Animosity based on difference must end

Animosity based on difference must end

By Robert Huweiler

As I prepare to graduate from UCLA this spring of 1995, I am
distressed at what I see as an ever-present animosity toward a
significant group of our student population. This population merits
significance if only in its humanity and emotions ­ they
laugh, they cry, they bleed, they love, they die. Yet, even with
all these basic human qualities, they are often considered sick,
disgusting, ill, immoral.

Considering such endearing adjectives it is no surprise that
this significant group cannot freely express themselves without
real, not imagined, fears. Fears based in cold, hard facts. Facts
relating to increasing numbers of hate crimes. Crimes ranging from
childish, albeit hurtful name calling to senseless, incredibly
painful murder.

I had always assumed that UCLA was a place where all could
displace such fear, as well as an environment where all could
freely express their diversity. While this may hold true for other
significant student groups, it most certainly does not freely exist
for this significant student group.

This group’s newly realized resource center is tucked away in
the basement as if to be hidden from view, as if we should be
ashamed of its existence. We should embrace its existence, however,
grateful this little office has finally arrived. I realize such
basement positioning allows prospective users to enter through a
back door.

Unfortunately, such discretion is merely an outgrowth of the
hate-filled words flung upon this group, let alone the facts
related to the ignorant fists thrown in some sort of moral
condemnation. It is no wonder teenagers in this group comprise
one-third of this nation’s suicides.

In a time when we should all be worrying about the uninformed
wrath of an increasingly powerful monster, Newt Gingrich and the
Republican party, I never expected to worry about expressing my
identity at UCLA as a queer male, all the while wondering if I
would soon become the next hate crime statistic.

I sincerely hope that such conclusions are not the reality. The
fact of the matter, however, is that it has taken all of my courage
to displace my own fears and write this letter, let alone sign my
name.

Let me be wrong. Show me I am wrong.

Huweiler is a senior sociology student.