Homosexuality at Rhodes….
I really admire the University that it is encouraging students to be proud of their sexual status, whether they are gays or lesbians. Looking at other universities students still die because they are scared of what other people might say to them about their sexual status. As much as I really admire the University for this, I believe that they have forgotten about the straight students that they even exist on this campus. When you walk around campus you see people going around saying they are lesbians but when they go home they are not. The old students have corrupted a lot of first years, who came here straight but because lesbianism and being gay is a fashion at Rhodes they have lost their values and joined the crew because of the influence of their senior students. I know and understand that I am nobody to judge because I’m not perfect myself. But I feel like the University has totally forgotten to encourage people to be proud or rather to come out of the closet about their HIV status. How many marches have we had this year about how people should be proud of their sexual status, but not even a single person has ever come out and said I am HIV positive. But half of the campus is homosexual and they are proud of that because they are encouraged to be. This lesbianism thing affects other people who have nothing to do with it because they start asking out innocent people, innocent people become victims of gay people and lesbians. Not only that, they start imposing their beliefs to everyone and expecting everyone to except them because of who they are. Forgetting that we are all different and come from different cultures and some of the things that people do here to some of us are considered as taboos. I didn’t want to ask this but I am going to ask, the reason people are being encouraged to be proud of their sexualities is it because some of the administration staff and some SRC members are homosexual? So now we are all expected to conform to their way of doing things or they are trying to make them feel like what they are doing is good by imposing their beliefs to everyone. I will suggest the University to look at more important things like encouraging students with AIDS &HIV to live positively. Students are only encouraged to live positively with their HIV &AIDS status during the Shark week only and after that they never speak about it. A lot of students around this campus are still denial about HIV AND AIDS because they are scared of what people to say if they found out they are HIV positive. I strongly believe that this homosexual thing is temporally and it is corrupting the poor first years who are trying to fit in. We all know that we have more girls than boys around the university and that Grahamstown can get a bit lonely sometimes, but please don’t use this as an advantage for homosexual people over straight people.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Homosexuality at Rhodes
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I must be honest that I did not fully understand where you were going with your take on homosexuality here at Rhodes but I found your argument incredibly weak, especially in this cases’ seriousness. This is a very controversial issue. You said that at other universities, students still die because they are scared of what others may say about their status- is that not rather far fetched, yes there may be abuse and discrimination but death? You also say you admire the University for the way in which they deal with the issue and how they encourage students to be proud of their sexual status’s, however you as a straight person feel left out and are worried about the girl-guy, straight-gay ratio here in Grahamstown. You then pose the question to whether it is members of our SRC and its administration that are homosexual and thus they are the ones encouraging homosexuality? How do you know that there are homosexuals within the SRC, there are no names mentions so one cannot see the truth in your assumptions and thus questions your credibility. Rhodes as a university aims to teach everyone tolerance and understanding of the diverse people around us and that is why there are societies such as OUTrhodes. I would not say that there is anyone imposing any beliefs onto us but people just offering their guidance and understanding as it not the straight but homosexuals that are mostly forgotten.
"Maybe it is only I, but conditions are such these days, that if you use studiously correct grammar, people suspect you of homosexual tendencies." ~ Dorothy Parker. My dear Azab’sh, if this is to be believed then you are certainly in the clear. If, of course you consider not having homosexual tendencies as placing you in the clear. But the quality of your writing aside let’s move on to more sustentative argument. I pose the question to you, do you honestly believe that straight people have been forgotten on this campus, you merely have to look at the way that certain societies advertise their events and still objectify women to know this is not true. One assumes that your beliefs are informed by your social interactions with homosexual people, but when does this occur? Your profile states that you’re 17, unless you’re doing so illegally, when do you get the opportunity to engage with homosexuals in an informal, non-academic setting? If you were doing so you would notice that the homosexual community doesn’t utilise the party scene to proselytise, they party simple for that reason: to party. You seem to be assuming that homosexuality is a choice, why would anyone CHOOSE to be persecuted as empirical evidence suggests still happens at Rhodes. I am in complete agreement with your views on HIV statuses, your concern is legitimate and more should be done to encourage discourse on HIV and AIDs. Azab’sh, I find your use of hyberbole in saying that half the campus is gay to be well implemented and rather humorous – at least I hope it was for comedic effect because if not it is a gross exaggeration which further illustrates your uninformed opinions about the demographics of this campus. Being a student of language I’m concerned by your phrasing of “This lesbianism thing” (or IS it just another error?) because it loaded with ideology, and not positive ideology at that. I haven’t experienced the homosexual community as a militant force and perhaps you should consider just what it means when you say you are a “victim” of gay and lesbian belief systems. As for “except[ing]” (and once again, did you mean accepting perchance?) gay and lesbian people for who they are; do you not expect people to accept (“except”?) you for who you are? Maybe we should return to an Apartheid mentality where different methodologies are used for separating and denigrating people because of who they are. This would seem to be the devolution of our egalitarian society, so maybe you should consider the implications of what you’re implying? This “dirty” question you didn’t want to ask, (so cleverly cushioned by your pretence of not wanting to ask it) about the homosexual people in high places enforcing their pride on others’ is wholly contrary to reality. Once again, my experience is that they encourage one to be proud of whom one is as a whole person, sexuality being just one aspect. But I’ll accept your emphasis of the issue to be a personal (if somewhat misguided) opinion. And if you’re so concerned about the HIV and AIDs issue, why do you put so much energy into gay and lesbian people? Or is there some sinister correlation in mind, because to me the issues seem unrelated. Perhaps you could clarify this next sentence in your reply because I struggle to understand it: “I strongly believe that this homosexual thing is temporally and it is corrupting the poor first years who are trying to fit in.” Or maybe I rely too much on logic and actual experience when forming and relaying my observations. Finally, dearest Azab’sh, I don’t want you to think I’m attacking your… ahem… interesting argument, but I think the weight of not only evidence but also of the popular opinion of fellow alumni would hold truer to what I’ve said than to what you’ve said. Think… actually think about it and I’m sure you’ll agree.
