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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 14, 1994)
EDITORIAL Religion, public policy should stay separate The continuing efforts of groups nationwide to put anti-gay measures on the ballot is meeting strong elec torate resistance. With the exception of Oregon and Ida ho. initiatives planned for the November ballot in eight other states failed to qualify or were dropped due to legal flaws. This is a good sign. Many of the states rejecting the discriminatory measures simply resented outside influ ences (read Oregon Citizen's Alliance) attempting to for mulate religious values into public policy. This is espe cially true in the case of Washington and Nevada. But In Oregon, the OCA gained moro than enough sig natures to get its measure to deny homosexuals "spe cial rights" on the ballot for the third time in six years. But even with the signatures, there is a chance the mea sure could be ruled unconstitutional before the Novem ber 8 election, which brings up an interesting point. The OCA ami other so-called traditional family values coalitions are using the free speech rights of the First Amendment on one hand to push their agenda of dis crimination on a targeted minority, in this case, the mark happens to l)e gays and lesbians. On the other hand, they ignore the saction that restricts the establishment of reli gion into law but also protects the free exercise of that religion. This is the dilemma of groups like the OCA who justi fy their actions on the basis of fundamental Christian beliefs. The Constitution guarantees religious freedom to every individual. But the practice of that religion must stay within the parameters of spirituality and away from legislation. Just as the Supreme Court removed the moral equation from legalized abortion with Roe vs. Wade and instead placed emphasis on the sanctity of privacy and choice, citizens must likewise separate personal moral ity from the making of laws that discriminate against cer tain sections of society. When one group decides what is moral for the rest of society an<l decrees those personal beliefs into law. then majority tyranny becomes institutionalized. By taking those religious and moral values out of the realm of spir ituality and inserting them into public policy through the conduit of the initiative process, our society is con doning the establishment of theocratic law. Tho Founding Fathers, over vigilant to the dangers of either religious domination or persecution based on reli gious belief, worded the Constitution to prevent the very actions currently being propagated by certain funda mentalist Christian groups against the homosexual com munity. As a society, we must remain wary of those who would single out any minority for discrimination, whether on the basis of skin color, culture or sexual ori entation. Whother a person agrees with the homosexual lifestyle or finds It morally offensive is a personal choice. Such a choico. and tho public airing of that belief, is protected under federal law. But when an organized cadre can leg islate its particular brand of morality on the whole of society, life and liberty suddenly becomes a bit more dangerous. Homosexuals do not receive special rights in this or any other state. What thoy should receive are equal rights. By passing laws that allow discrimination against any minority, we should ask ourselves one question. Who is next? Oregon Daily Emerald po t»o* )»**♦ M,t*a o*f(*Qu %?* } The Oregon Datfy EmeraM tt pubfeshed deity Monday though f nday dunng the echooi year and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer by the Oregon Duty Eme*akJ Kit*sNna Co Inc . at the Urwervty of Oregon Eugene. Oregon the Emerald operates mdapendendy of the UnNeriAy with o«ow a! Su«e 300 of the Ert> Memorial Urwon and <» a member o» the Associated Press The Emerald *» private property The untaertu* removal or use ot ru*xws <s prosecutable by lae Editor Kafy Soto Associate Editors Meg Dedolph, Lia Sarocoa, D«*xJ Thom Photo Editor: Mchaei Sh*nt»e» Night Editor i »a Satacoa General Manager Judy R*ec* Advertising Director Marti Waiter Production Manager: Mcneie Ross Advertising Brian Dav^s. Sub* Dufta. Tony Fos, J«n Mar on. M*hae* MtieOe Classified Becky Merchant Manager Business: Kathy Carbone, SupervtJkV Production Dee McCobb. P'odvcion CoonAnatpr ?