From: anderson@macc.wisc.edu (Jess Anderson)
Subject: The Fall(well) of the U.S.
Organization: Madison Academic Computing Center, UW-Madison
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 23:38:01 GMT


In article <1993Jan20.130149.27432@wixer.cactus.org>
lazarus@wixer.cactus.org (Michael Lax) writes:

>So has anyone seen Jerry Fallwell on TV lately?  He's going
>on and on about how the country's going to hell in a
>handbasket because Clinton is supporting the 'Militant
>Homosexual Agenda.' And, of course, selling 5 videos at $35
>a piece to save the country.

When I see his face on the tube, or Robertson's, or any
other televangelist's, I curse and change channels.  All
these bozos operate on scare tactics, making up lies
wholesale on the spot and foisting them off on a willingly
gullible audience (we can't fault *them* for that
gullibility, however).  You mention how well-heeled they
are; those videos and so-called charitable (yeah, charity my
ass) donations bring in big bucks.

>Watching him preach to a congregation hurts though - how
>many gays and lesbians are there being told they are worse
>than worthless?

Oh, about 10% of the congregation, I expect.  Now *that's* a
sin, if ever there was.

>I've tried to hold reasoned debate with a number of people
>on the net, but listening to people like Fallwell makes me
>MAD.

After all, that is an entirely reasonable reaction to people
who express such profound bigotry toward us.  And bigotry,
which is a form of insanity, is not very amenable to
reasoned debate.  I think this tends mostly to heighten our
fury, coupling justifiable outrage with a sense of
irremediable hopelessness.  But by being aware of this bind,
perhaps we are helped not to let our anger get trapped in a
cul de sac of futility.  Instead, we can singly and in
cooperation with others direct that strong emotion toward
our own relief.

>And he has the money to put ads on television selling his
>BS.  And because he's a 'preacher' people believe him.  When
>I listen to him, I wonder what we can do to educate people.
>I see a few positive portrayals of gay characters on TV (and
>negative portrayals of homophobia), but wonder if they are
>enough to combat the hatred.  I hope so.

I think positive images in TV portrayals are one powerful
influence, especially where the senselessness of bigotry and
the massive unfairness of its effects are included.  But of
course that alone is nothing like enough.  However easy it
is to say and however hard it is to do, we must find ways to
be active in our own towns, influencing school boards, local
governing councils, our state and regional officials, and
our national leaders and policies.  Not the least portion of
this massive effort involves educating ourselves to the real
issues involved, finding our common themes and interests
without sacrificing our usually marginalized constituencies,
developing and implementing a coalition of conscious
strategies.

No one can promise that this will work, but there's good
reason to think it certainly won't hurt, and in any case, we
need the results of the preparatory efforts and the
infrastructures they create.

-- 
[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 <---------]