Editor,
To me, UNM is a place that is supposed to foster an enlightened and tolerant society. If so, Andres Saenz has missed that part of his education. Why is he so narrow-minded, intolerant and hostile toward gay men?
I don't know Saenz, but when he wrote that Don Schrader is "an overtly gay man," I don't think he meant it as a compliment to Schrader or any other gay man. It makes me wonder if in Saenz's mind, "closeted gay" is better than "overtly gay." Or does he mean that gay men should be ashamed of their sexuality?
Saenz also complains that Schrader reads a newspaper, which Saenz takes to imply environmental hypocrisy. Schrader is not hypocritical. As anyone who is willing to take the time to speak with the man knows, Schrader is a moralist who lives life how he sees it ought to be lived: simply and peacefully. Schrader reads newspapers in libraries where many people will read the same newspaper. I'd say Schrader is keeping himself abreast of current events while being kind to the environment. Remember, reusing is better than recycling.
Saenz takes issue with Schrader refusing to pay federal taxes. I can see Saenz's point: What kind of society would we have if no one paid his or her taxes? How would government exist? Now let's look at it from Schrader's perspective: He's a pacifist who doesn't want his tax dollars to go toward making war. He's an environmentalist who sees conspicuous consumption as adding to global warming and to all other environmental problems. Living below the poverty line and not paying taxes makes sense from Schrader's perspective.
Don't get me wrong. Schrader and I agree to disagree on many issues. For one thing, I'm not a pacifist. I'm also straight (but not narrow). For another, I do pay taxes, but I'm not happy when that money goes to pay for senseless wars when it could be better spent at home where people are losing jobs, unable to afford health care and could become better educated about stuff like the environment, nonviolent living and human sexuality.
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Yes, Schrader is unabashedly Schrader. He's controversial, and he's gay. But here's a heads up for Saenz and other homophobes: Look around you - at least one out of 10 men you see is also gay, and your attitude is not helping them accept who they are. Quite frankly, I wish more people were like Schrader - not hypocritical, peace-loving and unabashedly themselves.
Danny Hernandez
UNM student
