ALTRAV. The fact that you have to resort to abuseive language just goes to show how fragile your argument is, so instead of responding in kind, I will just rest my case.

Have a good day.

David

ALTRAV, I take offence to your claim:

" In some circles being Gai is aligned with being handicapped. I know, many would dis-agree, but, it is still another description of these types of people, yet I can see where they are coming from. Anyone who lacks any of the human faculties, for whatever reason or is unable to function as per the specifications of homo-sapiens, and what is considered normal historically, is by definition, abnormaL"

I am disabled, I am a tetriplegic (broken neck, partial C5, total C6, partial C7) confined to either bed or an electric wheelchair. I have limited sensation, more pronounced on my left side, from roughly the shoulders down. My left arm is very weak but fortunately my thumb has sufficient sensation and strength to allow me enormous freedoms, including holding an iPad and being able to respond to your disrespectful posts.

I am a homo-sapien who does not function normally, to lump me in with another group in a vexatious attempt to try to win an argument is not only rude but you do me a great disservice and your insult and ignorance shows no bounds.

Perhaps you should think a little before making such ridiculous assertions.

By the way, I have just taken delivery of a wheelchair Drive car, does this make me less abnormal?

. Dear AL TRAV, . You ask : « Are you saying that homosexuality is as natural as heterosexuality because it exists and therefore it is natural ? » That’s correct, AL TRAV. According to the OED, the word “natural” means : « existing in or derived from nature; not made or caused by humankind ». I think you will agree that homosexuality corresponds to that definition. I, nevertheless, understand your consternation. I think there are a number of factors that should be taken into consideration. First of all, if there were a god, of course, everything would be perfect (because, presumably, he would be perfect and everything he did would be perfect), which is what I understand you would prefer. Unfortunately, everything is not perfect, so there does not seem to be any god. Presuming, therefore that nature arose simply as a result of “chance and necessity” (where chance is a “random variable” and necessity an “inevitable event”) - as the 1965 Nobel Prize biologist, Jacques Monod, suggested – then there is no divine plan, no perfection, no norm. Nature is not uniform or homogenous. It is diverse and heterogenous. We are all different. Nobody is born perfect. We all have our little idiosyncrasies. I have mine and I’m sure you have yours. Many are undetectable. Others are visible. Some are beneficial. Others are handicapping. Perhaps you will have observed, as I have, that sexuality (including that of human beings) is a delicate question of “fine tuning”. The division between male and female is a very fine line. Sometimes it gets slightly out of tune. Call it an aberration of nature if you like. But who’s fault is that ? Certainly no fault of the person involved. There is nothing he or she can do about it. They just have to live with it as best they can – despite the incomprehension, the ostracism and the injustice of some people like you and me who are lucky enough to not have the same problem. We have no special merit. We are no better than them. . (Continued …) .

. (Continued …) . It’s not the fault of nature either. There is no right or wrong in nature. Morality is a human invention. We tend to look at people who are very different from ourselves with suspicion, distrust and disapproval. Strangers are not welcome. In ancient times they were called barbarians because they did not share our culture or perhaps simply because they had different coloured skin. The variability of nature is evident throughout the universe. We can’t change that. It’s nobody’s fault. We just have to accept it. Getting upset and rejecting it doesn’t do anybody any good. Better to calm down and reflect on our own good fortune. Here is an article that provides some interesting information on the question that seems to be bothering you : http://pactiss.org/2011/11/17/1500-animal-species-practice-homosexuality/ .

Geoff and Banjo,

There is no point in atrying to argue with a "blind" person who cannot see the wood for the trees.

David

Dear Banjo Paterson, I appreciate your erudition, logic and compassion.