I do not have as much opportunity to write about gays here. We've had occasion to note that young gay men inexperienced with the prison system are more likely to be victimized by prison rape. The injustices to persons who identify as gay are many. (I honestly don't know how gay young men in high school tolerate the taunting). The fact that we do not focus on them in this blog doesn't mean we are indifferent to them. To suggest we are is akin to saying that because we don't write about baseball, we are indifferent to it. In fact, there are many, many, many injustices we don't write about that we vehemently oppose.
I found it particularly sad that Rutgers students Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei allegedly filmed another student, Tyler Clementi, engaged in a sexual encounter with another man and broadcast it on the Internet. For laughs. I guess because they obviously disapproved or just thought it was somehow ridiculous. Mr. Clementi then took his own life. I can only imagine the pain Mr. Clementi experienced in his young life. To see it ended so quickly, in this manner especially, is heartbreaking.
It is especially sad that the alleged perpetrators have likely felt the sting of prejudice, too. They don't fit the stereotype of white heterosexual homophobes. I think the lesson is that vileness comes in all colors and genders and shapes, and can even be manifested by people who ought to know better.
On an intellectual level, we all know that. That doesn't make it any less sad.
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35 comments:
I don't see how this was in any way horrible. It was a typical college prank. Its noraml and predictable conswquence should have been embarrassment and a few months of recovery. It is only strange that the dead kid chose to do something he was obviously so ashamed of. Why isn't his gay lover being investigated for his role? Why isn't his name spashed all over the news from coast to coast?
It is silly to say they have blood on their hands. It is not their fault he killed himself. How could they know he would overreact like that?
Has their motive been established? Were they trying to "out" him? Fellow gays do that kind of thing all the time. Were they enemies trying to shame him? Were they friends pranking him?
Mr pierce is right, if the guys who filmed the episode were white heterosexual males....the Gender / raunch community would be in full Klan mode.
Spot on.
The stereotype is that of a white male.
I believe that in these cases, feminists refer to 'kyriarchy' - a roundabout way of blaming white males, based on the assumption that the behaviours exhibited by the non-white males in question were in fact learned from white males / white male culture.
Thus it is in fact the fault of white males.
So, the guy that was so destroyed that he killed himself? Yes, feminists believe he is responsible for his own fate. At least partially - given that he was not heterosexual, he only fits two of the three 'oppressor' criteria.
What about Ms. Wei?
Oct 1, 2010 2:38:00 PM
She and her accomplice are being defended by Salon?
http://www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/2010/10/01/clementi_suicide_roommate_open2010/index.html
"What about Ms. Wei?"
She also learned the behaviour from white males. Sorry, should've been clearer. Whenever a woman does anything bad, it's a man's fault. Not that this matters because women never do anything bad. You must have not been paying attention, Archivist.
And since Ms Wei fits none of the oppressor criteria, she should be set free and perhaps awarded for her bravery through this trying ordeal; as should all women who do anything bad (not that women ever do anything bad).
"And since Ms Wei fits none of the oppressor criteria,"
Edit: actually I assume she is heterosexual, so it's 1/3, but the fact of femaleness cancels out everything else. She is the real victim here, evidently.
The nuts that currently run the asylum they call, the Western Kyriarchy, identify about a dozen different "protected classes." Only 5 of which are commonly referenced in the milieu: race, gender, "sexual orientation" (whatever that means), religion, national origin. There is a designated oppressor category within each "protected class." Whites, for the race class; men, for the gender class; heterosexuals, for the "sexual orientation" class; Christians, for the religion class; and native born Americans, for the national origin class.
@ Russell A. James,
Funny, isn't it, how similar 'protected class' sounds to 'privileged class'?
@Snark,
Yeah, I really think we've moved into a new feudal system where "identity" takes the place of class.
Pierce, you make a good point. And I think it is worth noting that white guilt is often real and too easily exploited.
That is, white people are often made to feel bad for holding negative attitudes towards other races or gays or some group (however real or imagined such prejudices are tends to vary somewhat).
