Sunday, March 18, 2012
To the Editor, the New York Times;
It Was Fear Crime, Not Hate Crime
Regarding the trial of M. Ravi, convicted of a hate crime, two mistakes were made at Rutgers: he was assigned a gay roommate and the roommate invited a strange gay man to have sex with him in the shared room. His lawyers said that " he was a kid with little experience of homosexuality who stumbled into a situation that scared him". That should read, "He was put into a situation that scared him". Many men who are unsure of their own sexuality, are very uncomfortable and even anxious with any contact with homosexuals, hence the former rule against gays in the military and the phenomena of homophobia. Mr. Clementi's request that Mr. Ravi leave the room so he could have sex with a stranger he met on the internet was a situation that no roommate should have had to deal with. Mr. Ravi should have refused the request and if Mr Clementi proceeded anyway, Mr Ravi should have complained to the university authorities about it. and requested a change in rooms. That Mr Clementi actually expected that Ravi should go elsewhere so he could have privacy for his sexual encounter is incomprehensible. and no student should have had to put up with it. The university should apologize to Mr Ravi for their error.
It Was Fear Crime, Not Hate Crime
Regarding the trial of M. Ravi, convicted of a hate crime, two mistakes were made at Rutgers: he was assigned a gay roommate and the roommate invited a strange gay man to have sex with him in the shared room. His lawyers said that " he was a kid with little experience of homosexuality who stumbled into a situation that scared him". That should read, "He was put into a situation that scared him". Many men who are unsure of their own sexuality, are very uncomfortable and even anxious with any contact with homosexuals, hence the former rule against gays in the military and the phenomena of homophobia. Mr. Clementi's request that Mr. Ravi leave the room so he could have sex with a stranger he met on the internet was a situation that no roommate should have had to deal with. Mr. Ravi should have refused the request and if Mr Clementi proceeded anyway, Mr Ravi should have complained to the university authorities about it. and requested a change in rooms. That Mr Clementi actually expected that Ravi should go elsewhere so he could have privacy for his sexual encounter is incomprehensible. and no student should have had to put up with it. The university should apologize to Mr Ravi for their error.
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