The Griffon News

Sometimes it’s more comfortable for people to close their eyes to the hate around them than to see the truth and do something about it.

Judy Shepard saw the truth up close and personal when her son was beaten to death out of hatred for his lifestyle.

She’s seen it, and she’s doing something about it.

Judy travels the country speaking on “The Legacy of Matthew Shepard,” in order to empower people to put a stop to discrimination and to help “Erase the Hate.”

Sometimes it takes hearing a story like the Shepard’s to realize how deeply hatred and prejudice is embedded in much of America.

So often you see people making gross generalizations or using stereotypes to judge others who are different.

People who are different endure stares and mockeries, seemingly the price to be paid for individuality.

We can express ourselves, but only in certain, socially acceptable ways.

If one should stray from those ways, the individual risks being ostracized, labeled, overlooked or, in Matthew’s case and many others, killed.

Oh yes, Western. Discrimination is alive and well in our country.

In our town.

On our campus.

Some of you reading this have felt firsthand the effects of hatred in those around you.

Some of you are afraid of what you do not understand and do everything you can to stay away from that which is different.

Some of you know that you are a homophobe, a racist, a bigot, but would never admit it.

Some of you have the audacity to wear your ignorance on your sleeve.

Some of you have no idea what this column is about because you refuse to acknowledge the truth. Discrimination is like a rumor you refuse to verify.

Will you dare to open your eyes and see it?

Even more scary: when you do recognize it, will you dare do something about it?

Or will you sit idly by?

Let us learn to see the injustice and prejudice that is all around us and do what we can to erase it.

As the human race, we should be working together to conquer difficulties, not creating difficulties by fighting each other.

All people, be they gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or straight, is special, unique and deserving of respect and dignity from all humankind.

No matter what you were taught, how you feel or what your friends think, do the right thing.

Love the guy that sits next to you in chemistry.

Love the girl in accounting.

As Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young would have it, “love the one you’re with.”

Whoever is standing in front of you at any given moment, that’s the one you’re to love and respect.

And only a two-faced individual will act any differently when the person you were treating well turns her back.

If we all start loving the one we’re with, hatred will start dying and people will stop.

So, when you sit down this paper, start finding ways to respect people. You may find respect coming right back to you.