But I have noticed that a lot of non-white races tend to feel less shame or inhibition about holding negative attitudes towards other races or homosexuals. Indeed, it is often celebrated as a form of pride and expression of their culture and values.
A good example of this: In Australia recently, there has been a lot of media publicity about Indian overseas students being targeted and assaulted. For a while, the implication behind much of the reporting seemed to be that it was clearly white Australians responsible. Yet it has become clearer that much of the violence is actually being perpetrated by Asian and Middle Eastern gangs.
The upper white middle class who compose around 85% of the "Gender / Raunch community" now have dominance over many of Americas universities.
But contrary to the gay/feminist misinformation machine, minorities are not that interested in pushing the "upper white middle class sexual preferences movement", as they will soon find out.
The upper white middle class who compose around 85% of the "Gender / Raunch community" now have dominance over many of Americas universities.
But contrary to the gay/feminist misinformation machine, many minorities are not that interested in pushing the "upper white middle class sexual preferences movement".
The upper white middle class who compose around 85% of the "Gender / Raunch community" now have dominance over many of Americas universities.
But contrary to the gay/feminist misinformation machine, many minorities are not that interested in pushing the "upper white middle class sexual preferences movement".
"It is only strange that the dead kid chose to do something he was obviously so ashamed of."
Mr Clementi wouldn't have been ashamed of it, but mortified that his sexual encounters were broadcast for so many to see.
I'm not ashamed of sex with my husband, but I sure as hell wouldn't want a video of it posted online.
"Why isn't his gay lover being investigated for his role?"
WTF??? What could he have done wrong that would warrant an investigation???
Oh, now this just takes the cake from the comments on the Salon article:
"Web streaming of a surreptitious video of sex in personal privacy zone is rape."
Let's not forget that a young man died as a result of this "prank". Clearly, the shame he felt when the the video of him, performing one of the most intimate personal acts between two people imaginable, was too great. Maybe we should stop focusing on race and stereotypes and focus on the fact that a young homosexual male felt that death was a better option than being publicly outed. It says more about our unwelcoming and hostile attitudes towards homsexuals than it does about anyone's race or ethnicity. Shame on you, shame on us
Contrary to the gay/feminist paradigm constructionists, it is in fact the white American male who is the most tolerant of homosexuality in the world.
In China Homosexuality is seen as a mental illness.
In Iran it is punishable by a shooting.
In Russia it is seen as perversion.
Most of the world views homosexuality not in the "Moving forward" context, but in the exact opposite...they view it as a perversion and a hedonistic act of social decline.
If white American males are in fact statistically some of the most tolerant about homosexuality in the world, than why does the gay/feminist misinformation machine continue to vilify them as the ??oppressors???.
If you think American males are the most accepting of homosexuality in the world than you are, quite frankly, delusional.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
If you think American males are the most accepting of homosexuality in the world than you are, quite frankly, delusional.
Oct 2, 2010 9:22:00 PM
I say sir, you are "willfully ignorant".
Again, most of the world do not share the opinion that homosexuality is the "forward movement" that the Gender / raunch
constructionists want children to view it as. In fact most of the world view homosexuality as the exact oppossite of "Moving forward", and view it as a perversion, and a sign of the social and moral hedonistic decay of the upper crust of American society.
Of course you can argue with this reality, and you will even have Gender feminist "constructionists" working for abc news that will construct yer "willfully ignorant misinformation" right along side you.
How am I willfuly ignorant? If you did your research you would realise that most European countries are less homophobic than American males. Countries like Iceland, Belgium, Norway, even catholic Spain have all passed same-sex marriage laws in predominantly male parliaments. In USA homosexual men can't even serve in the army like they can in countries like Australia. So American males are clearly NOT more tolerant generally. While I do agree that the middle-eastern countries are generally more conservative and that some countries have cruel stances on homosexuality, you can't immediately assume that American men are the most accepting of overt homosexual acts. In Egypt, for example, two men can walk down the street holding hands and it is socially acceptable even though homosexuality is illegal. In America, depending on state of course, if two men held hands and are publicly affectionate they would likely be stared at and taunted. It's a complex issue that isn't as the simple as you make it out to be.
