From: anthropo@carina.unm.edu (Dominick V. Zurlo)
Subject: Re: Violation of Netiqutte (was: Stan - Hatred is unbecoming)
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 17:57:22 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

In article <1992Nov16.182846.6058@tamsun.tamu.edu> wjh0265@tamsun.tamu.edu (William Hobson) writes:
>I echo Stan's words - just because I disagree with the Gay Rights Movements 
>agenda, it does not mean I have "hatred" in my heart.  I am a Bible believing
>Christian and I learn from there (the Bible) that homosexuality is wrong.
>This does not mean that I hate homosexuals - quite the contrary, it is an
>essential teaching that I am to love all men, not just those who agree with me.
>I therefore resent the implication that if you disagree, you hate.  It just
>doesn't follow!
>
I never said if you disagree you hate.  What I did say was that if you teach 
that lesbigays do not deserve equality then that is hate.  Equality
in all things.  the options and the privliges and the problems.  AN 
equal share.  But there is more to it than that.  I was not implying that 
people who disagree hate, but that in this instance.  One instance. 
teaching to children that what they are is wrong and evil  is harmful, and
that is hate.  Teaching children to be who and what they are, and letting
them find that for themselves, that is love.  IMHO.  I'm sorry if I haven't
made that more clear in the past.  
What a lot of people don't seem to understand is that this is not a part 
of the Gay Rights Movement agenda.  In fact, I've never seen such a thing.  
I have seen points and areas to focus in on for things like the upcoming 
March on Washington and the last MOW.  But what I'm talking about is 
personal.  it is individual.  It isn't political.  yes, that is one means
of trying to resolve this, but not the best, nor the preferred (at least
by me).  The best and preferred way is through understanding.  And 
knowledge.  
If the BSA never changes it';s policy, well then I won't ever be in it 
again.  But Scouting is always with me.  It isn't an organization.  It
isn't even just the people in it, although they are a part of it.  It's a 
way of thinking of believeing, of being.  A couple of years ago in our 
Gay and Lesbian Student Union (in which I was Coordinator)  during one
of our discussion groups, the question was asked for us to each 
describe ourselves in three words or phrases.  Mine were (in order):
1 Scout 
2 Anthropologist
3 Italian.
Why, because while I am gay, it isn't what has shaped me until my adult
life.  these others are what really made me who I am.  Being gay has it's
problems and hardships, but those were met becuse of the foundations of 
the others.  I am gay, my lifestyle is my own, But it's not who I am.  
I've been taught all my life to help others, and I continue to do so, 
if it's within scouting, wonderful, if it's not, then still wonderful. 
I've worked with all kinds of people, from rape victim/survivors to 
druggies to kids confused about their sexuality.  For those wondering, 
I have always stood quite firm on these grounds.  I never call someone
gay or lesbian or bi or straight unless they identify themselves that way. 
I have worked with kids who aren't sure, and I'll tell you, some are gay,
and some are straight, and others are bi, but not because of me, but 
because I beleived in them.  That's love.  That's helping.  How does
this apply to Socuting.  It's what I learned there.  

I think this will be my last post on this issue for awhile.  I'm tired of
it.  I could really care less right now what people think or want or 
believe who are thousands of miles away.  the people I care about are 
here.  The people who loved me when many others wouldn't.  there's a 
saying.  "we are an army of lovers and we shall succed."  We succed
in loving.  if people wonder why this is so emotional, then you 
don't understand.  

For those in the OA, recall or read the words of Allowat Sakima in
the Ordeal Ceremony.  

WWW
In Brotherhood,
Dominick V. Zurlo