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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1992)
Pg. 4 TheClackamasPrint Opinion Wednesday, October 14, 1992 Oregon students could face a stern future by Robert A. Hibberd Co-Editor-In-Chief Imagine this. “Class, it is time to. stand and say The Pledge of Allegiance, ” says the third grade teacher to her students. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of Amer ica, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and jus tice for all except people who are Gay and Lesbians." “Very good class. Steven, you have your hand raised. Why?" “Yes Ma’am. Um... well.. . er it’s just that I think that Billy is a gay.’’ “Why do you think that Billy is gay Steven," asksjhe teacher. “Because he tried to holdmy hand in the playground,” says Steven. The third grade teacher ap pears shocked and dismayed as a look of horror grows across her face; her job is on the line. “Billy is this true? Did you try to hold Steven’s hand in the playground," she asks sternly. “Yes,” mutters Billy. “Why Billy? Whydidyoutry to hold Steven’s hand in play ground? You know that type of behavior is abnormal, wrong, un natural, and perverse and should be avoided," hollers the third grade teacher. “Billy, I taught you that just the other day so why Billy did you try to hold Steven’s hand in the Playground.” Following a long pause of hesitation, “I’m not really sure ma’am... umit’sjust that I really think 1 like Steven a lot and I felt like holding his hand,” moans Billy. “Well, that is just terrific, just fantastic,” says the teacher to the student. “Billy, I thinkyou had better go see the principal and explain to HIM just how much you LIKE Steven.” Billy gets up and leaves the class with his head hanging low. “O.K. class," says the teacher, “it’s time for our morn ing prayer.” “God is good, God is Great, God made us all pure and straight. Later that day......... “So Billy, your teacher tells me that you have been trying to hold other little boys’ hands in the playground,” says the princi pal. “What have you got to~say for yourself." The principal is a very im posing figure. He sits behind a very large desk and stares hard right into students' eyes. Behind him, you can see intimidating plaques bearing bold education degrees. “Uh. -. . nothing sir. . . I guess,” responds Billy, who is now on the verge of tears. “Nothing? You have noth ing to say for yourself?" shouts the principal who is now stand ing. “You are prancing around my school like a flaming faggot and you have absolutely nothing to say for yourself. Jesus Christ Billy, who the Hell do you think you are?” Billy is crying hysterically, “I don’t know sir... ‘sob ‘I don’t know anything any more.” The principal seemingly regains his temper and moves from behind his desk in order to stand directly over young Billy. “That’s right Billy, you don't know a damn thing do you?" he says as he places his hand on Billy’s neck. “YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU ARE A QUEER," shouts the principal. The principal returns to his DON'T BUY IT, & DON'T SmiLOHI IT. Perhaps they were little Bil seat behind his desk, his fore ly s. Perhaps as children, they found head is now showing sweat and themselves standing alone in the he is breathing heavily. grade school playground longing “Billy, I’m going to let you for the affection of another child off the hook this time, that is to of the same sexi They probably say that I'm not kicking you out of school.” The principal pauses : had been told by an adult that it was not normal to feel this way. for a moment to catch his breath. Of course, we will never know “I'mgoingto notify your teacher if Billy was in fact a homosexual that corrective measures have or a heterosexual. been taken against you and that As time subsequently moved she shouldn’t expect any more on, the supporters of Measure 9 abnormal behavior out of you. may have grown more and more Am I correct Billy... there will alone. Having felt rejected from be no more abnormal behavior coming from you?" society, they also grew very cold. One day these people found “Yes sir." each other. They felt right for “Good." a smile forms on each other; they shared the same the principal’s face and he is ideas and morals; they even went now appearing to be in a good mood. “Now you run on back to to the same church; and most class and be a normal boy." importantly, they shared a dislik “Yes sir,” Billy says as he ing of homosexuals. turns to leave. They formed a life together. Together, they formed a family and called it the Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA). Over the years, as the family grew, so did the amount of dissent that it could spread into the community. They spent every moment of every day promoting their lifestyle. Soon there was a large gathering of re pressed and angry individuals who were willing to support an anti homosexual initiative. They even started a thing called Ballot Measure 9. hatred regardless of how justi fied you think the hatred is. It you hate me then I might learn to hate you and then we might find ourselves together on a battle field. It’s the law of nature: ag gression will always lead to re taliation. I have never once wit We should really feel sorry nessed a creature that let itself for people who act out their ag die without a fight. Still, though, gressions and display unusual people believe that it is easier to behavior because they were likely just kill or push images out of “And study hard Billy and to have been abused sometime sight. This type of behavior is a maybe someday you can be a during their childhood. We will disease-Hate: the most wide principal too,” adds the now proud not want to meet their intoler spread disease in America. and joyful administrator. I would estimate that this ance with intolerance, but instead - The situation that you have show them how it is possible to disease affects 90% of Ameri just experienced is fictional but live in multicultural society. Let cans, mostly white males. It af the possibilities of it happening us remedy their illusions. fects .the nervous system and are true if Ballot Measure 9 passes. We know that these people causes a disruption in. the caring You know Measure 9, the move do not understand themselves and part of the brain. The brain, ment to label homosexuality their actions, so it is up to the rest seeing that it cannot comprehend “abnormal” and “perverse behav of us to educate them in area of images outside of its precondi ior;” the idea that specific reli social behavior. We must instill tioned paradigm, will shut down gious ideas should be enforced in in them the power of nurturing or attempt to close out the world. education. This disease usually drives and understanding. We must point If Ballot Measure 9 passes, it the way towards a more peaceful those afflicted to alcoholism, is very likely that we will have society. abuse or violent tendencies. It little boys and little girls finding But immediately, we must motivates people to hate. Then themselves in situations like Billy stop Ballot Measure 9. We can once the hate virus hits the pub found himself. not allow these people to spread lic, it spreads like a wildfire. If And what about the college ' vicious discrimination through you think you have contracted student who might find himself out our community. Now, we the disease called Hate you should sitting in a classroom with an in- must halt aggression; we must visit the counseling department stuctor who presents only one end hatred. As sure as Bush for treatment or love someone form of sexuality as normal and bombed Iraq; so will we end immediately or maybe read some acceptable? The topic is not open Measure 9. poetry. for discussion. As a culture, the far-Right It’s really funny that way; Studies show us that about the same people who dislike David white male is known for his rap 90 percent of child abusers and Duke and Saddam Hussein sup ing and molestation. It can be molesters are heterosexual white port Measure 9. That’s the trouble charted throughout the history of men; Yet the supporters of Bal with the current human situ- i time and its effects are evident lot Measure 9 will have you be ation: it seems that anyone can ] on the Earth today. There is a cure. It’s called lieve otherwise. They will tell find a way to hate. Well, I’m you that mostly homosexuals starting to find a way to hate the Faith; faith in love and hope and in all that is real on Earth and in abuse their children. This is simply supporters of Measure 9. a lie. People are attempting to put the universe. I believe there is a So why do supporters of 9 an end to a specific lifestyle when balance; there is a compromise. We can put an end to Meas continually lie to the decent and they ought really to be trying, to ' loving citizens of the beautiful put an end to hate. Hatred breeds ure 9. We can live together. End abuse and discrimina state of Oregon? Maybe it’s be tion and preserve human rights. cause they themselves are homo We as humans are not ask- sexuals who were forced deep ing for any special rights other into the closets when they were than the right to live and breath in their youth or maybe they are the clean, crisp air of Oregon. themselves victims of child abuse. Don ’ t let hatred distort your A closer examination of these ability to feel. theories reveals interesting pos Vote no on 9. sibilities. No on 9
