Ignorance of reality made apparent
The merits of Jim Mack’s article, “Contradictory arguments made,” rest on the rather bold assumption that both of his points are sound.
Firstly, Mack declares that if homosexuality is not a choice, then it can be “cured” either through psychotherapy or gene therapy. The former should not have been mentioned, precisely because of what he stated flatly – homosexuality is not a mental disorder. Psychotherapy is completely ineffective. The latter option, gene therapy, while more theoretically plausible, has still not been used to any effect, and is therefore no more realistic an option for “curing” homosexuality than is psychotherapy.
Secondly, Mack’s second argument is wholly dependent upon the first’s reasonability for its existence. He contends that if homosexuality were “curable,” homosexuals would not be open to such a cure. Since it is not curable, the second statement has no relevance. However, going along with the hypothetical, it is perfectly natural to consider that someone who has spent their entire life struggling with and coming to terms with who they are may not want to give up their identity because they suddenly can – a situation which could never arise, since gene therapy cannot take place after birth.
Since neither of his arguments hold up to scrutiny, it is clear that the merits of Mack’s article are naught.
-Ian wisekal
Class of 2008
