[tokyo rocket]

Before reading, please realize that these thoughts are of my own opinion, an opinion which was formed due to my observations as an open-minded human being who was raised to accept all for who they are, largely based on their individual personalities much rather than the way they were born. I am not here to argue. I am simply here to express my own thoughts.

I really, and I mean REALLY dislike it when I'm reading through posts in the threads and I see something like, "I don't like Yoite" (or even some other character for that matter) "because he is a hermaphrodite."

Really, people? I mean - sure, it's you're opinion, but does that make it a GOOD opinion? Some may say that there is no such thing as a bad opinion when taking into consideration that these are our individual thoughts as free-thinking people, but to dislike somebody based on how the were born? And of course, I do recognize that Nabari No Ou is fictional and that our Manga-ka for this story created Yoite and did not have to make him this way, but if you dislike him based on this does it mean you dislike other people - people in your REAL lives- who were born different from the standard "norm?" And were you aware that statistics have shown that 1 in 3000 people is born with BOTH male and female organs? And did it ever occur to you that people with these genetic malfunctions (not meant to disrespect) do not CHOOSE to be born this way? It does not make somebody bad or disgusting to be born different from you who may be a solid male or female. To think this would be thinking with the same mindset that the people who abused Sora had. They considered him a monstrosity for something out of his control. Didn't they? They even attempted to kill him.
I'm not saying you're going to go out and kill somebody for being this way, but hating them for it is just wrong to me. Remember, even Yoite was lead to hate himself for it. If those people had thought with the open-mindedness of "Hey, this isn't his fault," he never would have become the confused, self-loathing person who he was, nor did he deserve it.
So if you have decided that you hate Yoite based on the way he was born, consider the fact that he didn't ask for it and that he hated it too, but also consider that his reasoning for hating it was more valid than yours. Why do you hate it? Is it fear of those who are different? Is it a fear that somebody isn't normal compared to what YOU think is normal? I think so. I think it's fear of what doesn't make sense to us that lead people to turn away or dislike somebody different.
I think that it was a great idea for the manga-ka of this story to make him a hermaphrodite. It did a lot in explaining who he was and it also showed how close-minded people can be towards someone who is different - which strongly relates to reality.
Again, it is my opinion, and it is my right to say that if you dislike this amazing, deep, well-formed character based not on his actions, but how he was "born," and you feel this dislike or discomfort towards all who are like him, you are wrong. On a moral level you are wrong to hate Yoite for what he didn't choose to be. He's still human and so is everybody else like him.

[kuraireikan]

This is an e-mail my brother forwarded to me last night, without all the addresses and crap. I'm putting it here because I feel it directly relates to the overall message of this thread even though it has nothing to do with NnO. So, a little something on the nature of "differences" and how society tends to treat them:

Two Choices
What would you do?. you make the choice.
Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.' Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact...

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman' s head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

And now a little footnote to this story:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our society. If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message.

Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them. You now have two choices: 1. Delete, 2. Forward

May your day, be a Shay Day.

[squidduck]

@kurai: That story made my heart both swell and ache... and rejuvenates my faith in humanity (and, yeah, it definitely reminded me of Yoite, during Ch. 50, actually...). Interesting idea, that these "abnormalities" occur amongst our kind to reveal true human nature.

However, just as we're capable of love we're capable of hate. Circumstance and personal disposition more or less dictate what we direct which sentiment toward.

We also like what's similar to us.... so it's probably as simple as that, rocket :/ Not many people can relate to intersex individuals... and I'm not sure how many of those who can't are willing to open their eyes and try.

Ah, and I don't think humans can ever truly have BOTH genitalia XD; not a full set, at least. I think it's either ambiguous, leaning toward one or the other sex, or a "combo" in the case of ovotestes. Also, I think "hermaphrodite" is an old term no longer used toward people but I'm not completely sure how srs it is /bricked

[kuraireikan]

You're right, it's an old and outdated term, often thought to be a slur of sorts. I have used it on occasion, not in a mean way but because I'm aware of the genesis of the term. I have a deep and long standing love of and for Greek mythology.

[yoite16]

@Kura: That story made me cry, to be honest....I fullheartedly agree with Tokyo. It makes me more angry than you could ever imagine when people treat others who are different badly. I'm very glad there are people who see reason. :')

[mabbeHUNYcini]

I think it's actually really interesting that Yoite is intersexed. It makes him more... real? I think that's why he captured all of our hearts. He's had a hard life having to live with that feeling of not knowing just who or what he is, and being afraid of what people will think of the real him. After I learned that he was intersexed, I can honestly say that I liked him even more! btw, that story is sooo touching D':

and sorry for my terrible english >.>

[tokyo rocket]

Originally Posted by squidduck

@kurai: That story made my heart both swell and ache... and rejuvenates my faith in humanity (and, yeah, it definitely reminded me of Yoite, during Ch. 50, actually...). Interesting idea, that these "abnormalities" occur amongst our kind to reveal true human nature.

However, just as we're capable of love we're capable of hate. Circumstance and personal disposition more or less dictate what we direct which sentiment toward.

We also like what's similar to us.... so it's probably as simple as that, rocket :/ Not many people can relate to intersex individuals... and I'm not sure how many of those who can't are willing to open their eyes and try.

Ah, and I don't think humans can ever truly have BOTH genitalia XD; not a full set, at least. I think it's either ambiguous, leaning toward one or the other sex, or a "combo" in the case of ovotestes. Also, I think "hermaphrodite" is an old term no longer used toward people but I'm not completely sure how srs it is /bricked

You're certainly right! But even given those factors, to hate somebody for things out of their control just SCREAMS wrong to me. And it angers me. It's a lot easier to hate than to love, but this hate they feel should have some REAL validity, in my opinion. Like, most of us would never hate a person who was born blind. It's the same concept.
Of course most of us can't relate, but is society so cruel that it has to produce that negativity? I can't stand that about our world!

LOL. I didn't think he did have a full set of both. I kind of assumed that his male organs were dominant/the complete set, which is why he's referred to has a "he."
I've heard a few terms for it, so I wasn't sure which one was proper. Oh well. xD
I love him anyway.