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BAR Letters
395 Ninth St
94103-3831
}

Tony Fiore's Guest Opinion (BAR 11 Oct) I believe does represent
a vocal minority's opinion, hence this letter.

Not everyone wants to live in a world where everything is nice
and neat, trimmed lawns and painted houses, where a street is
just for cars, sidewalks just for walking, and walls are just
walls, like some idealized TV/1950's Ozzie \& Harriet world (but
with nicer people of course). Believe it or not, to some, a
street is merely an ugly thing covering 70\% of the city,
sidewalks are for hanging out, skateboarding, decorating, as well
as walking, and walls are surfaces for expression. 

The real issue here is one of aesthetics. Bear with me a moment.

Sorry, your version of the world is no better nor more valid than
mine. It's not that I think your world is bad, or wrong, per se;
what annoys me is your assumption that {\it everyone wants this}
or should live-this-way, and if they appear to not, they must be
jealous, crazy, or just plain mean. Get a clue.  The only word
I've ever found that expresses this 
assumption-that-my-views-are-Right is ``imperialism'', such a
dreadful word. (Suggestions anyone?)

Better to call your group what it is -- ``Help Save Us 
Property-Owners' Aesthetics''. Queer Nation (QN) is addressing
problems it sees, in ways it sees fit, like you are. So are other
people responding in ways they believe will help, like the Homo
Patrol street patrol -- no Guardian Angel macho nonsense, but
simply to prevent bashings.  If you cared about the people who
actually live here -- rather than your idealized ``Neighborhood''
-- you might do something like donate walkie-talkies or batteries
or a big box of whistles for them distribute while on patrol in
your precious Neighborhood. (Call 267-6118) You'd even get
brownie points for helping to end divisiveness.

I'm sure QN loves getting all the credit, but different groups do
the following: STRAIGHTS READ THIS, street patrol, BEHAVE OR BE
GONE, endless graffiti, and other one-shot non-events. Yes, the
world is far, far messier than you think. Others' actions do not
prevent you from doing your own thing. 

You should also take the hint that CUAV is supporting Queer
Nation's tactics. What you describe as ``alienating'' the police
is merely being self-sufficient -- don't you remember what {\it
happened} Oct 6th?! How about 11 years back at the Elephant Walk?
Why not ask CUAV how {\it they} came into existence? 

``I am now embarrassed to bring straight friends with me into our
neighborhood\dots'' -- are they only your friends if you live in
a ``nice'' place? With friends like that\dots

Trying to see things from your shoes -- could you not view what
``Queer Nation'' et al are doing as, at worst, your neighbors
doing what they can to respond to the homophobic environment, or
is your aesthetic such an overriding concern that you refuse to
change? 

PS: I am not a Queer Nation member.

{\bf Tom Jennings, 552-8156, 666 Illinois, San Francisco CA
94107}
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