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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!hao!seismo!ut-sally!utastro!mjs
From: mjs@utastro.UUCP (Mike Scholtes)
Newsgroups: net.singles,net.women,net.motss
Subject: Re: Bigotry
Message-ID: <179@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 6-Jul-84 19:17:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.179
Posted: Fri Jul  6 19:17:33 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Jul-84 01:22:40 EDT
References: <2569@allegra.UUCP>, <126@uwmacc.UUCP>
Organization: UTexas Astronomy Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 56

One last definitive blast at everyone (duck, innocent
bystanders!  You're going to get scorched!!):

Trish expressed a perfectly reasonable opinion about homosexuality
in regards to her own preference.  No one can find fault with
her sexual preference--what it stems from and whatever reasons
she has for it are her own business.  So LAY OFF, homophobes!

However, her one BIG error was in labeling "most men" as
"macho, chauvinistic, insensitive assholes."  There is no call
for this kind of prejudice.  Simply because it hasn't been
expressed as often as racial prejudice, it has not been recognized
by several women (and men) in this group as the vile, corrupting
hatred that the phrase implies.  Whether she was joking or not
is irrelevant.  People who use this net should be responsible
for 1) making sure that they express themselves clearly and are
not misinterpreted; and 2) refraining from making generalized,
insulting comments like the one quoted above.  We all agree that
that is what she said, so let's have no more quibbles on that
point.  In or out of context, it's a contemptible phrase, and
I sincerely doubt that ANY context could have saved it.

As to those who "don't blame" Trish because she was only
reacting to the attacks on homosexuality, or because it's about
time women got a little of their own back:  

shame on you.

You should know better than that.  Two wrongs don't make a right.
Again, there's no excuse for blanket prejudice, no matter what
the provocation is.

Robert, stop this rabid name-calling.  Alan consistently made
it clear that he was objecting to Trish's clearly-expressed attitude,
not to Trish.  If you must continue to drag this flame through the
mud, stick to the arguments he presents, and for crying out loud,
ANSWER THEM with some logic.
(And if you'll read this paragraph very carefully, note that I,
too, am criticizing only your actions.)

By logic I mean facts.  Direct quotes work wonders to lend
your rhetoric some credence.  

And most important of all to everyone concerned:  STOP
this battle of the sexes.  You have allowed this issue to degenerate
into woman vs. man, straight vs. gay.  I don't care who started it;
let's stop it now.  Ideally, there should be no sex-linked characteristics
showing on this communications medium; there should be the wonderful
opportunity to talk things over as PEOPLE.  We use the same words,
folks; we share the same thoughts, wants and needs.  And just
to show that appearances ARE deceiving, I will put my name to
this:

Wendy P. Nather  (pooh)