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that conscious purpose, choice and values carry as an inevitable corollary, responsibility.
However, it must be pointed out that responsibilities, which are values expressable, as man ought to choose or act, are not implied by the capacity to carry out these responsibilities, and in certain applications require the dubious assumption of free will. The sane use of practical psychology can be of great help in this field.
What is the good of talking about a transcendent realm of values if these are not realized here and now in human beings? It is a change in the quality of the situations, brought about by the climate of the age in which we are living that is of great importance. What is of the utmost importance in our research work and what alone matters is to discover clearly and lay bare the problems that are lived, directly experienced, suffered and intimately connected with our being. Problems in which we are engaged-good as well as bad-are a part of ourselves. We often think it is impossible to escape them. To help, no one will deny the importance of analysis. But is analysis really enough? Who is there to analyze the analysts? We must be very truthful and realize we are concerned with the existence of human beings and not abstract things that can be stuffed into the Univac and have the correct answers come out.
Kierkegaard made a true statement long before contemporary psychology came into vogue when he said, "Truth exists for the individual only as he produces it in action." One of the great dangers of the present day is that ultimately psychotherapists will become the particular agents of the culture, with their task being simply to adjust people to the prevailing culture. Many are aware of this danger and hold strongly that the goal of therapy is that the patient fulfill his "being" (Dasein). In this sense Man is the being who can be self-conscious of, and therefore responsible for, his existence. Let it be said, however, that man must become fully aware of himself if he is to become himself. He must know his whole self and not just a part as is the case so frequently. Intelligent analysis and/or therapy can be helpful in aiding the individual to know himself as be really is, but not to conform him to an established social or cultural pattern.
I have stated in my book (Man Is a Sexual Being) "The responsibility for any situation rests with man. Contrary as it may sound, man is never free except in situation."
The homophile finds himself in a situation. He should employ a technique to work toward some end, and before he realizes it, the technique is integrated in the free surpassing of the end. In other words, if he accepts his situation, any anxiety or unhappiness he may derive from the situation is due solely to his inability to cope with forces outside himself. One cannot live solely from the inside. One must reach out and appropriate from the world what is usable for himself. By integrating the usable or introducing it into his own situation he nihilates the anxieties and unhappiness. If this is not done he will be nihilated himself. If the mattachine REVIEW
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individual insists on allowing the situation he is in to build his personality without striving to enlarge, improve, conquer, enjoy, love the things that are foreign to his native situation, then those who hold the homophile is infected with a disease have ground on which to base their charge.
The vastness of this field of research is inviting. After some 25 years of being concerned about the homophile situation I am thankful that I can see considerable improvement. Improvement on the part of the homophile himself as well as on the part of society in many respects. Society is gradually coming to that point or frame of mind where it is willing to learn and to accept. This is the great job that awaits the Mattachine Society-to serve as an educational institution, and to accelerate the social acceptance of homosexuality as it exists. Since its founding in 1950 it has made considerable progress, but to date it has barely pierced the vast stores of knowledge and social change yet to come. These thoughts I have been expressing should be the concern of all in the Society, but especially of those in charge of its Department of Research. Now is the time to act more challengingly than has been done in the past. There are great opportunities to avail ourselves of financial assistance from reputable Foundations and interested persons of good sense, good will and generous, humanitarian views. People who realize the need for sane, serious and intelligent research work to be undertaken for the ultimate good and enlightenment of all.
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It is our hope to have established within the next few years a fully qualified and equipped research section in the Society. Initially this will have to depend upon the members, but once a little headway has been made there are many in the professional fields who will lend assistance. It is our hope by the time of the 1960 Convention to have concrete plans made to present to the members. In the meantime you may have our assurance that we are busily concerned about our future work in the Research Department. From time to time readers will be notified of the progress we are making.
In the January Issue of THE CALIFORNIA LIBERAL:
1. Senator Humphrey, Upton Sinclair and others criticize Eisenhower and his administration.
2. The San Francisco Newspaper Monopoly.
3. National leaders who signed anti-Jew and anti-Negro covenants. 4. A trip to Oral Roberts (and death).
5. The Chinese Immigration puzzle.
6. A leak in the Telephone Company.
7. The beautiful, sexy woman.
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THE CALIFORNIA LIBERAL
1628 Balboa Street San Francisco 21
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