Just when you thought it was safe to read the editorial page again, you saw that same, familiar mugshot. Yes, it’s me. I’m back and I’m fiesty as ever. You lovely people get to enjoy another semester of my quick wit and light banter, highlighted by a gentle touch of sarcasm. So, if the screams of elation have subsided we will move on to today’s lesson.

As most of you have hopefully noticed, we have entered the 1990s—a whole new decade lies ahead of us just waiting to be shaped and formed. But, before setting a course for the future in stone, we need to take a look at exactly what we as a people have accomplished in the past. (Note the dream sequence beginning.)

For centuries we battled against the archaic rules of our forefathers that bound us to a dreary existence. Finally, after years of unspeakable torture we emerged victorious from the fight with a whole new list of freedoms to enjoy.

Each passing year brings us more and more liberties. We can now belch out loud at parties and not be thought rude. We can show sexual situations on television without facing censorship. We journalists can now freely set words like damn and hell into print for all to see and enjoy as well.

Yes, we have learned to accept each other’s bad habits. We’ve said “Hey, it’s OK to pee on my lawn when you’re drunk. As a matter of fact, it’s kind of funny.” We have taken offenses that were either morally or legally punishable in the past and turned them into a little slap on the wrist. After all, accepting each other’s downfalls is what will bring the human race closer together, right?

Wrong. Nice try though. We seem to have accepted things that are within human control and begun punishing people for things that they have no say in. I recently watched the “Rock Hudson Story” on TV with some friends and could barely hear the show over the continuous stream of malicious comments against homosexuals.

When I told others of the incident, I faced a second flow of slander. I am personally extremely content dating men, and wouldn’t change for the world, but that doesn’t give me the right to slander gay persons who don’t agree with my preferences.

Let’s try another example. It’s a hometown favorite here at NIU—persons of different skin color. We seem to have a real problem accepting people who don’t look like we do. Why is it so hard to understand that some things are beyond our control. Do you really think that people choose to be black, or white, or oriental, or gay, or whatever just to piss you off? Some of you certainly act like it.

A colleague of mine said issues like these are social problems, and social problems are seldom solved. Why is that? Why can’t we just accept people for what they are. In cases like these, we certainly can’t change them. This goes out to everyone. Contrary to popular belief, the straight, white population isn’t the only group to blame. Everybody has had a hand in it, although some like to continuously play the victim. If everyone wasn’t involved, the issues wouldn’t be this large.

I know my little peace and brotherly love speech seems like a pipe dream to most of you, but if we make a conscious effort, who knows. Five years ago, no one would have guessed the Germans would destroy the Berlin Wall and Communism would be in a state of despair. Think about it.