Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site gatech.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!we13!otuxa!ll1!sb1!sb6!emory!gatech!spaf From: spaf@gatech.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: How sickning.... Message-ID: <270@gatech.UUCP> Date: Thu, 30-Jun-83 18:05:11 EDT Article-I.D.: gatech.270 Posted: Thu Jun 30 18:05:11 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 1-Jul-83 22:05:10 EDT References: <471@ihuxi.UUCP> Organization: Georgia Tech, School of ICS Lines: 51 Your flame raises two points worthy of mention. The first is your use of the word "faggots." It certainly is your right to express your opinion and hold your views. You should be aware, however, that use of that word is about as wise as referring to "niggers" or making a comment like: "..she's just a woman." Resorting to name calling, especially about some group or individual whose rights have been limited due to biggotry, is neither helpful nor particularly conducive to enhancing your reputation or your physical safety. I don't think a person's gender or race or interests is reason to deny them their rights as human beings. All you display by your resorting to such childish namecalling is your lack of understanding -- perhaps fear. I will not condenm you nor attempt to change your mind. I will pity your lack of understanding however. (Also, I don't think I need to express my own sexual orientation to make this point.) As to your second implicit point -- the priorities that newspapers place upon events. I, for one, view it as a continuing tragedy that we devote so much of our newscasts and newspapers to coverage of professional sports rather than science and cultural news. We, as a nation, seem to be much more interested in spoiled, greedy athletes in ritual battle than we are with education, space exploration, health care, programs for the elderly, arts, NPR, ...... the list goes on. Human rights are just one of those items we sweep under the rug. Think about who it is that reads your daily newspaper. After all, the publishers must have some awareness of their buying public. There are more likely to be members of the Gay Pride group buying the newspapers rather than Russian refugees. It is a matter of economics that the paper publish items of interest to the largest possible audience. It is sad that the general public has the priorities they do. And it is sad that the public has so many hypocrites. Your use of the word "faggots" is an attempt to deny the basic human dignity of some people attempting to deal with themselves. I would guess from your tone that you would also wish to deny them rights. Yet your same comment decries the lack of interest in some Russians who were denied their rights due to religious reasons. Judge not lest ye be judged, and found wanting. -- "The soapbox of Gene Spafford" CSNet: Spaf @ GATech Internet: Spaf.GATech @ UDel-Relay uucp: ...!{sb1,allegra}!gatech!spaf ...!duke!mcnc!msdc!gatech!spaf