About Religion

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Yes.  Apparently, there will be no activities for kids to make things for >their mother’s on Mother’s Day because a gay/homosexual couple decided to >write a letter to this school (which thereafter caved) expressing their >being offended that their child would be singled out because he or she had >two male parents instead of a female and a male parent.  As the story goes, >from one person involved in some way with the school, at least one child in >every class, or a majority thereof, would be affected by this holiday.  So >the school gave in almost immediately and now activities involving Mother’s >Day (and I also believe Father’s Day coming up) are no longer "necessary" >towards the learning environment of the children who attend. >I just made the coming from a Jewish school remark because Jews have always >preached acceptability of everything through tolerance.  I don’t see any >tolerance being reflected here, really, on either side of the perverbial >coin.

This is clearly an American thing – don’t hang it on the Jews. In Israel, Mother’s day has been replaced by "family day" which allows for the inclusion of all family types, whether single, divorced or gay/lesbian. Is that tolerant enough for you? –Lisa Bell (who personally thinks the whole mothers/family etc days are a complete waste of time and money)

Response:

> ***** > Your post entirely contradicts this statement. > *****

Actually, the design’s been working quite well. > ***** > I don’t think it is a matter of touting anything.  I think it is a matter of > not being forced to hide who you are.  Perhaps if you were denied many of > the things you take for granted now because you are a heterosexual you would > feel differently about it.  Have you never heard of gay bashing? > *****

Get real! > ***** > Nice attitude.  "Homo" is not a standardized term.  It is a slur against gay > men. > "Hetero" hardly has the same connotation as "homo" and I think you are > bright enough to know the difference.  And actually it is more natural for > people to want to be accepted and belong. > *****

You are correct.  And I used it to inflame, thus starting a thread.  As stated above, the design’s working quite well.  Discussion is happening. Thoughts are being exchanged. AJPDLA

Response:

> You know, kids about 30 years ago tried to keep if secret if their > parents were divorced. Now they ask, "is that your mom’s house or your > dad’s house?"  Times change…. > Lynne

Imagine how it may be in the NEXT 30 years.  Who knows?  With the way ZTP’s (zero tolerance policies) and Political Correctness is going, it will be amazing to see what’s left for society as a whole. AJPDLA

Response:

>OK. I would not want to perpetuate the usage of an offensive term. Honestly >I did not know it was considered offensive and none of my gay or lesbian >friends told me. What would I use instead if not differentiating between >male and females? Is "gay" gender neutral?

I was glad you asked this since I wanted to know the answer myself. I always thought "gay" meant both genders. Could someone clarify for those who don’t have any friends to ask (I used to have a lesbian room mate in my teens but we lost touch years ago). –Lisa Bell

Response:

man, people have to learn how to relax. I’m about as PC as they come, but there is a such thing as being oversensitive. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Forgive my steno.  Homosexuals.  Homos.  Homosexuals.  Same derivative; same > definition.  Ask any homo/homosexual.  I’ll let the latter "these people" > stand for what it was supposed to mean in this context, without the need for > any further elaboration. > Now, did you have anything else to add on this subject, or was this reply > all about an attempt to chastise me? > AJPDLA > Now, now…homos?  These people?  How disappointing coming from someone > with > the POV you have so recently shared. > Flori > > in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say > they > > did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — > yes, > > I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and > > acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. > > What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the > > absence of tolerance? > > Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. > > AJPDLA

– "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." Don’t dream it, be it. -RHPS http://www.teenhelp.org To email: remove _removethis_

Response:

Source, please. Banty – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say >they > >did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — >yes, > >I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and > >acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. > >What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the > >absence of tolerance? > >Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. > >AJPDLA > Could you clarify, please? Do you mean smaller kids not making > Mother’s Day cards in school? >Yes.  Apparently, there will be no activities for kids to make things for >their mother’s on Mother’s Day because a gay/homosexual couple decided to >write a letter to this school (which thereafter caved) expressing their >being offended that their child would be singled out because he or she had >two male parents instead of a female and a male parent.  As the story goes, >from one person involved in some way with the school, at least one child in >every class, or a majority thereof, would be affected by this holiday.  So >the school gave in almost immediately and now activities involving Mother’s >Day (and I also believe Father’s Day coming up) are no longer "necessary" >towards the learning environment of the children who attend. >I just made the coming from a Jewish school remark because Jews have always >preached acceptability of everything through tolerance.  I don’t see any >tolerance being reflected here, really, on either side of the perverbial >coin. > Because Mother’s Day is a Sunday, I > can’t think of any other way it would be connected with a school > routine. (Obviously I haven’t seen the story.) >Children have always, at such young ages, made little cards during classtime >for their respective parents.  At least, until now, in this school.  Perhaps >many others to come. >AJPDLA

