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Show THE THUNDERBIRD • SOUTHERN lJTAH UNIVERSITY • MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1992 • PAGE 5 The lament of the 'longhairs' A friend of mine was walki.,g down H ollywo.xl Boulevard with a group of fellow srudents from the Musiaa.,s lnstirute of Technology, when they ran into a pack of wild Skinheads. The Skinheads examined the group and noticed that when the wind picked ur:,, their long hair flowed with it Being skinheads, th e ringleader spoke up. "Let's all be longhaired faggots ." He strutted around, and swung his h ips bad.. and forth. My friend's peer was angered by the ringleader's actions. He turned around, his hair following his sc'l!p in immaculate ballet, and said ... (author's note, due to morals it is ne.xssary that this statement be edited from the text of my editorial.) My name is Jerry Gardner, and I'm a longhair. I've had a long career of growing my hair out during which I have made quite a few observations of people's attitudes toward longhairs. When my friends and I walk down the street we notice things that are done both consciously and unconsciously. For example, mothers will pull their children closer to them as we pass by. Women in stores would rather knock canned fruits and vegetables off of shelves with their shoulders and knees than enter our circle. Old men on the street look at us, scowl, and grunt in disgust I attended school in the community of Enterprise. My first impression of the people was very Mayberry-ish, everyone was friendly and knew everyone and would say hdlo as you passed by them. Later I found out that they would say more than hello once you were behind them. My friends and I started growing our hair out in the 8th grade and by the 9th grade "'e had fairly long hair. This was the time that we all became Satanists, drug u.~rs, and homosexuals in d,e eyes of the community. Earlier this year, a convenience store in Enterprise was burglarized. The owner was convinced that our group was the guilty party. My father went to the owner and asked why he was sure we had done it. The owner replied: "If you wear a cowboy hat and cowboy boots, you herd cattle." My father retaliated: "So, if you have long hair, you rob stores?" The store owner shrugged his shoulders. Fortunately we were cleared on that allegation when the real perpetrators were caught a month or two ago. Since the incident with the convenience store, the Satanist rumors are still going strong. Rumor has it that the next time I commit an offense I am going to Juvenile Hall. I'm over 18 years of age so I have graduated to jail; people are a funny sort You may think I'm taking this opportunity to whine about my problems but I have proof that longhairs and metal heads are discriminated against. If you wa.n t my argument, rent Wa:,nt's World or the Bill and Ttd movies and observe the actions of the characters which were derived from stereotypes of longhairs. In the past long hair was a sign of nobility and wealth; if people had short hair they would buy wigs to malc_e their hair longer. T oday, longhairs are socially outcast I still have to question the reasons. I will now share with you the urgent opportunity that lies before longhairs. If your hair is long, don't procrastinate, get a pen and notepad and write you r con gressman , tell him o f your experien ces with discrimination. Tdl him longhairs should be known as a minority. Gays have applied for minority status and I thin le that's fine, but, with enough thought it is easy to sec how longhairs arc worse off than gays are: It is easier to hide sexual preferences than it is to hide hair length. This puts longhairs at first priority on the list. longhairs have unique ways of expressing themselves but the hair is their most important form of communication. It usually shows a deep love for their music which is more o~n tban not Heavy Me12l. It says, •I care about what I believe in, and if you think that l'm a bed person for that. I can live with it because I'm an individual who has found my individuality.• Let us communicale frcdy-<lo not aear us u if we were any difiercnt from you. Join ~ . longhairs. Scart a committee to gDYCffl you, send them to the apitol and let them repracnt your views and opinions. Do ewaydung you an to let the discrimination be known. Don't cut your hair k>r anyone 'cau,e you've p to fly INl &alt fJae. i ~"'.Jt· . ~ ~~ -~'>~ c1' ! 586-3348 Monday - Saturday Days, Evenings, HoUdays ~ ~ Prof~I Fenced Yard Q Playground Equipment )( Educational Toys storytime Oilld Care Center Meals Low Rates a sure remedy for those Final Exam Blues! Try one today! LARGE SELECTION, INCLUDING: KENT ANO JON PARXE DIRECT DIAMOND IMPORTERS Bridal sets 1/4 ct. T.W. 14K Bridal sets 1/5 pt. 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