I hardly agree with your statement that straight people are forgotten on Rhodes campus. Societies like OUTRhodes aim to promote acceptance for homosexuality, not to ostracize straight people.
While university is a place to grow and develop your character, I do not think that the new found freedom coupled with how liberal Grahamstown youth tend to be would “corrupt poor first years.” As a first year you may be impressionable but you make it out to be like we are putty, or princesses to borrow terminology from Propp, in the overzealous hands of senior students.
Sexuality is a personal choice and personally I have never fell “victim” to this so-called fashionable trend. Rhodes and its societies allow you to be yourself and find a niche that you often couldn’t at school. Gay people are simply embracing the homosexual community which they may never have found themselves in before, and so come out the closet if they are not already openly gay.
Lastly, as a member of SHARC I can vouch for how actively it promotes HIV/Aids testing and awareness. It is the largest society on campus and from t-shirts to marches to workshops, its presence is undeniable and year-round.
In response to your blog (if we could call it that), I found both the content discussed and the narrow-mindedness of your writing offensive. Even as a straight male Rhodes student, I am appalled that you believe that the homosexual students at Rhodes “have lost their values” and “joined the crew because of the influence of their senior students.”
I understand that experimentation is often instigated by older students and I myself have been subjected to some of the ‘seal clubbing’ within the gay community here at Rhodes. But whether I personally agree with it or not is irrelevant, and to say that by doing this people “have lost their values” holds no factual baring whatsoever, and is presumptuous as well as ignorant.
Statements such as “half of the campus is homosexual” are so unfounded that your post at times seems nothing short of a joke? Here’s a tip – next time you want to have an opinion about something, make sure that you have some kind of factual content to back it up, or try not to over-exaggerate to such an large extent or your two cents will probably just blow away on the breeze as quickly as it came.
Good luck,
Damien
OK, I think I am going to do what everyone else did here and jump on the band-wagon. You obviously have a problem with the gay and lesbian community if you putting across such statements. The fact that you mention that the SRC is gay as well, just shows your generalisation of things and that you have not thought things through (bad grammar and all). How do you know that they are gay? And it sounds like you are taking a jab at them. I am also pretty sure, well from what I know, that people don’t die when they reveal their sexual status. I think they just accept it and move on with their lives like all of us, and even if that is the case, that is why we have societies like OUTRhodes to help people to accept who they are. Your argument seems to separate gay and lesbians as almost a different kind of human. The last time I checked they were also human and are no different to any other person. Another thing, is this idea of lesbianism and gayenism been a fashion. People don’t become gay to fit in wit al da cool things bro. Claiming that half the campus is gay is also a massive generalisation. How do you know this? Have you asked half the campus? You also claim that innocent people become victims of gay and lesbian people. Wow, me, as a straight person, even finds that offensive. You are making it out that gay and lesbian people are criminals. You obviously have some strong feelings here but I encourage you to think about your writing because this is a bit offensive.
Check out my blog at www.takinglifeseriously.blogspot.com :)
Have you been to Johannesburg during Gay-Pride month? Or even Knysna? Heard of the Pink Lourie? These are all homosexual marches, very very big homosexual marches, which occur around our country. I think it’s unfair of you to label Rhodes as a strongly gay-pride area when (thankfully) people are speaking up about their sexuality all over the country. In a large city like Johannesburg though, it’s just not as visible as when a group of people march down High street. I work at Activate student newspaper, taking photos of almost every single march that happens on campus, I just seem to have an understanding of them. One march/protest has been dedicated to “Saving Zimbabwe”, about three to “Protecting Our Women” (one of which included protesting outside Lady Frere court along with an HIV Positive support group, many of them wearing the ‘HIV POSITIVE’ shirts) and one march out of this entire year involved Gay Pride. This march was only inspired by the rape and attack of a lesbian in the neighbouring township, an issue which I’m sure you’ll deem outrageous and worthy of attention. It’s not that homosexuality is getting more coverage at Rhodes; it’s just that you seem to be listening more to them, making this a personal issue. HIV awareness is present at every single march/protest/initiative held at Rhodes; personally I view at as the most talked about issue as it affects us all, and we students are aware of that.
