The Phantom of Aurora
Dear Friends of The Phantom,
As previously written, I have completely rewritten my original story, adding detail, expanding some areas, removing text and dialogue in others, as I felt that I had done you all a great disservice by not giving it my best shot the first time around. What follows is, U hope, a much better story.
As you will notice, I have changed the name of the story slightly, and made appropriate adjustments in the text to ensure that what I write will not rebound legally on me, or Nifty. I must point out, however, that when I was approached by a certain organization, in which I was "recognized" as a Sea Cadet who had been to a certain training base, I really did not have it in my heart to tell them that while yes, I had been a Sea Cadet, and a few other things (some of which can be spoken about it public), I was never there as a Sea Cadet and, in fact, I was in the RCN when the place was officially opened. I did visit it, several times, but as a rating. I will say this, however: I have the greatest love and respect for the officers and cadets of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. In many ways they, and they alone, have kept the White Ensign flying.
When I first sat down to write, three years ago, I was determined to offer my readers a story about real people, in real situations, a story about young gay men who would not let the times, the churches, or the government stereotype them, to label them, or classify them as "fags" or "queers" or any of the pejoratives that spring to mind. I wanted my young men to reach their full potential as human beings, each one individual, and each with a common goal: to enjoy their lives as they wished to enjoy their lives, to live their lives as free individuals without fear or favour. In a great many ways I wanted you, the reader, to know and understand that there were many young, and not so young, gay men and women who willingly served their Queen and Country. They endured severe restrictions with regard to their personal lives, the threat of jail if they were open and frank in their sexuality and, sadly, death, most often at their own hands, all too often at the hands of bigots. I wanted my boys to be able to tell the world that they were just as good, if not better, than any other cadet or sailor and that could, and would, reach any goal set before them, and bear any burden pressed upon them - and they would do it in spite of, or perhaps because of, Society's condemnation of them. They would persevere and, in the end, in their own way, contributed to the on-going fight for gay rights, rights for gays not only in the military, but also in civilian life, a fight against the true "Axis of Evil" which, despite the gains won in recent decades in Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, continues to deny the truth: that gays and lesbians can serve with honour.
Sadly so, the true "Axis of Evil" continues to rotate, to deny, deny, deny: the Vatican, the divines of the religious establishments and the rabbis of Judaism driving the legislatures, the judiciaries and the military establishments to deny the truth - especially where service to society by gay men and women is proscribed from the highest levels. My story attempts, in a small way, to show the bigots that we will prevail. We are always here, and we will always prevail.
Over the years since I began to post my original story, I have received well over 300 e-mails from many wonderful people, expressing their encouragement and delight at my story. David, the Nifty archivist, a man whom we should all thank, has been a pillar of support.
I hope to publish what follows as The Phantom of Aurora. I hope that you will all buy the book when it is published. In the interim, I present to you the latest edition of my story. Enjoy.
Love to all,
John