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The New Colossus
“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Emma Lazarus (November 2, 1883)
“Franco is being deported from Sweden. Because he’s “not gay enough.”
He fled Nigeria after being brutally attacked by homophobes inside his own house – his boyfriend was killed in the attack.
Now, the Swedish migration authorities want to send him right back into danger because he couldn’t “prove” that he’s gay.” Published: January 26, 2017, in partnership with the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer rights.
Not gay enough? What does that mean? Not out and about? Not hanging in enough gay bars? Or is it just another plight against individuals because of their sexuality. Isn’t this awkwardly comparable to saying that someone is not ‘straight enough’, which is inherently prejudice?
Worst, to imagine this a legitimate verdict, under any legal system that vows to criminalize prejudice, is contradicting.
At the same time, drawing from recent memory, I can’t recall anyone telling me, or any other gay person whom I know that they will spare us prejudice because of the level of our ‘gayness’.
From observation, there is no real justice in falsely claiming the inexistence of prejudice. On paper it looks good but in reality it’s prejudice all the same. It’s simply sad and unjustifiable.
I’m not exactly sure that one can be ‘black enough’ or ‘immigrant enough’. If I am wrong and that is true, does that mean that one is entitled to a certain level of kindness, compassion and tolerance because of the depth of their skin color or their immigration status? Sadly, this is happening… it’s sadly true and in this case, it hurts.
Anyone who flees their country due to persecution, will confirm that their former life was utter hell… and so is their fruitless effort to prove that they were something that they are not. For this reason, their greatest wish is not to be judged, in any way or form, on the basis of their sexuality. A life spent constantly fighting the odds, is in itself, a burden to bare. So being expected to acclimatize to ever changing perception of sexuality is unfair.
There has to be some balance in this world for gay people (and other minorities) because no human being should have to ‘ask’ for their basic human rights. That is not the reality or the world we want to live in.
“Let the poor the needy and oppressed of the Earth, and those who want Land, resort to the fertile lands of our western country, the second land of Promise, and there dwell in peace, fulfilling the first and great commandment.” President George Washington.
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This was deep! I’m so saddened by the amount of hate and injustice people still have to endure at this point! To think we’ve come so far to really take a few steps back all over again. Begging for our basic human rights… finding ways to make people accept us is not something that we should eveeeer be fighting for! All of this right now just puts me in a really bad place. Not one of fear, but one of motivation and anger. Our new president is influencing and encouraging this disgusting behavior and it’s hard for me to let that settle. I’m motivated by everyone standing up for another and standing in solidarity. It’s just so interesting to see those, “All Lives Matter” folks swallow their pride and see the truth that us minorities have been fighting for decades. This is nothing new to us! I’m praying for all of us and hoping that we all get over this. Instead of looking at how different we are, look at how alike we can be! smh
Been listening to the news and following on social media and you probably thought that history had taught us a few things but we are just walking blind into the future.
In today’s society, this poem, means more to us, than it probably ever will:
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” MARTIN NIEMÖLLER.
Keep marching, keep fighting for yourself and others because we are all in this together.
The news and social media are making things a lot worse! Too many public opinions, too much ignorance and I feel as if the people on our side are sick of arguing. The back and forth, the relentless fight to make people understand where you’re coming from takes a lot of energy. I think this is why things have been getting a lot more violent and situations are spiraling out f control. No one is talking anymore or investing in one another… there’s no sense of brotherhood/sisterhood. Not as much camaraderie .. we have to stick together to change things.
I’m totally with you!