From: caw@gtech.com (Christopher A. White)
Subject: Re: MUTANT: Rogue and Sexual Harassment
Organization: GTECH Corporation, West Greenwich, RI
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 17:17:42 GMT

Okay, I'm willing to open this up to a flame-o-rama. I'd just like to say up
front that the opinions expressed herein are not nescessarily my own, but I
am acting like a defense attorney: regardless of how I feel personally, there
needs to be a **balanced** debate presented. With this in mind:

First of all, I have not seen a prima facia argument that Gambits actions
are *harrassment* (they defineitely are sexual). There seems to be an 
assumption that any pressure is harrassment, and that is an unreasonable
argument from the depths of the self-appointed politically correct which is
both ignorant and pre-judgemental. 

Rogue's actions (especially her little picnic) clearly indicate that she is
receptive to further *discussion* of the *possibility*. She has not in any
way indicated that she has felt harassed.

Further, characterization of Gambit's actions as "maipulative" is nothing more
than reaching a conclusion that you wish to be there. Gambit has not been
subtle! He has stated in no uncertain terms how he feels and made no efforts
to force or manipulate rogue through decption, trickery, or deceit (barring the
issue of his wife, which is an entirely new and separate development). This
is the exact opposite of manipulation!

Lastly, given an open mind, Gambit's actions can be intrepted in a number of
ways, one of which is *romantic*. Picture, if you will, this train of thought 
and compare it to his actions:

	"Rogue, I know you're scared and you have been for quite some time,
	 but you're not being fair to yourself or to anyone else. I will not
	 simply accept that you are going to hide again out of habit; I want
	 your refusal to be a concious decision based on what you KNOW to be
	 true and false. I've made my intentions clear, and you have shown
	 that you are willing to take one small step towards me. I'll show
	 you that It's safe, and if you want you can take another. I know
	 that I may loose my conciousness, my  powers, everything to you, and
	 once I do everything about me will be known to you. I am a private
	 man, but you are worth it. You are worth the risk."

Despite all of his *bravado*, he is capable of these feelings. The facts do
not deny the *possibility* of this.

And justice is based on reasonable doubt.

Flame the argument all you want, but I'm just an old debate hound who knows
that you have to argue both sides of every case whether or not you agree with
them. Food for thought.

-- Topher

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Christopher A. White        | The opinions expressed herein are most   |
| GTECH Corporation           | likely not those of GTECH Corporation    |
| 55 Technology Way           | (or anyone else for that matter). If     |
| West Greenwich, RI  02816   | they happen to be the same, its not my   |
|                             | fault.                                   |
| caw@gtech.com               |                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| "rational romantic mystic cynical idealist"  -- Rush                   |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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