Re: Eskimo question


Subject: Re: Eskimo question
From: Andrew Kennis (kennis@math.GRIN.EDU)
Date: Mon Feb 24 1997 - 20:36:30 GMT


On Mon, 24 Feb 1997 gauthier@SLU.EDU wrote:

> Hi. I just joined the list.
>
> In "Just Before the War with the Eskimos" it is pretty clear to me
> that Eric is gay (the high voice, crossing his legs, interest in women's
> fashion, seeing "Beauty and the Beast" eight times, being upset that his
> male roomate--whose laundry he does--moved out without leaving a note,
> etc).

Errrrrrrrr, so you are saying that JDS illustrated that a character in
his writings was homosexual, by illustrating stereotypical assumptions
about homosexuals, which may or may not be true? Ummmmmmm, no. Whether
or not you are right about your conclusion regarding Eric's sexuality,
is not what I am contending in your post. However, what I am contending
is your reasoning leading you *to this* conclusion. In justifying your
assumption that JDS intended for Eric to obviously be homosexual to his
readers, you pointed out several stereotypes to back up your initial claim.
I do not think that this would be the route JDS would take in illustrating
that a particular character was homosexual.

The second mistake you make in your post, is assume with certainty that
Eric's sexuality is self evident. JDS rarely is very clear about any
issues regarding sexuality, and I do not think Eric in "Eskimos" is the
exception to the rule. The "rule", so to speak, is exemplified well in
a past ongoing discussion we had on the list regarding the intentions of
Antolini. The myriad of different positions taken from different people
on the list and the impressive support each of these stands drew on, to
me, is the exact kind of thing I am talking about when I refer to JDS's
tendency to be unclear on issues regarding sexuality.

A much better exception to the rule seems to come in "Hapworth: 1924".
In this, what I feel to be over-criticized writing of JDS, a 7 year old
Seymour makes overt sexual references in his letter home to his parents
from summer camp (i.e. "sometimes, I wish I could just see her in the raw",
or something like that, stated more eloquently but definitely with the word,
"raw").

> Anyway, my question is this: a student in my English class
> contends that openly gay men were allowed to serve in World War II. I
> doubt that was so (Eric does not serve in WWII, mind you--in spite of
> being in good health). Does anybody know for certain that my hunch is
> right?
>
> Paul Gauthier
> gauthier@slu.edu
>

Your hunch is not only correct in its application to the World War II
period, but disappointing as it is, it would have also been correct in
its application to our *current* military policy. The "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell" policy was one of the many, I would say, "unethical" compromises
that President Clinton made (this one being with the Department of
Defense) in his first term. The policy dictates, in case you are
unfamiliar with it, that the issue of homosexuality be kept a private one
from both sides (that is, from the individual and from the institution
itself). However, if the individual "states" or is "open" about their
homosexuality, they are still subject immediate removal.

--AK
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