book reviews and summaries, comments, analysis
Zeeland, Steve. Barrack Buddies and Soldier lovers.
Dialogues with Gay Men in the US Military.
Shilts' book, by discussing court cases and service purges against and gays and lesbians, maintains at least a facade of respectability. Zeelands book doesn't even do that. The author himself said it best: "the purpose of this book is not to convince the reader that gays make good soldiers or deserve to be allowed to serve their country..." OoooooooK! Instead, this homoerotic text seems to be the world longest personal ad, with Zeelands picture on the back. He doesn't include his phone number, but you can see more at his website. In the meantime the reader can delight in the most bizarre kiss-and-tell book (the author has fucked half the interviewees and wants to fuck the other half, apparently) ever written. You figure out how the following will improve the acceptance of homosexuality in our society..I can't!
- meet Jeff! Jeff gets off watching Captain Kirk. Sex is sex, says Jeff, whether its with his sister, the dog, or a cow on his farm. Beam down on it Jeff, you're a great example for all of us!
- Meet Randy. Randy says he knows(I can hear the gush right thru the text) George Bush is gay...he can tell by the way he jogs! Isn't it nice that faggots can jump to conclusions based on stereotypes as much as any redneck? No thit, Randy. Randy calls his soldier lover is husband.
- Meet John the Butt-Jammer. Excuuuuuuse me girls, he calls it 'fucking the male pussy." John is a real tough dude who slapped a guy who called him a faggot.
- Meet Ryan, the damn gay Republican. Ryan tried to be straight (all us Republicans try to be straight, you see). I will say this, Ryan knows more about Biblical scripture than every homo from Sweden to Swishville. Of course Zeeland can't stop badgering about liking Ronald Reagan so the chapter kind of ends suddenly.
- meet Chaz, the male cheerleader for the base football team! Hit once by a gay basher, Chaz thinks that gays just might have to arm and protect themselves, 'like Israel.' Imagine that...a gay chapter to the NRA!
- Meet Scott, who is in a love pentagon (no pun intended) with our illustrious author and kyle and....oh, who cares! When Zeeland suggests that he wear a condom during their buttblasting sessions, Scott carps "do you have to be such a realist?" Poor Scott can't remember if the author came in his mouth or not. How cheeky!
- Meet Doc. Doc is the Beavis and Butthead of the cammie claque. If someone gets Doc pissed off he likes to 'burn them or something.' [heh...heh]. Asked how he voted in elections, Doc said 'Democrat or Republican.' Zeeland almost gagged when Doc told him he voted for Bush in '88-- of course, Dukakis was the greek god type Zeeland apparently likes.
- Meet lieutenant matt. He isn't homosexual. He isn't heterosexual. He's just (drum roll)....sexual! For Matt the closet has a revolving door. Jumping his roomate in Philly, next he does the Phrankfurt Phag scene. Then a few months with Cathy as a sojourn into straightness. He hits the cumback trail, however. Matt tells us this while fingering the book of Corinthians and hoping to eventually get a job where 'being a Christian would be an active part.'
- Lieutenant Doug is an intelligent guy who rails about Amerika's nudity hangups, as well as methods of beating the NIS and OIS systems for dismissing gays. It is amusing to see him keep cutting Zeeland off at the knees when the author tries to drag the interview down to his level. If you've ever sat in a coffee shop with a gay guy who can't stop talking about how tight 'that guys jeans are!' while you are trying to read the OpEd page of the Wall Street Journal, you know what I mean.
- Well...I'm sorry that by this time i am so numbed by the authors' pathetic concept of what gay men are all about that I can only cursorily mention Rolando, the medic who doesn't know that fellatio means sucking dick; Ron, busy cruising the Burger king mens room on his wedding day; Chuck, Lonnie, Jason, Russ, and a few other HIV+ guys trying to figure which one of their circle-jerk got the virus first. I am sure lesbians will I have a soft spot in their heart for Kyle, who likes to treat women like trash!
God!!What a great step forward for acceptance of homosexuality this book is!
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