The end of the winter break ushered in another school semester of frightening harassment for thousands of tormented children across the United States. Among those kids was 15-year-old Lawrence King. The young man who had been bullied year after year had finally self-identified as gay. He hoped with that bold stroke the delinquents at school would allow him some of his stolen childhood peace. The anxiety and stress Lawrence experienced would have been unbearable for most, but he had adopted the thick skin a young gay man must develop to survive the bullying threats that push thousands of other young gay Americans to suicide each year.
Lawrence was a survivor. He lived his final days at Casa Pacifica, a shelter for abused children. In his most painful moments, he found comfort in Pacifica's therapy dog, a giant Newfoundland named Archie. Lawrence could whisper anything to Archie, confident he'd get a slobbery lick and a wag of the giant black tail in return. At Casa Pacifica Lawrence found love and acceptance and the strength to bloom.
Optimistic Lawrence knew once he was out of school he would excel. Nothing he could imagine in his future could ever be as challenging -- or as hellish --as his youth. Like so many ostracized and persecuted children, he swore that when he was finally an adult, he would reach for the moon to show 'em all that he had always really been the better man. To survive the playground his resolve needed to be stronger than the roughest bully's threats, assaults and anger. Lawrence King escaped into rationale when the schoolyard fell into its fanatical, fundamentalist hate. Finally last Tuesday in first period English class at E.O. Green Junior High School in the Los Angeles suburb of Oxnard, an oppressor's loathing took the upper hand.
Brandon McInerney raised his arm and shot Lawrence King directly in the back of his head -- not because he had a grudge with the victim, but because Lawrence King was gay. Later, McInerney's attorney, Brian Vogel, said, "Both Brandon and the family are terribly sad to learn (Lawrence King) is brain-dead." He went on to say that the killer and his family were hurting.
The bullying was chronic at E.O. Junior High. It was never dealt with directly. Jeff Dannenberg, the school superintendent, said the school's staff was aware that King had butted heads with bullying students, including the killer. The superintendent said, "They had been doing a lot of counseling and a lot of work with (King) to help him deal with some of his concerns and personal issues." The recognition that other students had problems with their hate for King is lost in his statement. Eighth-grader Michael Sweeney summed up the bigotry perfectly in his statement: "(King) would come to school in high-heeled boots, makeup, jewelry and painted nails -- the whole thing. That was freaking the guys out."
With each new invention of torture or death comes a new way to murder the innocent: burning at the stake, hangings, the gas chamber, stabbings, beatings, lynching, torture, inescapable mental abuse, and now point-blank classroom gunfire. Like the Nazis gassing the Jews, a mob lynching a black man, or the early pioneers butchering the Native Americans, Brandon will argue he wasn't killing a person -- he was simply doing away with another faggot.
Kids learn this hatred from the top down. George W. Bush has blood on his hands. For seven years he has spouted rhetoric and mantras across America that are vile, terrorizing, and ridiculous. He's vetoed bills, threatened the court, and spewed vitriolic immoral garbage against homosexuals. In his tense-faced proclamation for a "constitutional amendment protecting marriage," President Bush crashed the marriages of thousands in California and bashed the hope of millions of strong American families looking for hope, joy, and legal recognition. The president repeatedly states that he defends the "sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman" -- a euphemistic slur against gay people and their right to live life in equality with the rest of America.
Fifteen-year-old Brandon McInerney has absorbed and internalized the slandering tongue of the president for half his life; it's no wonder he pulled the trigger -- he might think about naming President Bush and Pat Robertson as co-conspirators. Robertson on gays: "they don't care about how much they destroy. They don't care about destroying family, they don't care about destroying a church, they don't care about destroying what's important to society" -- dangerous words from an insane man. Robertson feigns talking to god as he "heals" physical ailments through the television, all the while encouraging his flock of the frightened to send him tax-free dollars by the truckload. On Tuesday, a young impressionable soldier of this fetid talk was so cruel, cold, and callous he shot an independent, brave gay classmate directly through the skull.
