Forum Discussion will end sexual-orientation battle By William Moore In response to some of the events and statements made during the recent "Gav Pride Week" on campus, we offer the following observations and comments: Many of the statements and stories in the Oregon Daily Em erald seemed to reflect both a defiant determination to cling to behaviors and attitudes that most people in our culture be lieve to be immoral and abnor mal and a demand that all these people replace their beliefs and values with ones that support homosexuality There also seemed to be much anger, frus tration. pain and sadness evi dent in the lives of the homo sexual people featured Commentary First of nil. y\e acknowledge the rights of advocates of ho mosexuality both to choose their lifestyle and to seek to convince others ot its legitima cy. This does not mean we think their choices are morally legitimate, hot simply they are capable of choosing We reject the idea that homosexual prac tices are normal and legitimate practices of human sexualilv We do not hate or tear homo sexual people Our opposition to homosexuality is both philo sophical and practical in na lure We .ire convinced homo sexual practices violate the de sign of our bodies and the in tent of our sexuality itself, and thus do great harm to beings of great worth and signifii ance We rojec t the assertion that because of our opposition to homosexuality we are m need of being "educated" by advo i ates ol homosexuality We point out there is a fundamen tal difference between educa tion and propaganda We are not persuaded that those who seek to legitimize this behavior have demonstrated they pos sess either the moral authority or the wisdom necessary to ed m ate on this subjei t This does not mean, however, we are un willing to engage in reasoned, ciyd discussion \x ith any who yy ish to do so We are not denying the hu manity or the inherent dignity and worth of homosexual peo ple nor are we attempting to justify acts of violence or ex pression of hatred and con tempt being directed against them Such iii ts are themselves truly wrong and ugly Neither do we believe people who en gage in homosexual activity are Cash For Textbooks Mon. • Fri. Smith Family Bookstore 768 E. 13th 1 Block From Campus 345-1651 .somehow so!) human, or heter osexual people are morally -'ll perior Ur are not "seeking to ini pose our morality" on the hiv mosexual community We are seeking to convince people of the validity, authority and wis ilmn of the moral boundaries given to us by the One who made us We believe this topic needs to he seen and discussed in till- larger context of the exis tence and nature of morality and truth hither inherent moral stun dards. or absolutes, exist, or they don't. If they do exist they are not .subjet t to popular vote they apply universally w hether or not we like them or agree w ith them II they don't exist, then literally all stall dards of morality become mere personal preferences, on the level of favorite flavors Only the concept of moral absolutes is discarded, and then not only can homosexual activity he de fined as "normal." hut any a< Is. including brutal and de strm live ones |i e i hild abuse or rai iallv motivated violence), becomes exactly as moral as at ts that are responsible and caring. Ur understand homosexual people have strongly felt needs and desires Ur sympathize with tlie strength and potential Iv sedm live and addictive i Itarai ter of the intense pleas ures present in the human sex ual drive We believe it is not our sexual nature itsell that is wrung or harmful, hut rather the abandoning ot ourselves to the pursuit of pleasures so that .ill else heroines unimportant, ini hiding our own dignity and honor I bis happens to heterosexual people who misuse sex as sure h as it does to hoiliosexually oriented people The bounda nes which exist governing the expression ol our sexuality are there for our protection and benefit Outside those bounda ries the raw power inherent in our sexual drive becomes enor mously destructive of individu als and cultures Advocates of homosexuality often asset the tin lination to ward homosexuality has been proven to be inborn, and thus desi ribe it as natural iind un