Readers comment on So what, that's their sexual preference!
An issue most felt in the work place
After reading through your article, I think the most important conclusion that could be drawn is that homosexuality is certainly an issue in work life situations.
I have a friend who has a certain sexual orientation and I can imagine the humiliation and pain he went through. When he first joined our company, everything he did - from the tone of his voice to the way he dresses - was not okay to the few mean people around him.
Luckily, we have a disciplinarian for a boss in the office. Once the situation got so bad that the matter was reported to him.
Immediately, he called up the guilty parties and gave them a lecture they would never forget. The boss humiliated them back, asking them whether they were still school kids picking on other kids in school. If that was so, then he would treat them as such, not as adults or office executives.
The ugly jokes about my friend stopped from that day onwards.
I think all of us should show understanding and compassion to any of our colleagues who may have a different sexual orientation than us.
If not, you are the one with 'problems', not the person whom you are poking fun at.
It is also important for us to understand that the way in which they (gays and lesbians) experienced their work consistently differed from that of heterosexuals. Whenever differences arose, the work experience of homosexual employees was virtually always more negative than that of their heterosexual colleagues.
It is also true that the differences in experience relate to a variety of factors, eg to what extent you feel that you are being informed of the work organisation, the relationships with colleagues and bosses, social support at work, being able to be yourself at work, job-satisfaction and self-esteem, health problems etc.
If that is the case in your place of work, then the least you can do for your friends in those situations is to be kind and understanding towards them. - Miss B Chin
A more righteous-than-thou attitude
With reference to your article, I'm on the side of those who oppose homosexualism. I'm sorry if people like me comes across to you as one with a holier-than-thou attitude. But I feel people like you comes across to us as one with a more righteous-than-thou attitude. Because the basis for your beliefs is that nobody gets hurt, so it's all right. It's their personal life, so let's leave it to them. Right? If I am wrong here, please correct me so that I can understand you all better. Right now, that's the message that I get when I read articles like yours.
Following your logic (if I am not mistaken), then we should let drug addicts be. After all, it's their preference. We should also let paedophiles be. After all, it's their sexual preference. And the child concerned is willing to do it, too. I see a troubling social trend. Before, society frowned on homosexualism. Then, slowly, due to so called 'enlightenment', homosexualism is accepted by many. Right now, society frowns on paedophilism. I fear the time may come when society accepts paedophilism and other sexual deviations.
Why am I against homosexualism? It's not that I'm prejudiced against homosexuals. It's because the Holy Book that I believe in says that homosexualism is a sin. Period. I am not against homosexuals, but I am against homosexualism. What is your basis for your support for homosexualism? Is it something more solid than 'because I think this and that'? - Gan KJ
It's something that feels natural
I refer to your article in which you highlighted the issue of equal treatment for homosexuals and transsexuals.
I think that homosexuals and transsexuals did not 'choose' to be that way. If you go back to the time when these individuals were struggling with their identity, if there really was a choice, the homosexuals would have chosen to be heterosexuals and the transsexuals would have chosen to identify with the gender of their genetically-determined sex.
A more accurate word would be 'sexual orientation'. Preference implies choice. If they could really choose a lifestyle as a heterosexual or non-transsexual and still feel true to themselves, then there is no reason to go down the other path which inevitably causes one to face discrimination in most countries, not to mention it being downright illegal in some.
The most pertinent analogy is this: Heterosexuals do not struggle to accept their heterosexual identity. They do not choose or prefer to be heterosexual rather than homosexual. It is an intrinsic and instinctive element of their identity, something that feels natural to them. - DPBM
Every homosexual is someone's friend
I won't go on about how homosexuals are also human beings and have a heart and behave just like any other individual does. (Ok, so not exactly, but let's not point out the obvious here.) Still, why they don't deserve the same treatment as other people, and why they are frowned upon is truly something to ponder.
We have learnt to come to accept different religions and practices as a norm. We respect and give in to different beliefs and customs and have learnt to live in harmony from generations to generations. As I see it, being a homosexual, is just another culture one believes in.
A true gay man may also be a true church go-er, a pious person who says his prayers five times a day, so how different is it or why is it wrong that he likes and finds genders of his own attractive and is drawn to them whether sexually or just feels plain affection? It's still love; it's still affection and passion at some point. I wouldn't call it 'dirty' or 'disgusting.' It's something one believes in and is how they want their lives to be as. It's a culture they see as 'correct' and it doesn't bother them one bit.
You can't tell me that once you find out that your childhood friend comes out of the closet and proclaims his true nature, you would immediately drop him/her as a friend and find him/her an 'outcast' to the religion, nation, etc? You grew up and learnt his/her every character and spent times exchanging each others' problems, went shopping for shoes, clothes, accessories (although you do wonder why pink was always his favourite color), went out to the movies, and called him/her your friend. You accepted him/her as a person, so just make an amendment and accept him/her as a gay person now. Is that so difficult? Every homosexual man or woman is someone's friend. - Jessie GN
Some developed nations are treating them worst...
If we want to discuss the rights of the homosexuals and transsexuals in Malaysia, I think the situation is not as bad as in some so-called developed countries. Remember, Malaysia is still a developing country and an 'Islamic state' in a lot of ways.
It is important to remember that the number of countries that in flagrant violation of fundamental human rights still have discriminatory legislation, including blanket criminal law provisions banning sexual relations between adult consenting persons of the same sex, is far greater than the ones pushing ahead along the path of respect for the right to equal treatment regardless also of sexual orientation.
Some of them still have the death penalty for these "crimes" on the books and apply it. However also in countries where the discriminatory legislation is relatively "harmless", the violations of human rights of gays and lesbians are common place. They may take on many different forms, from discrimination and harassment in schools and in the work place or in relation to access to provision of goods and services, to verbal abuse or even violent physical attacks.
Be thankful therefore for Malaysia. - A Zubir
Another letter on The malaise in Malaysian football
Three pointers to ponder upon
Back in the early 90s', I used to invite my mates to go to the stadium with me for the Semi Pro League, Merdeka Tournament and World Cup qualifying round matches, but not anymore.
Now, I can hardly remember the name of the players and have not paid for a ticket to a league match for many years. What is the reason behind it? The unattractiveness of the M-league and the national team's amateurish performances!
I still remember the Merdeka Tournament days where good teams like Bulgaria, South Korea were in the tournament, and the local league was full of stars like Tony Cottee, David Mitchell, Chris Kiwonya, etc.
My mates and I have been discussing this topic and this is our conclusion to the malaise in Malaysian football.
1) The Royal Family and political figures should be totally out of the FAM management. The management should be headed by former, respected football greats or anyone knowledgeable in sports management. Their performances should be gauged and based on results. If the management is not up to the mark, they should be axed and not allowed to stay there for 10 or 20 years. State FAs should be headed by non-political figures too, as you can see; fund mismanagement and unpaid salaries cases are common in Malaysian football. Where is the money? You know, I know - the money goes into someone else's pocket and allegations of those so-called management committees mis-using the funds are not uncommon.
2) The national team should only play in tournament against top class teams. Forget about touring other countries for friendly matches against mediocre teams - that's a waste of time and money. Instead, we should now re-organise and invite better teams for the Merdeka Tournament which was once Asia's top football tournament?
3) Attract more well-known players to the M-League. In the past, we have Tony Cottee, David Mitchell, etc..but now, not a foreign player to shout about! - The Evertonian
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