The United States has stalled on the Matthew Shepard Act that would make Brandon's hate a federal crime. In the decade since Shepard's Wyoming lynching, our nation has failed to enact the legislation that would make violence targeted against homosexuals illegal. The "hate crimes initiative" would make brutality motivated by a victim's gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or disability a federally punishable act. President Bush has said he will veto the bill if it ever crosses his desk. The president's intelligence vacuum has pulled down America. The President has dragged America backward into the devolution of our country by his prejudice and this national sanctioned hate.
Opposition to expanded hate crimes legislation comes from right-wing opponents who say the law would limit a preacher's ability to speak from the pulpit. Representative Louie Gohmert (R-TX) ignored the wall between church and state when he made this constitution-crashing statement: "This new legislation when taken in conjunction with existing law would drive a dagger into the heart of religious teaching on sexual misconduct by the religious teachers of any faith." To a future civilization more advanced than ours, today's rapturous religious bellowing will be as laughably outmoded as Helios in his chariot pulling the sun across the sky.
1997's Ma Vie en Rose is an intimate journey into seven-year-old Ludovic's gender-bending childhood. Living life as much as a girl as he possibly can, Ludo encounters adults who would rather he disappear than deal with another color in humanity's rainbow. This French and Belgian film shows us frightened elements of society encouraging the conformity that is painfully impossible for Ludo.
When the nice suburban neighbors meet the boy who dresses in girl's clothes and plays with dolls, the hateful sideward glances and societal pressure force Ludovic's parents to strongly discourage their son to be exactly the child they brought into the world.
Young Ludo can't quite grasp what the fuss is all about. It is simple to him. There was an error when god was handing out chromosomes -- he got a Y instead of 2 X chromosomes. He's a girlboy, and when he grows up he'll be female. Its dicey ground for director Alain Berliner, but he masterfully handles the mix of the parental love and revulsion. We are emotionally engaged, enriched, and guided through our own uncomfortable moments throughout the entire film. Ludovic's fantasy world juxtaposition with the community make us wonder just who we would be if we weren't all so manipulated by forces intrinsic to society. For Ludivic he is just another color in the rainbow. Telling him to stop his behavior and get a life is an oxymoron; this is his life.
For Lawrence King, last Tuesday classmate Brandon McInerney heard the hate and extinguished a brave, beautiful beacon. Society must make Brandon pay for his loathing torturous spirit. He didn't just commit a brutal murder -- he killed a dream. Schools, teachers, and parents must finally learn from Lawrence's lost life. As for Brandon McInerney his remaining days must be spent in a torturous prison. His release should finally only come wrapped in his death.
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the
comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the
comment you replied to
"Later, McInerney's attorney, Brian Vogel, said, "Both Brandon and the family are terribly sad to learn (Lawrence King) is brain-dead." He went on to say that the killer and his family were hurting."
Lawyers will say anything to save their clients necks.
This made me want to vomit.
Perhaps too many people are forgetting that Brandon McInerney is a fourteen year old boy. He is not an adult, no matter how much society and the Judicial system wish to wash their hands of responsibility by trying him as an adult.
I realize this is not a popular view, but Brandon McInerney is as much a fatality as the child he killed in cold blood who was one year older.
Only if you have taught children this age can you fully understand the complete tragedy here. There were two victims here, not one.
Children are not born killers. They are transformed into them; by abuse, by neglect, and by example. Brandon McInerney was made into the boy he is by his family, his friends, his community, his school, and his society. Where is their culpability? Will they stand trial with Brandon? Will they spend the rest of their life in prison?
Perhaps Brandon will be fortunate and receive the death penalty. Then society can feel totally vindicated. They will have dealt mightily and correctly with McInerney"s kind"children who commit murder!
But then, Brandon probably died a long time ago. He was killed by a society that taught him to hate.
