Almost human

I am reminded of what my wife told me about our first correspondence; that her trepidation was mitigated by the fact that I didn’t ask about her anatomy. To me, such inquires would denote an objectification bordering on schizophrenic sadism; but from her accounts, it was the norm.

A lack of respect for another is indicative of contempt for one’s self; the notion that transpeople are unworthy of human compassion and love demonstrates the kind of depravity inherent in many individuals notions of a “normal” relationship.

My wife’s transsexuality enhances her natural attractiveness; it augments her beauty with a gentle, gorgeous empathy that I find irresistible. Would that the culture at large could forgo their beloved ignorance long enough to appreciate the beauty of personal integrity.

cherished malice

Where anger is seen as strength, a sign of courage and power, hatred becomes a virtue most prized. The corrosive debasement of abhorrence corrupts one's personality, and the bitter rust of rancor weakens the moral foundation of ethical behavior.

The love with which contempt is lavished upon enemies speaks to the inversion of virtue into vice. The damnable traits of one's adversaries become a source of joy, in that they afford the opportunity to despise. Any turning of horror from the creation of self becomes cause for celebration; a momentary obscuring of the vile visage the mirror wears.

Rather than learn to love one's self and be forced to accept the less pristine reality; detesting the world for revealing the lack of perfection helps maintain the illusion of immaculate existence. As the gap between the inner and outer realm grows, is it any wonder that malice becomes ever more cherished?

attract/shun

When defining the nature of desire, ignorance and emotional blindness play a distinctive role; but there are means by which such short sightedness may be overcome.

Understanding the elements which define our attraction to another is complex and fraught with difficulties; especially when they fall outside the bounds of convention. Most often when searching for a life partner, people use the customary parameters for guidance; regardless of their applicability.

When hearts yearn towards those who traverse the barriers of gender, different problems arise; both in self awareness and relational compatibility. What perversity rules the heart when it longs after an unknown; is it merely a lust toward the inhuman or a seeking of a kindred spirit? To search for the ambiguous may be a reflection of our own nebulous nature; an exploration of the facets that conventional society obscures.

When we strive to love, we embrace the elements outside our awareness, and move to expand the parameters of self that confine our consciousness. Accepting attraction to the unique compels us to look beyond lust, and temper base desire with a tenderness that cools the fevered heat of passion.

The danger lies in denial of our longing; a negation of what we truly feel by dampening our emotions into fetishes that debase ourselves and objectify those we might love. Only by embracing passion can we hope to create the compassion a beneficial relationship requires.

yes, virginia tech, there is an insanity clause

Madness imposed from without becomes the mania which flourishes within. The controlled insanity that leads us to derive pleasure from the pain of an another creates chaos; a consuming anarchy that revels in destruction of self, others and society.

To expect individuals to derive sanity from the psychotic interactions they experience denotes a complete divorce from reality; a social schizophrenia that seems logical only in the light of fanatical hubris. To torment and expect gratitude for such mental dismemberment denotes a lust for moral detachment; a hunger for convenient outlets to disperse fear and pain without regard for the consequences.

Takes a village

It takes a village to raise a child; it takes a culture to raise a mass murderer.

The fevered desperation with which the general public seeks to deny responsibility for the murderous rampage of Cho would be amusing, if the pathetic cowardice were not so disturbing.

Abused and debased during his life, he now bears the distinction of being fodder for all the scapegoating customary in these cases; those who exploited Cho during his life are superseded by those who would exploit his death for their own political purposes.

A thousand contributions to depravity helped mold the killer of Virgina Tech: degradation, isolation, negation all provided the elements necessary to form a vicious and disturbed individual. As we cast about for someone to blame, will no one claim credit for creating this work of homicidal genius?

hate crimes

It is important that we take individual responsibility for our actions, but it is equally vital that we hold other accountable for their behaviors as well.

This Act would also provide much-needed resources for local law enforcement agencies, so they can investigate and prosecute hate crimes. This is not an issue of condoning behaviors that conflict with moral values, it is a question of controlling the destructive bigotry that tears at the social fabric of our society.

This legislation has long been supported by 31 state Attorneys-General, former U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Sheriffs Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Executive Forum and many other law enforcement organizations.

Please vote for the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. I ask that you understand that for my wife and myself, this is not only a question of principle, but of personal safety.

We have no desire to force others to accept the viability of our lives, but we demand that their beliefs should not be used as justification to imperil our bodies, homes and livelihoods. This act, in our opinion provides the tools to create an equality that is both desperately needed, and sorely lacking.