It's not easy, but sometimes you have to try to turn off the noise (of society) and find peace in yourself and friends who care about you. I remember, when I was newly post-op, having the misfortune of hearing a minister testifying in front of a bunch of U.S. congressmen (some religious meeting they all were having). It was televised on CSPAN. The minister talked of how transsexuals were "butchering themselves with surgeries." I don't know why but what he said always grated on my mind. It's kind of like witnessing a horrible accident (or, in war, a horrible killing). We all have these post-trauma events -- for example, the 9-11 towers falling. Can't get rid of it.
There's no logic or sense in any of these horrible incidents. People are going to do stupid and mean things to one another. Someone once said that one thing our country could do to set ourselves as being different from how the word perceives us is to not kill. It might be a good idea, given the unrest (and illiteracy) in the world for the U.S to do as doctors vow, "do no harm." But bombs will drop, and miss, and more people that hate will arise. If I was a peasant and my family was killed, I would probably feel anger, too. We have to let go of that anger - these idiots who transsexuals are sooooo funny - and not give them power over us.
Teri Anne
P.S. - My only disagreement with your post is the "Opie and Andy" title. While the characters on TV were sometimes simple, both Opie and Andy had good warm hearts and wanted, despite sitcom traumas, for everyone to be happy and at peace. I've heard tales from people who worked on the "Andy Griffith Show" (a friend was the music editor) that everyone in the cast and crew were, as the show depicted, warm, funny and caring. I think the character Andy would probably take a logical and thoughtful pause, in hearing about transsexuals, and say something like, "Welll, if that's what makes 'em happy, that's the important thing."
