Hi E, I thought I would comment briefly on this conversation about homosexuality. It must be remembered that romantic love or Eros was considered the norm between males--and to some extent between females--in the Grecian culture of particular centuries. At one time ALL Spartan males were introduced to same sex love as part of their training for military manhood (As an aside, these were the finest specimens of manhood in history--no fat, abs of steel, etc.) :). Interesting, however, was that passivity was never considered an apppropriate male role in these relationships. They probably would have called this queer(LOL!). The point is that cultural mores determine (or reflect) the prevailing values of any particular culture, and determine what are considered deviancies. In our culture, homosexuality is still a deviant practice, as being outside the norm. Although it is deviant--our culture less and less finds it evil or wrong. In Greek culture during certain centuries, strict heterosexuality was extremely deviant, although it must be stressed that they were not burdened with the need to make moral distinctions of sexuality as relates strictly to gender. It was not an issue. Most modern people can scarcely conceive of this lifestyle, just as people in 1000 years (if the species survives) will scarcely be able to conceive of ours.
This essay is quite well researched, and gives a broad perspective to sexuality as it was...and as it is. I think, when people set out to form a personal opinion on gay lifestyles, they ought to thoughtfully consider the cultural breadth (and implications) of all ideas, and to sincerely question the kind of society they want to experience in their lifetime.
Personally, I think the rights entitlement to behaviour that has no victims, should be obvious and unquestioned. As to what one teaches their own children about such behaviour, that, of course, stems from ones own personal beliefs; But behaviour should not be mocked or hated merely because it is deviant. Many of the finest behaviours are deviant--such as respecting (instead of hating) the differences between people--even when they hold legal diversity in political belief.
fordham.edu |
