All are not seen as Equal

To the Editor: Since the 1960s homosexuals have gained acceptance in our society. They are once again fighting for the right to be legally married. It is true that tolerance does go both ways however, why should they be tolerant of someone’s ignorant conservative opinions? Infringing on the rights of homosexuals is not being tolerant to them. Why should they be tolerant of some conservative telling them how they should live their life. Homosexuals just want the same rights and privileges as every other heterosexual person in this country; the right to have a marriage with their loving partner. There is no reason that homosexuals shouldn’t have the same marriage rights as everyone else. Many have argued that if gays get married it will ruin the union of marriage and what it stands for. Those who are religious allow their religious beliefs to get in the way of their tolerance and acceptance of this culture. As Americans, our ancestors came to this country to escape religious persecution, our founding fathers kept church and state separate-which means the Bible should have no bearing on a law when it comes to this issue.

If the proposed amendment passes to ban gay marriages, then government is basically giving the people the right to discriminate against anyone they choose. It will be a step back for civil rights, for homosexuals and possibly other minorities as well. We are contradicting everything we are trying to do overseas. How can we go into Iraq for no good reason at all, but to change their government to make them a democracy when in our own country, our government is taking away rights and slipping farther away for democracy?

In conclusion this issue is very controversial; I am sure most of you reading this have an opinion on gay marriages. The only way to build a true tolerance of this taboo lifestyle is for a unanimous change in mind frame. It would be a beautiful thing if we could live in a perfect society where, as Karl Marx wrote; “all are seen as equal.” However, this is not the world in which we live. For those of you who are against gay marriages I am not going to tell you that you’re wrong because of how you feel (everyone is entitled to their feelings) I do think you should consider why you feel the way you do (that homosexuals shouldn’t get married). They just want to be happy and express themselves just as everyone else. It is unfair to say that a state judge can’t marry two men or two women. I can’t understand how two homosexuals who are in love marrying each other will affect your life. It won’t, so let it be.

Sincerely,Dee ManziSpeech Communications & Psychology Major

Tolerance Follow Up

To the Editor:

Normally I wouldn’t do something like this, nor would I care what people have to say about me.  However in light of the letter that was printed in the March 25 edition (Tolerance Goes Both Ways) and a few other letters that were printed in previous editions, I find the need to explain and clarify a few things about the viewpoint article I wrote (Tolerance and Its Acceptance or Lack of).

The first thing I would like to address is that at no point did I ever feel stressed or under any kind of pressure when I was writing my viewpoint article. Nor did The Chronicle ask me to write an article simply to fill space.

Secondly, you can even ask any of my friends about this, but I am one of the most tolerant people you would ever come in contact with.  Yes you could say that my off colored comments about jocks, frat boys, and sorority girls went against everything the article stood for (acceptance of all).  My only defense as to why I did that, was because I was acting like most everybody else in this country (including our President)…hypocritical.

Third, since the dawn of humanity, homosexuals have been MORE than tolerant with heterosexuals with conservative views.  However thanks to Mr. Bush the homo/hetero debate has been thrusted back into the spotlight (then again Mr. Bush is fighting a war in Iraq right now that will only benefit him, his father, and Mr. Cheney, so should we really believe anything he says anymore?) Anyhow, for anybody reading this that is conservative I must say that I do feel real sorry for you, I really do for the mere fact that you still think that people choose to be gay or lesbian or bi-sexual or transgendered, and I also feel sorry for you because your one main defense as to why you think homosexuality is wrong is the Bible.  Being gay or lesbian or bi-sexual or transgendered is not a choice. I mean do you honestly think that anyone with a brain would choose a type of life that they know is going to bring them nothing but hurt suffering and cruel treatment for the rest of their natural life? Oh and by the way, you may want to rethink using the Bible as a defense.  If you reread the Bible more carefully cover to cover, you will notice that the Bible contains only 23 abominations against homosexuality, and something close to 615 abominations against heterosexuality…but I am sure you already knew this.

My fellow students, we are the future of our country.  If we refuse to take action against something like this and stay in a state of ignorance and don’t attempt to make any changes, then we are no better than the generations that have come before us.  Let’s send a message to the White House. Let’s make it known that even though we have come a far way in respect to civil rights, we still have a long way to go until everybody is treated equally (thank you Karl Marx for that idea), not just white heterosexual christian men.  And let me tell you something about our founding forefathers…they wore some fabulous wigs. Notice: when it comes to love, love is never wrong.  It comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders.  To be gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, or transgendered isn’t wrong, or eveil, or a choice.  Until you understand this, ignorance will remain to control you. It is true that the social circles of Hofstra are kind of like those in the real world, but they don’t have to be.  Just imagine what a wonderful country this could be if we band together to stamp out prejudice here at the university, and bring it into our personal lives, and from there it spreads like wild fire…my God it will be beautiful.

Sincerely,Christopher EmanuelSenior English Major