In response to a post called Homosexuality at Rhodes, I admire the author for raising such a controversial issue and voicing his opinion. However, there is one claim which I find seriously flawed. That is that gays or lesbians coerce innocent bystanders into their alternative lives. In the words of the author “innocent people become victims”. This claim is completely ungrounded and quite frankly unreasonable. How can an individual that is capable of reason and vulnerable to any form of sentience be coerced into a situation that is unfavourable to the person, or so-called victim? The person can at any time withdraw from the relationship or dealings with the homosexual. He or she has that choice and capability. The author makes it sound as if the ‘victim’ has no control over him-herself and cannot be held accountable for his own actions. If this is truly the opinion of the author then he clearly has not done his research properly for had he but interviewed one individual that was supposed to have coerced the ‘victim’ he would understand that it is not a matter of coercion but of choice from both sides.
pointingpurple.blogspot.com
The first question that I feel obliged to ask is, how in God's name have you made it to university? Did you bribe your way through primary and high school? I think that my 7 year old cousin could have written this piece better than you did. Not only that, I also think that she would have adopted a much more mature and humane opinion of homosexuality.
You come across as a complpete old school homophobe. In case you hadn't noticed, gay and lesbian men and women are still PEOPLE. They have feelings, opinions, religious beliefs and morals just as straight people do. You refer to the fact that you suspect that some adminstrative staff and members of the SRC are homosexual. What the hell does this have to do with the price of eggs?
You need to wake up and smell the coffee. You are in serious need of a slap actually, and I'm suprised that with your attitude, you haven't been given one already. You cannot go around with these kinds of thoughts in your head, they are just not acceptable. I know that every person has a right to freedom of speech and thought and whatever else, but I think that in your case, the constitution should make an exception. I am disgusted by not what you have said, but the way in which you have put it across. Rhodes University has a reputation for being very liberal. If you don't like it, leave.
I hope for your sake that this opinion is merely something you made up in order to comply with the topic of the assignment.
I have naught to add to all this other than my keen amusement at the reticence of the OP, who has had almost a week now to defend her bigotry. An apology, one feels, would suffice, but this silence betokens cowardice of the most pathetic strain.
Ever,
Cock
PS: Hats off, by the way, to the rest of the commentariat. Your restraint is as remarkable as azab'sh's mind is narrow.
Response to an Opinion: Homosexuality at Rhodes
Your blog post makes for quite interesting reading, largely because it is so cool reading such a different opinion to my own! While I can appreciate your views, you say yourself that we are all from different cultures where different behaviours are considered to be more taboo than others, and you are obviously someone who is uncomfortable with the very idea of homosexuality. That being said, what might deeply disturb you may be compeltely acceptable or natural to others. I choose the word natural because that what is is, homosexuality is a way of life that we must learn to accept, purely on the basis of human rights, I think it is the right of every person to choose a sexual lifestyle which they feel most comfortable with, and they should not be judged for that decision any more than they should be judged about who they date or whether they're vegetarian or not. Words like “corrupted” and “imposing beleifs” are too strong to describe merely trying to create an environment where everyone can feel comfortable being who they are, something I would expect you to appreciate, especially considering the nature of your blog.
HIV/ Aids is a very tricky topic to bring in to your discussion. Remember, it has taken time for homosexuality to reach even this partial stage of social acceptibility, and the taboos surrounding HIV/Aids have not yet been phased out, thus encouraging students to be open about their HIV status is a tad ahead of the rest of everyone else, especially considereing the personal nature of the condition, it is a medical condition and therefore confidential information, and none of our business.
P.S: Phrases like “this lesbianism thing”, “ innocent people become victims of gay people and lesbians” and “ because lesbianism and being gay is a fashion at Rhodes they have lost their values” says a lot more about your opinion than most of the rest of the post. These are Very strong statement you make, and hurtful too.
First of all, my ignorant friend, it is in your best interest to understand that one’s sexual orientation is a personal and thus private choice. The gay people you speak of fight not to recruit people into their sexuality but, fight to be accepted by the society in which they form part of. How is a persons’ sexuality corrupting anyone in any way? It seems to me like you are the one with the problem. You don’t know who you are which is why it would even occur to you that a few words from a so-called senior gay student could influence you to be gay. You speak as if you live in some sort of place which fears being influenced by the “big bad gay world”. Wake up my darling the world is not there to tip toe around you nor are people here to babysit you. I don’t know whether you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years but gay people are not going anywhere. Your contradictory statements further weaken your argument. Your statements fall flat and add no substantial value to this world, let alone the university.
You ridiculous, ignorant child!!! I cannot supplement the argument against your blog any further as everything needed to say has been said. However your words were so hurtful and made me so angry that I felt I could not say nothing. Wait 'til you've grown up and try again.
P.S. Paul Hjul, whoever you spoke on behalf of is awesome ;)
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