The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 16, Ed. 1, Thursday, February 8, 1996 Page: 4 of 24
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Page 4 The Brand February 8 1996
different hats
For those of you that know me
you'havc probably seen me with a hat
on my head on more than one occa-
sion. No I'm not going bald or any-
thing I just love hats.
I have a collection of 44 hats that
seems to grow by the month. It seems
like every place I go I acquire another
one
I wear at least one hat every sin-
gle day of the week and I change hats
quite often both literally and inter-
prctivcly. By interpretivcly I mean I have a
hat as an editor a student an intern a
reservist a husband and a friend.
The hat I love to wear most is that
of a husband.
My wife who is now safe at
home in the the good 'ol VS. of A.
and I will celebrate our second wed-
ding anniversary on Valentine's Day
and in my heart I know that that day
will forever live as the most impor-
tant day in my life. Graduating from
Trenten
HlLBURN
editor-in-chief
college get a good job and having
kids will just be icing on the cake.
When you find that one person
that lets you develop a life with them
that is so lasting and forever you
can't be anything but happy.
We have had our ups and downs
over the past three years of our rela-
tionship -particularly ..over the last
two years of our marriage -but all in
all I have been nothing but happy
with my marriage and my wife.
I really do believe that God has
tested our relationship during these
three short years. We've outlasted
separation financial problems car
accidents broken bones kidney
stones (a real test) term papers late-
night studying in-laws car wrecks
and working at the Abilene Reporter-
News. And if you ask my wife those
nights at the Reporter-News played
havoc on our relationship. But we
outlasted that storm on the sea of life.
To me anything that He puts
ahead of us on our journey through
life could be nothing but a breeze.
But then again when you think
you've seen the light at the end of the
tunnel God throws a curve low and
away and you were expecting a fast-
ball up and in.
In ways our opposites have led
to our prosperity in marriage. Each
hardship has helped our bond grow
stronger.
I am the sports fan and she is not
She loves musicals and Disney
Cartoons and I do not But we always
seem to find tltat common ground
that will appease us both.
I teach her things and shiegteaches
me things. I think if s love. No I
know if s love.
When I put my hat of a friend on
she is still my No. 1 fan. r
The closeness of our relationship
lets us confide those secrets that you
wouldn't tell just anyone.
A wife is a friend a lover a
spouse and a mother. For these quali-
ties I have the upmost respect How
could you not? When you firvel the
right one it can be the greatest-feeling
in the whole world. '
I love my hats and I love'my wife.
I think anybody that can put tip with
my idiosyncrasy has to be alf right
If I could say one thing to her
right now it would be "I love you
Cassandra and thank you forlhese
first two years."
I really love hats of all kinds but
no matter how you look at it the hat I
love the most is two years old on
Wednesday. It has a few scratches and
dings but it still fits quite nicely.
Sexual Orientation: Why question of nature or nurture is inconsequential
By John Wayne Romoh
guest columnist
Sexual orientation is the quintessential most
pronounced and intrinsic drive in the human race.
No other behavior fa any more fundamental and
dominant to mankind man that of sexuality and its
orientation to each individual. The manner in which
an individual behaves and interacts in society is to a
prodigious degree determined by that individual's
particular sexuality and the roles that inexorably
follow. Despite the rudimentary nature of sexual
orientation and its ubiquitous impact upon every
area of life universally for the most part the genre
of human sexuality remains an enigma.
Is sexual orientation something that we are born
with determined by our genetic code or fa it a
product of our environment? Possibly sexual orien-
tation of the individual fa engendered entirely by
the nature aspect or perhaps the nurture argument
of this dichotomy that we are bom into make us
into what we are? The argument fa not without
much scientific inquiry on both sides of the nature
vs. nurture debate; however close and objective
scrutiny placed upon the ostensible evidence reveals
results that are in actuality anything but conclu-
sive. One of the most noted and significant studies
conducted on the subject of sexual orientation was
undertaken by Dr. Simon Levay of the Salk Institute
of Biological Studies in La Jolla Calif. In his experi-
ment the brains of over 200 deceased homosexual
men were examined for structural differences. In
this study it was shown that in every one of the
cases without exception there was indeed a dra-
matic and rather startling discovery concerning
brain structure. The hypothalamus which fa the
part of the brain that fa recognized as responsible
for governing sexual behavior was found to be half
the size in homosexuals as opposed to the hypothal-
amus of heterosexuals. At first glance this seems to
be anything but inconclusive or equivocal; however
a doser look reveals that perhaps Dr. Levay's study
and the ensuing results are questionable in validity
and accuracy.
