From: jlinder@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Jeffrey S Linder)
Subject: Re: Offended at being called a racist and a hatemonger!!
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 13:52:40 GMT

In article <17ekb6INN23p@agate.berkeley.edu> gemmell@whistle.Berkeley.EDU (Pete
r Gemmell) writes:
>
>>  cessna@kn5f.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Taylor Evert) writes
>>
>
>> I consider my political ideals
>>to fall somewhere inbetween Pat Buchanan and George Bush.  I disagree on
>>some issues...for example I am pro-choice w/restrictions, but most of the
>>time I take a conservative line to issues.   Other than that issue, I
>>agreed with the things stated by Buchanan which I did not consider racist
>>or suggestive of gay-bashing.   ...
>>I make
>>a concerted effort to treat everyone the same regardless of race, sex,
>>religion, etc.  ... The director
>>of many of the plays I have worked on is gay as are many of the actors.  I
>>judge them solely on their ability as an actor and the way they treat me,
>>which usually is good.   I consider the director to be a longtime friend
>>and consider him one of the finest directors in this area.   However, I
>>personally do not accept the gay activists assertion that their lifestyle
>>is normal and should be accepted as such, but I do not interpret this as
>>hating people who chose to practice that lifestyle.   I do condemn any
>>acts of violence or harrassment against gays.  I would not discriminate
>>against gays regarding housing and employment.
>
>If gay people are not "normal", then what are they? ... criminals?,
>deluded?  If someone came up to me and said "Your heterosexuality
>(or some other fundamental aspect of my personality) is not 'normal' and
>should not be accepted," I'd think they were crazy; if a major
>political party said it, I'd be really concerned for my safety.
>
>It seems to me that you make an effort to be fair to people in your
>own life and I have no doubt that you would directly  harm
>someone on the basis of their being gay.  However, there are
>a lot of people who would.  I don't understand why you would
>not grant gay people the same legal protection from
>discrimination that is granted to blacks, women, religious minorities,
>etc.  Why not add the term "sexual orientation" to discrimination
>clauses?
>

Is having sex with animals a valid sexual orientation?  The majority of people
in this country find male homosexuality repulsive.  They find female 
homosexuality less repulsive (pick up a popular men's magazine if you don't 
believe me).  I would imagine that they find sex with animals even more 
repulsive.  If I own a business and choose not to hire someone because they 
have sex with animals then I am discriminating against them for something they 
do.  If I choose not to hire them because they wear checks with plaids it is 
because it is something they do.  It is my business, my capital at risk, my
life (basically) and my livelihood that is on the line.  Why should the 
government be able tell me how to run my business.  On the other hand, if I 
have a bad hiring record (as determined by the gov) and only hire people like 
me then I should expect to get no gov contracts (if I am in that business).  If 
my actions are repulsive enough to scare away business then I won't be in 
business long.  If my hiring practices prevent me from hiring quality people 
then I won't be in business for long either.  Problem solved.  Remember, I am 
only talking about private businesses.
>Pete
>


Jeff.
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