Editor:

The current debate on homosexuality contains the same verbiage present in discussions the first time African Americans were given freedom or the right to vote, when jazz music became popular, when integration was proposed and when women were given the vote. Unfortunately, the list goes on and on about the times we as a nation have not guaranteed all individuals life, liberty or the chance to be happy. We call it an attack on the family, a disease or a moral slippery slide.

I’m not writing this in specific response to any issue because this isn’t the last time something will be an attack on family or be morally reprehensible. These issues will always be here when people insist that they know what is right and wrong for everyone else, and people who are different from themselves are wrong.

I want to believe that someday, in our future, we won’t hate each other because we are different but we will see that as the essential part of who we are, and who the human race is. Unfortunately, that view is never expressed. I see issues polarized by the media and narcissistic politicians. I never see people who understand both sides of an argument-only those who are vehemently joined with their own. There are people that know God exists, and people who know God doesn’t exist. Some say we should go to war and others say we should wait for peace.

What about people who have doubts about both sides of the argument? We seem to need to be 100 percent right. What if we were able to see the differences as constructive and as a binding tie to what we call being human? What if we were capable of being the same only in our differences, and that to embrace that as reality would benefit everyone because we wouldn’t have wars over God, democracy, money or stuff that relies on the idea that our system is “better” than your system?

I know that’s a very idealistic, utopian view of a potential world, but I don’t think it makes it entirely unattainable. I’m not a social revolutionary or anything, I just get discouraged sometimes to see everyone jump at each others’ throats about being different. I haven’t met a single person in my life who is the same, and that is the only thing I see as real. I hope you disagree. I hope your opinions are different.

Kurtis Birch

Senior, Biology