From: ae642@yfn.ysu.edu (Kelley Miller)
Subject: Closet Bigotry (was Re: Buchanan's speech)
Reply-To: ae642@yfn.ysu.edu (Kelley Miller)
Organization: St. Elizabeth Hospital, Youngstown, OH
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 03:41:10 GMT


In a previous article, wmporter@jetson.uh.edu (William M. Porter) says:

>Kelley Miller, in a recent posting, responded to a message of mine in which I
>asked for examples of gay-bashing, religious-narrowmindedness, or racism in Pat
>Buchanan's speech. After quoting several remarks of mine, Mr. Miller inserted
>simple remarks such as "!!!!!" or  "Hmmmm".
>

I used these symbols as an absolute measure of my disbelief at the question.
Buchanan's speech was full of such hatred and innuendo.  The only people
who could not see it are those who agree with it...

> After I spoke of my close
>friendship with a number of gays, Mr. Miller offered a silly parody of my
>statement, which began "some of my best friends are colored....heck, I got one
>working for me...."
>

It was not your comment about having gay friends I was refering to, Mr.
Porter, it was what you went on to say after that about not feeling they
should be entitled to the same rights you as a heterosexual take for
granted.  
You claim gay friendship.  If that were accurate, you would most likely
be able to see the toll the inequality is taking on your "friends", and
be willing to stand up for them, and endorce their right to the same
rights and protection you enjoy.


>
>Mr. Miller misses his mark. I am neither a religious fundamentalist nor a
>Republican of long-standing. I have voted in every election since 1972 (or
>thereabouts: I'm a bit hazy about McGovern) and this will be my first time
>voting Republican. I was a Dukakis delegate in 1988.
>

Suprise!  I voted for Reagan twice and Bush once.  I am voting for Clinton
this year because it has become painfully obvious that the republican 
party is more and more leaning toward the hateful doctrine of the religious
right, and so long as that is true, there will never be a chance for equal
treatment under the law, if you're gay, or non-christian, or non-white,
or poor...your inability to see that agenda in Mr. Buchanan's speech shows
that you're either in agreement with it, or ignorant of the language of
oppression and hatred.

>
>I wish that people who are incapable of rational discourse would stay away from
>these discussions. I suggest that Mr. Miller get the copy of Buchanan's text
>that was posted in this newsgroup, read it, and try responding to my questions
>in a more intelligent fashion.
>

Indeed?  I HAVE read the text of the speech, several times, and I stand
by my assessment that Mr. Buchanan is the worst type of hate-monger...he
hides behind his faith, and cites it to justify his hatred.

>
>Let me try once again to make a distinction that many, many people today seem
>incapable of grasping: the distinction between tolerance and support. Tolerance
>need not be uncharitable: it is a humane and civilized virtue. I do not recall
>suggesting that gays be denied voting rights (or blacks or anyone else).
>

What you expoused in your tretise on your gay friends was exactly that,
tolerance.  I don't know about you, Mr. Porter, but friendship is about 
support, not tolerance.
Tolerance is a term used to describe one's feelings toward something
one does not aprove of.  I, and people like me, do not desire tolerance,
we desire acceptance, complete and unconditional.  Ask your gay friends
if tolerance is acceptable to them.  I'll wager that they'll say they would
perfer equality.
No, you didn't suggest blacks and gays be prevented from voting, but
by your tone, that's where you would draw the line.  Add to that your
full acceptance of what Mr. Buchanan said in his speech, and it is 
obvious that you have would have no problem with denying any further
rights to gay people.

No, Mr. Porter, I don't believe I missed my mark.  My aim was quite
true.  You believe that you are OK because you have gay friends.  But
your words show that you are very much like the fictional person I
presented in my parody. 

> Mr.
>Miller is not responding to a straw man but to his own blowup doll.
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

And this is yet another worthy example of it.  Since I am supportive
of gay rights, I must be peverted.
Please keep your obvious bigotry to yourself.

Sincerely,
-- 
*...your Friendly Neighborhood Atheist // "Peter...PETER!!  I can see    *
*      the KelleyMan:Kelley L. Miller // your house from here!"          *    
*                  ae642@yfn.ysu.edu // Jesus Christ, from the cross     *
****************Know God...No peace.  No God...Know peace.****************
Newsgroups: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.rush-limbaugh