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GINORIO: Not every modern thing is wrong

| June 30, 2023 1:00 AM

Ralph Ginorio (June 28) argues that post-modernism has infected the Coeur d’Alene Press letters policy. He objects that the definition of gender has expanded to include concepts beyond the heteronormality of 1950.

It is certainly the case that post-modernism has served up some stinkers (c.f. The Sokal Affair in Wikipedia).

However, it is an error to suggest that every modern thing is wrong or abnormal. The modern understanding of gender is approximately the same age as the theory of plate-tectonics. Anathema in 1950, plate tectonics was completely accepted by 1985.

Societal change happens. Of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, a majority owned slaves — that was solved in 1865. Women gained the right to vote 50 years after that. In 2015, the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges made same-sex marriage the law of the land. This was not a liberal ruling; it was a libertarian ruling.

Approximately 10% of our neighbors are homosexual; approximately 10% of our neighbors are left handed. Can one be normal and not the other?

There is nothing post-modern about homosexuality. The oldest story in the world, the Epic of Gilgamesh (predating the Bible), contains a same-sex romance between Gilgamesh and Enkidu (Enkidu was bisexual, by the way).

The liberation of slaves harmed no white man. Homosexuality has harmed no heterosexual. Our Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh neighbors have harmed no Christian (most of Christianity’s Christmas carols were written by Jews).

Loss of an unfair advantage disadvantages no one, but the anxiety which accompanies societal change is real.

JOHN D. SAHR

Otis Orchards