*•* Gau V'ey Jen/vter Roand T4*m%roocn &usin«M Oftk:# 34*4512 Aovwntmg J46-J712 Cl****n#d Atfv6fT«*<ng 346-4343 f Be happy1. \ peel posmvSi \ just because we k consistently test 1 AT THE BOTTOM Of ALL 1 /AJO/STWALilED A/AT/OKK I /i A/O REASON TO REEL | i About oofmsesil Self-Estfien\ Finals FXO/Jf /^£,/V0w/W4vf TOOODO TH( » SAfAt THiNf, with 1)4t A£*W'S fPAlOQi ' A* l 'rJ OPINION Body piercing just isn’t mature Meting squeamish r Skip back lo Calvin and Hohbrv JL The culture of shame and pain l**gan with the advent of tfie Sex Pistols in the late 1970s The anarchy developing from the punk movement and pop culture included safety pins and multi ple ear piercings that signified rebellion. Black hair and white skin, the vampire look’ is run-of the-mill today. Multiple body piercing has bet ome the next thing to do by the terminally hip. The shot k value of multiple body piercing has become the underlying reason for this renais sance of body modification. If you can imagine it, it can prob ably lie pi erred For some people, it's the only jewelry they wear. Body piercing is more than sim ple laxly modification and much closer to self mutilation. Body piercing has a ric h his tory. Military commanders in Roman times pierced their nip ples as a sign of courage. Nose rings have a history of signifying wealth and status for marriage able women The size of the met al ring worn by a woman indi cated how large her dowry was. Traditional cultures use body piercing as a rite of |>assage from puberty to adulthood. All human beings modify their bodies with make-up or clothing Diversity is what everyone strives for, to stand out in a crowd and not be like our parents. But beau ty is more than skin deep. Body piercing leaves the impression that body worship is what the American tribe has become concerned with. Body piercing is a superficial, skin deep preoccupation with what we see on the outside and denies the significance of what really makes each person who they are. To got to know someone, you have to move beyond the surface image they present to the outside world every day. The cost of a body piercing begins at about $30, Jewelry is extra. Tongues, genitals and eye brows have become the most popular parts to pierce Most Annk Moskr Korvkki.i> piercer* do not use painkillers because pain is pari of the process it's part of the ritual of hem# pierced and numbing nul lifies the ritual. A damp or a steel needle is used as a piercing tool Anyone who has experienced an operation, a broken limb or any intense physical pain ran tell in graphu detail how (tain is not a source of entertainment If people believe that piercing their cheeks celebrates their bod ies. maybe they should talk with others who find this devaluing of their bodies offensive Why delib erately hurt your body to justify getting in touch with your self7 The growing popularity of body piercing has moved it from society's margins into main stream culture. The aesthetical ly unpleasing elements of body piercing are divisive. How many employers are will ing to employ someone with a stud in their mouth7 Is that good for business7 Saying that I will not work for someone who won't accept me for who I am denies that what I've done to my body is controversial. Do the newly ini tiated body piercing advocates think about the next ten years and how others will see them7 Occasionally, a performance artist or an activist uses body r piercing to draw attention to the fragility of life. The statements, made by artists who use body pien ing to draw attention to the ways our society is returning to life-threatening habits, are valid. For the most part, I don't see body piercing as a conscious-rais ing alternative. Trend setters aren't that sophisticated. Body piercing is a remnant of when we'd bring a note to the teacher saying I was where I said I was; 1 have proof, here’s my mommy's signature.' Going to a concert and getting a new hole in your belly button is the latest way of saying 'I'm cool, and 1 was there, man. really there, site my new ring?' The length of time it takes for body piercings to heal is enough of a deterrent Generally, it takes about a month or longer for a non-ear piercing to heal, espe cially the eyebrow and clavicle. I'd like body piercing to end its reign as retro fashion wear I don't get it. Body piercing has created a multi-million dollar business glamorizing what isn't glam orous. Body piercing is about sell ing attitude To lie on the cutting edge of street fashion is to be pierced. Going out of the way to inflict personal bodily harm is indica tive of a ton of issues from child hood still holding someone cap tive. Get over it lion't poke holes in your wrist to address unre solved personal issues Those of us who haven't gotten holes in places no one intended holes to lie, don't need to lie privy to the pain of body piercing Anne Moser-Kornfeld is a columnist for the Emerald *1 COMMENTARY POLICY The Oregon Daily Emerald welcomes commentaries from the public concerning topics of interest to the University commu nity. Commentaries should he between BOO and BOO words, legi ble. signed and the identification of the writer must fn> verified when the letter is submitted. The Emerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style.
