Matthew Shepard: hate crime?

             A hate crime is a violent act of crime motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice. The death of 21 year old Matthew Shepard in 1998 caused an outrage in both gay and straight communities all across the world, and whether his death was the result of a hate crime or not, that is debatable.  Many factors uncounted for and undetected by the public media at the time of the incident play a major part in his passing that would categorize Shepard's death as a drug related murder rather than a hate crime, but having his death viewed as a hate crime has positively influenced many people  globally and he became a voice for the gay community and speak out to take a stand for all the hate that does does exist based on sexuality. 

            The role of public media in the case of Matthew Shepard outweighs any other factors in that the case blew up overnight grabbing the attentions of people globally. Before any real investigation efforts were put into Shepard's case, the media jumped in and labeled the case as a hate crime, reporting on live TV on the hatred that exists within the Town of Laramie based on the mere fact that Shepard was gay. "Within 36 hours there were satellite trucks in Laramie." (20/20 ABC). Media responded to Shepard's case immediately, every news station and reporter wanted to be the first to report any updates and have the "first hand" and "exclusive" information on the case.  Soon enough the whole world was watching Laramie, following up on anything that happened, their interference and the attention it brought upon Shepard's family and friends was tremendous. "Shepard's father had to wear a bullet proof vest to speak at his own son's funeral" (20/20 ABC). Because of the media attention, Shepard's funeral became a live stream on TV, the case had not only captured the eyes of those who are mournful, but also those who believed Shepard deserved to die because of his sexuality and couldn't let Shepard's loved ones mourn in peace and the family felt threatened enough to take precautions to protect their own lives.  They are a group from the Westboro Baptist Church, claiming under God's name to justify their acts of hate and extremely offensive actions against the gay community. "They are a group of hateful people with signs and a lot time on their hands, they stood outside chanting and holding up "God hates f**s"" (Huffingtonpost). It was horrifying enough 

that Shepard's death might have been because of his sexuality, however the Westboro Baptist Church still felt the need to cause public disturbances and hold signs that say Shepard deserved was he got. It's unacceptable, hate crime or not, Shepard deserved to be buried at peace and mourned by his loved ones without the entire world watching and people cursing at his name. 

                Long after Shepard's death and the outrage of the hate behind the incident did people finally stop to ask, was it really a hate crime? At the time of the incident, McKinny openly admitted and confessed he killed Shepard because he was gay and made a pass at McKinny. "I was like, "Look I'm not a fu**ing fa**ot. If you touch me again you're gonna get it." I  don't know what the hell he was trying to do  but I beat him up pretty good, I think I killed him." (Kaufman 25). Instead of confessing to robbery or drug related issues, McKinny admitted to the case standing behind the "Gay Panic" defense in hopes of a valid excuse to get a lighter sentence. However he did not expect for the case to create an outrage and uproar landing him in two life sentences. In 2004,  McKinny and Henderson, spoke to press for the first time since the incident and it brought a whole new perspective into the case and overturns the crime all together. "Arron used drugs everyday..did not sleep for a week....Matt wanted a ride/sex and Arron wanted to rob him.." (Price 20/20 ABC). The role of meth in this case was brought to attention for the first time, revealing McKinny had been a awake for a whole week prior to the night of the incident and he meant to rob a drug dealer of 10,000 dollars but failed so he turned his eyes on Shepard when Shepard asked for a ride.Shepard's involvement with meth went unmentioned as he was the poster boy for the gay community, as did the fact that he was HIV positive due to a trip to Morocco where he was raped by two men when he was younger, which is a factor that drove him to meth to self medicate.  Another  important factor that was over looked at the time of trial was that McKinny, Henderson, and Shepard were friends; they hung out together, partied together, it was not as simple as gay panic against a stranger who asked for a ride. "well..it was me, Arron, and Matt." (O'Connor 20/20 Special). Doc O'Connor, a limo driver that often drove Shepard to gay bars in Denver mentioned McKinny and Shepard were definitely friends, and that McKinny was bisexual; he also openly admitted to having threesomes with them, which completely contradicts the whole gay panic defense. The media at the time went out of their way to try and prove the Shepard case was hate crime, even paying friends of McKinny to say things that play in favor of the labeling of a hate crime, knowing that will bring more attention to the case that just a simple meth related murder and the victim just happened to be gay.   

