Gay Teen Provoked His Own Murder????

You know what I don't understand?  I don't understand why well known anti-gay activist, Randy Thomasson of Save California, recently suggested that a teenage homosexual, who was murdered by a classmate, provoked his own killing.  No, I am not making this up.  I wish I were, but I am not.

First, some background on the case, fifteen year old, Lawrence "Larry" King was openly gay and also a cross dresser.  He was very flamboyant and thought nothing of chasing others boys around the school.  He relished the attention that his being out and his appearance brought him.  After making his interest in another boy obvious and public, the other boy shot King in the head twice in a computer lab at the school.  King died from brain injuries two days later.

Folks, there is a lot going on with this story, both positive and negative.  A young man being brave enough to be who he is.  Some teachers and students who support King.  An assistant principal who may have used King to advance her own agenda.  Many, many students who bullied and harassed King.  A city where the gay community is almost non-existent.  The fact that King was very provocative and sexually suggestive with his male classmates.  The behavior of a lot of people involved in this case is questionable.

Young, Gay, and Murdered

That being established, however.................................

Does any of King's behavior justify his being gunned down in cold blood by another middle schooler?  Seriously, ladies and gentlemen, think about this.  Even if King were parading himself about in front of his killer while telling the young man "You know you want me", does that justify cold blooded murder? 

Thomasson certainly seems to think so.

Gay Teen Brought On His Own Murder

The audio clip in the above link is beyond repugnant.  The killer was being "harassed", so it is understandable that he would pump a couple of bullets into King's brain.  "Bad teachers" supported King to promote the "homosexual agenda".  (On a side note, I have been asking for years what the "homosexual agenda" is, but I have yet to receive an answer that wasn't an illogical homophobic rant.)  Allowing King to dress in female clothing caused "sexual tension".  Allowing students to express themselves through their dress is "social engineering".  Anti-bullying statues that include gays are "indoctrination".

This "gentleman" (and I use the term VERY loosely) is reprehensible.  His anti-gay bigotry is sickening.  His attempt to justify murder is stomach churning.

The killer in this case also had some serious mitigating circumstances in his life.  These must be considered in court, but to suggest that King's homosexuality, cross dressing, and behavior legitimize his murder is abominable!

Quite frankly, friends, I would like to see this fanatic be forced to sit and listen to first hand accounts from gays and lesbians about the bigotry and prejudicial treatment that they endure on a day to day, hour to hour, basis.  Maybe then, he could remove his cranium from his anus and realize that homophobia is criminal and that gays deserve the same rights, respect, and dignity as everyone else.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

The Tea Party Is Cheering The Deaths Of The Uninsured

You know what I don't understand?  I don't understand how the so-called Tea Party can be so callous that they are actually cheering the deaths of the uninsured.  Seriously.  It was repulsive enough when they lustily cheered Rick Perry's Texas execution record, but now they are celebrating the death of the uninsured.

Example number one involved an exchange at a Tea Party rally involving libertarian favorite Ron Paul (R-TX).  When asked about who should care for an uninsured thirty year old injured in a traffic accident, the Tea Party crowd actually cheered at the moderator's suggestion that the person in question die due to lack of care.  (Notice the classy sign being held by the Tea Bagger in the attached link.)

Tea Party And Ron Paul Cheer The Death Of An Uninsured 30 Year Old

Example two occurred during this week's Republican/Tea Party presidential debate.  While the aforementioned Gov. Perry was attempting to attack former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's healthcare plan, the Tea Baggers in the audience actually cheered at the idea of a twentysomething dying because he/she could not afford health insurance.  Yes, you read that right.  The Tea Party is happy about death by poverty.  Just when you think they can't be any more reprehensible...........  See the 9:23pm entry in the attached link.

An Uninsured Twentysomething Died? Hell, Yes!!!!!!!!!

And here is a very personal story from someone who lost an uninsured loved one to cancer.  I am sure my Tea Bagger readers either won't read this link, or will come up with some ignorant, inane "reason" why this man should have suffered like he did, and I can tell you on first hand authority that this is not an isolated incident.

Here Is What You Shameful Tea Party Hacks Are Cheering

Ladies and gentlemen, I just cannot fathom this.  The Tea Baggers are happy, nay---celebratory, because those who cannot afford health insurance may prematurely die.  Yeah, that is just great.  You scumbags make me oh-so-proud to be an American.  The biggest problem this country has right now is that all anyone cares about is what they have and how they can keep it.  If the other guy doesn't have it and has no chance to get it, who gives a damn as long as I can keep mine!!!!  Unconscionable!!!!  What is wrong with the people in this country???  Have we lost our compassion and charity??????  The Tea Party most assuredly does not represent the America that I love and am sworn to defend.  I do not recognize the America that they put forth, and I hope you don't either, dear reader.  Let us be sure that their despicable agenda is stopped in its tracks.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

Are Young White Supremacists On The Rise?

