De profundis
OUTRAGE
How is that this can happen, here, now?
How is it possible that there has not been more of an outcry about the murder of Lawrence King? Or Simmie Williams?
Lawrence was an 8th grader and was shot in the head during class at a school in California. His accused murderer is a 14 year old classmate. Lawrence is dead, and his accused murderer will, if convicted, go to jail for the rest of his life.
Because Lawrence asked him to be his Valentine.
Because Lawrence was gay.
Because Lawrence wore makeup and heels to school sometimes.
And so a 14 year-old boy got the message from our society OUR SOCIETY that it's ok to take a handgun to school and blow the brains out of a gay kid.
CONDEMNATION
Shame on all of us.
Shame on our elected officials who drag their heels in passing equal rights and hate-crimes legislation.
Shame on voters for putting those elected officials in office in the first place.
Shame on our churches for not following Christ's message of love for your brother, neighbor, son, daughter, fellow human being. For if our children hear in church that "God hates fags", surely those same children will grow to believe that they, too, "hate fags".
Shame on our schools and their boards for not being more aggressive in anti-bullying policies, for censoring books with gay-affirming topics, and for prohibiting gay and gay-straight alliances.
Shame on parents for not teaching their children, our children, that all of us every one deserve respect, and to be treated with dignity.
Shame on those groups who, in the name of Christ, seek to thwart in our schools programs that teach not just tolerance but acceptance.
Shame on the media for being so blinded by the political process that they barely spared room for these tragedies.
And shame on me for not being man enough to stand up more, to love more, to speak up more, to insist more, to converse more, to be myself more.
RESOLUTION
There's much talk about Change lately. Can it really happen?
ENDA, spousal rights, marriage, civil unions, DADT repeal?
For the love of All That Is And Will Be, VOTE!
Sign a petition.
Talk to each other.
Love each other.
Engage each other with real dialogue.
Then maybe, just maybe, all the killing, all the suicides, all the crying and weeping and sadness won't have been in vain.
What will you do?
peace to all,
Keith
How is that this can happen, here, now?
How is it possible that there has not been more of an outcry about the murder of Lawrence King? Or Simmie Williams?
Lawrence was an 8th grader and was shot in the head during class at a school in California. His accused murderer is a 14 year old classmate. Lawrence is dead, and his accused murderer will, if convicted, go to jail for the rest of his life.
Because Lawrence asked him to be his Valentine.
Because Lawrence was gay.
Because Lawrence wore makeup and heels to school sometimes.
And so a 14 year-old boy got the message from our society OUR SOCIETY that it's ok to take a handgun to school and blow the brains out of a gay kid.
CONDEMNATION
Shame on all of us.
Shame on our elected officials who drag their heels in passing equal rights and hate-crimes legislation.
Shame on voters for putting those elected officials in office in the first place.
Shame on our churches for not following Christ's message of love for your brother, neighbor, son, daughter, fellow human being. For if our children hear in church that "God hates fags", surely those same children will grow to believe that they, too, "hate fags".
Shame on our schools and their boards for not being more aggressive in anti-bullying policies, for censoring books with gay-affirming topics, and for prohibiting gay and gay-straight alliances.
Shame on parents for not teaching their children, our children, that all of us every one deserve respect, and to be treated with dignity.
Shame on those groups who, in the name of Christ, seek to thwart in our schools programs that teach not just tolerance but acceptance.
Shame on the media for being so blinded by the political process that they barely spared room for these tragedies.
And shame on me for not being man enough to stand up more, to love more, to speak up more, to insist more, to converse more, to be myself more.
RESOLUTION
There's much talk about Change lately. Can it really happen?
ENDA, spousal rights, marriage, civil unions, DADT repeal?
For the love of All That Is And Will Be, VOTE!
Sign a petition.
Talk to each other.
Love each other.
Engage each other with real dialogue.
Then maybe, just maybe, all the killing, all the suicides, all the crying and weeping and sadness won't have been in vain.
What will you do?
peace to all,
Keith
posted by Keith | 12:37 AM
1 Comments:
Very nicely done. Perhaps you'll inspire more of us to get off our collective haunches and do something. You go girl! (You know what I mean.)
For a hobbit, you stand pretty tall right now. ;-)
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