              Hate crime or not, the positive influence Shepard's case had brought to help the gay community speak out and laws to protect crimes that are truly targeted toward people based on their sexuality. One of the major laws is the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd. Jr Hate Crime Prevention Act signed by President Obama on October 22, 2009. "After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we've passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are." (Obama). Even though it took 12 years for the law to be passed, it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for wrongful attention upon Shepard's case that led to the attention to the oppressed population of the gay community. Many people argue that the case is only a big deal because Shepard was gay, and that it wouldn't have been such a sensation if he was straight in defense that one's life, or rather death, should not be valued more than another based on sexuality. "We wouldn't be here if this was just another murder the state was going to deal with. The state deals with hundreds of murders every single day. But this murder is different, because the f**s are bringing us out here trying to make Matthew Shepard into a poster boy for the gay lifestyle. And we're going to answer it, its just that simple." (Kaufman 76). Reverend Fred Phelps says this in defense for the push back on the Shepard case and the gay life style, however, in his defense he reveals an underlying issue that because the gay community is so oppressed that the death of a member is such a big deal; the the gay community had equal rights in the first place, it would have just been another murder. After Shepard's death, Shepard's mother and father, Judy and Dennis Shepard,  founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation in his name to "Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs, and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion, & Acceptance” through its varied educational, outreach and, advocacy programs and by continuing to tell Matthew’s story." (matthewshepard.org).  The Matthew Shepard Foundation works with the Department of Justice and FBI on educational programs to spread awareness, replacing hate with understanding, compassion, and support; to reach out globally encouraging respect for human dignity and differences.  His death, no matter the motivation, has changed the way in which the world talks and deals about hate.

          In away, any crime could be classified as a hate crime, it is hatred towards something or someone that drives one to take another's life. However, although in no way Shepard's death can be distinctively justified as a hate crime or drug related, his death can be viewed as a sacrifice that changed the society for the better, bringing attention to issues that went unspoken and oppressed, freeing people from prejudice with open minds and open hearts, all across the globe.

               

               