I think you slightly mischaracterize Ma Vie En Rose. That film is not necessarily about a child who is going to grow up to have a sex change/be a transvestite/be gay. I think the more important lesson about that film is that it is important to let children play and be themselves.
I had a very similar childhood desires as Ludo's, but I had supportive parents -- my mom even made me a dress out of fabric I personally chose. I eventually grew out of that phase and am proof that early childhood play really doesn't indicate too much about that person's eventual sexuality. Sometimes it does, but many times it doesn't. The important thing for parents to keep in mind is to not really worry about sex, when your child is still a young child! Just let the kid play.
It's ok, after the next election, Ameria will regain it's role of moral leadership on the world stage.
One is puzzled, however; how can we keep terrorists out of our country if we can't can't keep teenagers from bringing guns to school?
Am I missing something.
Tom,
I was with you all the way through until the last paragraph where you say: "Society must make Brandon pay for his loathing torturous spirit...his remaining days must be spent in a torturous prison. His release should finally only come wrapped in his death."
How very American of you. The kid is fourteen for God's sake. His conduct was disgraceful resulting in the tragedy you speak of, then you go typical American revenge. He is a kid. He screwed up. Badly. He deserves punishment. He deserves Christian or whatever prospect of rehabilitating. But no, throw him on the great American garbage pile of wasted humanity, the most ridiculous prison system in the world where good Christians keep throwing away the key to stem crime but where crime just keeps growing, worse than any other country. This, even when you offer comment suggesting it is not entirely his fault.
How do you make such an impassioned plea for logic and then abandon it so easily. I suppose, to use your thesis, your attitude is traceable to George Bush. Just like Brandon, you are displaying a spirit severely troubled. Look in the mirror. W is looking over your shoulder as well.
I appreciate your viewpoint and your time to read my post.
The injustice Brandon dealt to Lawrence was cold and calculated. I don"t feel compassion for the life of this heartless young man. My public opinion bows to the voiceless victim. Brandon does not deserve the victim"s passion, nor does he deserve mine.
Thank you. I understand your point of view.
Excuse me. God will take care of the young lad cut off so early in life. But, this is not Bush's fault, but rather the fault of liberalism. That same liberalism that says it is not okay to discipline children in school left open the door to deathly bullying. The teachers' unions that refuse any sort of controls over their actions and teaching have closed the doors to the old parent-teacher relationship, wherein parents had some real control over what took place in their schools.
Don't blame Bush. Blame yourselves!
Semper fi
You mean they HAD to kill the gay boy because that's what good old boys do? It's the libreals fault that the gay boy thought he could be allowed to live that way?
You don't think it has anything to do with all the conservative anti gay hate speech?
BestAssKicker: are you an idiot of a paid hack? Blackwater maybe?
Blaming societal decisions to not allow teachers to beat children anymore is not even a part of the cause. Discipline can include talking to the offenders, informing their parents, and threatening expulsion.
The problem isn't that another kid got shot because he was Gay, the problem is another kid got shot because he was just a little different and that guns are easy to get.
And because we have school systems that still don't care enough to make school safe for everyone!
This is why we need Obama. Throughout our history, every time this country has evolved humanistically it was lead by some figure motivating and inspiring the people with their words to be better people.
Bertolt Brecht has a character say in his play Galileo, "Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes." The United States seems to need them a great deal.
God. Get over yourself and Obama. He has nothing to do with this.
Homophobic hate buried under a veneer of fundamentalist Christianity killed a beautiful person. Both Hillary and Obama would handle the gay issue much better than the hate filled republiCONs ever will.
So please stick your Obama sign in some other "lawn".
I find it interesting that the school administration states that they did a lot of work and counselling with Lawrence, but I missed their work with the bullies and other children who were "freaked out" by what this boy wore to school. The school administration is also culpable here, in my opinion by not trying to foster an atmosphere of acceptance and tolerance. It seems as if they viewed Lawrence as the problem, not the fact that he was being bullied. Also, is there no security at the school, that someone could bring a loaded gun in without anyone being aware of it? I'm sorry, I have a hard time feeling any sympathy for the "hurting" family of the killer, and am incredulous that they seemed surprised that Lawrence was brain dead after their son shot him in the head. Did they think he might survive such a thing? Give me a break!
