Homosexuality - myths and popular opinions

I've been taught the story of Sodom and Gomorrah even before I could understand what it was all about. As I grew up, the popular sentiment was always against homosexuality. The Bible definitely says, in no uncertain terms, that homosexuality is a sin (both in the old and new testaments) and that it will be severely punished.

It seemed a little harsh, but then I wasn't really bothered about the whole issue when I was a kid. Now that more and more people are coming out of the closet regarding their sexuality and homosexuality is a legal, social and moral issue in our own country, it is impossible for me (or anyone else, for that matter) to ignore the issue.

1) Some of the first results I got when I ran a Google search on this issue screamed in bold letters about how God is against it. I believe that any issue which spans human history, different cultures, countries and religions should not just be judged based on the sentiments of a single religion.

To be honest though, most religions do not support homosexuality while some (like Buddhism) are entirely silent on the matter, only speaking against sexuality outside marriage. I'm not going to look at it from a religious point of view here. In my opinion, whatever your religious sentiments may be, don't force it on other people. However, keep in mind that homosexuality between consenting adults does not breach any human values. Our society is tolerant of far worse.

2) There is a common cry that 'it is not natural'. I want you to do something: Run a Wikipedia search on homosexuality in animals. You'd be surprised. Almost every species shows signs of homosexuality.
However, there is an argument saying that animals may have homosexual relations to maintain bonds in the pack or to show dominance. Also, there are definite cases of cannibalism and murder in the animal kingdom. The basic argument here is that natural does not make it moral or right.

3) Some say that it is biological and therefore, not a personal choice. There might be something in this. Research has shown that genes may play a vital role in how sexuality develops in humans. Hormones may have nothing to do with it at all. This is not conclusive evidence, however.

A med friend of mine says that in her opinion, it is entirely dependent on the environment and is triggered by experience rather than by genes or naturally by your own body. On the other hand, eunuchs and hermaphrodites are born that way and are still ostracized by society (but surprisingly, not by many religions). In any case, I doubt it will make a big difference.

4) The productive society and family unit argument is by far the most tricky. It cannot be said that homosexual people do not contribute to society in any way, because bearing children is not the most important contribution they can make. At least, not in a society where over-population is prevalent as is the case today.

When it comes to the family unit, you have a host of other factors like acceptance and societal norms to take into consideration and it may not matter in an ideal world but in reality, it is not an environment you should bring up a child in. In my opinion, this is also true of divorces and broken, abusive homes.

5) As for the government refusing to provide equal rights to these people and making it a moral and social issue, I have little patience with that. You cannot call yourself a democracy if you deny equal rights to a person who does nothing to violate another person's rights or the nation's welfare and security.

6) It is said that they contribute heavily to the spread of various sexual diseases. So do straight people. There are millions of heterosexual people with AIDS all over the world. Homosexuality doesn't equate to promiscuity. If you say that it is outside the institution of marriage, who denied them that right in the first place?


I'm not for or against the homosexual issue. While it is not my personal preference, I can't speak for other people. All I'm saying is that the extent and magnitude of the outcry and the kind of treatment meted out to these people is just not fair. The Bible, for instance, says that a disobedient child must be stoned to death and takes an equally strict view about adulterers, prostitutes and divorce. Why do we feel that those things are not as much of a threat to society as homosexuality?

Do you think you can teach?

Today was a particularly harrowing day. I don't want to go into the details, but it was mostly because of a certain professor. Sometimes, it's really hard keeping my temper in check but then, losing it would be like stooping to her level and it isn't exactly wise to retaliate when there's only six months of imprisonment left.

Anyway, this gave me some food for thought. I've always been taught to respect my elders, especially my teachers. There's a famous Sanskrit phrase which says, 'matha, pitha, guru, deivam'. It basically states the hierarchy of reverence or respect. First your mother, then your father, after whom comes your teacher and only then does God come into the picture. The problem is, I've also been taught that respect is earned, not given.

I personally feel that the teaching profession is nothing to be scoffed at. It requires a lot of knowledge, a lot of attitude and a phenomenal amount of patience; something that I might never achieve. What bothers me is that people no longer enter this profession to teach. In most people's eyes, it's an easy nine-to-five job which pays. There are a few dedicated teachers and professors out there and I've had the good fortune to study under some of them but sadly, their numbers are very, very small. I speak from experience when I say that a teacher can make or break your interest in a subject, and even in life.



For example, my computer science teacher in the eleventh grade was amazing. She knew her stuff, she loved what she taught and she would not tolerate undone homework. I've stood outside her class a few times for forgetting to read through what she had taught us the previous day, but I was drawn to her energy, her humour, her totally fun 'find the output' quizzes for which we would gladly stay back after school...I'm not exaggerating when I say that she was the reason I decided to take computer science in college.
I can still remember sitting in her class and furiously working out the logic of programs with tricky loops and other programming constructs just to yell out the answer before anyone else. I can also remember her beaming at me as she handed out corrected test papers and told me that I'd done well but I could do better.

