The Westboro Baptist Church yesterday confirmed the passing of founder and former pastor Fred Phelps, Sr. While I took a great deal of delight in yesterday's An Imagining post, I am left in a quandary at the confirmation of his demise. I am fighting the overwhelming urge to break into riotous rejoicing by choosing to reflect on his legacy to the world. Fred was nothing if not loud, akin to the infamous clanging cymbals of the Bible. Fred was prolific in his vociferous denigration of the LGBT community, the victims of AIDS, 9-11, school shootings, fallen soldiers and natural disasters. Yet by his very vociferousness, Fred forced mainstream America to acknowledge that yes, Gay people do exist. We are not some curiosity to be swept under the rug or hidden away in that closet so no one can see us. America had to confront their fear of the unknown and the marginalized.
However, in the process, Americans came to know Gay folks as friends, neighbors and family members. A surprising (to them) thing happened as they got to know us as Gay people. They discovered that we were people just like them, good, bad or indifferent, but just people nonetheless. Funny thing about getting to know someone face to face, it is much harder to hate someone you know than a nameless, faceless boogieman of your own imagining. For this, we must thank Fred who singlehandedly (and with the help of his followers) advanced the cause of equality immeasurably. Although his aim was to eradicate homosexuality, he brought to light the beauty and humanity of all those he sought to marginalize. While he may forever be a caricature of the hateful, bile spewing bigot whom no one wants to become, he should be remembered as one of the fulcrums upon which equality for all was leveraged. I just hope that we as Gay folks can be more gracious to his family and friends in the hour of their grief than was ever afforded even one of us by him or his followers.
The words of Martin Luther King seem to be appropriate in this instance:
"At times we are able to humiliate our worst enemy. Inevitably, his weak moments come and we are able to thrust in his side the spear of defeat. But this we must not do. Every word and deed must contribute to an understanding with the enemy and release those vast reservoirs of goodwill which have been blocked by impenetrable walls of hate."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr., Dexter Avenue Baptist Church; Montgomery, Alabama, Christmas Sermon, 1957.
However, in the process, Americans came to know Gay folks as friends, neighbors and family members. A surprising (to them) thing happened as they got to know us as Gay people. They discovered that we were people just like them, good, bad or indifferent, but just people nonetheless. Funny thing about getting to know someone face to face, it is much harder to hate someone you know than a nameless, faceless boogieman of your own imagining. For this, we must thank Fred who singlehandedly (and with the help of his followers) advanced the cause of equality immeasurably. Although his aim was to eradicate homosexuality, he brought to light the beauty and humanity of all those he sought to marginalize. While he may forever be a caricature of the hateful, bile spewing bigot whom no one wants to become, he should be remembered as one of the fulcrums upon which equality for all was leveraged. I just hope that we as Gay folks can be more gracious to his family and friends in the hour of their grief than was ever afforded even one of us by him or his followers.
The words of Martin Luther King seem to be appropriate in this instance:
"At times we are able to humiliate our worst enemy. Inevitably, his weak moments come and we are able to thrust in his side the spear of defeat. But this we must not do. Every word and deed must contribute to an understanding with the enemy and release those vast reservoirs of goodwill which have been blocked by impenetrable walls of hate."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr., Dexter Avenue Baptist Church; Montgomery, Alabama, Christmas Sermon, 1957.
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Your Friday Musical Moment features Piano Concerto Number 1, Opus 11 by Frederic Chopin with a performance by Evgeny Kissin and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta from their 2011 75th Anniversary Concert. You may also hear Kissin's 1995 Carnegie Hall performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto Number 1 over on my tumblr.
Finally for today is a salute to the hirsute with this week's edition of Furry Friday on display for your appreciation below the video. You may also want to check out the Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr. Thanks for sharing a part of your Friday with me, have a fabulous weekend. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
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