Thursday, March 4, 1999
Athens, Ohio
An Independent Daily Newspaper
Ohio University
Defined frustration
I am responding to a minor issue that has annoyed me slightly upon returning to OU. I have found a stronger and more politically active queer community complete with sloganeering, letters to the editor and a general increase in political presence. I feel it is well within the rights of any individual to express themselves in any way they see fit. My problem with some of the politics of the queer community has to do with certain limitations in language they are trying to place on other people regarding words like "gay" or "homosexual."
I lived in San Francisco for the past several years and was exposed to queer nation, transgender, crossdressers, fags and even a militant clan of bearded women. What I found among them was they usually didn't care about the language others used to express themselves. In fact many of my "homosexual" friends would comment using the word "gay" as a descriptive term for something that is ... well, gay. I don't see the use of making politics of language. To limit expression is a very fascist philosophy.
Instead, I propose a gay parade down Court Street during Dads' Weekend, done in a very proud and exhibitionist manner. The more extreme the better, but please quit trying to tell me what I can or can't say.
Charles Blaine Williams
cw253995
Editor,
Recently there has been much coverage in The Post about The Athena's struggle in competing with Movies 10 and how to resolve this problem. The only cause mentioned for this decline in attendance has been the lack of parking available Uptown, but is this really the main reason people are choosing Movies 10? I think not.
Has anyone considered the fact that the Athena's sound system is just plain awful? I receive higher quality surround sound out of my television than in The Athena. Parking is just a frill or bonus. The bottom line is The Athena is a business that sells a product. If the product can be purchased, or in this case seen, at a better value, people will choose the better value. I would much rather walk two minutes to The Athena to see a movie, but instead I drive 15 minutes out to Nelsonville so I actually can feel like I am in a movie theater. Forget the parking, update the theater!
Bill McGahee