Guest Opinion: Homonausea. Homosexuality and Terminological Social Engineering

By Colin Jory
3/1/2013
St. Austin Review (www.staustinreview.com/star)

I doubt that this more accurate terminology will find traction among the politically correct, or pass muster with the political police

In reality normal people do not have "homophobia"; what they have is homonausea - they find the thought of homosexual acts and antics sickening. They are homonausic. However, I doubt that this more accurate terminology will find traction among the politically correct, or pass muster with the political police.

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CANBERRA, Australia (St. Austin Review) - We Australians invented the decidedly crude "p" word for practising homosexuals. It probably derives from "powder puff", with effeminate males evidently being known for a time as "powder puff-ters", and with the "powder" part then falling from use. Like various well-known Australian movie stars and movie producers, the p-word is one of my country's contributions to world culture, albeit a more uncouth one (our international movie identities being not especially uncouth). I was once standing near a television when a German movie was playing, and what should I hear within the stream of German speech but, unmistakably, the p-word! Fair dinkum! That's when I realised that this Australian vulgarity had made the international big time.

It caught on world-wide because it is more densely packed with feelings of disgust and contempt than the equivalent American word, "f-t", and much more so than traditional English equivalents such as "nancy boy", "queer" and "queen", which are comparatively polite. It even carries, in its sounds, onomatopaeic suggestions of the very acts to which it adverts. It comes in a slightly abridged, toned-down version when the final syllable is dropped, leaving simply "p--f", which in contrast to the unabridged version suggests disdainful amusement rather than stomach-curdling disgust.

At the other end of the approval-disapproval scale is the term "gay", which is genuflective and is designed to convey and encourage reverence for homosexuality. Of course, this attempt at terminological social engineering is faltering, with "gay" having become among the young a term of mild derision, meaning more-or-less what was once expressed by the term "pathetic", but carrying distinct overtones of its immediate origins and thus suggesting a particular kind of pathetic. This is the kind which the young associate, if usually unspokenly, with limp-wristed homosexuality. That said, it's sad that today when one hears the melodic words, "Down the way where the nights are gay", one is less likely to think of Harry Belafonte than of the homosexual English traitor and knight-for-a-time Anthony Blunt.

Terminological engineering to change attitudes rarely works for long - witness the words "cretin" and "silly". "Cretin" comes from "Chretienne", French for Christian; and "silly" originally meant "blessed" - as in Coleridge's "The Ancient Mariner", where reference is made to the "silly buckets on the deck". In the Middle Ages the Church encouraged the faithful to think of the mentally handicapped as "blessed" and as the truest "Christians" because once baptised these seeming-unfortunates could not be guilty of sin, as they lacked free will, and so they were assured of going to Heaven. The hope was that this politically correct terminology would induce the unwashed multitudes to think more charitably of the mentally impaired. However, instead the terminology was debased by the association, until Chretienne (Christian) and silly (blessed), when used in relevant contexts, became derogatory synonyms for "stupid" or "retarded". The same well-intentioned mistake is being made today through the use in schools of the term "special" for intellectually slow children. When a non-handicapped student wants to rib another, he's now likely to say (usually the culprit is a he), "You're special!"

I almost never use the genuflective term "gay", as noun or adjective, in reference to homosexuality. My usual noun in colloquial speech is simply "homo". Of course, the politically correct will be outraged, since they will feel that by thus abbreviating I am guilty of belittling, but they can scarcely have me dragged before the Thought Police for my irreverence. After all, their favourite term of stigmatisation is "homophobic"; and although this literally means "fear of mankind" (as of homo sapiens), they are using the "homo" part as an abbreviation for "homosexuals", and are thus themselves calling the latter "homos". In reality normal people do not have "homophobia"; what they have is homonausea - they find the thought of homosexual acts and antics sickening. They are homonausic. However, I doubt that this more accurate terminology will find traction among the politically correct, or pass muster with the political police.

And a final thought - why don't the secularist impuritans label disgust at the sexual abuse of children "paedophoblia"? I suspect that they will, when paedophilia comes back into fashion in their circles. It was very much in vogue among them, at least in their "enlightened" verbal and written chatterings, in the 1960s and 1970s because above all of the influence of the paedophilia-promoting Kinsey Report; and the logic of their boundless amoralism virtually ensures that it will become acceptable among them again when social fashion once more permits.

