Wednesday, June 8, 1994 - The Michigan Daily --5
A different kind of leader
The Morality Pill
Recently, the extreme right has a led a campaign to deny gays, lesbians and
bisexuals equality and dignity. Across our nation, on the state and local level, the
extreme right is attempting to place civil rights on the election ballot; this campaign
is occurring right here in Michigan, where an effort is being made to place on the
November ballot a state constitutional amendment which would deny gays, lesbians
and bisexuals protection from discrimination in employment, housing and public
accommodations.
I am continually amazed at the extent of the zeal and fervor with which the radical
right attacks homosexuals. But I am not surprised. In these difficult times, intolerance
against those who are perceived as immoral is a seductively easy way to feel more
righteous and superior.
The radicalright would claim that its fight against therights ofhomosexuals is part
of a crusade for "family values." University Regent Deane Baker said the decision to
amend Regents' Bylaw 14.06 so as to include sexual orientation in the University of
Michigan's non-discrimination clause was "a direct attack on the American family."
But discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals does not create stronger
families. The financial costs to "traditional" families of implementing domestic
partnership benefits would be most minimal. It is the rifts caused by a parent's non-
acceptance of a gay son or a lesbian daughter, and the climate which encourages gays
and lesbians to enter unstable heterosexual marriages, which are far more of a danger
to strong families.
The radicalright would claimthat its fight against the rights of homosexuals is part
of a crusade to protect children. An Oregon initiative against civil rights equated
homosexuality with pedophilia. However, study after study has shown that the great
majority of child molesters are heterosexual. A hostile and intolerant climate against
homosexuals is a threat to those children who will grow up gay, lesbian and bisexual;
the suicide rate of gay, lesbian, and bisexual teenagers is appallingly high.
Theradical right would claimthat its fight againstthe rights of homosexuals is part
of a crusade for traditional American culture and values. In the past (and in the
present), our society has promoted racial discrimination; slavery, Jim Crow laws,
miscegenation laws, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and broken treaties against Native
Americans are part of the American tradition. However, I cannot believe that
discrimination and intolerance are at the core of traditional American values. It is also
in the American tradition to fight and sacrifice for socialequality; Martin Luther King
Jr. and Cisar Chavez too are part of the American tradition.
In these times, it is difficult to feelmoral. Our society does not take care of the sick.
Attempts to create a system which would give every American access to health care
are ridiculed as "socialized medicine." Our society does not take care of the poor.
Politicians decry the "welfare state," as states try to gain permission to cut benefits to
children. It is difficult to feel moral when you have to walk past homeless people, and
feel comfortable ignoring their plight. It is difficult to feel moral when you can so
easily live a relatively short drive away from areas of abject crime and poverty.
The radical right offers a magic pill. Due to the closet that society forces on gays,
lesbians and bisexuals, the victims of the discrimination due to sexual orientation are
invisible. Furthering intolerance and denying civil rights to gays, lesbians and
bisexuals is a quick, easy solution to feeling more moral and righteous in our times.
But that feeling of morality is a false one, while the consequences of intolerance and
discrimination are all too real.
An expose of candidate Bill Clinton
Lately, I have been perusing Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton's and Tennessee
Sen. Al Gore's Putting People First - the bible of the Democrats' 1992
presidential campaign. President Clinton has been widely criticized as a "slick"
politician who says one thing during the campaign and than does another once
he is in office. Take foreign policy for example. The Clinton-Gore campaign
aid on page 129, "We cannot go another four more years without a plan to lead
the world... we need a team in the White House whose goal is not to resist
change, but to shape it." On page 137, the Carville-orchestrated campaign
railed: "President Bush has too often... hesitated to support democratic forces.
His failure to articulate clear goals or a rationale for an engaged foreign policy
has fueled a dangerous new isolationism... We need new leadership that will
stand with the forces of democratic change." What new leadership was Clinton
talking about? The likes of Warren Christopher, William Perry and Les Aspin?
