The Pendulum
OPINION
Thursday, February 12, 2004 aPage 5
This weekly column will entertain you with questions
from the minds of actual Elon students. Do not fear
the subject matter of the questions.
THE GURU
“Dear Guru -A close guy friend of
mine invited me over to watch a
movie, and told me he really liked
me. We hooked up, but since then he
has gone back to acting just like a
friend. I don’t get it!”
Bush’s views about gay marriage unfounded
Just picture it. The lights are off.
It’s just the two of you. The movie is
playing faintly in the background
and suddenly that nasty old couch
he bought at Goodwill isn’t as
uncomfortable as it had originally
appeared.
Movie magic.
If this were just an ordinary flick-
to-feeling-up encounter I would
place it into the “steamy sex scene
victims” category.
However, you mentioned that he
said he “likes” you — which puts
this in a whole different genre.
First, it’s important to decipher
your feelings. Do you like him
back?
If not, then the matter is settled.
Simply follow along with his “lets
not mention it” attitude.
Judging by your question, how
ever, I suspect you are feeling a lit
tle more than simple irritation as
your motive for inquiring. If that is
indeed the case, then it’s time to
truly figure this all put.
• Could it be you?
No, I’m not suggesting that you
grossed him out by your potent pop
corn breath — although dental
hygiene is very important for any
relationship.
What I am talking about is your
behavior. How did you react to his
declaration?
Did you play it off as nothing,
pretending to take it in stride like all
true game masters? As shockihg as
it may sound, there is such thing as
being too good at the game.
A dear friend of mine played the
“catch me if you can” a little too
well with one guy. After he told her
about his feelings and then sweetly
asked for a kiss, she blurted out sar
castically, “I need a beer before that
happens.”
And this was the man she had
been pining for all semester!
My point is that if you didn’t
react the way he had hoped you
would, he could simply be embar
rassed. It’s also possible he is afraid
you don’t like him back. In that
case, he is probably trying to act
cool in order to salvage his pride.
On the other hand, he could be
simply taking advantage of a situa
tion. He wouldn’t be the first man
(or woman, for that matter) to claim
feelings in order to get into bed.
I wasn’t there so you need to
judge his sincerity on your own.
On the other hand, you could
h^ve said something that scared him
off. Acting too eager too early can
be almost as detrimental as not
being excited enough. If you hinted
about something developing
between you, it may have frightened
him.
If the case is that he is simply
skittish or embarrassed, what you
need is a plan. Set up a situation
where you two will be alone and in
close quarters. Something intimate,
like watching a movie together.
Hmmmm ...
Sound familiar? Then see where
it leads. Hopefully, this sequel will
earn you at least one, um, thumb up.
Semi a question
to the 'GURU' at
elongiini@ya}ioo. corn
Blake Hinton
Columnist
There is no denying that gay
rights have come far and
long these past few years.
“Will and Grace,” a tele
vision show involving
two gay characters, is as
popular as ever. On
Bravo, straight people
have • seemingly
embraced the gay
lifestyle on the hit show
“Queer Eye For The
Straight Guy.” Finally, an
incisive HBO film like
“Angels In America” that
intimately examines the lives of a
group of gay people is lauded
with praise and Golden Globes.
This is all well and good, but
there is one crucial element miss
ing. Despite what seems to be a
significant step forward in gay
tolerance, the issue of gay mar
riage is pulling the country back.
Even President Bush is in favor
of an amendment banning gay mar
riage, if that’s what it takes.
During his recent State of the
Union address, Bush stepped up
his attack and clarified his points
even further, claiming he wants
an amendment to the Constitution
protecting marriage. His reason
Blake
Hinton
against gay marriage is the sim
ple phrase, “to protect the sancti
ty of marriage.” As if this wasn’t
shocking enough, half of the
room stood up to applaud this
proclamation. The only response
to this is, “What the Hell
is going on?”
Looking at television
and culture, one would
get the impression that
the gay lifestyle has
become fully acceptable.
Yet, looking at our
President, this would seem
not true. What he is pro
posing is not only uncon
stitutional, but quite sick
ening.
The ideas that George Bush is
proposing are plain and simple
gay bashing. Thankfully, Bush
can make it sound a lot better
with fancy political talk.
Definitely everyone’s favorite
line is his “sanctity of marriage”
line. Yet, what "sanctity of mar
riage" is he talking about? With
divorces on the rise and Brittany
Spears and other celebrities treat
ing marriage like a game, there
isn’t much sanctity.
What is left and what is
important about marriage is the
basics. Marriage isn’t about a
man and woman sharing their
love together. It's about people
sharing their love together and
making a lifetime commitment.
It’s almost funny to think that the
whole nation could be so hung
up on labels.
Hopefully, Bush will not push
for this amendment banning gay
marriage. Yet, if he does, I cannot
imagine the disastrous effect it
would have for gay rights.
Nobody likes a prophet of
doom, but think about it like this.
This kind of virulent homophobia
the President represents would be
better placed in the '50s. If we let
an amendment go through we are
stepping back decades into the
past. Someone should tell Bush
that this is 2004 and it's time to
look into the future.
Finally, it's quite possible that
the readers are wondering if this
writer is gay. Well, that is not
going to be revealed. The reason
why is that it should not matter.
This is not a gay issue or a
minority issue. It is instead a
human issue that strikes to the
core of intolerance. Some states
have already legalized gay mar
riage. Let’s not let Bush screw it
up.
Contact Blake Hinton at pendu-
lim@elon.edu or 278-7247.
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