Response:

If objecting to derogatory terms qualifies as being oversensitive then being PC is completely pointless. Flori

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> man, people have to learn how to relax. I’m about as PC as they come, but there > is a such thing as being oversensitive. > Forgive my steno.  Homosexuals.  Homos.  Homosexuals.  Same derivative; same > definition.  Ask any homo/homosexual.  I’ll let the latter "these people" > stand for what it was supposed to mean in this context, without the need for > any further elaboration. > Now, did you have anything else to add on this subject, or was this reply > all about an attempt to chastise me? > AJPDLA > > Now, now…homos?  These people?  How disappointing coming from someone > with > > the POV you have so recently shared. > > Flori > > > in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say > they > > > did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — > > yes, > > > I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and > > > acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. > > > What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the > > > absence of tolerance? > > > Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. > > > AJPDLA > — > "To the world you may be one person, but to one > person you may be the world." > Don’t dream it, be it. > -RHPS > http://www.teenhelp.org > To email: remove _removethis_

Response:

> in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say they > did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — yes, > I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and > acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. > What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the > absence of tolerance? > Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. > AJPDLA

Good riddance, fuck the greeting card industry!! That’s all this kind of crap is, a shill! And so is YOUR Xtian homophobic crap! Steve

Response:

Thanks for that little diatribe, which I didn’t really bother to read. If I had meant to be derogatory, I could have just said "fags." But, then, some of you "across the ponders" may have meant to infer that I meant a couple of cigarettes, or something. AJPDLA

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> THE POWER OF THE WORD

Response:

>in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say they >did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — yes, >I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and >acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. >What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the >absence of tolerance? >Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. >AJPDLA

Could you clarify, please? Do you mean smaller kids not making Mother’s Day cards in school? Because Mother’s Day is a Sunday, I can’t think of any other way it would be connected with a school routine. (Obviously I haven’t seen the story.) Lynne

Response:

> Thanks for that little diatribe, which I didn’t really bother to read.

***** So much for an open mind. ***** > If I had meant to be derogatory, I could have just said "fags."

***** Well, now you did.  As for intent, that’s not the issue.  The term "homo" and the term "homosexual" are both considered derogatory to the gay and lesbian community. ***** > But, then, some of you "across the ponders" may have meant to infer that I > meant a couple of cigarettes, or something. > AJPDLA

***** I’m sure your meaning would have been just as clear. Flori ***** – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> THE POWER OF THE WORD

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Forgive my steno.  Homosexuals.  Homos.  Homosexuals.  Same derivative; > same > definition.  Ask any homo/homosexual.  I’ll let the latter "these people" > stand for what it was supposed to mean in this context, without the need > for > any further elaboration. > Now, did you have anything else to add on this subject, or was this reply > all about an attempt to chastise me? > ***** > Yes, a couple of things.  Both of these articles come from the GLAAD web > site. > ** > THE POWER OF THE WORD > How one is recognized and called in the world is a very important issue to > everyone. This naming is especially important to members of minority groups > who have had an ongoing struggle to affect the language used to identify > themselves by the mainstream. > It is therefore bothersome that United Press International (UPI), unlike > many of its competing newswire services, remains devoted to the use of the > word "homosexual," where "gay" and "lesbian" are more appropriate.

I had no idea that this was the case. I thought "homosexual" was what was used when you did not want to specify male (gay) or female (lesbian). The other day I told someone that I was going to the oriental market. I was told (snottily) that the correct term was "asian." Well that person should have been snotty to the owner of the "Thai Phat Oriental Market" not me. My point? One really can put too much emphasis on a term. > There is no question that the terms "gay" and "lesbian" are preferred over > "homosexual" by the lesbian and gay community. "Homosexual" is a clinical > term, and in fact puts the focus on sexuality. Being gay is much more than > sexual activity and terms like "gay" and "lesbian" suggest the depth of > individual identity. Referring to the gay and lesbian community as > "homosexual" is akin to referring to the African-American community as > "colored" or other antiquated terms.

