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A ll we need now is fo r the Supreme Court further sanctioning
government manipulation o f individual lives. It could be one
helluva carny ride, complete with gestapo lights andfunhouses.
Apparently we must control our sexual urges,
but our violent urges are of little consequence. It
is at this juncture that most organized religions
eaves are turning. Summer has definitely
depart from the teachings of the man they
passed. The air grows colder, the nights
longer, and a burning smell is in the air. Already purport to be the final word on any topic. Very
ironic, laughable if only it weren’t so sad.
people discuss Halloween. Pumpkins, perhaps
Current events: Robert Bork. Do we want
apples, get softer, more rotten every day.
him
on the Supreme Court? I have encountered
Autumn. Decay. All those bodies in Molalla.
several attromeys who say, "H ell, no.” Bork's
Someone very sick out there. A portion of a
own writings suggest that his appointment
woman's leg found floating in the river. People
would signal the undoing of several years of
playing Rambo on the California freeways —
social progress. The way the tide is turning in
"forgot your turn signal, neighbor, you lose"
this country shows that Bork's appointment
could give the right wing moralists the tool they
need to dismantle any progress the gay rights
movement has made. His appointment could
very well insure that publications, such as
the one you're reading now, could be considered
"obscene” and. therefore, unlawful. His re
cord o f decision making shows that he favors
government and business over individuals. All
we need now is to have the Supreme Court
further sanctioning government manipulation
o f individual lives. The next thing you know
we're in for one helluva carny ride, complete
with flashing gestapo lights and funhouses. the
likes o f which no one here has seen before.
Everybody got their passports ready?
Yet. would running away be a viable option?
Wouldn't it be better to stick it out and see what
— BLAM! Just blow th e ........-* away. Simple.
And so American. If you don't like it. if it
happens? Nothing keeps the blood pumping
messes up your life in any way. get rid of it.
better than a good fight. The only trouble with
Welcome to the disposable age in the home of
the idea of fighting is that we are an awfully
the brave. Styrofoam McDonald's shells. Big
passive community. Perhaps we are passive be
Gulp cups and human beings. At least human
cause to he outspoken and angry would mean
beings are biodegradable. The wanton cruelty
giving up a relatively affluent lifestyle (after all.
in this country is astounding, even more as
how long w ould we keep our jobs in the
tounding is violence for the thrill of entertain
"straig h t” world if we came off as screaming
ment Look at all the slash movies. Watch TV
terrorists?). In any event, we hold our passivity
for a few minutes and someone is bound to be
as if we truly believe it is a weapon. “ Do what
shot, punched, tripped, smashed in a car wreck
you like to us." we tell the world, "w e do not
or fall prey to some other form of violence. Ah.
care. You have spat in our faces, you have
well, just a part o f our pioneering spirit.
burned us, incarcerated us, castrated us,
What is ironic is that Americans find it possi
electrocuted us — and still we turn our face this
ble to stomach violence, yet can become re
way and that just so your fist can find it.”
markably squeamish about sex. We have diffi
Larry Kramer, the author o f Faggots and
culty talking about it. Right wing fundamenta
playwright of The Normal Heart wonders why
lists prefer that we pretend it doesn't exist
more of us aren't angry. He proposes that we
should "tie up whole cities; throw bombs; stop
traffic; surround the White House.”
Kramer defines a real and important prob
S a y you saw it in
lem. O urpassivity. he maintains, is “ contribut
ing to our own genocide.”
It is a time for action, but forget the violence.
Violence will only convince the homophobes
that we are a dangerous entity to be
exterminated. We are not. however, dangerous.
At this point we are so harmless and weak that
we could be herded up like sheep. Even more
unsettling, there would be no one to speak
out in our defense.
What Mr. Kramer forgets here is that acts of
terrorism would basically be shitting in our own
nest. If we are to shape our world into the place
o f peace that it must be, we must approach
difficulties in a more reasoned manner than
those who have gone before. Now is certainly
not the time for violent, murderous acts. Not
enough is at stake. Yet.
Leaving open Mr. Kramer's proposals is
tine. To dismiss Mr. Kramer lightly would, at
this point, be quite foolish. He may be a
loudmouth and an extremist, but someone must
be if we are to generate the energy we need.
A place to begin: we may ask ourselves if we
are doing enough for our people, our commun
ity. and the world. It is possible to be active
without being destructive. There is too much
destruction and waste in this country as it is. To
try to destroy the system we live in is pointless.
We must always remember that this is our
hoine. too. We have a say here. At least, so tar.
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