I live in a state where if anyone is different, they are automatically thrown into purgatory for being different. It is so bad it even happens to the smallest of things like wearing something that another doesnt agree with. labeling becoming a major problem amongst our high schools to the point of hate crimes being commited. three years ago there was a huge ordeal at my school amongst the "Red-Necks" and the "Black Kids" over a hate list posted onto the wall of a bathroom. it got completely out of hand and had searches and we were all wanded upon entry. things like this have gotten completely out of control and starting to end up bad. this whole state is so close-minded over anything that is different. if someone is Homosexual, 'goth', or even african american, the thought of someone not falling into the same catagory as them or as the perfect little 'christain' then they are automatically going to hell and get treated like crap. dont get me wrong, it is nothing against Christans, but the expactations that every single person has to be perfect wearing their little polo shirt and combed over hair is ridiculous. why cant someone look or act different? is it so wrong that they express themselves in different ways? like different music, art, or even poetry? this world is becoming different whether we like it or not. we cant keep fighting this, we must embrace it. we dont need to beat the crap out of a boy and leave him on a fence to die, like someone did in laramie wyoming. this has to stop.
-kristy
There is nothing wrong with dressing the way you feel comfortable. I am a Christian but do not discriminate at all over this situation. Do not get discouraged because every person in this world should have there own opinion and style because that is what makes us who we are. You can not live other peoples expectations, except your own. Good or bad choices are what we learn and only by doing what we feel is right, is how we learn. Great Post.
My partner grew up lesbian in Memphis. I think she can probably relate to everything you said in this post.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I loved Chattanooga. Have hope, this problem is probably not with the whole state, and things can get bad in West Virginia as well, although I lived in a larger town, (not quite a city) so we were used to everyone being different, but you still had your confederates and hip hop people and drama geeks, etc.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
Since you wrote a blog about Tennessee and specifically hatred and intolerance in Tennessee I'm not sure why you chose to drag Wyoming into it. I'll bet that there are 10 times as many hate crimes in Tennessee as there are in Wyoming so why could you not find an example that was closer to home and more recent rather than rehashing a hate crime that took place more than a DECADE ago and almost two thousand miles away?.
This story which gained national prominence from bloggers even though it was ignored by the media is much more recent and because it occurred in Tennessee might have been a good choice for inclusion in your blog
Newsome Christian Murders
Essentially 5 black guys carjacked a white guy and his white girlfriend. They brutally raped and homosexually tortured the guy in front of his girlfriend and then they murdered him. They then proceeded to do much the same to her an killed her too.
Here is another Tennessee hate crime from just yesterday (2/5/09):
Read the second story on the page although the first one might be a hate crime too
Do a little research, While crime can happen anywhere, Wyoming is a fairly tolerant place with a fairly low crime rate compared to most places in America and is a lot more civilized and less violent then Tennessee.