I still refer to my brother as "black." He refers to himself as black. I am not clear here how repeatedly changing the word, assuming that the word has no negative associations ITSELF, makes things better. "Colored" was a negative word often said by a white person whose nose was up in the air, as if discussing something distateful. I can see getting rid of that usage. But how about "black?" Was that usage negative? I am not called an "Irish, Native American, French and Welsh American." > "Homosexual" is a word used by clinicians to label us as sick, by > fundamentalists to call us immoral, and by extreme conservatives to deny us > our civil rights.

Or by me who means to not distinguish between men and women. > As the word "homosexual" has been used as a weapon against > us, it is understandable why the community demands the use of terms of > empowerment, like "gay and lesbian".

OK. I would not want to perpetuate the usage of an offensive term. Honestly I did not know it was considered offensive and none of my gay or lesbian friends told me. What would I use instead if not differentiating between male and females? Is "gay" gender neutral? > We urge UPI to afford the same respect to the gay and lesbian community as > it does to other groups.

<SNIP>

Response:

>Thanks for that little diatribe, which I didn’t really bother to read. >If I had meant to be derogatory, I could have just said "fags." >But, then, some of you "across the ponders" may have meant to infer that I >meant a couple of cigarettes, or something. >AJPDLA

What you *should* have bothered to read was Florinda’s quote of the  GLAAD web site denying this story.  That you didn’t bother speaks volumes about you and your lack of  reason on this topic. Florinda’s quoted a source – how about *you*! Banty

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > Forgive my steno.  Homosexuals.  Homos.  Homosexuals.  Same derivative; > same > > definition.  Ask any homo/homosexual.  I’ll let the latter "these > people" > > stand for what it was supposed to mean in this context, without the need > for > > any further elaboration. > > Now, did you have anything else to add on this subject, or was this > reply > > all about an attempt to chastise me? > ***** > Yes, a couple of things.  Both of these articles come from the GLAAD web > site. > ** > THE POWER OF THE WORD > How one is recognized and called in the world is a very important issue to > everyone. This naming is especially important to members of minority > groups > who have had an ongoing struggle to affect the language used to identify > themselves by the mainstream. > It is therefore bothersome that United Press International (UPI), unlike > many of its competing newswire services, remains devoted to the use of the > word "homosexual," where "gay" and "lesbian" are more appropriate. > I had no idea that this was the case. I thought "homosexual" was what was > used when you did not want to specify male (gay) or female (lesbian). The > other day I told someone that I was going to the oriental market. I was told > (snottily) that the correct term was "asian." Well that person should have > been snotty to the owner of the "Thai Phat Oriental Market" not me. > My point? One really can put too much emphasis on a term.

***** I was not aware of that either, actually, until I came across the article posted above at the GLAAD web site.  However, it is up to members of a specific group as to wheter or not a term is offensive. ***** – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> There is no question that the terms "gay" and "lesbian" are preferred over > "homosexual" by the lesbian and gay community. "Homosexual" is a clinical > term, and in fact puts the focus on sexuality. Being gay is much more than > sexual activity and terms like "gay" and "lesbian" suggest the depth of > individual identity. Referring to the gay and lesbian community as > "homosexual" is akin to referring to the African-American community as > "colored" or other antiquated terms. > I still refer to my brother as "black." He refers to himself as black. I am > not clear here how repeatedly changing the word, assuming that the word has > no negative associations ITSELF, makes things better. "Colored" was a > negative word often said by a white person whose nose was up in the air, as > if discussing something distateful. I can see getting rid of that usage. But > how about "black?" Was that usage negative? I am not called an "Irish, > Native American, French and Welsh American."

***** It only matters what your brother wants to be called.  I personally don’t think that "colored" and "black" mean the same thing.  But then I’m a Cuban American, so… ***** – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "Homosexual" is a word used by clinicians to label us as sick, by > fundamentalists to call us immoral, and by extreme conservatives to deny > us > our civil rights. > Or by me who means to not distinguish between men and women. > As the word "homosexual" has been used as a weapon against > us, it is understandable why the community demands the use of terms of > empowerment, like "gay and lesbian". > OK. I would not want to perpetuate the usage of an offensive term. Honestly > I did not know it was considered offensive and none of my gay or lesbian > friends told me. What would I use instead if not differentiating between > male and females? Is "gay" gender neutral?

