Section One
Friday,
March 25, 2005
Volume 33,
Issue 12
Sat, Nov 21, 2009
IN THE SGN
SECTION ONE
Front Page
MORE/ALL
SECTION ONE
STORIES
SECTION TW0
Arts & Entertainment
Letters to the Editor |
||
|
|
||
| Letters to the Editor | ||
| COME OUT TO SUPPORT MICAH PAINTER
Dear Editor, I wanted to publicly express my disgust with the lack of support Micah Painter has received during the trial of the three accused of brutally beating him up, nearly nine months ago. Back in July, the community was in an uproar over the attack, and came out in force by attending the rally at Westlake and marching to the LGBT Community Center for a fundraiser to help with his medical bills, as well as attend his birthday party fundraiser at the Timberline. Has the Seattle Gay community been inflicted with a severe case of amnesia? Since the trial has begun, Gay supporters have been outnumbered by friends and family of the defendants by more than 20 to 1. Last week, there were over 50 there, compared to only two from the Gay community. On Monday, there were a few more, but the number of friends and family of the defense grew by about 20. The trial was supposed to conclude with closing arguments March 23, but were delayed again due to the fact there were not enough people in the jury pool to get an alternate for the ill juror. There were about eight people from the Gay community there that day. Once again, the trial has been postponed until March 28. The victim needs to have support and representation in that courtroom. I am calling for anyone and everyone that can get in that courtroom at 9:00 a.m. to show up, show their support for Micah, and show the other side that our voices and spirit will not be crushed, and our voices will be heard. David A. Hildebrand |
||
| A COUPLE OF THE HEROES IN MY LIFE ID LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY | ||
|
|
||
| Dear SGN,
I was 19, attending a sociology class during my first and only year at a University, listening to a guest speaker, a woman. I just remember being very shocked by something she said. There was a woman next to me that I kinda hung with at the back of the class. She and I looked at each other in shock and, as I remember, disgust. The speaker spoke of being Transgender. She spoke of fear, the abuse and many other feelings going through high school. She hadnt been out, and she hadnt dressed out of the norm for the times. She was just different and people picked up on that and reacted to it as all immature people, especially of high school do. Do you see the irony? The woman next to me in class was black and I am a Gay man. Both of us should have known, wait, we did know prejudice. And we both knew about growing up different, unwanted, both experienced differently, but still we certainly should have been more understanding. Ive never forgotten my reactions which is a good thing in many respects. I learned from that and in those early days of social unacceptance, I often saw I was the one, or one of only a few that would befriend a different person. That teacher at PLU had given me a gift, improved vision and I believe becoming a Buddhist of cause and effect earlier that year had a hand in guiding that lesson and added question and reasoning to that vision. When youre Gay, the so-called straight see you as invisible and insignificant. I dont care if were talking 30 years ago or today, some or all those feelings, the sentiments, still exist and it is still picked up. We still let that poison get into our heads. When youre Transgendered, the so-called straight see you as a freak, a monster. But it is so much worse, even Gay, even people of color judge so harshly too. It tears me up. I try to remember my worst fear and quadruple it, but still I dont know what it feels like to be Transgendered. I will never know what that feels like. But its not about knowing what it feels like any more than it is about controlling what is going on around us. Its about tolerance and acceptance. Its about the maturity and challenge to see, think and react with a more abstract, broadened, reasoning mind. Stop and think about it. Is it so difficult to conceive that living in harmony, in rhythm with the people and the environment around us, is so much easier then trying to control it all? What makes it worse is that people, humankind, that should know better, that have felt rejection (doesnt everyone at some point?) manage to close off those feelings and still rush to judge. And worst to react, though it maybe as simple as the act of ignoring or indifference toward the injustice. This started this out just to say thanks to Bobbie and Miss Amy and some other heroes in my life. But maybe it is really a call to still other heroes. Maybe I am more tired today of the indifference and ignorance. Within the SGI Buddhist family, it is a prime focus to stand up, to react, in the face of injustice. Though sadly even here, and I see it within other families of faith, some still think an act of hatred is some how different then an act of indifference. Love you guys, and very proud of you. You show much courage in a social climate where killing is more acceptable then negotiating. How ironic... when someone kills out of intolerance in their family or community, they are scorned and ridiculed. They should get along, work out their differences. When the same intolerance and ignorant action is carried out on a larger scale is deemed necessary, even praised. I feel weak and the phrase Dont let the bastards get to you comes to mind. Talk is cheap, but it can be very costly. Silence and indifference can be deadly. I know when I am weak, faith weak and tired, the bastards is my reflection. Physics tells us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When you stand up and fight for something righteous you will meet a resistance. You may even be knocked down if it is important enough! Gotta go build my strength, my resistance, gotta go work on my practice, my faith. Gotta be ready to get myself back up. Action baby! Prayer and Action! Ty Metsker |
 |
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
 GENERAL GAYETY Leslie Robinson |
 LESBIAN NOTIONS Paula Martinac |
