Hi JC, Thank you for your comments on the homosexuality and the transition from normal to the abnormal questions. As a pediatrician, you would be in a good situation to enlighten us as to when something is 'normal' a 'variation' or a 'birth-defect' or an abnormality or a pathology. Hence your two questions are very pertinent. 1. I do not know the incidence of homosexuality. Not only would I like to know the answer to that question but also its incidence in various ethnic / geographical groups. It would also be interesting to see the incidence by every decade. Yes homosexuals are coming out of the closet (being detected). But is there an absolute increase with every decade as in the case of some cancers? In the field of cancer, it is my understanding that the INCIDENCE of an inherited cancer which determines if it is 'sporadic', 'familial' or 'genetic' transmitted. And not the explanation of phenotype etc as presented by my friend Santosh. But this is not to knock down his scientific credentials as a neuro-scientist but just to say that different specialties in medicine approach the subject differently. We do not all follow the shrinks. 2. Your second question, I am more sure of dialoguing. To argue SEPARATE acceptable sexual behavior for homosexuals (in public or behind closed doors) is to either give them special dispensation or discriminate against them compared to heterosexuals. We have to use the same basic principles/ guidelines to define socially acceptable homosexual behavior as we use to define acceptable heterosexual behavior. I have discussed this in my two prior posts and which most have avoided for obvious reasons. And of course that behavior may change - as we start on a slippery slope. Nudism or a 'dental floss' outfit is accepted behavior / attire on the beaches in the French Riviera but not on the beaches of Goa. And because it is OK on the Riviera, it is not accepted on the banks of the Seine or in the shopping malls of Paris.
Hence native Goans have to develope their own socially acceptable homosexual and heterosexual behavior and not what other societies do or what Diaspora Goans think, not-with-standing the science. Or else it will become like the nudist beach saga in Goa. Nudism (on the beach or anywhere) has also never hurt anyone with their eyes closed or open. :=)) Frankly native Goans should learn from western society instead of necessarily imitating it. Sex - whether Homosexual and Heterosexual has become Recreational and a one-night-stand, rather that what it was considered to be. That is why Santosh can ask the question what negative personal or social effects does 'homosexual behavior' have? 3. Do you think same-sex pedophiles is a sexual-behavioral extension of adult homosexuality or is it a different 'kettle of fish'? Now I know it is criminal and yes it is not Adult and Consensual etc.:=)). But I am talking of the pedophile. 4. As an aside, a few years ago at a major breast cancer meeting there was participation of breast cancer 'patients and activists'. A physician presented a paper on treatment of advanced breast cancer. He said, "Forty percent of women failed the treatment." (not bad for advanced cancer) An 'activist' in the question period took him to task on the wording of his presentation (to a hushed audience). Her point: The patients did not fail the treatment. The treatment failed the patients. Think of it. Are we calling homosexuals normal and pedophile criminals just because we cannot treat them? Perhaps a 100 years from now we may have the answer. Will our grandchildren admire us or laugh at our ignorance (like we do today to some past scientific concepts)? Time will tell. Not Today's Science or Religion! Regards, GL
