A young boy, Seth Walsh, recently committed suicide after being tormented for his sexuality. The kids who bullied him did not understand him, and they viewed him as different. Seth's grandparents, Judy and Jim Walsh are peaking out. They want Seth to be remembered as more than that homosexual boy who hung himself. They spoke to the LA times about Seth: "When he smiled, he smiled with his whole face. His eyes twinkled. it wasn't just the smile. You got it from the eyes and the beaming of the face. He really meant that smile for you". Though Seth's death is not directly a political issue, it serves as an example of how a lack of social tolerance can lead to lethal ridicule.
Evidence shows that just before hanging himself, Seth had gone to the park with a friend, and some other kids. The kids apparently upset and bullied him. He called his mother, upset, asking her to pick him up. He hung himself in his back yard.
Kids are cruel, and often times they reflect what they have been taught at home or in school. In California, there have been many homosexual civil rights cases brought to the political surface. Among the most notable are Harvy Milk's story, and the controversy surrounding proposition 8, the proposition which retracted entitlement to gay marriage.
I believe that the political buzz and the history surrounding homosexual marriage is part of the reason behind the cruelty that Seth faced. People who were strong proponents of Proposition 8 were concerned that being gay would become socially acceptable and would threaten the foundation of the nuclear familial structure taught to children. Being gay is socially acceptable, but when so many people publicly demonstrate hatred toward homosexuals, kids are learning more about hatred than love. By preventing open discussion and acceptance of a lifestyle in classrooms, kids such as Seth gain an unspoken stigma, and are viewed as different. His story has caused national discussion.There is much discussion right now between scientists and the state court to determine is a choice or a genetic trait. When this question is answered, can the haters really discriminate against people? It would be the same as abusing someone because of their hair or eye color. I feel that there should be more education for the younger generation about love, tolerance, and acceptance in schools and in social arenas. The hatred and abuse inflicted upon Seth exemplifies this need. There is much discussion right now between scientists and the state court to determine is a choice or a genetic trait. When this question is answered, can the haters really discriminate against people? It would be the same as abusing someone because of their hair or eye color.
Curwen, Thomas. "Teenage Torment" . Los Angeles. The Sacramento Bee. 10 October, 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment