Violence underscores failure

The men who beat the transgender person deserve to do time. But they should emerge understanding that it’s a wounded man who wounds others, and that heterosexism, like racism, is an unacceptable, irrational sickness of the spirit.

But society is not committed to this education; not in schools, not in jails, not in (enough) churches, nor the workplace.

In times of progressive change (gay marriage, transgender rights), many people think the ground they stand on is crumbling. They don’t know what to hold on to, what to let go, which perspective to adopt. Even trans-people go through a period of transition from one identity to another, often with therapeutic facilitation. The general public is on its own to figure out what is gained by change, what principles unite us. Too many don’t, acting out in frustration.

The progressive vision of change aims at restoring the broken pieces, broken hearts and lives, the broken connections between people who don’t realize they’re speaking the same language, which boils down to a narrative of love and freedom; what we all need, want, to live a meaningful life.

Violence (domestic or public) is a failure of political leadership and education.

Adrian Murillo

Spokane