***** You’d have to ask your friends what they are comfortable with. Flori ***** – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We urge UPI to afford the same respect to the gay and lesbian community as > it does to other groups. > <SNIP>

Response:

>Yes.  Apparently, there will be no activities for kids to make things for >their mother’s on Mother’s Day because a gay/homosexual couple decided to >write a letter to this school (which thereafter caved) expressing their >being offended that their child would be singled out because he or she had >two male parents instead of a female and a male parent.  As the story goes, >from one person involved in some way with the school, at least one child in >every class, or a majority thereof, would be affected by this holiday.  So >the school gave in almost immediately and now activities involving Mother’s >Day (and I also believe Father’s Day coming up) are no longer "necessary" >towards the learning environment of the children who attend.

Thanks for the info. Well, caving in on the gay thing is pretty silly. What about the child whose mother is dead? Good grief. Actually, I can think of a reason not to make the cards that has nothing to do with getting offended, and that’s a realization that far fewer children live in mommy-daddy households. With the prevalence of divorce, no marriage, living with extended and blended families, observances like Mother’s Day need to be figured out by each family. The standard card for mommy may not work for a child whose mother is gone or dead, who lives with grandma, or lives with several adults, who has a stepmother, and so on. I think each teacher needs to be sensitive to the circumstances in his or her classroom. Maybe just a "let’s think of something nice for those who take care of us and whom we love" encompasses more of the kids’ needs. You know, kids about 30 years ago tried to keep if secret if their parents were divorced. Now they ask, "is that your mom’s house or your dad’s house?"  Times change…. Lynne

Response:

> > Thanks for that little diatribe, which I didn’t really bother to read. > ***** > So much for an open mind. > ***** > Actually, on the subject of homosexuality, I have one of the most open minds > in the world.  I have absolutely no problem with it.

***** Your post entirely contradicts this statement. ***** > Just as I would expect no one to have problems with me being a > heterosexual.  That being said, heterosexuals, such as myself, don’t go

around > touting my heterosexuality.  Yet, homosexuals feel that they need to do just > this.  I just find it weird, > to feel like you have to do this, tout your sexuality to the world.

***** I don’t think it is a matter of touting anything.  I think it is a matter of not being forced to hide who you are.  Perhaps if you were denied many of the things you take for granted now because you are a heterosexual you would feel differently about it.  Have you never heard of gay bashing? ***** > > If I had meant to be derogatory, I could have just said "fags." > ***** > Well, now you did.  As for intent, that’s not the issue.  The term "homo" > and the term "homosexual" are both considered derogatory to the gay and > lesbian community. > ***** > Too bad for them.  It’s a standardized term.  I don’t get offended when > someone calls me a hetero or a heterosexual.  People in general terms just > want to be offended at anything.  It’s a natural human occurence.

***** Nice attitude.  "Homo" is not a standardized term.  It is a slur against gay men. "Hetero" hardly has the same connotation as "homo" and I think you are bright enough to know the difference.  And actually it is more natural for people to want to be accepted and belong. ***** – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > But, then, some of you "across the ponders" may have meant to infer that > I > > meant a couple of cigarettes, or something. > > AJPDLA > ***** > I’m sure your meaning would have been just as clear. > Flori > ***** > I’m sure as well. > Thanks for the discussion, in any event. > AJPDLA

Response:

<snipped> > As the word "homosexual" has been used as a weapon against > us, it is understandable why the community demands the use of terms of > empowerment, like "gay and lesbian". > OK. I would not want to perpetuate the usage of an offensive term. Honestly > I did not know it was considered offensive and none of my gay or lesbian > friends told me. What would I use instead if not differentiating between > male and females? Is "gay" gender neutral?

My suggestion would be to ask your gay and lesbian friends.  You’ll get a better perception from them than from someone on Usenet.  JMO. — Kitten = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = I’m a bitch, I’m a lover; I’m a child, I’m a mother I’m a sinner, I’m a saint; I do not feel ashamed I’m your hell, I’m you dream; I’m nothing in between You know you wouldn’t want it any other way                                                                       – – - Meredith Brooks

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say they >did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — yes, >I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and >acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. >What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the >absence of tolerance? >Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. >AJPDLA > Could you clarify, please? Do you mean smaller kids not making > Mother’s Day cards in school?

