I wish to respond to Mr. Derek Unnasch’s letter printed April 3, 1992. I, too, consider myself a moral, rational human being. But I find it difficult to listen to someone who advocates discrimination. A discrimination against another human being, that you feel is “deserved” because of their sexual orientation. A discrimination that could lead to, and has lead to, violence and murder.

Most people will agree that the words “discrimination” and “prejudice” go hand-in-hand. Prejudice literally means “pre-judgement.” I think that if you are as moral as you say you are, then you’ve read the Bible. We’ve all heard the remarks about man laying with man. But no one mentions some other simple guidelines the Bible tells us. In Matthew 7: 1_12 it says, “Judge not, that you be judged. For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Or in Luke 10:27, “You shall love the Lord your God … your neighbor as yourself.”

These are not “twisted views of morality.” They exist. Any truly moral human being lives by these guidelines as well as the rest of the Bible.

Next, homosexuals are not a subculture. They are living, breathing human beings that live normal lives just like you. They laugh, cry, feel pain, eat junk food, etc. They are a group of people that love members of the same sex. Not every gay man is a Jeffrey Dahmer, nor every lesbian woman a psychotic killer as in the movie “Basic Instinct.”

I don’t care if you don’t like the gay lifestyle. I respect your right to your opinion. Someday you will work side-by-side with someone who is gay and never know it. Don’t judge a man or woman till you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. Before you begin advocating discrimination, try to live the moral, rational life you say you live.

Todd Ball

NIU Alumnus