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
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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
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