She had to go to Dubai in the middle of the school year and we had a long string of substitutes till we finished our twelfth grade,each one of them worse than the last. I still loved the subject and we even went back to her house after she came back for a few lessons, even though she wasn't our teacher anymore.

Then I got into college. I don't mean to say that my interest was completely destroyed after a few days, but gradually it did go down to a considerable extent. A lot of people have told me that interest will survive bad teachers but mine didn't. I still study, I still pass my exams with good grades but I envy what I had when I was sixteen. I've had maybe two good professors in my entire college life. That is what's still keeping the embers alive.

It's not always possible to have teachers who will inspire you to be better at something and look forward to classes. In fact, it's pretty rare. All I'm saying is that if you want to be a teacher, please don't try to do it just for the money and please don't be an ignorant, sadistic, vindictive, self righteous moron. You're influencing a lot of lives and that's a heavy responsibility to shoulder.

Why I love maintaining a journal

I was flipping through my old journal entries today. I'm one lucky kid, you know. I have everything people spend a lifetime searching for. If you can, I would suggest to everyone reading this that you maintain a journal. There are so many memories which are going to be lost or forgotten if you don't have something to remind you of them.

You will not realize the importance of this until you find yourself soul-searching. You might not think a journal has an objective view of things, but when you grow as a person and look back at what you wrote years ago, it is more objective than you can imagine.
It can give you an insight into your own values and ideas. It can show you all the things you have when you think you have nothing. If you have ghosts of your past like childhood abuse,a dysfunctional family or even just a teenage feud with a friend, a journal is perfect for introspection and coping with things in the past.



I really don't have the discipline to write in my journal everyday. So if you have the same problem, take heart. I personally think that writing in a journal everyday just for the sake of writing makes things a little mundane unless you're dedicated to it. I prefer writing in it only when I feel that something needs to be put down on paper. It also helps me vent and express emotions that I can't show. It's a safe outlet where I can say things without hurting anyone else or being judged.

To be frank, I'm a hopeless romantic. It tempers my pessimism. I like to dream big, but I'm cautious when it comes to real life situations. It's one of my best strengths while it is also a pretty big weakness. When I'm unsure of how I should act in certain situations, I sometimes flip through the journals I wrote when I was a teenager. You won't believe how much that helps.
It puts things in perspective; it makes me laugh. And I'm always up for a good laugh.

Cold, Fever and Exams

I've got a three day weekend, thanks to Ramzan. I also have this bad cold and a bit of a fever so all my plans of...well, anything have to be put on hold till I get better. I think I am getting better, so here's to hoping that I won't have to spend the entire weekend at home with nothing to do.
There has been a sudden spate of fevers and colds in college and at home. Being sick is not fun but thankfully it's on the wane. Almost everyone I know is recovering from either a fever, a cold or both.

My internals start on Monday and as usual, there's going to be a lot of last minute studying going on. Most of the professors have despaired of the hope that we'll get decent marks and have passed on important questions for us to concentrate on. While this is going to help in the short term, I think we're in for a lot of work right before the semesters begin. As usual.

By the way, the thermometer on top is for measuring atmospheric temperature and not body temperature. Nonetheless, it looks pretty cool, doesn't it?

I don't give a damn

This is the title of a song by Avril Lavigne.

This is highly therapeutic if you just had one of those days when you wished you could say these words out loud to all the things and people who did their best to give you a splitting headache on a Monday.
Repeat after me. I do not give a damn. You can also download this song and sing along, with the added bonus that some of those people who did annoy you might be forced to listen to it and get one of those headaches themselves. Of course, the rest of the song is about some annoying guy who bugs her but it's the principle of the whole thing.

By the way, I have decided to give healthy eating a try because:

a) I've never tried eating healthy before, thanks to a decent metabolism rate and a dislike of forcing myself to lay off chips just to fit into those clothes Kareena Kapoor flaunts in the Vaio ad. I'm not saying it would be horrendous if I did fit into them by some miracle, but Size Zero vs. Cream and Onion Lays? Pass the chutney dip, please. So let's give a slightly smaller dress size a sporting chance here. It's only fair.

b)I've been living off bread and butter, noodles and other things which I'm growing slightly tired of. I never thought I'd say this but vegetables actually sound good right now.

c) My mother is not around to bug me to eat healthy. Reverse psychology, I guess.


I've also flicked KD's copy of Julius Caesar. This is the first time in weeks I've felt an inclination to read. I take it as a good thing. Last weekend was hands down amazing. I love the people I love. And they must be pretty darn much into me as well, if a lack of criticism about late birthday wishes, disliking glee and falling asleep in the middle of Godfather, Part1 is a sign.

Okay, I've got to go shopping for some of those healthy stuff right now.
(I think I'll sneak in a pastry or two for taking the initiative. It's not good to overdo it, after all.)