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Colin Jory is one of many talented writers who contribute to the St. Austin Review. This article originally appeared here. It is reprinted with the gracious permission of Sophia Mason, the Book Review Editor of St. Austin Review.

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The St. Austin Review (StAR) is the premier international journal of Catholic culture, literature, and ideas. In its pages, printed every two months, some of the brightest and most vigorous minds around meet to explore the people, ideas, movements, and events that shape and misshape our world.

Keywords: Homosexuality, Gay, Australia, terminological social engineering, cultural revolution, gay agenda, Homosexual equivalency movement, St Austin Review, Colin Jory

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1 - 10 of 22 Comments

David Rutledge
1 month ago
Just 2 statements from the Vatican's LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE PASTORAL CARE OF HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS:

10. It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church's pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.

16. From this multi-faceted approach there are numerous advantages to be gained, not the least of which is the realization that a homosexual person, as every human being, deeply needs to be nourished at many different levels simultaneously.

The human person, made in the image and likeness of God, can hardly be adequately described by a reductionist reference to his or her sexual orientation. Every one living on the face of the earth has personal problems and difficulties, but challenges to growth, strengths, talents and gifts as well. Today, the Church provides a badly needed context for the care of the human person when she refuses to consider the person as a "heterosexual" or a "homosexual" and insists that every person has a fundamental Identity: the creature of God, and by grace, his child and heir to eternal life.

Yet the author of this article has a clear and present purpose: 10. It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church's pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.

16. From this multi-faceted approach there are numerous advantages to be gained, not the least of which is the realization that a homosexual person, as every human being, deeply needs to be nourished at many different levels simultaneously.
The human person, made in the image and likeness of God, can hardly be adequately described by a reductionist reference to his or her sexual orientation. Every one living on the face of the earth has personal problems and difficulties, but challenges to growth, strengths, talents and gifts as well. Today, the Church provides a badly needed context for the care of the human person when she refuses to consider the person as a "heterosexual" or a "homosexual" and insists that every person has a fundamental Identity: the creature of God, and by grace, his child and heir to eternal life.

Despite this the Church's teaching, the author of this article has a clear and transparent delight in attempting to disparage a long-suffering people of marginal sexual orientation--marginal, but hardly negligible. This is obviously sinful in intent and action.
Dennis
2 months ago
My good friends i would like to say that the bible condems homosexuality.gods word is the same then now and forever will be.it doesnt mean because we in the year 2013 and the modern world that this practice is allowed.however we should pray for them and show love and respect and not judge them.
Dr Steve H Hakes
2 months ago
I have raised the same alert about semantic engineering, for numerous years. The use of phobia (a negative feel - fear) to besmirch those who disagree with, and perhaps find distasteful, homosexual activity. The use of 'gay' as a feel-good word for homosexualism. My marriage has been gay but could never have been homosexual, if ssm is an oxymoron like spaceless space. On the other hand, other terms have been engineered to depotentiate the meaning of marriage: Tony Blair killed my spouse; now David Cameron would kill my wife. Just when 'partner' had become code for unwedded sexual partner, state politics wanted that & spousehood, merged to the same moral level: conceptual attack. Nothing is immoral except attacking PC. And whereas once Miss/Mrs denoted a significant change (at least for women), Ms was bought in by government & commerce to do away with that significance: Ms from cradle to grave, marry if you must (and if that term survives), but it's only a contract so long as you're happy enough. Covenant? Commitment? Obligation? No way. Trouble is, if folk believe morality is plastic, you can’t stop short of nihilism, the Abolition Of Man (C S Lewis).
MaryAnn
2 months ago
I only know this Jesus asked us to love one another.
So that's what I try to do.

My sin is between God and myself, and other peoples sin is between God and themselves, It is not my place to judge, that task is for God, only.

I do find homosexual activity..offputting, but to be perfectly honest, most of the world today is offputting. I see sin far more evil every day in the newspaper murder, abortion, rapes, torture, war, stealing on outrageous scales, neglect of the poor, abuse of the elderly, blasphemy simply off the charts... The world is sick. It's hard it's cold and it's awash in sin. Jesus taught us how to cleanse it with forgiveness and love - but it seems that humanity has become just too vain to listen.

