LETTER: Anti-Sexualism

"We'll Always Have PARIS" . . . but we won't always have logic or rationality. Chris Lehmann thinks that Magic Johnson's "downfall" -- as if he were already dead -- arises from his "unwillingness to see women as anything but sex objects," rather than failure to use prophylactics. Why a willingness to " 'oblige' hundreds of women" shows a lack of respect for them, he fails to explain. Should only men's wishes be obliged? As Lehmann observes, it is unfortunately true that Martina Navratilova, as a gay woman, would probably would not receive the same sympathy as Johnson has if she contracted HIV. But, curiously, Lehmann fails to tell us what he thinks about women who are polygamous. I'll tell you what I think of them: I think they're perfectly all right -- for the identical reason that men who "sleep around" are perfectly all right. The burden of proof is clearly on those who would claim that the desire for variety in sex, but not in any other area of experience, is unhealthy. Chris Lehmann should check the definition of "hypocrisy" before flinging such glib charges of bigotry around -- because antisexualism is just as bigoted and superstitious as sexism, homophobia or any other reactionary prejudice. ERIC HAMELL College '84