To the Editor:
I find Mr. Powers' argument regarding the Baldwin incident to be illogical and extremely ironic. First of all, he fails to draw the clear distinction between threatening behavior and political activism. Few people object to Mr. Powers' outrage with the recent incidents of homophobia. But many people including avid supporters of gay rights strongly opppose the posting of signs promoting violence against the perpetrators. Mr. Powers acts as if people are objecting to his anger rather than to the manner in which he is making his views known. Of course I would be angry had I experienced the abuse that the Baldwin women endured. And no, I can't say that I object to drawing on "castration fantasies," but to publicly threaten the perpetrators in the same cold and menacing way that they committed their crime in the first place, does nothing but encourage further conflict and worsen relations between the two groups.
I also find the similarities between Mr. Powers' thought process and that of the perpetrators in the Baldwin incident to be incredibly ironic and almost humorous. Recall his final paragraph in last week's paper: "...if you can't take my anger with my love and swallow the ugly as well as the beautiful, then you're not my friend or ally - don't pretend you ever were. And don't tell me you're offended. Because I don't give a shit." It is exactly this disregard for the views of others and disrespect for other's values that creates horrid situations like the one at Baldwin.
What exactly are you trying to do here Mr. Powers? If you are trying to find an end to the disgusting discrimination that we have unfortunately become accustomed to, then start looking at the big picture and realize that you must face the consequences for everything you do, especially when you have physically threatened another human being. If you are trying to promote violence, hatred and disunity while at the same time attempting to play the role of political crusader, then keep it up. Because while your thinking is neither logical nor practical, it is certainly entertaining to watch.
Copyright © 1996, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 124, Number 18; March 15, 1996
Contact Review webmaster with suggestions or comments at ocreview@www.oberlin.edu.
Contact Review editorial staff at oreview@oberlin.edu.