weekly analysis

Violence isn't the solution

                    Violence has existed since the beginning of time, it is the founding base and building blocks of human civilization. Violence is what has expanded the societies and still keeps social order to this day, however, many people argue that is ironic, and wrong, that violence isn't the answer to finding peace. In the movie The War, it tells the story of life affected by violence through the eyes of a 12 year old girl, and how although it may be an imperfect society, although people may try to justify acts of violence and defend it with honor, she learns that violence is not, is never the solution.
                     Violence exists in many varies forms, one of the more intense forms being war itself; one cannot fully recover from war, the acts of violence and experiencing life and death with stay with one forever. The father in The War is a veteran from the Vietnam War, and although he is safely returned to his family, his gruesome experiences during the war changed him. In one of the early scenes of the movie, the younger brother of the family, Stu, runs to wake his father up for breakfast in excitement; but gets pinned down in a fatal position by his father due to an episode of PTS.  As the father, Stephen wakes up to his son, he also hears sounds of helicopter blades, loud and clear, instantly taking him back to the war and he pins down the first thing that touches him as an instinctive defense mechanism, which is his son in this case; showing that even though he is consciously aware he is home, surrounded by people who loves him dearly, and does not need to be on guard, ready to take out the enemy at any moment anymore, he still can't live a normal life because what he'd seen and felt during the war makes him a new person, it traumatized him forever. Stephen tries hard to suppress his PTS episodes and does a fairly job doing so, however it planted a button in him that cannot be pushed, and more than often, those buttons are in defending the ones he love rather than himself. "I don't mind so much you plowing into my car and I don't take offense at you calling me names. But you go after my child, you're going to push a button on me and then I'm going to lose control and kill you. Now apologize to my son." Stephens says this after Mr. Lipnicki tries to fight Stu, he did not care when Lipnicki purposely hit his car, nor when Lipnicki insulted him, but when Stu is close to harm, that button is pushed and he almost loses control, almost killing Lipnicki to defend his son. The war left him with the skills perfected to injure and kill, but also an injured soul, a time bomb ready to explode during the most expecting times, unable to live life in peace as he did before.
                      As a poor, or African-American, or veteran, or all of the above living in the 1970's, life was probably hell, however, that does not shape or change one's morals or basic rights as a human being. Stephen's family has been struggling just barely getting by since he's returned from war, the government does not offer any kind of help and the social norms keeps him from holding a job for more than a month, but he still tries to be hopeful, making sure he is giving his all for his family. In a conversation Stephen has with his wife, he expresses how he wants to make a difference in this world, and that is making sure his kids believe in miracles, that anything is possible and they don't need violence to achieve it. He understand the struggles his family is going through, they eat potatoes everyday of every meal because it's cheap, and often his kids gets into physical fights because it's the only way they know how to defend themselves; but that does not change the fact they are good, honorable people, and in having his kids understand consequences and believe in themselves, his duty as a father is fulfilled. Lidia, the older sister of the family has two African American friends, she understands equality, that people are the same no matter the skin color, socioeconomic class, or gender. "My mama said I don't hafta hang out with nobody who degrades me that-a-way, even if they is my best girl." Elvadine says this to defend herself in a conversation with Lidia, also her best friend, when Lidia says the N-word in a way she meant no offense or harm. She only said it because she hears Elvadine saying it, but that does not make it ok and Elvadine understands that, she knows to stand up for herself and draw the line for what is and isn't appropriate in a non-violent way, she understands her self worth and respect isn't worth less simply because she has a different skin color. Morals and integrity is something good people share, and good is not defined by how well one can fight, how much money one has or their skin color, but by the way they treat others with the respect they have for themselves
                     One thing more powerful than violence is love, it is what keeps families together and happy, keeps societies and  cultures united, and keep faith in a world so full of violence. Love is more powerful than hatred and violence, that's what Stephen has been teaching his children after he came back from war, he wants nothing more for them to understand that because it is what he learned the hard way through the horrifying experiences of war himself. After he tackles Mr.Lipnicki to protect Stu, he gives the cotton candy meant for his wife and daughter to the Lipnicki children, and when Stu questions him about it, he simply answers "because they look like they haven't been given anything for a long time." He knows the Lipnicki children has it hard too, raised in a junkyard without a mother by a father who only knows how to resolve problems with his fists; he knows the violence is only there because of the absence of love and that even if he presents them with only the slightest act of love, it makes a difference. Violence is such a controversial and self-conflicting topic itself, but Stephen nevertheless tries to help his children understand it in the most peaceful way. "I can't tell you never to fight, Stu. But if you want to know what I think, I think the only thing that keeps people truly safe and happy is love. I think that's where men get their courage. That's where countries get their strength. That's where God grants us our miracles. And in the absence of love, Stuart, there is nothing, nothing in this world worth fighting for." This is one of the many times Stephen talks about fighting with Stu, one time he just straight up says "I leave you for two seconds and you're already fighting?" when Stu gets in a fight with a kids who called him names. Stephen always talks to Stu about his understanding of fighting, he is a trained fighter, but the skills are not what defines a fighter, but the values he holds to understand fighting will not and cannot solve all the problems in life. Through his experience in the war, he knows that violence is inevitable, unfortunately it is always going to be a problem all around the world, however love is the more powerful and more universal part of society than violence and war, it unites people and creates a feeling that overpowers even the most gruesome of violence.
                       Life lessons are learned through experience, taught by the people closest to one, and more often through pain and suffering. After Stephen passes away from saving a co-worker, Stu becomes angry and projects his anger and helplessness into violence, even though he knew it's something his father would frown upon.  Stu turns to violence to get back the tree house he built overtaken by the Lipnicki children, Lidia at first hesitates about the decision and thought about all the things their father has taught them but Stu is driven by so much anger toward God for taking his father, he does not care. An eye for an eye the whole world turns blind, the Lipnicki children strike back with even more violent acts causing the the tree house to be totally destroyed and burned. This again proves Stephen right, that nothing good ever comes out of violence, in fighting for the tree house, they've lost the tree house completely. Things change when the youngest Lipnicki chil, Billy goes to the top of the dangerous water tower to retrieve the key that belonged to Stephen, Billy falls through the roof of the water tower and everyone drops their differences and fighting to work together and save Billy.  "If dad's watching... he can go now." Stu says this to his sister after Billy is saved from the giant draining water tower, the scene has multiple bird-eye view shots, watching the children from above,  like God/Stephen watching them from above. The scene is also full of chaos, loud sounds, wet and dark; however there are also streaks of lights filtering through the roof of the water tower, suggesting that there is still light and hope in spite of the the darkness and foreshadowing that Billy pulls through and lives. In helping another and saving their life, Stu finally learns the lesson his father gave his life trying to prove, to be a decent person, to love rather than hate and that is the most important thing in life.
                   Violence is something that feeds on hatred in the absence of love, sometimes violence cannot be avoided in order to defend and protect the people one loves but it is nothing worth fighting for without love. Stu and Lidia learns that lesson through having their father returned from war and losing him within the same summer. Through their father suffering during and after the war, and their suffering from losing him and almost losing Billy, they learn that, violence is never the solution.



                   

Week 09-15~09-22

This week we mainly worked on our college essays for the colleges we want to apply for. I want to go to CU Boulder, or rather I was told "oh you're gonna go to CU for college" ever since I was in middle school by my parents so I did not really have an option there. Which I don't really mind because I like Boulder, I think I'd really enjoy attending college there, even though I still have no idea on what I'd like to major in or what I want to do with the rest of my life. It's a stressful thing to think about, having to decide what I want to do and what I need to learn to provide for myself for the rest of my life. But then I realized it's ok to to not know, that's what being young is all about, to be able to go out there, outside of my comfort zone and explore the world, experiencing different things, making mistakes and learning from those mistakes who I am and who I strive to be. Although I haven't quite figured out what I want in life yet, I know for sure that I do not want to be 40 years old, stuck with a job I hate wishing I had chosen differently when I was younger. I believe as long as I'm eager to learn and want to make the best of myself, I don't need to worry about making a solid decision right now, I can figure that out along the way on my journey to figure out who I am.

