I’m feeling kind of lazy today, so I’ll post a note that I wrote on facebook some time ago. Let’s see what everyone thinks.
“If you don’t have time to read all of this, just skip down to the bottom and pay attention to the important ideas.
Let’s have a little discussion about the not-so-gradual descent of contemporary society into the doldrums of ignorance and complacency. Take, for instance, the high school freshman who walked into the dining hall a few days ago as part of a band camp. Emblazoned on his tee was the phrase “Don’t be too open-minded. It might just fall out.” Ignoring the obvious gap in the understanding about the physical reality of the brain and the “unreality” of the mind, I found this tee to be rather offensive. Not in the sense that I feel I should write to the company that made the shirt, but rather the idea of a parent’s indoctrinating of an impressionable child (loosely used term) to be as closed-minded as possible. Fun, right?
A little later in the same day, on which apparently “inadvertent” bigot camp was eating in the dining hall, I overheard some young, blond girl talking to her friends, and she happened to say by way of an insult, “You’re being such a homo.” Let’s just stop for two seconds and think about this.
Why is it wrong to use “homo” as an insult? Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it implies that one is outside the majority and hence is abnormal. Trying to maintain my head without chucking ice cream into her face, I decided that this is the only possible explanation for her phraseology.
To me, using terms such as “homo” as a desultory term is perhaps more insulting than calling someone “faggot.” Why? Because the word used for homosexuals absent of any negative connotations (i.e. “homo” if you’re not following) being used as an insult marks an instant feeling that the “negative” connotations are not the insult but rather the simple idea of homosexuality itself is the insult.
Why is normalcy so desirable? And I’m not defining the term “normalcy” at all because, and keep your eyes open for this line, sweethearts, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A HUMAN CANON! No human is the paragon, the epitome of humanity, and anyone who tries to pass him/herself off as a “normal” person should be socked in the face with bloody loin of pork (the worst punishment I could think of). Perhaps some of you have heard of the idea of “Queer Theory” and the movement regarding the term “queer” as a defamatory term for homosexuality due to its explicit definition as “abnormal” or “deviant.” Let me just say that calling anyone queer for any reason besides sexuality is not done because it is politically incorrect. Why is it acceptable to exclude homosexuality as a safe zone from the label of “queer?” If you think about it, there are multitudes of deviations from the WASP idea of normalcy, so it doesn’t exactly follow that only heteronormative ideas of normalcy should govern how the term “queer” is used. Technically, and follow my line of logic here for how WASP normality is stupid, any difference from this WASP idea is subject to being called queer.
In other words, STOP USING HOMOSEXUALITY AS SOME SORT OF DESULTORY INSULT FOR PEOPLE! There are groups about this, I know, but some people may not be entirely aware of them. If you’re not a member, you should consider joining the facebook group pleaing for people to stop using “gay” and “bad/stupid” as synonyms. I can’t tell you how many times I heard a certain high school English teacher say for her students to “stop being gay” as a substitute for “stop being stupid.”
Consider opening your minds to any ideas and accept people regardless of factors (mentality, sex, gender, race, class, age, education, etc.) that may not necessarily follow your own ideas of normalcy. Consider that other people are discriminated either for different reasons that you are discriminated against or even despite that you are not discriminated against. There are other people on this planet. Be aware of them. Be accepting. Don’t be nasty, heartless, brainless, ignorant sheep who agree with the majority simply because you personally aren’t experiencing problems with the status quo. In short, be a good person. Perhaps it’s a little hokey, but I personally believe that being a genuinely good person is the key to approaching that idea of perfect humanity. So spread the word of goodheartedness, general kindness, and human awareness. Thanks for your time.”
Love,
Adam
