Letter to the Editor:
Yikes!! I had no idea that such a hornets’ nest would be stirred up. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I thought my little opinion article was reasonable; not everyone else did, so let me clarify a few things. From the responses I read, it seems like gays and lesbians are criticizing me for attacking homosexuality. But if they actually analyze my article, you’ll see there is no attack on the practice. Even though I don’t agree with their practice, I specifically avoided talking about it because it’s none of my business what people do within their homes; who am I to judge? But when an institution, funded by my tax dollars, sponsors a practice that I disagree with and puts its flags all over campus with the U’s emblem on it, than it becomes my business. That’s what I’m arguing, nothing more. I don’t like using religion to solve political issues, its never a good idea; just ask the Arabs and Israelis. I would say the same thing if the U sponsored Christians, Muslims, Jews, or any religion in the same manner as gays and lesbians. An information desk: that’s cool, nothing wrong with that. I thought flags were too much. I’m sorry if anyone interpreted my article differently, I didn’t mean to offend anyone. And I’m sure that gays and lesbians don’t mean to offend anyone either, but they must understand that sometimes they do; I have the right to be offended also. Can’t they understand that? I guess that’s one thing I, and others, have in common with gays and lesbians: we don’t understand each others’ feelings and why we get offended. Maybe we could all use a little understanding and respect for each other. Is that too much to ask?
Bart GatrellGraduate Student, Political Science
PS Put my email at the bottom of the article for repsonses, if you can. Please print this.