SCIENCE OR RELIGION?

Those who worry that, in the Bush administration, science tends to lose out if religious interests dictate another outcome, will not be reassured by this news. Karl Rove doesn’t seem to understand that there’s a limit on what non-evangelical Republicans or conservatives will put up with. Making a mockery of FDA deliberations may be one of those things, like the Schiavo case, in which people simply lose patience.

MORE THAN VIRTUALLY NORMAL: Here’s a revealing email from a 20-year-old poli sci major at UCSB. If I wanted proof of my argument in “The End of Gay Culture,” this is somewhat definitive:

I came out about a year ago while I was still living at home in Valencia (a suburb of Los Angeles in northern LA County). I am your typical guy, I played football in high school; I surf, snowboard, hunt, and fish. When I came out it was a shock to everyone who knew me. The suburb in which I lived was a close knit community centered around the family – like most suburbs I guess. Because of my football skills I was well known around my High School campus and my town. When I decided to come out, about a year after I graduated from high school, I thought it would be a big deal. But to my surprise, it was not. Of course it was gossip and word spread quickly, but it wasn’t as bad as I had previously expected. It was shocking because no one had expected it. But in the end no one cared one way or the other. I have tons of straight male friends who treat me the same now as they did when I was in the closet. Actually a group of my ex-teammates and I went to TigerHeat – a Thursday night club in West Hollywood – a few months ago and had a great time! TigerHeat is mostly the younger crowd; there are the typical drag queens and Go-go dancers. I was so relieved and pleased to see that my friends, who are ultra-hetro, were still my friends whether I was gay or straight. It’s like I am one of them, one of the guys. My one friend, Eric, asked me who I thought was cute out of our group of friends. I couldn’t stop laughing! I had named a few and then he replied, “Hey man what about me? You dont think I’m hot??”

I can remember when I was still in High School laying in bed at night telling myself that there was no way on earth that I could be gay. Not me I would say, I’m not GAY. I don’t act gay, I don’t dress gay. How can I be gay? I play football and I kiss girls! I’m not gay! But, like every gay man out there, I had to take it in strides; I had to deal with it my own way. And I did just that. The rest was history. I am out to pretty much everyone I know and meet. I am so much better for it. I had made a big deal out of something that was not a big deal.

I am writing you because I am living proof of what you are taking about. I have no idea what the Gay Culture of the 70s and 80s is about. I had no idea that AIDS had such a huge impact on gay life. I am completely ignorant of the pain and tragedy endured by the older generation. I respect what they did. I live my life the way I want. I am who I am. I have the freedom to be ‘out’ and not have to worry or hide who I really am. I guess I take it for granted. I guess I am guilty of that. I HATE the stereotypes and the labels put on gay people. I hate the idea of West Hollywood and the Rainbow. I am normal. I do not like the idea that I have to identify myself as gay. Homosexuality is still a touchy subject with some people, but it is definitely not taboo. Most of the time I don’t even think about my sexuality, it’s just not an issue anymore. When I really think about it, to me it’s odd that I don’t even know what the gay generation before mine accomplished. I have absolutely no comprehension of what the ones before me and my fellow boys put up with. The battle they fought, and won, for me. I can’t even imagine living back in the 70s, if I did live back then – I say that as if it were hundreds of years ago – I’d probably still be in the closet. How long ago are we talking about here? Two to Three decades, that’s it.

I am gay. I am different, but I am not weird. I am not inferior. I am normal, I am one of the guys.

And making history. The great challenge for gay people in the next decade or so will be, in many places, taking yes for an answer.

NON-VIOLENCE AGAINST TERROR

Pakistani Christians face down Islamist terror – peacefully. There are two responses to the barbarism now threatening so many across the world. One is to fight back aggressively with military and police power, as we should. But in the civil sphere, we can also simply defy the terror – worship as we see fit, speak what we believe, and refuse to live in fear. These Pakistanis whose church was burned to the ground are doing what they can, by worshipping in the open air. And showing what real faith is.

WAR AND FREEDOM

We can craft a better balance than we now have. My latest column is now posted opposite.

LEO STRAUSS AND AMERICA: Few thinkers have been subjected to as many ignorant smears as Leo Strauss. He was, in my view, an exceptionally gifted, funny, shrewd and daring interpreter of some of the most critical texts in the Western canon. I’m proud to have been taught by some of his students, and wish I could attend a conference at the New School later this week. It’s open to the public, and looks riveting.

LESS TRUSTED THAN CLINTON

That’s the news for president Bush from the latest Gallup poll. Money quote:

A 53% majority say they trust what Bush says less than they trusted previous presidents while they were in office. In a specific comparison with President Clinton, those surveyed by 48% – 36% say they trust Bush less.

People aren’t fools. When a president says “We do not torture,” and the evidence is overwhelming that we do, and have done, repeatedly, then your credibility suffers. The president has to put this issue behind him – soon. (Hat tip: Mike.)

KOS AND HIATT

Armando has an unseemly fit about Fred Hiatt. Hiatt’s point seems completely legit to me. Money Hiatt quote:

The Democrats could be responsible and fiercely critical, too, as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has shown throughout the war. When they pull a stunt such as insisting on a secret Senate session, it could be to debate Bush’s policies on torture and detention. They could ask whether everything possible is being done to furnish the Iraqi army with protective armor. They could question whether anyone inside the administration is focusing with the same urgency on prodding Iraqi politicians toward compromise as are America’s ambassador and top generals in the field.
Individual Democratic senators have focused on individual questions such as these (for example, Michigan’s Carl Levin on torture), but for the caucus and its leader, Harry Reid (Nev.), the key questions are all about history.

I have no problems with investigating the pre-war intelligence process. But we are still at war, and a responsible opposition does more than oppose: it offers an alternative for the future. How do we win? What do we do now? What specific reforms are needed? Better training for Iraqi forces? Better monitoring of the Syrian border? An end to torturing detainees? More Dems need to be making positive pro-active arguments for winning this war. Until they do, they will deserve the label of ‘unserious.’