MeL’s Point: Stop the Hate!

MeL's picture

By MeL on Sunday, August 2, 2009 - 18:23

 

When I started to write this column about a year ago, the concept – as far as there even was one – was to comment on or simply describe interesting and noteworthy observations of everyday lesbian life in a light-hearted way. Most of the time, this concept actually worked, but I soon realized that sometimes, the humorous tone that I usually aim for either feels inappropriate or I just can’t bring myself to go through with it. As you have probably already guessed, this “sometimes” is now.

 

When I heard the news about last night’s shooting in a GLBT club in Tel Aviv, I was shocked and saddened. Then anger and frustration kicked in as well. As of now, we still don’t know who the shooter was and why he did it, but as there were reports that he also tried to attack a gay night club, it’s very likely that he specifically went after gays and lesbians and that it was a hate crime. And he didn’t just go after any gay and lesbian men and women, his targets were gay teenagers. Accordingly, one of the two people killed was a 16-year-old girl. Some of the teenagers in the group supposedly weren’t even out to their families, making them one of the most vulnerable groups among GLBT people. How much of a threat can they actually be, and to whom, that they deserve to be shot and killed?

 

I know that there will never be an answer to that question that will make what happened comprehensible for me. Hate rarely is rational, it doesn’t work that way. Why hate somebody who has never done you any harm? Why attack somebody whose only “crime” it is to be different?

I think that what’s usually behind hate is, more often than not, ignorance and fear. Fear of the unknown, of all things different from the respective person and their perception of what is normal. And I believe that the key to change this is visibility and openness.

 

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HAAPPY's picture
This just blows my mind......
Submitted by HAAPPY on August 2, 2009 - 19:29.

I don't know what is so threatening about LOVE to people.

How incredibly sad that this type of hate is still prevalent, in this day and age.

I don't see how murdering someone can be justifiable in another persons opinion. I just can't wrap my brain around that type of thinking. Unless of course they are a violent abuser.....BUT this time the victims are teenagers. And for what...???? Who they love?

As far as 'same-gender' adoption is concerned, OMGosh. Time to get off of that "rock" and open up your eyes. There are millions perhaps billions of children who need to be adopted by someone who will love and care about them. Who can give them what they NEED. Why should someone else give a flying fart, if the parents are of the same gender? Why in some instances the children in foster care are being taken back to their abusive parents; which is more acceptable then letting the child be adopted by people who are well capable of caring for them?

Keep "fighting"
HAAPPY's picture
A dream..about LOVE and not about hate. I hope it's not to late
Submitted by HAAPPY on August 2, 2009 - 20:14.

Last night I dreamt I kissed a Fairy
Her neck was soft
Her lips tasted sweet like a berry
Her gaze was mesmerizing
Her smile enchanting
Her wings were light blue and very translucent
I was afraid to touch them because they looked fragil
I didn't want them to break off,
when I would loose it.
She knew a lot of things
she was quiet the scholar
I told her what I knew to be true
and she didn't seem bothered.
She was kind and true to herself and to others
Just what I like
I kissed her pink lips and neck one more time
Then the garden faded as the sun went down.
I let go of her hand and vowed to be back again.

I hope she comes again when my eyes are shut.
The dream faded and it was time to get up.
MeL's picture
Beautiful poem
Submitted by MeL on August 2, 2009 - 21:07.

Thanks for sharing that poem, it's beautiful.

I agree with you about the "Not letting gay people adopt" issue. Just this week, there was a story in the news about a 13-year-old, mentally handicapped girl who was neglected by her parents and a very poor condition when they found her in her parents' house. But of course, the parents are straight, so still better for her than living with loving, caring gay people...

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Caisa's picture
The contrast
Submitted by Caisa on August 2, 2009 - 21:44.

is so apalling after participating in the parade at Stockholm Pride. 350000 people were greating us 35000 queers as we walked through Stockholm. Then the kids were murdered in Tel Aviv, a supposedly gay friendly city, not that far away.

I was in the process of writng light hearted about Stockholm Pride when I got a Facebook message about a demonstration against the murders. I didn't feel like cuntinue writing (but I'll give it another shot tomorrow)

Despite only about two hours warning more than 100 people turned out to protest the murders and to express our solidarity with the Israeli LGBT folks.

I can't get into the head of someone who hate people who just are themself. Why do they hate so much? What can we do to stop the hate?
Little G's picture
Smother hate mongers with love?
Submitted by Little G on August 2, 2009 - 22:54.

What the heck is wrong with some people?

I heard that when the news initially got out last night (on the shooting) it wasn't revealed the incident happened in a LGBT youth center. I guess it got corrected shortly after.
What surprises me is that it happened in Tel Aviv; I thought that city was more progressive than Jerusalem. I sure didn't see that coming.

Whether it's because someone has a different sexual preference, practices a different religion or has a different skin color - HATE. IS. WRONG. Period.
Cath's picture
tel aviv
Submitted by Cath on August 3, 2009 - 09:00.

Tel Aviv is a lot more tolerant than the rest of the country, but just as everywhere else on the planet, ultra conservatives have been getting more nervous faced with the steady (if slow...) progress of acceptance regarding LGBT people. The new right-wing Israeli government, despite condemning the hate murders, is also a subtle shift towards slowing down this progress.

And if you wanted to target gays in Israel, it would be sadly logical to go after the pro-LGBT nucleus that is Tel Aviv, and not after Jerusalem, where conservatives of various faiths generate a much more restrictive climate when it comes to LGBT issues.

The most horrible details about the attack are for one that the murderer attacked a center for questioning YOUTH, that secondly is is situated in a neighborhood of homes, without any big sign, so you would need to know where and what it is to attack it (since there are witness reports that the same attacker apparently tried to attack a gay bar, this looks like a hate crime).
Although the worst detail surfaced this morning: of the wounded and critically wounded kids, some are apparently without visits from their parents and family.

And as long as THAT attitude -"I kick out my child and break off contact if they are gay" - prevails, hate mongers have something they can feed off.

Imagine you learn that your child is critically wounded and the same time you learn that it was wounded at a center for questioning youth. - How could anyone not race to their child's side?

Incomprehensible. And inhuman.

 

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