Friends, I recently attended a music festival, and I was utterly appalled by something I observed.  I was flabbergasted by the number of young men who were wearing T-shirts with "White Power" and other racially charged slogans on them.  I was equally dismayed by the number of people who had swastika tattoos.  It was incredible, and not in a good way.

This led me to a couple of questions.  The first of which is are young white supremacists on the rise?  I wrote a column a few months ago about the rise in racist groups, especially after President Obama's election.  Might this have been first hand evidence of the increase is these kinds of groups?  I have to say that I was quite disturbed by this.  As is often discussed in this space, where did these young adults learn these obviously racist attitudes?  Why do we always think the next generation will be the one to finally understand that all people are equal, and why are we always proven wrong?  I ask one more time, dear readers, how do we finally put a stop to racism and bigotry?

Another thing I wondered was if those who had swastika tattoos actually have a true grasp of the unbridled evil that the Nazis unleashed on the world under the swastika flag?  Is this something that has been somewhat lost as history has progressed?  Why would anyone want to identify with a group that butchered over six million innocent people?  Do they really understand what they are identifying with and promoting?  Quite honestly, folks, it was bone chilling.

This is America.  We have a right to free speech and freedom of expression, even when it is patently offensive.  These folks have the right to put anything they want on their bodies or their clothing.  The deeper issue here is how to prevent racism and prejudice from poisoning another generation of Americans. 

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

Right Wing Extremists On The Rise

You know what I don't understand? I don't understand the rise in right wing extremists groups and white supremacist groups in the US. Frankly, I don't understand the existence of these groups period, but I certainly don't understand why the number, and number of members, of these groups are on the upswing.

Extremist Groups on the Rise

For the record, the attached article from the AP discusses a rise in these groups in the Northwestern US, but it seems obvious that this problem is not geographically isolated to one part of our country. That being said, let's review some of the things these groups stand for.

They are "anti-government". Okay, what does that mean exactly? Are they against the federal government? Are they against their respective state governments? Regardless, what I find so ridiculous about this is that so many of the members of these groups want to stand on soapboxes and bellyache about law and order, call themselves "patriots", and blather on about the Constitution, yet they are against legally, Constitutionally elected governments? They talk about law and order, but fire weapons at law enforcement officers?

They rail against "big government" and "government intrusion" into their lives while driving on federally funded highways to attend their rallies where security will be provided by locally funded police officers, firefighters, and EMS providers. They will then fly home from federally funded airports with federally funded air marshals on the flights where they will eat food screened for safety by state funded food safety workers. I would also be willing to bet none of them turn down their Medicare cards or social security checks either.

Obviously socialism really has run amok here in America, and all of these services should be privatized as soon as possible!!! Am I the only one who sees the utter hypocrisy and lack of logic here? If these people weren't so dangerous, even deadly at times, it would actually be funny.

Of course, the number, and activity level, of these groups has increased exponentially since President Obama's election in 2008. Of course, it isn't racially motivated. It is because Mr. Obama is a "socialist". I am sure the increase in white supremacist groups is merely coincidental. (I shall also state for the umpteenth time that most of those who shriek about Mr. Obama being a "socialist" would not know a true socialist if Karl Marx shook their hands. I have a dear friend who escaped from a true socialist country with her parents many years ago, and I truly wish the dunderheads who so flippantly toss that word about could hear her story.) I am sure the fact that Mr. Obama has been subjected to more threats on his life than any other president in history is also a coincidence. I am sure the attempted bombing of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade in Spokane was yet another chance happening.

Folks, is this 2011 or 1964? We elected an African-American president, yet racism runs rampant in our country. Black folks have achieved prominence in all aspects of society, yet they are still stereotyped as lazy, uneducated, promiscuous, ignorant, and prone to criminal activity. African-Americans are elected officials, CEOs, heads of industry, lawyers, physicians, nurses, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, accountants, farmers, and members of all other professions imaginable, yet so many members of our populace think all they are capable of is playing basketball and rapping.

Dear readers, all people are equal. We all come from the same God. We all deserve equal opportunity and equal protection. It is too bad members of these racist groups don't, or won't, understand this basic premise.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.