SEPTEMBER 15, 1995 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 11

SPEAK OUT

We are actually the great American smelting pot

by Marvin Liebman and Anthony Young

This past August, the authors were the featured guests at a faculty seminar at San Diego City College in California called "Celebration of Voices." This ongoing multicultural seminar assembles speakers

Anthony Young and Marvin Leibman

from different backgrounds before faculty members to engender a better understanding of diversity, and to foster more effective and creative education.

We were the gay “Voices,” following a Native American poet in July and preceding a Japanese-American World War II internec. This seminar is duplicated, in one way or the other, on hundreds of campuses across the nation, and all with the very best of intentions. Our hosts were charming and hospitable. The questions and discussion were intelligent and to the point. The seminar could be considered a great success in furthering the faculty's understanding and tolcration of gay men and lesbians which they

can pass on to their students. But, was it really successful?

The concept of the great American melting pot has sustained American culture for nearly three centuries, and it has shaped and organized our society, our values and perceptions. But the “melting pot” myth is just that. A mor description would be the

Great American Smelting Pot where cultural diversity and identity is subsumed and purified into a far-removed Puritanical image of the 17th century--the consummate white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant male who, with his dutiful wife, would proliferate and build the perfect nation.

To be successful, to be part of the mainstream, America requires its citizens to typify or be as similar to the mold as possible. Our culture, in reality, requires total assimilation rather than an accommodation of the many different values and identities that make up our country.

According to Dr. Gary Weaver, professor of intercultural communications at American University in Washington, D.C., “We would have to search diligently to find evidence of Chinese, Latin, Middle Eastern, Indian-American, African, or attorn Southern European ethnic patterns of behavior and thought being absorbed into the American culture.”

વર

While Congressional measures, such as affirmative action and other mandates, have sought to level the playing field through opportunities for minorities over the years, they

COMMUNITY FORUM

have been impotent in resolving the real problems of America's diverse culture of minorities. These measures simply attempt to give a larger share of the culturally imperialistic system, created by the dominant WASP culture, to minorities whose potential success lies only in conformity and in assimilation. Too many people still believe that government can solve racism, inequity, sexism, homophobia and intolerance.

Is it possible that the system by which we live is faulty? Perhaps we should stop crafting policy that still pays homage to the great American melting pot theory, and simply accept people who are different, who don't fit into the mold, and don't necessarily want to fit.

Government policies are generally designed to give the people greater access to the "American Dream." But this, in effect, mandates tolerance of specially selected and designated "minorities." Much more than tolerance is required if we are to progress as a nation in the new world society and economy of the twentyfirst century. We must learn, teach, and practice acceptance. But, far too many Americans still subscribe to the old thinking that “tolerance" is sufficient. How, then, can we remedy the cultural divide in America without more ill-conceived, albeit well-meaning, government programs?

It won't be easy! The answer lies with the faculty and students of San Diego City College and the millions of other students and faculty members across the nation. Rogers and Hammerstein wrote in one of their timeless lyrics, “You have to be taught to hate.” By the same token, p people can be taught to accept difference. It is not necessary to embrace difference, but it is vital to accept it.

Seminars and lectures and discussions and classes---beginning carly in the education process--are what's needed. We as a nation must endeavor to teach acceptance of different cul-

tures, lifestyles, religions, and ethnic groups that are part of the rich fabric of American life Without learning and practicing acceptance. America will be left behind as the new millennium begins. Americans will become the faceless, soulless, and inhuman creatures of the ultimate meltdown: the consummate white Christian male, his comparable mate and children, all rosy-cheeked and steeped in family values, staring blindly into----nothing

Teachers, take heed of your overwhelming responsibility to the children, to the young men and women of our country. First, learn to accept difference yourselves, and then learn to teach such acceptance to your students. Make no mistake! Such teaching will face strong opposition from those full of hate in our society: from those unable to accept anything but their own mirror image. You must prevail against them for the future of our country

Over the centuries, teachers and students have helped to shape and change the world. This is the time once again. Dr. Betty Berzon, author of the best-selling Permanent Partners and one of the great lesbian activists and psychotherapists of our day, writes in her stillto-be-published biography:

"We live in a world that rewards sameness because in sameness there is safety Differentness is feared, and too often punished. We are, therefore, inclined to hide. when we can, the parts of ourselves that others might find displeasing or threatening, the parts we believe will stigmatize us.

But hiding parts of ourselves diminishes us. We do not appear as authentic. We are fragmented, weakened, always vulnerable to discovery. Only when we come out of hiding do we gain the strength to challenge others' false superiority over us. Only when we experience ourselves as integrated and unafraid can we become people whose lives are meaningful and potent, people who make a difference."

Continued from facing page

PLAGAL won't be in AIDS Walk

The following was sent to the organizers of the Cleveland AIDS Walk:

To the AIDS Walk Committee.

I am writing again this year to voice our objection to Planned Parenthood being a benefactor of the AIDS Walk. Last year when we voiced our concerns we were ignored. This year we asked if we could choose the organization we wanted our funds to go to. Our reply came from a Thomas Canley who said we could choose our own.

Upon further investigation from another Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians member, she was told something different. I called a few times to clear this up and was not given a return call. I was ignored. I had other PLAGAL people call. Some got return phone calls, others did not. Those that did verified the fact that we could not choose our own benefactor. This put us in a position where we had to make last minute decisions, change our newsletter, make phone calls and in general cause aggravation, loss of time and money.

This could have been all avoided. Upon further investigation of how we could support the fight against AIDS without compromising our pro-life position, I had the oppor tunity to speak with Judy Ramburg who said she was on this committee. From what she fold me I am under the impression that Thomas Canley had no authority to say we could choose the benefactor of our funds. Also she told me because of time and the fact that it would cost more to operate, they could not accommodate us. They only get together six months before the event.

4 am a reasonable woman. Had this been explained to us in the first nlace instead of

ignoring us and our concerns, we could have been saved a whole lot of aggravation and time. The lesbian and gay community must practice what it preaches about diversity and tolerance. It must accept pro-life lesbians and gays as equal co-participants in the fight against AIDS.

With Planned Parenthood being a benefactor, along with the fact that we cannot designate our funds, it is the decision of the Cleveland Chapter of PLAGAL not to participate but instead have our own fundraiser to benefit the Living Room in honor of World AIDS Day.

Cecilia Holesovsky PLAGAL Cleveland area coordinator

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