Universitv Daliv Kansan / Thursday, October 11. 1990 5 LETTERS to the EDITOR 'Hawk expresses thanks Editor's note: Bill Sheehy, a KU graduate and former mascot, wrote the following letter to Donna Neuber at the Kansas University Association. She asked the Kansan to print it. Thanks for the letter and the 'Hawks. I never feel that I'm so far from Mt. Oread that I can't go back, Damn. I love our school. The response to my letter in the Kansan has been overwhelming! I never expected this to happen; basically I wrote because I noticed the address on my KUID, (yes, I still have it), and thought that anyone with relatives or friends over here would want to contact them. But I've received letters from all types of people in Kansan and Kusanis and letters of support. Mail is a key to morale, and I couldn't be much better off. I distributed both the stickers and the stamps to men at the platoon and I think the Jayhawk will be turning Saudi Arabia into a country throughout Saudi Arabia for some time. I'll never forget the support I have received from the Alumni Association and students of KU. Just goes to show what a strong tradition we have in Lawrence; once a Jayhawk, always a Jayhawk. I'm trying to be as a Jayhawk on a personal thanks, and date I have been able to do that. But if the letters keep pouring in, I doubt I'll be able to Darn, I love KU! Again, thank you and be sure to let the school know that we appreciate the support, and it's impossible to keep a 'Hawk down. "To the Stars Through Difficulties!" Gays belong in Scouts I was saddened by the irrational, insensitive and hurful guest column by Andrew Kenyon published in Monday's Kansan. The irrational aspect of his blind support of Boy Scouts is obvious. He believes that because a person is homoeroticly oriented they are incapable of attaining or modeling moral development. How absurd? If moral perfection were demanded of every Scout leader, the Scouting movement would be in big trouble. What of those Scout leaders who cheat on their wives, or sexually misuse their daughters and who drink within their families? And what of all those Boy Scouts who pledged the oath, who are today without moral character? Would Kenyon say that Scouting has failed? Mr. Kenyon probably would be shocked to know how many Boy Scouts have been led throughout their entire Scouting careers by men who were homoerotically oriented. And many of those former Boy Scouts, both gay and straight, are members of the same troop as Mr. Kenvon. Another irrational fear underlying Mr. Kenyon's position is the veiled assumption that gay Scout leaders will misuse young boys sexually. True, that does happen, and that is why most homoerotically oriented men are interested in adult relationships and adult sexual experiences. There are both gay and straight pedophiles, and the straight ones outnumber the gays by a long shot. There are many more young girls who have been abused by heterosexual men than young boys being misused by gay men. The insensitive and hurtful aspects of Kenyon's comments are realized by all of those young men who are or might be cut off from Scouting because of their erotic orientation, plus all of those who would be good leaders being cut off from leadership opportunities. Most of the gay Scout leaders (and there are more than Mr. Kenyon would like to think) and gay Scouts are forced to live cloaked while they take part in the Scouting experience. That is assumption, as is the reason Kenyon has no idea how many gay Scouts were in his troop. I can only hope that when Mr. Kenyon becomes a parent, he does not have a son who is homeoetically oriented. What a hell that young man would have to live. Mr. Kenyon would be the erotic orientation of his child, and if his son were gay, that son would not be allowed to be in Scouting or grow up to be a Scout leader like his dad did. Quite frankly, I think a lot of straight young men would be fortunate not to have to serve in Scouts at all, particularly that Mr. Kenyon would pursue, particularly his intolerance and narrowness of vision. As a former Boy Scout, I want Kenyon to know that I do not agree with his understanding of what Sooting is all about. Gay men and boys are in Sooting, whether Mr Kenyon likes it or not. One of my boyhood friends taught me that he despise his erotic orientation. Because Mr. Kenyon says, "only those men with perseverance, dedication and moral insight ... are able to advance through the ranks of Boy Scouts and all the way to Eagle Scout." I guess he would say that my boyfriend's standards being applied. Knowing this, will Mr. Kenyon turn in his merit badges? Dennis M. Dailey professor of social welfare Scout values questioned Andrew Kenyon, in his Monday guest column called, "Gay men violate Seuds' values," was joking, wasn't he? I took a poll of ex-Scouts at my table in the Wescoe cafeteria to see how their values were shaped by their tenure in Scouting organizations. One Scout told me how the close proximity of a Girl Scout camp encouraged a considerable amount of value-shaping. (Those of weak confidence would further.) Bays and girls alike, in the Scouting spirit, worked to expand each others' horizons — they took turns being on top. A portrait of parental neglect? "On the contrary," the Scout in question asked me. "Our Scout master told us all about use of prophylactics and coached us on the etiquette of sate sex. He even bought me a beer to keep the discussion lively." Ah, value-shaping in action. If it hadn't been for that diligent Scolmmaster, those innocent young Scolms might still be inflating their condoms and tying them to trees. Other Scolms regaled me with tales of how the community needed them to pot and balloonculture. Is this the value-shaping environment Mr. Kenyon so fervently desires to protect? In my troop, the exploration, the "Souling spirit," did not lead to such innocent pursuits. A couple of elder Scouts frequently entertained tourists — with all their favorite races, seasal and homophobic jokes. I hope this is not what Mr. Kenyon seeks to protect. If it isn't, then what he does want? What seems clear is that Mr. Kenyon does not want homosexuals to be permitted to hold leadership roles in Scouting organizations. My question is why? Does he fear a homosexual Scoutmaster will Toby Stoner Wichita senior sodomize his charges? Mr. Kenyon gives us some clues in his column how he might answer this question, and I'll give you an example: "It would be a slap in the face of every Eagle Scout, such as myself, if the Boy Scores of America were to lower its standards to accommodate homosexuals." He does not consider homosexuality healthy. It is a violation of his personal taste from which he wishes to protect the Scouts. An exaggerated protest A little moderation will go a long way, people. Granted, the American Indian was gravely mistreated as the United States moved east westward, but Columbus Day is not a "White supremacist holiday" any more than Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday is. It is no holiday. It does not represent the "subsequent invasion, genocide, slavery and exploitation" of the American Indian. Those are blatant untruths. It represents the day Columbus discovered the New World, which, along with the bad, brought many good things as well. People could leave Europe and then exercise religious freedom and get away from the monasteries of Europe. The protestors lose a lot of clout by grossly exaggerating their point. When I first read Tuesday's article, my gut reaction was total contempt for the demonstrators. Only after reading it about five times and thinking about it did I begin to see their concerns, although I still disagree with their methods. But that beet me over a large number of people who read or skimmed the article once would share my initial feelings. Armen Kurdian Wichita junior Re: An column entitled "KU police should not toe semiautomatic guns," by Rich Bennett, appearing in your September 19, 1990, issue. Guns do deter crime Mr. Bennett's ignorance of firearms is equaled only by his ignorance of police work. Unfortunately, like so many journalists, he nonetheless seems to be compunction about, and blindly editorializes on these subjects. I have been a police officer and firearms training consultant for nearly twenty years, and when I see drivel that contained in the above-mentioned editorial, I just cannot remain silent! It is untrue that the revolvers currently used by the KU police have not been used since 1971. Anyone who knows the first thing about police work is aware that those guns are used all the time. By their presence and sometimes by their posture, when the gun is drawn, they prevent, they prevent and restrain crime and criminals every day of the year. Police guns are actually fired only a very small percentage of the time they are drawn. The best way to win any war, including the war on crime, is through reputation and intimidation, and the police handgun is out there every single day, doing just that. A well-trained, well-armed police officer out there on patrol is the best crime deterent there is. Those with no experience and even less common sense may naively believe that KU is an isolated, little paradise where there is no violent crime or potentially violent criminal activity. Police officers need modern arms. It's the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy. John S. Farnam President, Defense Training International, Inc. YOU DONT NEED A COUPON! Legal Services Available Free With Valid KJ ID Appointment Necessary 148 Burge Union (913) 884-5665 TRUCKLOAD SALE! TRUCKLOAD SALE! PANASONIC PRINTERS UP TO 45% OFF msrp HUNDREDS IN STOCK! DOT MATRIX PRINTERS AS LOW AS $169 LASERS AS LOW AS $849 WIDE-CARRIAGE, NARROW-CARRIAGE, WE'VE GOT THEM ALL FACTORY AUTHORIZED SALES & SERVICE WE WILL BEAT ANY BONAFIDICE PRICE IN THE LAWRENCE AREA HURRY IN, AT THESE PRICES, WE'LL MOVE THEM FAST. MICROTECH COMPUTERS, INC. Quality • Service • Value 2329 MIOWA ST. LAWRENCE, KS. 6047 (913) 841-9513 5003 SW 29TH ST. 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