This
is a tragedy on both sides; and the world doesn’t even know they’re all
culpable—including, believe it or not, Clementi’s mother. She, and I surmise
her husband, set the stage for this tragedy as she proudly displayed the cross
around her neck, at Ravi’s sentencing, while claiming she thought she knew her
son. What she didn’t realize is what that cross represented, prevented him from
talking about his true feelings to his own mother at some point in time. He
obviously didn’t feel comfortable enough, ever, to reveal his inner conflict to
anyone that could have made a difference. Should the world of homosexuality be
that painful—the oppression too great a weight to bear?
Ravi
was just an immature victim of the same cross, hardly knowing any more at his
age that there were other ways of life. I’ve had three teenage boys, not to
mention my feelings of know-it-allness at that age. A freshman in college? What
a strange time. Leaving the cocoon, attempting to navigate all the mommy daddy
lessons and training, and yet appear to have life under control.
I
think the judge was sensitive in his sentence. Ravi didn’t lead to the suicide.
It was the last straw that broke the oppressed camel’s back. We all know that
one right? Although it was an immature act, I doubt there is true hatred enough
to imitate three white men chain dragging a black Texas man behind a truck on a
dirt road. Parts of that soul’s body, worn to the bone, were found scattered
around. A heavier sentence here wouldn’t send any message. The message here is
that bullying of people who are thought to be inferior to others because of
behavior, looks, or other man-made created differences, must be addressed.
Bullying is systemic to humanity’s core; not his genetic makeup, but his behavioral
training. The seeds for it have been planted. Unfortunately, most people like
you and I pass these tenets of divisiveness down to our children every day; and
then we are aghast when they’re acted on. That's what Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation is attempting to address.
Ravi—the poor immature teen saw something that he was aware in life but
probably never had to deal with it firsthand. He giggled his way bullying on
the Road to Hatred.
Too
bad the parents got a memo years ago and they’ve been passing it down ever
since. It was the one in their bible from Leviticus. The one that said
homosexuality is an abomination and those guilty should be put to death. Some
people actually believe that 2500-year-old dogma. I doubt with that thought,
people usually aren’t forthcoming with information; particularly if it’s self-incriminating.
Look to your blind faithfulness and its demands for membership in the group, Mr.
and Mrs. Clementi. You paid with your son’s life.
No Flies !
