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| Re: My son, the daughter [message #111180 is a reply to message #111071 ] |
Fri, 27 August 2010 15:40   |
 Capucine 
Messages: 210
Registered: October 2007 |
Senior Member |
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Reflexions
I was 28 in 1966, so I should remember what conditions were like. Those cartoons seem to catch the general attitude towards homosexuality. One knew that it existed, but known homosexuals were rare indeed. It was mainly the pedophiles who were criminalized, rather than consenting adults.
One knew of homosexuality from school where in all boys or girls schools it was rife. Nature cannot be denied however man's prejudices demand it. It was just not practiced openly, which eliminated the need for aggressive homophobia.
On the other hand, one has to remember that homosexuality was not only against the law but more importantly considered as immoral. With so much State and religious condemnation no one needed to show homophobia. Homosexuality was generally accepted as being wrong. When you have the power of the State on your side there is no need to act aggressively when this can be safely left to the State.
The State has now changed sides, much to the chagrin of those whose moral standards still condemn homosexuality. Since morality trumps the law, these people act on their sense of right and wrong regardless of the law. Because the State is too powerful for them they turn their frustrations on the unfortunate defenseless individual.
As a comparison, adultery has been considered to be immoral in my lifetime. But I do not remember it being illegal. There is undoubtedly a minority who still hold it to be immoral. Their views are held strongly enough to make public demonstrations in support of their views. Private ostracization is the worst one can suffer as an adulterer. The homosexual still has half the population who condemns him as immoral, even if only privately.
The changes in the law have occurred due to the collapse of morality rather than any positive new system of morality, for which the law is setting out the practical consequences. The morality of the homophobes has not been abolished, merely suspended awaiting a clear theory of morality which will replace it. What moral theory justifies homosexuality? Any theory based on altruism does not. Rather it condemns homosexuals for not accepting the suffering arising as a benefit to others. The only system which would seem to work would be the 'self-perfection' theory, which is an egoistic morality. All the biblical type moralities, being based on altruism, are in absolute opposition as this supposes that the rights of the individual are superior to those of the community. No altruist can tolerate that under any pretext.
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| Re: My son, the daughter [message #111193 is a reply to message #111186 ] |
Fri, 27 August 2010 20:07 |
Hilary 
Messages: 5534
Registered: October 2007
Location: 2, Camberwick Green, Trum... |
Senior Member
BL Administrator (Retired)
BL3d |
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Ah, the '60s. A lot changed.
The Pill, the mini-skirt, women's lib, equality acts, being divorced was a disgrace, signs saying 'No Blacks or Irish', hippies, counter culture
Go back far enough and we have witch burning and the Spanish Inquisition.
The move to liberalism is nothing new, but it did (seem to) speed up in the '60s.
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| Re: My son, the daughter [message #111753 is a reply to message #111071 ] |
Thu, 02 September 2010 12:37 |
CarolynnL
Messages: 1817
Registered: October 2007
Location: Central Time Zone |
Senior Member |
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1966, I was on my first tour of Vietnam. Hot, miserable, boring with flashes of terror, but I had a copy of the Transsexual Phenomenon I bought before leaving San Diego. It was well thumbed by the time I passed it on.
Didn't see those little cartoons. We would occasionally get Nurse Nelly cartoon books.
Every time I returned home I experienced culture shock as the clothes changed a lot, the tenor of the movies changed to the anti-hero hero, and the virtual end of burlesque happened. It had lasted longer in San Diego than anywhere else on the west coast. All the strippers were getting sooo long in the tooth (and the sag), and comics too, though the sexual innuendo still sparked a laugh from the mostly stoned audience.
Belly dancing was in vogue, and a dancer lived next door to me at the apartment complex where I was sharing an apartment with a coworker while we were home. Needed somewhere to get away from the damned military bull crap. She practiced by the pool often, and I was an appreciative audience of her talents. She was a good cook, and I could bake cake and southern style cornbread. Shared evening meals several times. Nice kid. A dance major at San Diego State. Danced at a couple of clubs with Mideast atmosphere and food to pay her way.
Then back to the frog ponds after a few months home. Stinking place.
Carolynn
[Updated on: Thu, 02 September 2010 12:38]
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