"Maybe we should stop focusing on race and stereotypes and focus on the fact that a young homosexual male felt that death was a better option than being publicly outed. It says more about our unwelcoming and hostile attitudes towards homsexuals than it does about anyone's race or ethnicity."
That's funny - whenever white males do this kind of thing, and all white males are blamed and told they must feel guilty for it, and someone like me says something like this, I just get a whole new guilt trip.
But when the perpetrators aren't white males, we just have to ignore their ethnicity, and forget all about it. Hopefully we will have forgotten all about this case by the next time a white male does something bad, so that we can all blame white males again as the ONLY people who do bad things. Right?
Sir, you are being "willfully ignorant" again, America is one of the most tolerant societies in the world when it comes to tolerating homosexuals.
Most of the world, accept the few American satellite countries you mentioned, think homosexuality is a perversion, again the "willfully ignorant" such as yerself don't have to acknowledge this truth because you got abc news which is the epitome of "Gender / Raunch" constructionism, to further and enable yer disillusionment.
I would guestimate that at least 10 Men kill themselves everyday from being alienated from their children by violent, bi-polar,vindictive women who use his children as pawns to torture him.
How come this does not make abc news??? It does not make abc news because this news would not further the "Gender / raunch" as victim "construction".
The "Gender/Raunch Community" ... has an underground army of killer mutant robots waiting to unleash upon the world ...
I gave you a bunch of evidence to suggest that the US is not the most tolerant country of homosexuals and your only response is that I'm being "willfully ignorant" again? Tell me, where is YOUR evidence to suggest that America is the most homosexual-friendly country in the world? Instead of dismissing everything I say, try having a logical, intellectual debate and stop taking the juvenile stance of "it's right because I said so".
And if the those countries I mentioned have fairer, more progressive laws and attitudes towards homosexuality than the US, how can they possibly be "American satellite countries"? Can you stop with the ABC conspiracy theories as well - I don't ever watch ABC news, so again this point has no merit.
Snark, you say: "whenever white males do this kind of thing, and all white males are blamed and told they must feel guilty for it".
Are you serious, or just seriously delusional? I am a white person and I've certainly never felt personally attacked or targeted by major news media - I think your just severely paranoid. In the majority of cases such as this one race is not even mentioned unless it is clearly a hate crime - there is no evidence to suggest that this is what is was. I made a simple request to stop making race an issue and focus on the sadness that, yet another, homosexual person committed suicide and you could not even do that. Is your regard for human so little that you couldn't grant the young man that?
Lastly, even if everything you said about race was true - and if pigs grew wings and started flying - the young man did not kill himself because his perpetraters were ethnic, that would be absurd (a man who is stabbed will bleed regardless of the ethnicity of his attacker). He killed himself most likely because he was publicly and cruelly outed on the internet, and he feared the social repercussions in our hetero-normative society.
"Are you serious, or just seriously delusional?"
If you want to correspond with me, you will not speak in this sassy, irreverent tone. You will respond with honest and serious discourse. Take note for next time.
"I am a white person and I've certainly never felt personally attacked or targeted by major news media - I think your just severely paranoid."
That's fine that you think this way. I disagree with you. A lot of people see things my way. Go to any feminist blog and scroll through the posts. You'll find references before long to 'white male dominance/privilege' etc, which is used as an explanation for precisely these kind of events - the purpose of this post by FRS is that this explanation is flawed. And that people who happen to be white and male should not be blamed because somebody else who happens to be white and male does a bad thing. Or don't you agree?
"In the majority of cases such as this one race is not even mentioned unless it is clearly a hate crime - there is no evidence to suggest that this is what is was."
