purple... & other colours

Today's the day to wear purple to commemorate the gay young men who committed suicide due to homophobic abuse.

I knew right away that i didnt wanna do this. Partly because contemplating suicides is just too depressing and i havent any sadness left over for losses other than my own right now. but partly because i search for a response that's digging deeper to the heart of the wider problem.. the global context in which these tragedies occur.

Of course it's terrible that young gay men end their lives in this way.
Just as its awful that young muslims see fit to destroy themselves and take others with them , seeing, presumably , no way to live in the circumstances they find themselves.
It's awful that our welfare state is being destroyed in front of our eyes by a so-called coalition govt. ... and on & on the list could go.

It seems there is a 'reign of terror' happening in our world right now, tho not the one George W used as an excuse to kill.

I feel scared and vulnerable, as i age, struggle with health concerns and worry about a sustainable income... & I'm relatively priviledged!

It seems we've created a society/world in which no one feels safe and these acts of deplorable - & life-threatening- bullying, seem, to me, to spring from this unhinged fear and distress.

Thus, tho I obviously oppose such behaviour, I dont believe it will end until the underlying cause is corrected.i.e. until we re-establish a world in which it is safe to be human.

P>S> However, I write this clad in magenta satin, which, for me, says the same thing yet in a more visceral ("actually some of us are still alive!" ) kinda way!. .. and, when I go out shortly, i shall wear a purple scarf.

xxxC

"It’s been decided. On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes and at their schools. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit"