EDITORIAL

Public interest is frequently focussed these days upon instances in world and domestic affairs of irresponsible behavior and double-dealing. Governments and their leaders often often rise or fall according to their ability to act responsibly and in good faith on such matters.

If these concerns are of importance to the world at large, no less are they so to the smaller world of the Homophile Movement. Ever since ONE's founding the Corporation has devoted much space in its publications to questions of morality and ethics. During the past year ONE Confidential has several times pointedly discussed such matters at length under the general heading "Responsibility is Where You Find It."

Among the many questions for which answers have been sought are: where in the Homophile Movement is responsible conduct best represented; where least; of what does responsible conduct consist; are homophiles more, or less, responsible as a group than "the general population?”

It is easy to understand that pat and easy answers do not lie about readily at hand. The great Renaissance philosopher Machiavelli, himself homosexually oriented, has supplied the guidebook in his writings for what many have believed to be the soundest answers. Self-interest, he said, is the only safe and sure guide to sensible conduct in the affairs of states and of men. To think otherwise is to be duped, he held. But what exactly is self-interest?

So it has been that opposing schools of thought have argued that cynical self-interest is a weak foundation indeed upon which to rest responsible conduct. Larger interests, social interests, and the abstraction called "right" must also be taken into consideration, they hold.

While this is not the place to enter upon finely drawn arguments concerning the respective merits of such varying views, neither does this Editorial Page feel justified in shirking its own responsibilities concerning the homophile point of view.

Put in plain and simple terms ONE, Incorporated upholds, and always has upheld, the simple virtues of honesty, fair-dealing and respect for one's word, once it has been given. In these respects ONE feels that the homophile is no exception to the rest of society and agrees that without such agreements between men society would soon degenerate into anarchy.

What then of the homophile's obligations to be obedient to society's laws? ONE has great respect for them, as clearly was illustrated when this Corporation (1954-1958) carried up to the U.S. Supreme Court its insistence that even the Federal Goverment, in that instance the Post Office, must be obedient to law.

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