Individual freedom
Sir,—Scratching Varian J. Wilson’s skin-deep “tolerant attitude” (July 24) exposes the underlying bigotry (August 18). Crime is that which is so defined. No act is exempt. Christ defied blasphemy and civic laws; Christians disobeyed Bible-reading prohibitions long ago; homosexuals continue, as always, to make unlawful love. Varian J. Wilson is mistaken both as to homosexual prosecutions and homosexual population proportion. In New Zealand there are probably at least 10,000 homosexual acts performed daily. Obviously the law
is unworkable, and thus the whole legal system is brought into contempt. The law’s application is arbitrary, haphazard or spitefully selective. Anti-homosexual laws succeed all too well in generating fear and tension and thus increasing the sum of human unhappiness — something this country can well do without. State authoritarianism affects all citizens, many of whom seek escape in drugs, sport; violence, “Roman circuses,” speed or violent television, or become ill.— Yours, etc., PAUL MALING. August 18, 1984.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840821.2.118.12
Bibliographic details
Press, 21 August 1984, Page 20
Word Count
155Individual freedom Press, 21 August 1984, Page 20
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.