Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 16:53:23 -0500 (EST)
Subject: M-G: Reply to Justin



Hello Justin,

Thanks for your last post. This much is clear at this point. We both
agree that gays and lesbians should be protected and defended against
persecution from any quarter unconditionally. Which then leaves us the
subject of homosexuality to consider by itself. Personally speaking,
I do not advocate either homosexual or heterosexual lifestyles. That
choice, is best left, to consenting adults. Since I am not homosexual,
advocating such a lifestyle  or the benefits to be gained by pursuing
such a life would be hypocritical and opportunist. Perhaps an example
drawn from real life will make this clear.

Many years ago, in our undergraduate student hostel, there was a
student called A (not real name). A was very well-read in the literature,
cultured and had an amiable personality. In the hostel that time there
were basically two groups. One was formed by right-wing rich students
who used to engage in the practice of severe hazing of incoming freshmen.    
To combat them, an anti-hazing group was formed (yours truly included).
One day, there was the case of a severe hazing of a freshman and the whole
hostel was in a turmoil. The leader of the anti-hazing group had
threatened to report the senior (who had committed the hazing) to
the university officials which would have probably led to his expulsion.
This enraged the fascists who as a group started parading outside the
the anti-hazing leader's room with hockey sticks while shouting expletives
like "red bastard", etc.

In this atmosphere of heightened tension, A instead of taking a clear
stand, was running between the two groups in an effort to soothe frayed
tempers and calm the situation. When this did not materialize, he suddenly
flipped and went over to the side of the fascists. He started accusing
one of the members of the anti-hazing group of having threatened him with
a knife which was a pure lie.

About two years later, another incident took place which once again shook
up the hostel. This time it involved A. It was revealed by some
freshmen that A had approached them separately on several 
occasions and had "propositioned" them. It seemed that he would first
approach them as a friend, invite them out to go out (to dinner, for
example) and them make his "move". Apparently, this had gone on for
quite some time until a scared freshman revealed it to the senior
students. It further came to light that A  was also having simultaneous
affairs with some other students (not freshmen) in the hostel.

I still remember that day. I had returned to the hostel late in the
evening from the department when I heard this bombshell from friends
in my wing. At first, I could not believe it. I had known A for quite
some time, had had interesting discussions from him and had lent him
money on one occasion (which he returned promptly). But he had never
disclosed to me that he was gay.

There were mass meetings in the hostel that day and on those that
followed to decide on how A should be censured. All his friends, including
the fascists, deserted him and also condemned him. The news spread like
wildfire through out the university and some professors starting inquiring
about the matter. 

Strangely, all this time, it was only the anti-hazing group that stood by
A. We did not condone his actions but nevertheless objected to his being
expelled from the hostel. However, the majority over-ruled us and decided
to expel him. But no hostel would take him since his reputation had pre-
ceded him there. I do not think it was his homosexuality as such which
was the reason for this but his forcing himself on unwilling and
vulnerable people.

So A stayed with us and was reduced to a broken shell of a person. He
publicly apologized to the people whom he had offended. Most of the
hostel started ignoring him, he did not sit at the same tables during
dinner which had previously welcomed him (bourgeois morality and
hypocrisy is amazing to behold!).

During his period of social ostracism, it was again the people who
had founded the anti-hazing committee who showed sympathy and compassion
for him. I remember him telling me once that he had lost his power of
concentration after the recent storm. No member of our committee
discriminated against him. Slowly, A came back to life and started
participating in extra-curricular activities like dramas and debates
in which he was very good at. So much so, that when it came time for
us to leave the university, A had won back a considerable amount of
respect which he had had previously.

Sid       



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