COLUMN: All sub-cultures deserve acceptance
OK, I have to warn you all now. Normally, I write light fluff that means nothing and is directed to entertain, amuse or even bring laughter, but this is not the case today.
I am compelled to write something that will make a difference or maybe inspire or educate. Failing that, I will return to the light, fluffy crap next time.
This past week, I have been amazed at the insensitivity and ignorance exhibited by so many on our campus. What set this off in my head was the responses to National Coming Out Day. Are we so blind as to not see that those this day affects are part of our society too?
Lets look at it this way – every year we celebrate Christmas and Easter. We celebrate the Fourth of July and Columbus Day. These are holidays that embrace our culture. The first two are derived from Christian belief and rarely, if ever, draw attention. The second two proclaim our feelings for our country and the freedoms it stands for. But these are, and have always been, mainstream, white-American holidays. They have not traditionally embraced every cultural difference that makes up our nation. Some will disagree, but when you really look at it, it is true.
So to compensate for this, the country also has Human Rights Day, which was born from Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is a celebration of a sub-culture of our country. No less deserving than the other holidays we have, but often over-looked or subjected to a secondary holiday status.
On a more local level, we have weeks to celebrate black history, Asian culture and Polynesian Culture. These groups sponsor activities to educate and proclaim their background. They did not choose to be black or Asian. They were born that way, and for the most part, our highly religious community accepts them. It may not always support them, but it does try to accept them.
So why then is our campus so afraid to accept or even tolerate those who are of a different (to use a politically correct term) gender orientation than the mainstream community? Is it because they do not understand it? Is it because the Bible says it is wrong? Is it fear?
It is too bad people do not understand that homosexuals do not choose to “be that way,” despite what many local religious practitioners may say. It is too bad a group of people who are now considered a sub-culture of their own are not allowed the same freedoms and rights to celebrate their own identities and lives like others in this country just because they were born “different” from everyone else.
And what happens when they do? They are criticized and ridiculed. Some are threatened and verbally abused. If they receive media coverage, they are belittled and put down.
When a religious service can be covered by all major newspapers in the state and receive front page stories and photos twice a year and no one flinches this is OK. But a small group of “gays” get a story on the front page of a paper and they are thought to be out of their bounds.
How shallow and closed minded must our community be? To be a truly equal and open society, we should all embrace and celebrate the lives and differences of each person. Realize that for centuries, major holidays have been for the mainstream, and also realize that, without the sub-cultures, our country would not be as great as it is today.
I have always thought I would never take an activist’s stance on issues dealing with these topics, but I know now, that I have to fight for understanding and acceptance. I must try to help people see, that for once, our country is trying to do something right and accept others. Let’s not be behind the curve on this one here in our little corner of the nation. We should be trend-setters and lead the way to a better understanding of our human family.
Justin Berry is a junior majoring in theater, his bachelor’s degree. Comments can be sent to
jsberry26@hotmail.com.