(WARNING: Before you click "Play".. this video is very graphic and not for those faint at heart.)
..Because from the looks of this video, I am forced to think that we're still living in 1871 and in the days of slavery. For those who might still be unaware, this man was publicly executed, basically lynched (excluding the hanging) because of his sexual orientation, he was gay. I am appalled because not only did they beat him to a bloody pulp (this recording started after he had already been beaten), but they also further humiliated him by placing a bucket, a tyre and few other objects on top of his head and as if all of that wasn't enough, they lit him on fire not once but TWICE. It was in this second time that he was lit on fire that would have killed him. It's heart breaking to see that there are still people living in this world who are so barbaric, uncaring and who find this type of torture to be entertaining as everyone in this video were either participating in this man's execution or spectating. There seemed to be no one willing to help him, at least to get him out of that environment. Where was the law in all of this? Or do they not care either and wished to see this man up flames as well?
What is also saddening was that every single person taking part in this inhumane act, all had the same skin colour as this man, they were all black. I am not one to always bring race into equation but in this case it is necessary. Did they forget that they are the descendants of slaves, and just over a century ago, their ancestors would have been the ones being lynched, sometimes just because they disobeyed "massa". Did they forget that black people were all just seen as a pack of "n******" only good for working in the fields and taking whatever the master saw was appropriate to give them? The white supremacists and slave owners would not have given a second thought to killing a black person who didn't abide by their laws. So is this not the same thing or something similar? Will we kill him because he is not interested in women? This is not the correct mentality.
If you do not agree with someone's "choices" in their life, that does not give you the right to take matters into your own hands and play God and take their life away from them as was seen here. This is a punishment that I would not wish on anyone, not even my worst enemy.
You can say whatever you want about Lady Gaga, but her message of tolerance and equality for everyone regardless of their skin colour, hair texture, sexual orientation, height, nationality, or ethnicity is one that should be heard throughout the world. It's a message that I believe should be pushed and promoted globally, because even if he was not gay but was a criminal, who robbed a bank or committed fraud, even then, he would not have done anything deserving of such treatment. Incidents like this are just wrong and unjustifiable.
it breaks my heart to see this type of behavior. How could you brutally beat someone then LIGHT THEM ON FIRE as if they are not a human being! That man was someones son, grandson, brother, cousin maybe even father, and they disregarded all of that because he was gay? What they did is not right and they deserve what ever punishment they get! That man was not guilty of any crime! He was just being who God made him out to be. But then again, in the world we live in, it's a crime to be gay right? It's a crime to love who you want because the people around you disagree...right? And How can they SLEEP at night knowing they murdered an innocent man? How can they possibly do this? It is not their right to take anothers life! This is disgusting and every single person who participated in this deserves the exact same treatment, if not worse!!
ReplyDelete^Co-Sign!!! I hope all those people take a wagon straight to hell! Do not pass go, do not collect $200!
ReplyDeleteThe fact that these people murdered this man for simply being or just suspected of being gay is'nt disgusting enough, but the fact that these people stood around and did NOTHING makes me wonder which is the bigger crime. Thank you for posting, very well written.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with the post and the comments stated above.The treatment he received was very harsh,i wonder if this happens everyday to gay men.
ReplyDeletethis is just wrong everytime i watch this i just cry and hurt because of the way people think... it's just sad these people have alot to answer for they aren't god the pain this man went through becase of his sexuality :( *sheda*
ReplyDeleteGood journalism on this Tre. As a world, I think we've made SOME steps in the gay equality column, but most certainly we need to make a two-day marathon run because ^THIS is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteand I caught the Mariah Carey reference in the title ;)
Not only do I feel complete disgust and contempt for the entire situation, but I cannot fathom how any human being in a sane state of mind could do this to someone else. They killed this man, not just in cold blood but in a manner which dictates they had not even a shred of respect for him. This man was a part of their society, a member of their community and all of a sudden, with the realization that he is gay (if that was indeed his "crime") he immediately became something less than human.
ReplyDeleteIt is evident from that video that he wasn't even a person in their eyes, he was just something they wished to destroy. The complete injustice and lack of police presence is shocking, but I feel mixed emotions. Sadness, horror, despair for the victim. Contempt, disgust, and surprisingly pity for the attackers. Not Pity in a traditional sense, but rather in the sense that they are so clouded in their minds, so completely lost to all hope. Anyone who could do that to another human being under ANY circumstances; I would deem to be lost.
Even now, after having written this, I still cannot understand it, snuffing out a human life in the most dispicable manner all because of something so trivial. You are, you you are and nothing can change that.
@Kaye I agree with you up to when u said they deserved the same treatment, two wrongs doesn't make a right and the viscous cycle would just continue.
ReplyDelete@Mario Ha! that's funny!
ReplyDelete@coolasschick You're welcome and Thank you!
ReplyDelete@JasonSayles I like the idea of the two day marathon haha! Thank you!
ReplyDelete& you me & Mariah go back like babies with pacifiers *Insider** :)
@D0wJ0nEs This heartbreaking. I also hope that one day MLK's dream becomes a reality.
ReplyDelete@TheRealNial piggybacking off what @Kaye said, he was a son a grandson, perhaps a father,more importantly a human being period and like u said they showed him not one once of respect not even on a human level. It's sad, beyond that.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing out that we are who we are, but obviously they couldn't care less..