If you’ve been around this place for any length of time, you’ll probably recognize that I don’t write about social issues, news headlines, politics, or really anything controversial for that matter. It’s not that I’m opposed to writing about those things… that’s not it at all. My reasoning has always been: “There are so many other bloggers who communicate about those issues much more eloquently than I do.” So, I choose to make this little quiet place a haven of neutrality. You won’t find much contention here.
However.
Over the past two weeks, I have watched the headlines burn with the names of young people. YOUNG, young individuals who felt like they were outcasts. Like they had no safe place to go. Like they were worthless. Their tender hearts were pushed violently into the darkest of places by those who made fun of them because they were different. Because they didn’t wear the popular shoes. Because they had different hobbies or interests. Because they were gay.
And story after story pours out of the mouth of Anderson Cooper and I sit on the couch, broken, wondering why? Why didn’t anyone speak up? Where were we when they balanced themselves alone on that tightrope? They should have had hands to hold. They should have had a listening ear. Where was the safety net, the arms of grace, when they fell from that high wire? It all seems so wrong.
Yesterday, author and blogger Matthew Paul Turner wrote a blog post about his own experiences being bullied and his thoughts about the silence of the church on these issues. He is one of those bloggers… one who can articulate what I want to say much better than I could on my own.
My heart beats strong for the truth that was written in his post. I absolutely echo everything that he has to say.
Let’s not be silent anymore.
Click here to read Matthew Paul Turner’s post.
Thank you for sharing, Nish. My significant other and I are going to show our support this morning by attending the first Gay/Lesbian march in Southern Oregon. It will be at noon in Ashland. Many out of town visitors are here. There are expected to be 11 floats and 300 people marching. This is a huge deal for this part of our state. Yes, they picked Ashland because it is more tolerant than other locations, but it definitely sends a message. If you leave near, come join us and show you care too.
There is good and encouraging news from Southern Oregon. I went to the Gay and Lesbian parade in Ashland, Oregon today. Although there were groups representing the gay and lesbian communities, supportive organizations and candidates for public office, there were a huge representation from the Christian community. Those marching primarily represented the more traditional Christian churches showing their support…… Episcopal, Congregationalists, United Church of Christ, and the Unitarians among others. There were signs carried naming many, many supporting churches from all over the state. Nish, maybe things can change.