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"Dangerous
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"Dangerous
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Recently on the Starfleet Region 12 listserve (and others?), Chris Dunivan posted a message asking about a line in the Starfleet Constitution. The Constitution reads "Membership in STARFLEET shall be open to all persons without regard to age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, physical disability, or national origin." Mr. Dunivan was concerned about the reference to sexual orientation because, as he put it, he disagreed with it on religious and moral grounds. He thought that the reference should be removed. Now, I must say that Mr. Dunivan approached this subject with excellent tact and civility. He was not trying to change anyone or convert anyone. Rather, he was asking if individual chapters should be allowed to refuse membership on the grounds of homosexuality. Does he have the right to not associate with people who engage in activities he finds morally wrong? It is an excellent question and stirred a good debate. Here is the problem with it as I see it. As a charter chapter of an international organization, members (and especially COs) are expected to represent the views of the larger whole. If we begin to delete certain groups from protection of discriminations, we open a whole can of worms. Let me explain... Take for example my chapter, the USS Cydonia. We currently have members from a wide variety of religious beliefs, from a Presbyterian minister to Christians to pagans to wiccans. Mr. Dunivan stated that his Christian beliefs are the root of his problem with homosexuals. Would that not also create a problem with pagans? Or wiccans? Is that not then going to create a conflict with the religion reference in the constitution? What if the wiccan were black? Then you have a conflict of religion and race. What if a homosexual Commanding Officer who was a wiccan had a problem with allowing Christians in his group? Would he get the same consideration as everyone else? Or would he be accused of religious discrimination? These are very complex issues that, in all likelihood, will never be completely resolved. However, to start editing who can and who cannot be excluded from participation in a Starfleet chapter is a dangerous path. Discrimination and prejudice can start small, seeping into life and before you know it, it is out of control. Everyone has some group that they do not particularly care for, but to exclude them is to injure only yourself. I am a perfect example. I absolutely hate mushrooms. People that eat mushrooms gross me out. I used to actively avoid cow-dung-mushroom-munchers. Then I met someone who changed my entire outlook on these folks. So I married her.
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