Yes.  Apparently, there will be no activities for kids to make things for their mother’s on Mother’s Day because a gay/homosexual couple decided to write a letter to this school (which thereafter caved) expressing their being offended that their child would be singled out because he or she had two male parents instead of a female and a male parent.  As the story goes, from one person involved in some way with the school, at least one child in every class, or a majority thereof, would be affected by this holiday.  So the school gave in almost immediately and now activities involving Mother’s Day (and I also believe Father’s Day coming up) are no longer "necessary" towards the learning environment of the children who attend. I just made the coming from a Jewish school remark because Jews have always preached acceptability of everything through tolerance.  I don’t see any tolerance being reflected here, really, on either side of the perverbial coin.  Because Mother’s Day is a Sunday, I > can’t think of any other way it would be connected with a school > routine. (Obviously I haven’t seen the story.)

Children have always, at such young ages, made little cards during classtime for their respective parents.  At least, until now, in this school.  Perhaps many others to come. AJPDLA

Response:

> > ***** > So much for an open mind. > ***** > Actually, on the subject of homosexuality, I have one of the most open minds > in the world.  I have absolutely no problem with it.

Bullshit. Read your own post here. > Just as I would expect > no one to have problems with me being a heterosexual.  That being said, > heterosexuals, such as myself, don’t go around touting my heterosexuality.

Haven’t you realized that this is because you don’t HAVE to in a society defend themselves from bigots by making their presence known so they aren’t taken for some tiny unnatural aberration that would lend itself to the suppression and persecution by others who seek to eliminate it!!! You’d do the very same thing if only 8% of people were straight and you had to hide it from some people to be housed, employed, insured, etc!! > Yet, homosexuals feel that they need to do just this.  I just find it weird, > to feel like you have to do this, tout your sexuality to the world.

I find it weird that you’re so clueless and stupid as to be unable to put yourself in their place about it!! > > If I had meant to be derogatory, I could have just said "fags." > ***** > Well, now you did.  As for intent, that’s not the issue.  The term "homo" > and the term "homosexual" are both considered derogatory to the gay and > lesbian community. > ***** > Too bad for them.  It’s a standardized term.  I don’t get offended when > someone calls me a hetero or a heterosexual.  People in general terms just > want to be offended at anything.  It’s a natural human occurence.

Nobody says "hetero", and you know full well that "hoaw-moaw" is a derogatory term. Grow the fuck up. Steve

Response:

> > Could you clarify, please? Do you mean smaller kids not making > Mother’s Day cards in school? > Yes.  Apparently, there will be no activities for kids to make things for > their mother’s on Mother’s Day because a gay/homosexual couple decided to > write a letter to this school (which thereafter caved) expressing their > being offended that their child would be singled out because he or she had > two male parents instead of a female and a male parent.  As the story goes, > from one person involved in some way with the school, at least one child in > every class, or a majority thereof, would be affected by this holiday.  So > the school gave in almost immediately and now activities involving Mother’s > Day (and I also believe Father’s Day coming up) are no longer "necessary" > towards the learning environment of the children who attend.

Yearly schools don’t celebrate Father’s Day, which is in June. > I just made the coming from a Jewish school remark because Jews have always > preached acceptability of everything through tolerance.  I don’t see any > tolerance being reflected here, really, on either side of the perverbial > coin.

Tolerance is achieved through the prevention of exclusion, and the Big School Rule applies: "Don’t bring it if you can’t bring enough for everybody!" that means you don’t celebrate things that cannot be fully shared by all students. >  Because Mother’s Day is a Sunday, I > can’t think of any other way it would be connected with a school > routine. (Obviously I haven’t seen the story.) > Children have always, at such young ages, made little cards during classtime > for their respective parents.  At least, until now, in this school.  Perhaps > many others to come. > AJPDLA

They can always make something for their parents in school, they do NOT need a holiday or any kind! Steve

Response:

> Thanks for that little diatribe, which I didn’t really bother to read. > ***** > So much for an open mind. > *****

Actually, on the subject of homosexuality, I have one of the most open minds in the world.  I have absolutely no problem with it.  Just as I would expect no one to have problems with me being a heterosexual.  That being said, heterosexuals, such as myself, don’t go around touting my heterosexuality. Yet, homosexuals feel that they need to do just this.  I just find it weird, to feel like you have to do this, tout your sexuality to the world. > If I had meant to be derogatory, I could have just said "fags." > ***** > Well, now you did.  As for intent, that’s not the issue.  The term "homo" > and the term "homosexual" are both considered derogatory to the gay and > lesbian community. > *****

