From: crr4574@rigel.tamu.edu (LARUE, CHARLES L.)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.homosexuality
Subject: DEAR JON
Date: 22 Dec 1992 17:22 CST
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
Distribution: usa
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In article <1h7vltINNklb@fido.asd.sgi.com>, livesey@solntze.wpd.sgi.com (Jon Livesey) writes...
>In article <22DEC199210124698@summa.tamu.edu>, crr4574@summa.tamu.edu (LARUE, CHARLES L.) writes:



> 
>The way these bigots operate is to declare as a starting postion that
>being Gay is "bad" and then insist that gays have to do something - 
>never very clearly specified, of course - to "prove" that they are not 
>bad.    That is, they try to persuade other people that Gays being bad 
>is the default, and that any other position is extreme.
> 
>And that's your position, too.   Your position is that we have to
>prove we are not "bad" otherwise we only have ourselves to blame.

If you knew me so damn well, I think you would realize that you misinterpret
practically everything I have written.  It is kind of funny that you are
practically the only one who has not understood a damn word I have written. 
Alot of people sent me e-mail, some critical, some helpful, but most seemed to
understand that I have never really had any interaction with homosexuals so
they helped.  People answered my questions (for which I thank them) and were in
general quite helpful.  I actually was surprised, because I really didn't know
what to expect.  If everyone responded as you have, I would leave here with
more prejudice instead of less.  


>You need to learn to stand by what you write.    If you write so badly
>that you contradict yourself, then get someone else to quickly scan
>what you write before you post it, and point out places where what
>you have written could be misinterpreted.

No comment necessary on this, for once again you demonstrate no understanding
for what I am trying to write.

>>
>> Go back and read my old posts and maybe you will understand that I do
>> not try to bash you but I try to understand you so that I will not
>> despise you.  Believe me, people despise you, people hate you, and
>> people wish you dead.
> 
>What qualifies you to speak on behalf of "people"?    A very small number
>of religiously motivate people, and a small number of immature jerks
>feel this way.    I know of no evidence that "people" as a whole express
>such feelings.
> 
>This is a good example to think about when you complain that people
>misinterpret what you write.    Here is a flat statement about "people"
>that simply isn't true, and yet you state it with complete confidence,
>as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Here again, if you can't make the interpretation that I was not talking about
the entire population of the U.S., then that is once again your problem.  To
clarify, I meant some people.  Of course, most of the people who sent me e-mail
understood this, but I clarify it especially for you.  You also cut off the
statement before I make my point, but you probably didn't know that.  

>Given a couple of days, you'll probably be claiming that you never said
>such a foolish thing, and that we're all a bunch of meanies to hold
>you to your own words.
> 
>>
>> The only way to change the way people feel is to make them understand
>> why you are this way.  If you don't care, fine.
> 
>Sure I care.    I just don't believe, based on my own experience, that
>you represent anything more than a tiny and bigotted group.   It's that
>tiny and unrepresentative group that I don't care about.   It's *you*
>I don't care about, not people in general.

If you think that I am a bigot, based on what I have written, then you are a
bigger idiot than I thought. I have had some pretty good correspondence with
some people, but I don't think any of them thought I was a bigot.  

If you think people that dislike you for what you are a tiny group, then you
have led a very sheltered life.  Once again, I am not talking about me, but I
put this in for you.

>I care enough to critique what you say, lest other people be misled
>by what you write, but I couldn't care less about proving anything to
>you, because I think that what you are ready to understand is probably much
>more a function of your own personality, and what you will allow yourself
>to understand, than a function of anything I need to prove.


I will close with this.  I leave this group now, for I have accomplished what I
desired.  I have had mostly positive discussions with a group that I knew
nearly nothing about.  I have learned a great deal, and for this my feelings
have softened.  It is my goal to say that I am biased against nobody.  I have
not yet achieved this goal, but discussions like this help.

As for people like Jon, I hope they don't make too many people resentful of
you.  I am sure he has started his fair share of flame wars, but I will end
this one now.  I sign off now and don't intend to return.  I am now home to 
OKLA. for the holidays, where my hometown is made up of mostly people who would
hate you for who you are.  In fact, some of them would even kill you for who 
you are.  To clarify, Jon, I am not one of those people.

Happy Holidays,

   Charley 

Newsgroups: alt.politics.homosexuality