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Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: Brian Webber on 3/31/2003; 4:08 PM It's been a LONG ass time since I've written any essay of any kind, so please bear with me if this sucks. Homophobes. They're everywhere. But they aren't who you think. You may think their the idiot down the street with the God Hates Fags sign that you just wanna beat up soemtimes, or the Zealots of various Internet discussion sites that decry their existence and deny them jobs, even in the military, the one every unemployable American knows he can go for a plate of beans and a dental plan. They aren't the shmucks that try to claim what two consenting males or females do in their own bedroom 'harms society.' No, they're the ones who refused to believe in Lesser Evilism and voted their consicence (often with repercussions from friends, loved ones, and even employers) in 2000. They were people like JFK and MLK who shook up the status quo. They are our forefathers; men and women who refused to continue living under unjust British law. They are people like me, who can't bear the thought of doing the same thing every day. They are the envelope pushing TV producers who give us shows like OZ and 24 and Babylon 5. Let me explain. Any word-geek (the kind of guy who reads a Thesaurus on his lunch break) will tell you that the word homophobia actually comes from an ancient Greek phrase that means, fear of sameness. Fear of sameness. Not wanting things to be the same. Sound sto me like, in that context, homophobia really isn't such a bad thing. So, this means we need a new phrase for bigots like Phelps, Falwell, Robertson, and Ashcroft. What word can we use? Well, discrimantaion based on gender is called sexism. So why not use a phrase I've heard before, but generally only in progressive liberal circles; heterosexism? Yes, yes, I think heterosexism works. As a phrase I mean. :-) So why not start refrring to people who would so willingly hate someone based on a harmless sexual proclivity (you'll NEVER convince me or any other smart person that two consenting adults of the same gender are even remotely comparable to pedophiles), with that word? Hopefully, it'll really piss them off.
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: R.A.B. on 3/31/2003; 7:34 PM Hmm...sounds good. But then again Heterosexism also refers to being straight; I guess It would bring out some kind of confusion.
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: John Verion on 4/1/2003; 12:59 AM Brian, How about tackling a true misnomer like "pedophile" next. Do they really love children? I think not. How about misopede instead?
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: Ben C on 4/1/2003; 1:19 AM lets not, and say we did :)
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: John Verion on 4/1/2003; 1:26 AM Something more... What evidence do you intend to produce that Mr. Ashcroft is a bigot? You see, your essay does well without attempting an ad hominem attack against a man you don't really know. Plus, it isn't likely that the line in your essay is going to get off the ground except with a particular audience that will accept a priori that Mr. Ashcroft is a bigot. And so, if it is only going to fly with that audience, then why give it wings at all? I mean, in the interests of economy of expression there is no reason to name names if everyone you are writing to already believes it to be true. Do you see my point? No sense in preaching to the choir, as the saying goes. Keeping the line makes the essay inflammatory instead of persuasive. I think you were aiming for persuasive, weren't you?
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: John Verion on 4/1/2003; 1:33 AM As for the military... Have you ever served? If so, did you find it full of unemployable Americans? Did you happen to run across any Americans who were very employable in the private sector, but happened to believe in the idea that a free society by definition requires the sacrifice of noble, brave, intelligent and virtuous men? I have. Anyway, the essay doesn't "suck" but it is liable to lose its point for the offense it causes.
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: Brian Webber on 4/1/2003; 1:52 PM Pedophile is actually the wrong word for people with a sexual attarction to children. To correct term is PEEDophile. Pedophiles are actually foot fetishists or people who have an addicition to buying shoes. Imelda Marcos and Star Jones are peodphiles in that sense.
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: R.A.B. on 4/1/2003; 7:11 PM Yeah Imelda Marcos has some addiction for shoes. Too bad her shoe collection display in Malacanang palace was already closed down. I think the room that it was in was turned into an office.
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: ScottN on 4/1/2003; 7:59 PM John, thank you for your comments on the military. While I have never served, my job brought me into close contact with many members of the military (did you ever serve at Ft. Sill, BTW?), and I agree with you. The men (and women) in uniform that I have met are all intelligent, thoughtful, dedicated people. I have argued this point on other fora (Brian, you know I have done so on NitCentral). However, his point about the official discrimination against gays in the military remains valid.
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: Brian Webber on 4/2/2003; 12:22 PM Valid? How is it valid to deny people who want to defned thier country the right to do so? To mis-quote John McCain, 'as long as they can SHOOT straight...'
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: ScottN on 4/2/2003; 4:59 PM Read my frickin' post Brian! I was *DEFENDING* your point about gays and the military!
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: Mark Morgan on 4/2/2003; 7:42 PM Agreed. Brian, perhaps a policy of waiting before going off would suit you?
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: Chie Theresa Fujioka on 4/3/2003; 5:01 AM Brian, if you want to convince anyone, you have to address one issue, and not offend the readers upon all the rest. I see your point, but it is rather misplaced since if you say "People who want to be the same" no one would burden themselves with that title. It is also unlikely that if everyone were different, they would vote for the same person, be angry at the same people.. etc. I'm actually not too sure what your intentions are. If you're just wanting to rant, that's cool. But I disagree with your method, regardless of your convictions.
RE: Heterosexism: A New Phrase For An Old Problem By: Brian Webber on 4/3/2003; 3:19 PM My bad. I thoguht you were referring to soemone else's point. I don't know what I was thinking. I should've know better. I mean, we've only been doin VOu and Nitcentral together for about three years. *smacks self on forehead*
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