Those of us in the LGBT community, and especially transgender people, love to recite the injustices perpetrated by those who are full of hatred. In fact, it’s hard to overlook murder, so we tend to focus on the extreme religious right and condemn them.
To be fair, many of those (Including my friend who said we are possessed) had their intolerance wired from childhood. They were taught to fear those feelings of being born in the wrong body. Same sex attraction was never admitted. They suffered in silence.
In our transgender self-righteousness, we often cite the scriptures in our condemnation of intolerance. The other side uses them too. According to the religious right, we will all burn in hell. We, on the other hand try to point out the error of their religious missteps.
It’s a two edged sword of justice with plenty of guilt on both sides. I was proud when, as the leader of a certain hate group died a while ago, the LGBT community took the high road. Even though that hate group would’ve used the funeral for their protests, we chose to let the family mourn. In fact, many in our community, expressed sympathy for the loss.
Whether you believe in God or Karma, that is the right path. I’m reminded of stories from the trenches of WWI. The horrors of that war made many people believe in God. In one of those stories, it was Christmas. An impromptu truce was formed, because the combatants realized that God loved their enemy, as much as He loved them. Also, the enemy loved God as much as they did.
Christmas truces and not taking advantage of a protest opportunity are great signs of humanity. Turning the other cheek when you know you might be killed next, is another thing. As I’ve written before, I don’t think bigotry against transgender people will ever end. We live in a society that claims to celebrate individualism, but we want to reserve the right to dictate how far that expression can go.
We trans, however, stand at a crossroads. We must choose the scope of our activism. What do you think would’ve happened if the German soldiers who imprisoned Jews in WWII, suddenly lost power? Would the prisoners have killed every German they could find?
Ah, but you say, didn’t the allies take all the power away at the end of the war? Yes, but they didn’t abandon the fate of the captors. I’m sure there were many who begged for vengeance, but for the most part, the allies kept control of both parties and brought the guilty to a tribunal.
Yes there are many, still who feel that justice was not served, but a lot of those people deal with hate, and that emotion is the key. Do you hate your persecutors? Me, too. After a lifetime of ridicule and fear, I look back with anger, but as I get older, I also, see the opportunities to love I was given. I have a long way to go in some cases, but I’m trying to forgive.
Damn it’s hard, but that’s what I advocate. Perhaps forgiveness is the hardest thing we will ever do, but we must let it be. Hatred and the need for vengeance, will consume a loving heart, let it go. I’m not saying we shouldn’t remember, or that we shouldn’t fight for our rights. I’m saying I need to hold onto love from where it comes and release the hate.
Until recently, I didn’t know that my one desire throughout my life was to actually be a member of the traditionally passive gender. Sure, some women hate too, but many more, are models of love and compassion. I want to emulate that. It’s what being a woman is all about for me. I would betray my quest if I woke up in the hospital with a vagina and my heart was filled with hate.
I want to love my enemies—How about you?
I come from a position that tolerance and acceptance will breed more tolerance and acceptance and it scorches me when I see so many TG writers use every excuse to declare that they are agrieved and that every one of any belief that may disagree with anything is a hateful bigot. I do not think that name calling does anyone any good and I see hateful group wide aspersions spew from the minds of T writers very often.
ReplyDeleteI mostly liked your post. I think that it is a start and as you know every journey begins with a single step and you did seem to at least acknowlege that there is the practice of linking a bad comment or event (you chose the concept of murder) to connect to the 'religious right'.
As someone who tends to consider himself as spiritual and generally religious every time I read a blogger blast all on the right or all people of faith with an extrapolation that stretches believablity I feel the pain.
Having studied economics and political systems my understanding of economics is that you cannot kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. While the Alinsky Rules for Radicals that have brought to an administration that thinks it can buy favor today with the riches of our children I find the concept of creating a demon to attack and ridicule to be somewhat self serving and not good for the people of this country.
There are so many T bloggers who are so sadly hateful of anyone that they do not perceive as thinking like them that I do what I can to preach acceptance and tolerance of others.
My personal check when I write is flip the script and see if I would not find the statement valid if the roles were reversed. So next time you want to use words like 'religious right or conservative' as a target of derision substitute the words 'non-Christian left or liberal or socialist" and test to see if you may find the words hurtful.
Pat
PS: I like my chosen surname "Scales" and try to picture our symbol of just as the blind lady carrying books (laws/bible) wearing her sword of justice and holding the balanced scales in her hands.
Thank for your opinions, Pat. The first time I ever heard that term used, it was by George W Bush. It is what they call themselves. I have no other way of referring to that political persuasion. You should also know, that I came from a culture who are the biggest persecutors of LGBT people. If I offended you I'm sorry, but I speak from a former insiders position. I wrote this piece as an olive branch, good luck with you're efforts. thanks again for your comments.
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