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Hey Gang,
I saw Brokeback Mountain yesterday and wish I had seen
it before all the talk here on the group had taken place. I thought the film was
very well made and very well directed, while the subject matter was extremely
difficult for me. I left the theater in a bit of a funk, lost in
sadness, not only because of the storyline but because of the world they lived
in from 1963 and for twenty years, and also because not that much has
really changed even to today. Sometimes it's easy to get "comfortable" and
believe the world has changed, and depending on where you live in the country
the discrimination of many minorities isn't as obvious, but all in all, not
really that much had changed. Particularly here in Los Angeles, film capital of
the world, where you would think everything would be cool, I have
male acquaintances, that I know are gay, that are married, some with
children, and just can't deal with the fallout.
The problem I have with that is that not only is it not fair to themselves,
it isn't fair to their wives or children, especially if they lead a separate
life on the side. Unfortunately, the world we live in just isn't accepting
enough to allow many people to live their life truthfully and the numbers
are much greater than you might think. I had a friend in college and we had
several classes together because we were in the same major program. We use to
sit next to one another and study together. I knew he was gay and could have
cared less. In fact, he was a hilarious guy, had very funny stories and
definitely brought out the joker in me. Sometimes when I would see him on the
way up to a class, I might yell out his name so I could catch up to him. One day
he asked me not to do that because it brought attention to him. I thought it was
because he was awkward about being gay, not being the real macho type and that
someone might discover he was gay. Remember, thirty years ago nobody talked
about that. I didnt say that to him. He further explained that from where he
came, it was frowned upon for him to walk with someone like me, a white girl,
let alone be friends. He was black and this was right in the middle of the
civil rights movement. I never even thought of that. I'd grown up in foster
homes that had all races and nationalities of kids, so it never even
dawned on me. That made a big impression on me and has stuck with me all these
years. The amazing part is that today, he is a very successful surgeon, saving
all kinds of people's lives but, I'm sure, still living with all those
insecurities.
Anyway, I know I digress, but these are my feelings after seeing
Brokeback Mountain. As I said in my post last week, I was not surprised by the
variety of opinions posted here on the group. I know how the world is. After I
saw the movie, what surprised me more was my own nonchalance to the opinions. I
have always been a "to each his own" kind of person. Just like JR said, nobody
has the right to tell you what to think. I've always believed that we are
where we came from. So, how can one be right or another wrong? Remember the song
in South Pacific "You've got to be taught". I may disagree with you, but I will
fight for your right to say what you believe as long as it doesn't hurt someone.
The hurting someone part is what we just can't seem to fix.
Sue Heim
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