The pertinent question that arises fa whether the
pronounced structural abnormalities present were
there at birth thus inferring a genetic origin to their
sexuality or whether the disparity in hypothalamus
size was a dear ami devastating effect of the degen-
erating AIDS disease from which all of the 200 plus
men had died. In other words were the homosexual
subjects in Dr. Levay's study truly born with neuro-
logical differences or were the differences only pre-
sent after they had contracted and deteriorated from
the deadly HIV virus? Dr. Simon Levay's controver-
sial study was intended to provide a link between
sexual orientation and genetics but in view of all
the facts it fa shown to be at best dubious and cer-
tainly inconclusive.
Another study concerning structural differences
in the brain was conducted by two neuro-sdentists
from UCLA Dr. Roger Gorsky and Laura Allen.
They found that the anterior commissure was con-
sistently up to 30 larger in gay men than in
straight men. This information alone seems to be
solid proof for the nature side of the debate howev-
er further inquiry shows otherwise. The anterior
has never been shown to have any effect whatsoev-
er in the governing of sexual orientation and thus a
structural difference fa immaterial and a moot point.
If the anterior commissure fa not a factor in a per-
son's sexual behavior then even with an apparent
structural difference a condusion that sexual orien-
tation is thus innate would be unreasonable.
In a world where often times the scientific com-
munity seems to perpetuate ideologies and princi-
ples that are diametrically opposed to Christianity
where can cognitive resolution be found concerning
the origins of sexual orientation? Contrary to the
beliefs of many it should be noted that the Scripture
fa unspoken in an absolute and conclusive manner
concerning the genesis of human sexuality. It fa
explidty clear that not all sexual activity fa moral
but whether the sin of adultery homosexuality or
any other form of fornication fa innate or whether it
is acquired through the environment fa incondu-
sive. The Bible unequivocally states that Gpd fa in
control of both our genetic development (Jeremiah
15) and also our social and cultural environments
(Romans 13:1-2 1 Peter 2:13-14). So with God being
omnipotent and in charge of both nature ajid nur-
ture how can a truth be attained that is separate
from the nebulous and chaotic fury of scientific
ambiguity?
The imperative question fa not narure.ofnur-
ture innate or acquired; rather the questic&that
matters most is that of justification. Every one of us
is in the same boat according to the Christian world-
view. We are all born with a sin nature that is bent
away from God and His righteousness. Whether the
sin nature fa manifested primarily through selfish-
ness pride or homosexuality the fact fa that we are
all in the same sinking boat and without divine
intervention or supernatural help from Christ
whether nature or nurture we are all destined to
meet the same disastrous fate.
For the Christian truth and clarity are not
found in ascribing exactitude to the biological or
environmental origins of human sexual orientation
but rather fa found by first identifying the one and
only question that really matters. In the big picture
of eternity justification fa the true dilemma that
demands the utmost attention and consideration. If
all the behaviors of the human race are the results of
an innate genetic predisposition yet these actions
fall out of favor with the Creator of all and His stan-
dard of right and wrong can any solace or hope be
found? Conversely if the cumulative thoughts and
actions of man are mere products derived from the
environment around him is any space or proximity
gained toward the righteousness of God? The
source of what makes us do what we do is not the
issue but rather how our actions can find favor and
justification with the Author of both our genetics
and environment
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The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 83, No. 16, Ed. 1, Thursday, February 8, 1996, newspaper, February 8, 1996; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth97629/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.