So when I go to meet my maker, I'm going to say "I did my best to love my neighbor, to love my Lord, to forgive the sinners, to renounce and avoid sin myself, and to show kindness to those needed it."

There is no point in fighting 'the world', just to lose your own soul.
jeremy
2 months ago
We are living the age of sodomy (and euthanasia as well) as a response to unsolved life issues. We should always have it present to our minds.
It's of no use to invent ironical words.
Logical outcome of the pro-gay campaign will be when your offspring or friend is at the table, smeared all over with their crap, and you will have to find soft and somewhat deeply ironical words to make a gentle and educated comment about it.
Ted of Windsor
2 months ago
Homosexual behavior is always wrong - demonstrably and absolutely wrong, for more info please see: http://www.catholiconline.com/national/national_story.php?id=49883

Kids, take your sexual confusion - your struggle with sin - to Christ

Yes, you may be physically attracted to people of the same sex, but how you act on those attractions is entirely your choice. Who you are - your identity - is not defined by your sexual feelings, temptations or behaviors. The difference between who you are and what you feel or do is as the difference between night and day. Here is who you are: You are a wonderful, beautiful, precious human being created in the image and likeness of the one righteous and Holy God of the universe. You are priceless. But you are flawed - you are a sinner. I am flawed - I am a sinner.
Shabad
2 months ago
I believe the above article was truly a waste of time in the writing and the reading.

However, the issue of same sex marriage and the very nature of homosexuality is a very contentious issue. Some believe that there is no point in even discussing the biological vs. the behavioral aspects, while others would like a definitive answer. With all due respect I am one of those who would like a definitive answer.

The Bible is very clear:

Leviticus 18:22: You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is detestable.

Leviticus 20:13: If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

1 Corinthians 6:9: Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals.

1 Timothy 1:10: for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine.

So it is clear that the Bible clearly defines homosexuality as a sinful practice. Jesus came to all the sinners and preached to them, and did not judge them or condemn them. However, he preached to them for a reason, he wanted to reform them with His teachings. Otherwise, why bother preaching to them??

Time and time again Jesus said "Go, and sin no more". Jesus did not justify the sins of any one person, nor did He contradict the definition of what was sinful. This is where people misunderstand His coming, teaching, and purpose. He wanted us to forgive the sins of others and walk in the light.

Science has not been definitive thus far, so it seems that scripture is the final authority. Right now the current research is based on epigenetics, but this is not conclusive and has yet to be proven. It is only at the theoretical stage thus far.

Biological studies have been giving contradictory results for years, and many previous conclusions have been reversed.

Therefore I recommend that we not judge our gay brothers and sisters, but at the same time respect the position of the Catholic Church regarding same sex marriage. It seems to be right thus far.
GW
2 months ago
I grew up in the Midwest, lived in the East and in Florida and now Georgia, usually in the cities and in areas with significant gay populations, and I have never encountered people behaving as depicted in these pictures. To be sure, those public behaviors happen; however, outrageous and inappropriate displays take place among heterosexuals as well. I have to agree with Mr. McDonough: this is one of the stupidest articles ever to appear on this web site and nothing in this article approaches Catholic virtues.
Stephanie
2 months ago
@Susan As much as a feel for your friend and anyone struggling with same-sex attraction, the "born this way" idea is outdated by 10-20 years. Just because the media says so doesn't make it true. People who work with individuals with unwanted same-sex attraction have found that these tendencies form from experiences in early childhood, around the time gender identity forms.
John Mainhart
2 months ago
To the soul that states that God made the Homosexual and he is suffering because he wants to be heteralsexual, I say it would be a unusual loving God who makes man in a certain way to continue the process of incarnation to give souls the best way to experience love through a family, and then permit the creation of some men that must abuse the nature of God;s creation because they cannot do anything else. We must be willing to look for some other reason for this unnatural condition. I, for one would look to those who hold science to be superior to God. They study the human body and make false conclusions about men and women. You cannot help souls by suggesting anything but the truth of this or any other matter.

Sexual practices that undermine the only unit through which mankind can find love and happiness, family life, must be seen fror what they are, attempts to undermine family life, or we all will suffer the serious consequences that will surly follow when our youth suffer the loss of love because of what we have done.

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