While I was writing my college essays, I realized my writing focuses alot about my culture and Asian heritage, it is what makes me unique, makes me distinctly Sijia, and I am proud of who I am.
It is a big part of my life and what makes me the person I am, which I thought would be essential to include in my essays; that I would bring diversity to the school. I think it's important to address the cultural aspects of what makes me different from others and why I should be accepted. Also the prompt I chose for one of the essays was failure; which was funny and ironic because I'm Asian, and Asians don't fail, right? That is exactly why I chose the prompt, breaking the stereotype of Asians always getting straight A's and spending all their spare time in the library.(So hard to believe, I know.) Letting the college know that I've overcome failures and I know how to deal with them. Some stereotypes are true though, like the driving one, Asians are indeed the worst drivers you will ever meet, ever. Don't trust your life with us.

6 word memoir

In class we read A Memoir is Not an Statues Update by Dani Shapiro, it talks about how technology has changed the way we let other people perceive us; how with social media we can update anything whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, all within 140 characters. A memoir isn't a statues update, it goes beyond "my mother passed away from lung cancer", or "It's a girl!" it goes beyond and tells the story behind the story and more importantly, how it has affected you and your experience of it rather than the event itself; which, is what we tend to write and update in social media. I think social media has really stunted our ability to express in detail and evaluate our feelings, now days we are so use to having to compress our thoughts in to 140 characters that we literlly are losing the ability to write on and on about a certain subject and when we are asked to write more, we are flustered, just as I am right now.
 
ordinary is boring, be normally insane 
a six word memoir is well... a memoir in six words, short and sweet. out of the couple I came up with in class, this one is my favorite. "ordinary is boring, be normally insane" In a way, I think normal is the real crazy, no one should be normal, how boring it must be to be like everyone else, to think, act among your peers? I remember watching SpongeBob as a kid and this was this episode where Spongebob wanted to be "normal" to he could get Squidward to like him, and the more "normal" he became, the creepier he became as well, and that's when Squidward realized that Spongebob isn't meant to be normal, no one is. Everyone is born unique, and they should embrace that uniqueness; so many people try and hide what makes them different and stand out so they could fit in, but really, how foolish to try and fit in when you're made to stand out? If everyone embraced their differences, there wouldn't be such a craze for normality, everyone would be unique, and insane in their own way, so insanity would become the norm; there fore, normally insane.

About me

I was born and raised in china, and I moved to the united states when I was 10 years old; when I moved here, I learned the english language within 6 months without an accent but began to forget chinese. When I almost completely forgot chinese at age 12 my mom sent me back to china for a year to get back in touch with my roots and culture; but more importantly to relearn chinese so i can still freely communicate with her. When most people think of china, they think of factories and kids working in sweatshops and ancient chinese temples and palaces, my best friend in middle school even thought I lived in a village with rice patties when I told her I was born in china. I lived in the city, and they were the most luxurious and flourishing cites I've ever seen, everywhere seems to be downtown. Of course they are the farmers, and they did live in rural areas; theres no suburban in china, theres the big tall buildings with blinding flashy lights, and there are the little villages in-the-middle-of-no-where, theres is no in between. I visit my family in china about once every year, and I think it's very interesting to see and experience both cultures, and being able to see the world through two different perspectives,  that's the coolest thing about being bi-cultured.

I'm very curious, and interested in the human mind. The human brain is a bizarre thing, so much information obtained, processed and put to use, all within the size of half a soccer ball. Take myself as an example, being equally fluent in two languages, I find it hard to distinguish which language I think or dream in. unless I'm consciously thinking about this matter, "hey I'm thinking in English right now", or "woah I can think in Chinese too", I don't know what language my brain uses to process daily information. I can't even imagine what people who speak 5, 6 languages think about having to think about the language their brain thinks in. Each brain is like it's own little universe, it has the capacity to  memorize and store infinite information, and when put to use right, it can accomplish magnificent things.

 

I'm not a fan of sports, whether its actually participating in them or just watching other people play, however, I love to watch soccer. Manchester United is my favorite soccer team, or just any sports team, ever. My uncle is the biggest soccer fan I know, I grew up listening to him talk about who play who last night, who should've passed the ball, or whose coach just got replaced; his room was filled with countless posters of famous soccer players, he was obsessed. When I was old enough to understand the basic rules of soccer, he basically shoved it down my throat, whenever I visited he always dragged me along to watch reruns of the games and it grew on me, I loved watching soccer. I think soccer is the only sport I enjoy watching is because it's so simple, one goal means one point, thats all. No three strikes or yards or three pointers or whatever else that makes the other sports so difficult to watch if you didn't know all the rules.