Too bad for them.  It’s a standardized term.  I don’t get offended when someone calls me a hetero or a heterosexual.  People in general terms just want to be offended at anything.  It’s a natural human occurence. > But, then, some of you "across the ponders" may have meant to infer that I > meant a couple of cigarettes, or something. > AJPDLA > ***** > I’m sure your meaning would have been just as clear. > Flori > *****

I’m sure as well. Thanks for the discussion, in any event. AJPDLA

Response:

in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say they did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — yes, I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the absence of tolerance? Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. AJPDLA

Response:

Now, now…homos?  These people?  How disappointing coming from someone with the POV you have so recently shared. Flori

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say they > did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — yes, > I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and > acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. > What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the > absence of tolerance? > Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. > AJPDLA

Response:

Forgive my steno.  Homosexuals.  Homos.  Homosexuals.  Same derivative; same definition.  Ask any homo/homosexual.  I’ll let the latter "these people" stand for what it was supposed to mean in this context, without the need for any further elaboration. Now, did you have anything else to add on this subject, or was this reply all about an attempt to chastise me? AJPDLA

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Now, now…homos?  These people?  How disappointing coming from someone with > the POV you have so recently shared. > Flori > in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say they > did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — > yes, > I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and > acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. > What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the > absence of tolerance? > Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. > AJPDLA

Response:

> Forgive my steno.  Homosexuals.  Homos.  Homosexuals.  Same derivative; same > definition.  Ask any homo/homosexual.  I’ll let the latter "these people" > stand for what it was supposed to mean in this context, without the need for > any further elaboration. > Now, did you have anything else to add on this subject, or was this reply > all about an attempt to chastise me?

***** Yes, a couple of things.  Both of these articles come from the GLAAD web site. ** THE POWER OF THE WORD How one is recognized and called in the world is a very important issue to everyone. This naming is especially important to members of minority groups who have had an ongoing struggle to affect the language used to identify themselves by the mainstream. It is therefore bothersome that United Press International (UPI), unlike many of its competing newswire services, remains devoted to the use of the word "homosexual," where "gay" and "lesbian" are more appropriate. There is no question that the terms "gay" and "lesbian" are preferred over "homosexual" by the lesbian and gay community. "Homosexual" is a clinical term, and in fact puts the focus on sexuality. Being gay is much more than sexual activity and terms like "gay" and "lesbian" suggest the depth of individual identity. Referring to the gay and lesbian community as "homosexual" is akin to referring to the African-American community as "colored" or other antiquated terms. "Homosexual" is a word used by clinicians to label us as sick, by fundamentalists to call us immoral, and by extreme conservatives to deny us our civil rights. As the word "homosexual" has been used as a weapon against us, it is understandable why the community demands the use of terms of empowerment, like "gay and lesbian". We urge UPI to afford the same respect to the gay and lesbian community as it does to other groups. ** May 8, 2001 STATEMENT BY GLAAD REGARDING THE MAY 8 NEW YORK POST COVER STORY "SCHOOL KILLS MOTHER’S DAY: GAY PARENTS FORCE PRINCIPAL TO BAN CARDS" GLAAD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOAN M. GARRY – "This cover story is sensationalistic — even by the New York Post’s historically controversial standards. The Post shirked its journalistic responsibility, placing an unsubstantiated opinion column on its front page under the rubric of hard news. The story in question focused on a New York private school’s decision not to celebrate Mother’s Day, but the Post irresponsibly chose to exploit an unsubstantiated claim that the policy was enacted because of complaints from gay parents. "This story is based on unidentified sources and rumors. The school’s statements that gay concerns were only one part of its decision are brushed aside in favor of gay-baiting conjecture. GLAAD condemns the New York Post for its assumptive writing about the gay and lesbian community to sell its newspapers. "GLAAD hopes media professionals who choose to cover this story will focus on the issues of media responsibility, journalistic integrity and the impact sensationalistic and inaccurate coverage can have on their audiences." The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. ** Flori ***** – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> AJPDLA > Now, now…homos?  These people?  How disappointing coming from someone > with > the POV you have so recently shared. > Flori > > in a New York school, by a couple of homos who want to be able to say > they > > did something with their lives today.  Truly amazing.  These people — > yes, > > I said THESE PEOPLE — are working so hard to gain accomodation and > > acceptance, it’s literally killing their credibility in the first place. > > What the hell are we trying to teach our kids:  Tolerance through the > > absence of tolerance? > > Funny, it happened in a Jewish school, too. > > AJPDLA

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