From: anderson@macc.wisc.edu (Jess Anderson)
Subject: Re: Barriers Remain, Out or Not
Organization: Madison Academic Computing Center, UW-Madison
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 93 04:18:51 GMT


In article <1993Jan26.230806.1397@netcom.com> onr@netcom.com
(D. Owen Rowley) writes:

>In article <1993Jan22.081138.29847@macc.wisc.edu>
>anderson@macc.wisc.edu (Jess Anderson) writes:

>>In the population at
>>large, we are still hated by a large majority.  

>I suppose I have a different view of things because of where
>I live and work.

I figgered that was part of it, at least.

>I'm sure there are people around me who are personally
>troubled by my openness, but thats their problem.

Yep.

>The social climate in my work place is such that homophobia
>is much less socially acceptable than homosexuality.

I think I have a fair amount of security in that regard too.
It's quite a comfort, and helps me be aware of how few
people get to enjoy it.

>There are people who still hate others because of their race
>or religion too, this is hatred born of ignorance.

Actually, I can think of conflicts that go much deeper than
ignorance.  Northern Ireland.  The Middle East.  India.
Bosnia.  South Africa.  In fact, just about everywhere.

There are very bright people, very cultured, well-educated,
sophisticated people, the end-products of thousands of years
of civilization in some instances, who nevertheless hate
with a deep, burning hatred, and even with some good
justifications.

So while in some instances ignorance is perhaps 99% of it,
in other instances it has to be something more complex,
because the people are not ignorant by any common definition
of the word.

Of course, we could always say, "ah yes, but they have this
one little blind spot," which may be true but doesn't help
us much in either understanding the situation or finding
ways to live in close proximity without gross hostilities
breaking out.

It doesn't seem to me, however, that the kind hatred we talk
about here the most is informed by any such complicating
factors, and is, as you note, just plain old ignorance.  The
evidence for this claim is how many parents, however aghast
they may be when first confronted by their LGB child, wise
up enough to realize their fundamental human bond with the
child.  

Obviously, this relates to our visibility issue; those who
are in a position to know us as persons and not just as
exemplars of their prejudices, fears, and guilts (not
always, but) quite often find the hatred or bigotry replaced
by tolerance, if not real understanding.  We may not
especially want to be *merely* tolerated, for it can be
terribly offensive, but it is palpably better than being
sought out for bashing or other mayhem or gross
discrimination.

>Quite frankly I cannot think of a *judgement* I could wish
>on them that would be more unkind than to keep them in that
>state.

Understandable as far as judgments go, but in fact, think
what a giant step it would be a get one of every four haters
to give it up.

It would be lux, yes?

-- 
[Jess Anderson <> Madison Academic Computing Center <> University of Wisconsin]
[Internet: anderson@macc.wisc.edu <-best, UUCP:{}!uwvax!macc.wisc.edu!anderson]
[Room 3130 <> 1210 West Dayton Street / Madison WI 53706 <> Phone 608/262-5888]
[---------> Discrimination, Bigotry, and Hate are not Family Values <---------]
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