avoidable We suggest this has not been proven, blit even i( tills were the ( ase, the presence of a particular inc lination or of strong desires does not justif\ the expression of that ini hn.i tion any more than a married man's strong desires for other women legitimize adultery, or an inherent temper justifies violence We believe homosexual life styles so entangle those who engage in them that they often leave people unwilling or un able to distinguish between their identity as people and their sexual orientation and de sires Our identity as human beings is not synonymous with our sexual orientation or our desires U e are all nun h mm h more Wo .it knowledge till' ugliness .Hid brutality lh.it h.is been di rt>( ted .igidnst homosexual pen pie m our ( ommunitx the more sadly bee .iiise it is some times done in the name of f ’hi istlimitv As believers in |e sus ( ,'hrist. we oppose the ha (red. contempt and violence di ret ted against homosexual peo pie We affirm and value their humanity We do not believe however dial to acknowledge the humanity of people means that we must automatically ai i ept as legitimate the ideas, at titudes or practices they hold Is there no room for differing points ot view and reasoned discussion oil this topic:’ Is the pro homosexuality position so fragile that every disagreement must he met with name < ailing, hostility and stridency'’ babels and names such as "homo phobe" and "bigot’’ .ire being Used like roi ks at those who dare to dispute the current, "correct” position concerning this issue These terms seem to i arry as mm h dehumanizing hatred and contempt as terms like "queer" and "faggot" that are screamed at homosexual peo pie Kei ent letters in the Finn a/(/ demonstrate a chilling vi NEW SUZUKI SWIFT for ONLY 122.92/a mo. •stk »l S14tj villf {'! " #6o‘‘9. 60 mo Dovk«>. 10 ‘Is- *PR O A C Starting at just $66 5900 First Time Buyers Welcome Mid-Oregon $ 686-8111 2200 Centennial Blvd. Eugene, Oregon ( lousness Arc name < ailing and haired onU wrong when the\ ,ire prai tu eil by people we disagree with7 Believing as we do that ho unisexual lifestyles are inher entlv destriu live to people, it would he w rong for us to speak against them Human lives of gre.it value are at stake We sin eerelv invite interaction from people willing to avoid si old mg and name calling and to discuss ideas and issues ll illiani Moore is a mein/ier o/ f/ie i lassified shift in the nmsii department, while coauthors A M Smierwein. Case\ Chris tnpher. Kevin Henfield. Patrick (,'ihson and Inseph Wtirlev are members of the mush depart nient __ Oregon Daily _ _ Emerald P O tW.v l|M. tufrnr. Orient r»4QI The Oregon C> *■» * * > Emerald is published Monday through Today ** * »*pt duninj e> Ha*sk>y Higher Education/Administration Chns Bowm-lf Feature* Denr.** >' 'Bom Reporter* Julio Ar id-'ado. Poter > oyn : A .hley i • *■ {)<»■ • f iSt*-, ’ i ■ Holland Joe Kidd t ay no lakefmh Pat M,oa h Steph i'"t‘ Men -ner Cam Sivesmd Alice Thornton Photographers deve C.ard Madm Thud Advertising Macro**" Bwnadelit Mark BrufnJ.it;** She! u* Hager y otl M-. A,..> Amy MitteKtaodt Melissa Nelson Kathy Smith Knsti Strother t d*ard Wen*, > Apprentice Kathy E**d.< ott 8m ky Mom, Joemfer K. m.i Ke* M<. Bride N* •• Leahy. Susan Miguel Ai.onta Stephen Mosley. Marta Nowm m L»na Michman Production Jennifer Archer Kathryn Barton. M a BOftoisen Ten Boring Jed Clark Alice Cannon. Lotus Child, Jim Pinch. 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Newsroom 346 6511 Classified Advertising 346 4343 Display Advertising 346 3712 Production, Graphic Services 346 4 361 LETTER PERFECT Graphics • TYPESETTING • PASTE UP • IAY0UT • DESIGN • CONSULTATION • LAYOUT • • TYPESETTING • PASTE UP • LAYOUT • DESIGN • CONSULTATION • LAYOUT • • TYPESETTING • PASTE UP • EAYOUT • DESIGN • CONSULTATION • LAYOUT • • TYPESETTING • PASTE UP • LAYOUT ■ DESIGN • CONSULTATION • LAYOUT • • TYPESETTING • PASTE UP • LAYOUT > DESIGN • CONSULTATION • LAYOUT • • TYPESETTING • PASTE UP • LAYOUT • DESIGN • CONSULTATION • LAYOUT • • TYPESETTING • PASTE UP • LAYOUT • DESIGN • CONSULTATION • EAYOUT • ■ ■ • >■ • ■. i-lt > ■/. nH f THE FAR SIDE By GARY LARSON r l rMf Kt AT *jA i.1 L An. t Slug vacation disasters