Is he for real?

I was deeply disturbed to read a letter signed a straight and proud of it" in Salient, July 3 [unclear: Not] only am I disgusted with the sentiments [unclear: expressed] by Richard Wardle, but also deeply [unclear: angry] that he found it necessary to lie to give [unclear: credence] to his "opinion".

Young Nationals are strongly in favour [unclear: of] a change in the homosexual laws. They [unclear: are] an ugly blot in our legal system and we, as a [unclear: group] are trying to erase this blot. At the [unclear: Dominion] Conference in Auckland later this [unclear: month] we are calling for a change in the law—as [unclear: we] did in Napier at the Wellington Divisional [unclear: Conference] in June. There may be some people [unclear: who] belong to Young Nationals who feel the [unclear: way] Mr Wardle feels, but they are acting as [unclear: individuals] and not as representatives of us. Mr [unclear: Wardle] however declined to name one Young [unclear: National] who agrees with him and any inferences [unclear: to] be drawn from that I leave to the reader. I [unclear: disassociate] ouselves from his opinion and ob[unclear: ject] strongly to his using our name to further his [unclear: bigoted] views.

To examine his letter further I notice he [unclear: suggests] a "fun-fight" to ward off temptation to [unclear: commit] a homosexual offence! Apart from [unclear: suggesting] that a cold shower might be mre [unclear: effective] I can only say, that is as ludicrous [unclear: is] suggesting a fun-fight instead of making love [unclear: to] one's girl. Personally I'd rather "pash" than [gap — reason: illegible][unclear: ash!] His comment however shows not only [unclear: is] ignorance but his immaturity. He also states [unclear: that] homosexuality it dirty, degrading and a [gap — reason: illegible][unclear: ower] animal instinct. It horrifies me that a [unclear: supposedly] intelligent person can say such things. [unclear: It] is not dirty or degrading—perhaps these [unclear: adjectives] are better applied to our friends [unclear: thoughts!] As to being a lower animal instinct—[unclear: why?] It is a human expression of feeling [unclear: between] humans. Certainly the thought does [unclear: not] appeal to me at all, but that does not give [unclear: one] the right to condemn those to whom it does, [unclear: Remember], Mr Wardle, that heterosexual activity [unclear: doesn't] appeal to many homosexuals.

In speaking to Mr Wardle, he suggested to [unclear: me] that a few "beatings!" is a cure for "queer [unclear: activity] and he cited as an example what [unclear: gang] members do to another member if he is [unclear: found] to be homosexual. All I can say to this is [unclear: bullshit]. Such a "cure" may repress but it [unclear: sure] as hell won't cure. Perhaps he would favour [unclear: public] whipping post for homosexuals? Why not [unclear: castration] Mr Wardle? Surely that would fit into [unclear: our] higher scheme of things. To be quite frank [unclear: Mr] Wardle. I consider that you are sick, sicker [unclear: than] any homosexual, if you really think inflicting [gap — reason: illegible][unclear: ain] can be justified for therapeutic purposes, [unclear: believe] me, if I beat you for long enough you'd [unclear: crew] a sheep to avoid more pain.

Finally. Mr Wardle said homosexuality was a [gap — reason: illegible][unclear: in] and there was a spiritual cure. There is no [unclear: time] here to put up a long argument about this, [unclear: but] briefly Mr Wardle I am not prepared to play [unclear: God], are you? Apart from numerous churches [unclear: supportinq] a change in our law a small piece of [unclear: scriptures] springs to mind "let he who is without [unclear: in] cast the first stone."

In total therefore Mr Wardle your letter was [unclear: unadulterated] drivel and I will happily meet you or [unclear: anyone] else who shows your warped views, in [unclear: public] debate and justify every word I have [unclear: written] and tell you a few more things I have been [unclear: unable] to say here due to a lack of space. True [unclear: you] are entitled to your opinion, you are [unclear: welcome] to it and further more you know [unclear: exactly] where you can bloody well put it—[unclear: being] a "proud straight" I suggest [unclear: you] stick it "straight up". But whatever [unclear: you] decide to do with it, do not ever again use [unclear: Young] Nationals to shove up your point of view. [unclear: it is] repugnant to us.