© 1998 VNN
| EDITORIAL November 24, 1998 VNN2547 90% Of The Problem BY MADHUSUDANI DASI EDITORIAL, Nov 24 (VNN) — HOMOSEX GANG RAPE OF ISKCON "STOP IT NOW" Mother Madhusudani dasi answers Isa das (see VNN story #2551) Dear Isa Prabhu, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. While I agree with several of your points, I don't think it's fair to slander a whole group of individuals (i.e. gay men and women) just because theirs was also the sexual orientation of a few power hungry, frustrated maniacs who had no ethics. We have hundreds of very sincere humble devotees who are also gay, but who have never pushed for a position or abused anyone. How do you think it makes them feel to read your text? I can tell you that many of them are struggling very hard on a day-to-day basis to be Krsna Conscious, even though they are routinely referred to as "demons" and even though we expect a higher standard from them (i.e. lifelong celibacy) than we do from our straight devotees (who have the opportunity to become grhastas). I know you're a thoughtful and compassionate person, Isa. Please reconsider this focus of your advocay. Yes, some of the leaders who caused havoc were indeed gay, but we have also had lots of straight so-called leaders who have abused their power. Do we let them off the hook? I don't think you want to do that. Isn't the point here that we want an end to corruption, abuse and unethical practices, regardless of by whom those are practiced? "Gang rape" may be a catchy headline, but we need to remember that heterosexual men are disproportionately represented in coercive sexual practices. If we forget that, we ignore 90% of the problem. Your servant, Madhusudani dasi This story URL: http://vnn.org/editorials/ET9811/ET24-2547.html NEWS DESK | EDITORIALS | TOP |
