In the know: Violence against the LGBT community
By Andrew Zaki
Aug. 14, 2011 11:36 p.m.
“We’re not gay!”
“Not that there is anything wrong with that.”
These classic lines are repeated by Jerry and George in an episode of “Seinfeld” when a reporter, writing a story about Jerry, suspects them of being a couple. I believe many Americans are now in this same confused state: Some accept homosexuality fully, others with reluctance, while some reject the very idea. Now, I could care less what category one falls into, but when the intolerant turn violent, we cannot stay silent. Most recently, a middle school kid in Oxnard was accused of bringing a gun to school and killing his gay classmate who allegedly harassed him. So, what is the response? As always, whenever a tragedy like this happens, education is to blame. The teachers weren’t educated; the parents weren’t educated; the kids weren’t educated. But the problem isn’t education. You can give teachers all the tools to prevent such cases, you can give parents advice, you can give kids “sex ed” courses beginning in elementary school, yet that won’t solve the problem. It will happen again. Education does not solve the problem of hate ““ only love can.
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