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Pen Points
Letters to Gay Today |
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Teens: More informed than any group previously, some issues are not as large in retrospect. Coming out will always be hard, but discussion groups abound where none were before. They view "gay" as a label that differentiates, but not necessarily separates, themselves from their peers. 20's: Sooo many body fascists! Circuit parties, ecstasy and sex are what they do for fun, but their main job is working out at the gym. They're in for a big surprise in 10-15 years. Not very active politically. 30's: Some leftover Ken dolls on steroids, trying to be part of the 20's group. Those who grew up are on the AIDS cusp (pre- and post- AIDS) have had a taste of condom-less sex, and had the rug pulled out. Looking for a cure. Politically active, taking nothing for granted. 40's: Most politically active group, the leaders of the huge gay rights movement in the '70's. Pragmatic and probably the least selfish. Nice guys. 50's+: Two groups -- those who participate(d) in gay rights, and those who did not. Those who did are really well adjusted and are the 'elders' to go to for knowledge. The others are still closeted, and still speak in the hushed tones of yesteryear. What can be learned from these attitudes? Take nothing for granted, and youth is fleeting. Accept who you are and where you're at in life!
Signed, Koshka
Why Do We Elect these People? Those we elect, finally, represent who we are or have been. They are the ones who reflect our rage, docility, wealth, poverty, ignorance, loyalty. In a system that allows universal suffrage, we must say these persons we elect are an aspect of the personality of our culture. Government assumes personality, that is, it takes on the form of a collective being. Representatives are aspects of that collective. People ask if they are out of touch or if they got there because of lack of (voter) participation. It doesn't matter. The action of the people, not the opinion, created this personality to guide us in the one institution that is subjugated to the will of the people. This is why the Republicans ignore polling. They have represented the actions of the people. …The elected ones have come to act as avatars of the culture war spawned by the reaction of the Religious Right to waves of liberalism.
Perhaps Dornan reflected some of the reaction of the old guard conservatives in the heart of this conservative republican county to their diminishing role here, to their loss of property value, to their anger. We elected Sanchez not only because she is a woman with an Hispanic surname, she represents the current action. The old guard has moved away, retired, or lost significance. Everywhere, the conservatives gave votes to those most strident leaders who showed promise as champions of the old ways--nuclear families, church membership, women staying at home. As their latest rally shows, they still do represent a large faction of us. But in all, we elect the right winger ones in an effort to stave off the massive cultural change taking place all around us. It is a rhizomatous society growing in this country. We will stop electing strident conservatives when we are comfortable with the changes taking place in our neighborhoods, in our jobs, and in our relationships. Business runs this world, but freedom is always just around the corner.
Signed, Novato
History Lesson
To my mind, it just goes to show that leopards really don't change their spots. Republicans have always been ass-hole-boss-minded inhumane jerks, and likely always will be. C. L. |
I know a few in each generation. It differs from country to country, and region to region. Here is a viewpoint from New England:
Bob Dornan 
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