And under the subsection titled "Failed Bush-Quayle Policies (p. 137)," the
Democratic ticket slams the GOP: "The Administration sat on the sidelines for
too long while the former Yugoslavia slipped into chaos and civil war. The
Administration turned its back on those struggling for democracy in China and
on those fleeing Haiti." At least they got it right when they opined on page 133
that itis imperativeto"keep U.S. forces in northeast Asia as long asNorth Korea
presents a threat to our South Korean ally." - Jason S. Lichtstein
By Allison Stevens
ALTON BAY, N.H. - In case
you were wondering, the New
England Literature Program
incorporates hiking the mountains
of New England and learning about
authors. As our group of Nelpers
drove toward the looming Mount
Chocorua, a peak reaching approxi-
mately 4,000 feet, I though to
myself: Oh shit! I fearfully shrunk
in my van seat at the sight of the
ominous mountain. As we got out of
the van, I reluctantly strapped on
my backpack, and with the rest of
the group, started up Liberty Trail.
Within a couple of seconds, I had
established my position as the little
red caboose that could. As I panted
up the rocky trail, my fellow
campers sprinted up the mountain
- within 10 minutes they were out
of sight. Good, I thought. I just
wanted to be alone. I didn't want to
talk to anyone, not that I could if I
wanted to, for lack of breath. I just
wanted to go my own pace,
primarily because I knew the
annoying feeling of having to wait
for someone else, and I didn't want
to be that burden.
Anyway, the predictable pattern
panned out, with the physically -
strong males leading and little ol'
me following. Just keep on going
ahead, I told them in my mind, and
don't look back. But my prayers
weren't answered. Right behind me
was Shelby, our fearless group
leader and, of course, hiker
extraordinaire. Great! I thought.
Now I'll have to actually acknowl-
edge and even confront my pathetic
out-of-shapeness, as I struggled up
the mountain. At every slippery
rock and obstructive branch, Shelby
patiently waited while the rest of the
group forged ahead like pioneers up
the indestructible mountain. Just as
the hike got progressively harder, I
felt weaker and weaker. What kind
of leader was he, anyway? He
should be leading our group to the
heights of the mountain, heading up
the front rather than keeping up the
rear back here with me! His
presence as a leader in the back only
emphasized my position as the
ultimate follower and wallower.
As much as I appreciated
Shelby's assistance, I simply
wanted to be alone. It's easier to
accept, or maybe ignore, my faults
when I'm alone. But Shelby
persisted in talking along the way,
asking the atypical, get to know you
questions. "Where are you from?"
he asked. "Chicago," I replied
curtly. That same pattern followed
until he asked what I considered to
be a rather personal question.
Knowing no other way respond in
such a condition, the easiest answer
was the truth. To my surprise, this
led to a very therapeutic and
enlightening discussion. Comparing
our similar experiences, I learned a
lot about myself, and most impor-
tantly, the fact that others can relate
to, and help me understand, my
problems.
At this point, I really felt the
comfort of his presence, and his
assistance. "Me too," I found myself
saying. "Me too." I really didn't care
where the rest of the group was, or
where I was, for that matter, because
I was learning so much from Shelby.
Not only was he hiking with me as a
leader protecting the safety of his
followers, but he was also walking
with me as a friend helping a friend.
I didn't even feel that bad when we
finally came across other campers,
one of whom had been reading the
novel "Hope Leslie." I realized the
true place of a leader is not always
at the front of the pack, powerfully
leading the group to glorious
heights. Rather, the place of a leader
is often at the very back, slowly and
responsibly keeping pace with the
slowest hikers. In this sense, the
leaders and the followers can easily
be confused. But in my mind, I
know where the true leader is: at the
back, walking and talking with those
most in need of his or her assistance.
Shelby showed me this.
Stevens is an AWOL member of the
Daily opinion staff
Panic Attacks??
Do you often suffer from some of the following symptoms?
sudden surges of fearfulness J pounding or racing heart
0 dizziness or trembling J0Jfeeling out of control
Q shortness of breath 0 fear of dying
If you are having attacks like this, you may-be eligible to participate
in a medication treatment study at the University of Michigan which
also provides evaluation and follow-up advice at no cost.
*Women must be post-menopausal or surgically unable to become pregnant.
For more information call
Hedieh at U-M Anxiety Clinic
(313) 754-5349