On Tue, 27 Feb 1996, Stanford M. Lyman wrote:
> To Lynsey Wood and others:
>
> Lyman and Scott are accused of exhibiting a "blatantly biased
> attitude against (sic) homosexuals throughout the reading [of their book, A
> SOCIOLOGY OF THE ABSURD]." Allegedly "They relate homosexual relations to
> some sort of clandestine meeting of social pariahs". As an example--the
> only one offered for an "attitude" that is supposed to characterize the
> entire book--three sentences are quoted (and the word liaisons is spelled
> incorrectly in the quoted material but not in the text from which it is
> taken) from a single page (p. 56) of the text. In addition to being
> "shocked" and "disturbed" by the alleged "attitude", Wood is "astonished
> that such a mind-expansive field as Sociology would require reading such
> mind-stifling material." The latter complaint would seem to be lodged
> against Professor Epstein who had the temerity to require that his students
> read the offending material. Because I have not been consulted in the
> construction of Professor Epstein's reading list ( nor should I have been--I
> believe in academic freedom--), I will leave it to Professor Epstein to
> justify his choice of required readings.
>
> It is strange that Wood believes that "this has little to do with
> the topic of adventure" since it has everything to do with it. But I will
> let that pass.
>
> I strongly suggest that Wood and others who have been "shocked" and
> "disturbed", read the paragraphs above and below the allegedly offensive
> sentences. There is, as is obvious to those capable of understanding
> English, no homophobic bias.
>
> To those who are not aware of how homosexuality is legally
> constructed in American society, and who must wonder why homosexual groups
> seek representation as a minority in quest of civil rights, I recommend
> reading BOWERS v. HARDWICK 478 U.S. 186 (1986). They will then discover
> that it is not Lyman and Scott who have constructed homosexuals as social
> pariahs, but the United States Supreme Court! Indeed, Lyman and Scott's
> work is among those that has exposed this prejudice and brought it into
> sharp critical focus.
>
> For those interested in Lyman's continuing work on this topic,
> please read Stanford M. Lyman, "Without Morals or Mores: Deviance in
> Postmodern Theory," INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLITICS, CULTURE, AND
> SOCIETY, Vol. 9, No.2 (1995), pp. 197-236.
>
> Yours sincerely,
> Stanford M. Lyman, Ph.D.,
> Robert J. Morrow Eminent Scholar
> and Professor of Social Science,
> Florida Atlantic University,
> Boca Raton, Florida 33431-0991
>
To all that are interested:
I will agree with Dr. Lyman that our government has posed
official written biases against homosexuals; I think it is deplorable.
However I reserve hope that the laws will change to suit the attitude of the
country soon, legislative processes can take quite a while. I also agree
that the article, yes-mainly page 56-, in SOCIOLOGY OF THE ABSURD did do
a good deed in instigating discussion on the subject of homosexuality.
However, I firmly believe that if articles with such slanted statements
were printed frequently the country would be thrust backwards, in terms
of our open-mindedness.
I respect Dr. Lyman's research and knowledge and meant no
disrespect in my previous message.
-Lynsey Wood
Wake Forest sophomore
p.s. Sorry about my misspelling of "liaison!"