To all the preachers, fundamentalists, religious fanatics and homophobes out there, you are all responsible for this. You have fostered a culture in which discrimination and intolerance is ok, as long as it is sanctioned by your narrow and most certainly erroneous reading of the bible. I think that book espouses several teachings that you seem to have forgotten, i.e.-"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and "Judge not lest you be judged" and lastly, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone".
well, we Amrican love our bullies. we've had one in the Oval Office for 7 yrs and we have yet to hold him accountable for the damages he's done to millions of innocent people. how can we, as a society, be suprised when our children become bullies when bullying goes unpunished and is, in fact, encouraged and rewarded. we have media bullies, political bullies, corporate bullies, religious bullies, military and law enforcement bullies all of whom get kudos for being "righteous and tough". the world community sees America as an imperialist bully and we Americans appear proud of that label.
as i read the above article i noticed that the gay youngster was being counseled but there was no mention that the bullies were being counseled or reprimanded for their cruel behavior. apparently it's up to the victim to find ways to avoid being bullied while the bullies strut around doing as they please. a typically American attitude as personified by our smugly smirking Bully in Chief.
Excellent rant - I have no idea what you're talking about in half of it, but I agree with you at least on the sentiment that anti-gay people fucking suck.
And RIP to all the victims of stupid bigoted antigay Americans.
If the values kids learn encourage hatred, dehumanization and violence against others who are different - it should be no surprise that hate based homicides will eventually occur - especially if firearms are easily available and guns are seen as a solution not a problem.
Politicians who pander to prejudice to get
votes may not be the direct cause of individual hate crimes - but they certainly aren't part of the solution.
Insightful commentary Tom. When this President threatened to write prejudice into our Constitution with a federal marriage amendment, it was clear that he would continue the long standing support for homophobia that has plagues many cultures and religions around the globe for centuries.
The ease at which men are disturbed by any natural gender or preference diversity that exists in our species speaks volumes about the state of human consciousness. If we can't deal with the diversity of thought and expression within our own species, I cannot conceive of how we would ever be strong enough to experience alien cultures and alien sociology on distant planets.
If our leaders, our priests, politicians and pundits cannot be held to the highest standards, what does that say about us as a species? George Bush has everything to do with this tragedy! Likewise, Pope Benedict XVI also has everything to do with this tragedy! These men have done nothing to change attitudes toward gay and lesbians around the world. Yet they are in a position to make great strides in equality and in the understanding of diversity.
This is why it is essential that we lay these events at the doorstep of our leaders. Because these are the men who can promote change and consciousness! I am deeply disappointed in the American people lowering the bar on what we expect out of our leaders. I cannot conceive of a more mediocre president than George W. Bush.
While Bush has plenty of real flaws, it is beyond a logical stretch to pin this one on him, particularly with the same sex marriage business. On March 7, 2000, California voters approved Proposition 22 which defined marriage as between a man and woman by 61%. There aren't that many Republicans in the state either.
Hate crimes solve nothing. This kid is still dead. They don't prevent anything either. They certainly don't change attitudes as evidenced in Oxnard either. The kid was dumped by his parents into a group home. The tolerance at home mantra seems to have missed a community or two. A sad story all the way around.
Bush unfortunately is our national leader who can lead or nudge most of Americans in a certain direction. Instead of confronting this predominant hate, he co-opted it for political strength, and so did the California politicians.
BTW, as for the 61% statistic, that pales in comparison to the number of Californians who wanted to bury Iraq in 2002 and 2003. But, that figure is now completely reversed. People can change for the better if we pull them away from opportunistic leaders.
Loading comments…
Posted February 18, 2008 | 11:13 AM (EST)