Actually, there have been calls to charge the perpetrators with a hate crime. Link. So there's at least the suggestion. But have we wandered off the point? I didn't make any reference to this being a hate crime - you may have misinterpreted me, I do not think that this was a hate crime against whites/males.
"I made a simple request to stop making race an issue and focus on the sadness that, yet another, homosexual person committed suicide and you could not even do that."
I and many others have made repeated requests that feminists stop making race and sex an issue (i.e. blaming all white males for the misdeeds of a few - or even the misdeeds of people who are not white and male) and yet, this never seems to work.
I was disgusted and disturbed by this story when it broke. Do I need to express that to you? Of course not; you are not owed any reaction from me. I suspect your intention is to draw attention away from the point made by FRS; that people who aren't white males did a homophobic thing and drove a young gay man to suicide. Because this really gives the lie to feminist theory, doesn't it?
"Lastly, even if everything you said about race was true - and if pigs grew wings and started flying"
I remind you, if you write me again, drop the sassy irreverence. It's not funny and it's not clever, it just makes for dull reading.
"the young man did not kill himself because his perpetraters were ethnic, that would be absurd"
I never suggested they did. You are misinterpreting my position and that of FRS. I will be charitable enough not to suggest that you are doing so wilfully.
To recap: our focus is on the reaction, or a lack of, by mainstream media and the feminist community, and how this differs from when white males are the perpetrators of these kind of crimes. No, we will not brush everything aside and just collectively mourn. We will, in fact, discuss the very things you do not want us to.
"He killed himself most likely because he was publicly and cruelly outed on the internet,"
Yes.
"and he feared the social repercussions in our hetero-normative society."
He feared social repercussions, but you've lost me as soon as you say 'hetero-normative'. This is a silly word. Heterosexuality is normal, accounting for nearly 99% of people. Link. Rather than 'hetero-normative', you may as well just say 'heterosexual', or 'normal', whichever you prefer. Had you said that he feared repercussions because some people are homophobic, I would agree.
My post disappeared - possibly because of links. Archivist, could you retrieve it?
*correction* this WAS almost certainly a hate crime, a homophobic one. God bless Tyler C.
Hey "willfully ignorant", let me break it down for you.
The Gender feminist construction (of which abc news prescribes to) frames homosexuality as "moving forward",while the "construction" of the majority of the world see it as a "moral and social decline into perversion".
The gender feminist "construction" also implies the white middle class who comprise 85% of the sexual preferences community have been "sexually oppressed" for thousands of years, while the majority of the rest of the worlds "construction" says the white, upper, middle class privileged Gender / raunch community may have fallen into moral and social decay.
Yer "forward" is another mans "perversion"
I live in the united states and I can tell you with out any doubt that White MEN are portrayed horribly on tv.
In commercials only White Men are portrayed as criminals. This is almost without exception.
Insurance fraud commercials, home security, drunk drivers, all of those pedophile ads that the scum on cnn loved to run a few years back....and on and on.
On the news if a White Male is murdered it is given little or no coverage.
But what is given coverage is whenever an 11 year old White BOY kills someone. Then his name and face is plastered all over tv.
The media in this country flat out sucks and unless someone watching this crap is on crack I don't know how they don't see this and are not upset by it.
One more example. I had a White Male business owner within a mile of my home brutally gunned down and left to die with 5 bullet wounds in his chest. He was a man in his 30's with a wife and kids.
As you can imagine I was shook up by this and wanted to know more about it.
Our local news barely even mentioned it.
But what they do spend their time on is when a White male allegedly showed his dick to a woman in at the park.
This got 700 times the coverage of a White Male being murdered.
There seems to be a lot of side-stepping going on here.
If I got caught peeking through someone's curtains hoping to catch sight of someone else naked or having sex, I expect I'd be charged with some kind of peeping Tom law and be entered on a sex offender's registry.
Rather than concern ourselves with unprovable speculations, why haven't the police charged these two students with peeping Tom laws? Or have they done that?
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