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Ward should examine attitudes

To the editor,

I am sure John Ward's column "Absolute Value" has made many people angry, including me. However, as anger serves no function in a successful rebuttal, I will simply address the inconsistencies I perceive in the column.

First, Mr. Ward says that "it is a travesty...when a person who opposes homosexuality is...treated like a monster." However, Mr. Ward seems to be treating the homosexual community in the same way. He claims that he believes "homosexuals...have dignity and value," but he has called the participants of the drag show "shameless" and implied that homosexuality is unnatural. It is difficult to imagine that Mr. Ward sees others' actions as shameless and unnatural, while still believing they have value and dignity.

Second, the few people who "brutalize" those who believe homosexuality is wrong are not typical representatives of the non-Christian-right community, and they should not see themselves as "do-gooders." Mr. Ward needs to know that most of us do not wish to brutalize him, as that would make us no better than those who brutalize homosexuals. We also should not (and hopefully do not) see ourselves as "do-gooders" because we accept other lifestyles. I am not doing homosexuals a favor by accepting them and their lifestyles; rather, I am acting in a method which I believe to be decent and right.

Mr. Ward has a right, as we all do, to believe whatever he wants about others' beliefs. I hope he will take a close look at his attitudes, though - they seem indistinguishable from those he condemns.

Becki Norris

Russian senior