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From: reuling@Navajo.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.motss
Subject: Re: Turning the other cheek
Message-ID: <286@Navajo.ARPA>
Date: Sun, 8-Dec-85 11:19:41 EST
Article-I.D.: Navajo.286
Posted: Sun Dec  8 11:19:41 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Dec-85 09:26:20 EST
References: <116@ubc-cs.UUCP>
Reply-To: reuling@Navajo.UUCP (John Reuling)
Distribution: net
Organization: Stanford University Computer Science Department
Lines: 38

In article <116@ubc-cs.UUCP> manis@ubc-cs.UUCP (Vince Manis) writes:
>A few days, a group of five Toronto teenagers was convicted of the murder
>(by beating) of a 40-year old gay man. The five had, in the course of a 
>boozy evening, decided that they would go and ''beat up a fag'' (their
>words). So they got in their car, headed out to a cruising area, and
>shortly after midnight accosted a victim and beat him to death.
>
>The five were found guilty and were sentenced to prison terms varying 
>from 9 to 12 years. All of them expressed the sentiment that they got
>what they deserved.

>As a result, they are each going to spend the next few years in prison.
>But if their statements are honest, this is going to be something that
>will haunt each of them for the rest of his life.
>
>My problem is that I'm ending up feeling very sorry for these kids. 
>Politically, I ought to be happy that queerbashers were caught and 
>punished. Yet, I can't see any benefit to anyone coming from this
>tragedy. And I really wish these kids didn't have this hanging over
>them. I'm beginning to see them as much victims of homophobia as the
>man they murdered. 

Lordy!  The poor guy who happenned to be in the wrong place at the wrong
time is DEAD, and you're feeling sorry about his murderers who will 
probably be out on parole in a few years for good behavior?!

It sounds to me as if you think 'homophobia' is some separate 'entity'
that CAUSES otherwise normal people to do terrible things.  But it
wasn't homophobia that killed that man in Toronto.  It was five drunk
teenagers who did it.  Five PEOPLE.  Five PEOPLE who should be held
accountable for their actions.

-J
-- 
  John Reuling              reuling@su-navajo.arpa
  Stanford University       reuling@navajo.stanford.edu
  Computer Science Dept     fc.jar@stanford.bitnet
  Stanford, CA 94305 USA    glacier!navajo!reuling