Yesterday i was checking my facebook, and i found this link to the Ellen Degeneres Show where she was talking about a series of teens suicide due to their sexual orientation. Here is the link if you want to see it your self: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=592846987806&ref=mf
I mean, when i was this video, i was outraged by the fact that people still do this and not expecting the consequences they had on the person who is bullied. Here is the link if you want to see the full story of the suicide of Tyler Clementi caused by a stupid prank of his roommates. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/30/tyler-clementi-gay-student-suicide
I don't like the fact that just because you are different, someone who is by far not according to what the conventional society declares what you're supposed to be, doesn't give you the right to change who they are to conform to being "normal". For all i know, we are living in the 21st century, where time and cultural differences has evolved to the point where it is not that linear anymore, whether not just through sexual orientation but race, culture, age, ethnicity, religion and gender. I just hope that his death is not wasted for nothing but let it be an act of awareness that "bullying" is a real crime where it may ruin younger generation's future because of being emotionally or physically abused. Let people know that this is a real issue and let us not repeat the same mistake and fix it. Through his death, i pray for his family to stay strong and if others who feels the same way as being different that have read this blog, i just want to let you know that you are not alone. This entry is dedicated to Tyler Clementi.
2 comments:
Hi Cavin, here is my take on this tragic incident.
I thoroughly agree that what the roommate did was sickening and can never be justified regardless of circumstances. A serious breach of privacy, it really was. However, to punish the roommate for the consequence of his stupidity is excessive, to say the least. The roommate had no way whatsoever of knowing what could – and would – happen next.
The depressing thing is – like it or not – no matter how progressive and advanced we claim we are as a society, the truth remains: it would never have happened if Clementi had the sexual encounter with a women. The roommate would most likely have earned himself a fully-deserved whack on the face, but other than that I very much doubt anything serious would have occurred.
It really is a tricky one, this. Did the roommate drive Clementi to commit suicide? Of course not, definitely not. Did he shove him off the bridge? Again, no. I am completely certain, though, that the prick changed Clementi's life in a manner he absolutely had no right to.
Bottom line is: punish the crime, not the outcome. I believe the mistakes the roommate made will haunt and affect him much, much longer (possibly for the rest of his life) than any sentence in prison would.
I know exactly what you mean, its ironic really the fact that even though society has changed, these things still happen. Perhaps in our future generations, things might change. I also believe your point are very valid. Even though there may be "no actual crime" given that the evidence is circumstantial i believe the awareness is shown and that the roommate that did this is punished for life because of the guilt that he has which i think is appropriate. What i was actually outraged about was that he actually committed suicide! I mean seriously, these days you just have to stand up for your self and not be so giving up and all. I think that bottom line, to a certain extent there are mistakes from both parties, its the outcome that i am not satisfied of. Anyways, thanks for your input, its valid and i really like your perspective in this matter.
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