We are all feeling numb, horrified and trying to deal with the terrible event that has unfolded.

Our community of gender diverse people has been subjected to horror, yet again, and we will in some seek to understand and maybe to blame.

Whatever the reasons and whatever the motivation behind this barbaric act I will not tolerate people on this Forum descending into bigotry, hatred and bile against those who cannot understand and accept the LGBTIQA community.

We will not lower ourselves to their level.

If you feel the need to vent in anger go to Facebook, it is full of bigots glorifying in the pain of the innocent.

Here, let us seek solace, support each other, particularly those who may have lost friends and loved ones, and try to find ways to overcome the hatred people have against us.

Cindy
Forum Admin.

Bravo, Cindy.

Along with the horror and the grief we feel, it's natural to feel bewildered and angry, to want to find some explanation for how such an awful thing could happen. It's so easy to look for someone or something to blame. It's comforting, because it's a way to believe that we have some control: we can fix this, make sure it doesn't happen again, if we ban guns, or expel Muslims, or lock up the mentally ill... take your pick of scapegoats.

But the world is more complicated than that. There's stuff we can't control, and genuine explanations are never simple.  The one thing I'm pretty sure about, though, is that fear and hatred are at the root of the problem, and one thing we can all do to "fix" things is not to practice them ourselves.

My friend Ellie Krug wrote about this in her blog yesterday, and I can't say it any better. Here's a short excerpt from what she wrote:

What last night reminded is that intolerance of any kind  will pay back in violence ten, twenty, or even fiftyfold. The world is interconnected; no one lives in isolation. Words, good or bad, ripple to the hearts and minds of others.

And yet, I call upon all of us to have compassion in the face of horror.  Certainly, we need compassion for Muslim people in general; the acts of angry and dispirited persons are not reflective of the vast majority of Muslims in the world. They too, simply want to live their lives in peace and harmony with others.

We also must act with compassionate advocacy for greater acceptance of all persons. Time and again, I find that getting to know someone of a different religion or country of origin or sexual or gender identity opens minds. We must work to counter hatred of any kind by breaking down the barriers and silos that we so easily erect between us.

https://elliekrug.com/my-blog/

A lovely and meaningful statement from Ellie Krug.

I used this horror as an opportunity to write to right wing politicians in Australia asking for them to reconsider their views and to accept the LGBTIQA community. I asked them to accept us as fellow human beings who deserved equal right and acceptance. I reminded them that their son or daughter could well come out as gender diverse and would they still love them?

I haven't heard back, but that doesn't stop us from pushing forward the message of love to all, no matter race, religion, gender or sexuality.

Wow Cindy, that's great. Turning this into something constructive is the way forward. Indeed, hate is too easy.

Quote from: 2cherry on June 14, 2016, 05:08:47 AM
Wow Cindy, that's great. Turning this into something constructive is the way forward. Indeed, hate is too easy.

I'm in no way religious and I am certainly not a christian according to what I see posted by mobs of them but I have read the bible and the koran and they are very similar.
Neither preaches hate.

Hate is easy, it is an emotion driven by anger, adrenaline kicks in and the mind goes into black out.

Love?

Love takes time, sure it is an emotion and it can be blinding, but so often to needs consideration and concern for another. A new Mum loves and bonds with her child, a new Dad loves and bonds with his child, they look and see  a future and deep inside they make a pledge. Sure during the years they will go nuts with their children: but they still love. They will forgive hurt and wrongs and sit and comfort and pray. They will hope their child suffers no harm, and are destroyed when she or he is.

Why do we find that so difficult with people who are not our blood relatives?

It is just as easy, just as hard, just as painful and just as rewarding.