I've had this post started for weeks now, unable to bring myself to finish it but given another push in the form of NG's highlighting of Ellen's powerful video:
I think the reaction is being felt around the country, maybe around the world: a very real feeling of nausea, that I might actually be ill. And even more frustrating is that I can't determine just why. Is it because somehow, violence still seems like an acceptable course of action in America? Is it because I'm not even surprised? Or is it because I feel absolutely helpless to stop it? That despite dedicating two months to Equality Ride, despite visiting with politicians, despite organizing communities, despite speaking at universities, people are still dying.
I do not understand where the outrage is when pastors say things such as “If ... some [gay or effeminate] guy opened the door for me, I’d rip his arm off and beat him with the wet end.” or why no one is taking crimes against queer people seriously. A young boy was executed in California and it doesn't blip on most of the nation's radar. I don't have much to add that hasn't been said before. I just need to stew.
One point, this story did make national news, I recall reading it on the CNN web-site. Sadly, teenagers killing each other is all to common. Thus, it doesn't rate very high in the media unless it is a slow news day.
ReplyDeleteAs to being disheartened about not being able to stop things like this, well, you can't change the world. Instead, I would focus on the good you have done and can still do. Even if the Equality ride didn't help anyone (which I don't believe, I think it did help a lot of people), at least you tried and that is far more than a lot of people have done.