence.  They have their victory within their grasp and
we aren't even close to legal tolerance.  Who is laughing now?

>I have a great deal of sympathy for those fighting for gay rights. An
>individual very close to me is gay. I am also
>joining the Catholic church. It gives one a rather interesting
>perspective.

Sympathy is fine. But sympathy is by and large an emotion which is
generated about a situation in which one is not a participant.  A
strait Roman Catholic is not an object of ill-will for the Christian
Right by any means.  While it is not in Mr. Lane's immediate interest
to concern himself with Christian fascism, I hope that most gay
people are taking it very seriously.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Jack Carroll       "Praise the Lord, and damn the Constitution"
<SECBH@CUNYVM>
                                              a bumper sticker siting