Hero

[lizziec]

I have a new hero. He is Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He is amazing.

I "found" him this evening (though of course I knew of him before) when I was looking on wikipedia for information on the 1976 Soweto Riots (which are eye opening and terrifying in themselves - CHILDREN?!).

As I said, he is amazing. Words cannot expres my admiration for this man!

On Homophobia and Camp X-Ray:

"I am deeply saddened at a time when we've got such huge problems ... that we should invest so much time and energy in this issue...I think God is weeping."

Speaking on the subject of the gay American Bishop Gene Robinson in Pasadena, California he said:

"Jesus did not say, 'If I be lifted up I will draw some'... Jesus said, 'If I be lifted up I will draw all, all, all, all, all. Black, white, yellow, rich, poor, clever, not so clever, beautiful, not so beautiful. It's one of the most radical things. All, all, all, all, all, all, all, all. All belong. Gay, lesbian, so-called straight. All, all are meant to be held in this incredible embrace that will not let us go. All."

Amazing.

Comments

[bethanthepurple.livejournal.com]

In context, maybe amazing, but personally, I refuse to be amazed by someone who deems to treat me like a human. It ain't that hard, I swear.

[trappermcintyre.livejournal.com]

At least he's speaking up and trying to provide some leadership on the issue.

I'm asking you not to be amazed because he will treat you as a human, I'm asking you to at least consider being impressed by a man who is not afraid to stand up and say his piece. Not only that, but he says it in a very powerful way.

More than anything impressed by his power and his bravery.

It doesn't have to be his fight.

[bethanthepurple.livejournal.com]

I don't mean to yell at you when I get angry about this subject, but yell from years of pain & anger on this subject.

WHENEVER one person sees another person in pain, it is their DUTY to do their utmost to protect that person. In recognition of both of their human dignity, they MUST retain that dignity. If someone doesn't do this, they have ignored the victim's humanity and have done a bad thing. This happens so often that it is seen as normal, but it is not, it is BAD. Tutu is in a position of power. He stands to lose nothing by saying this, therefore by saying anything other than this I would lose all respect for him on this issue. Black/poor people living in Africa are the people who show true power & bravery by saying what Tutu has said, but Tutu by saying this is simply acting as any person with a shred of moral conscience SHOULD act. It doesn't have to be his fight, as he's not queer himself & has nothing to lose if he doesn't fight, but pretending that as a person in power he doesn't have a responsibility to protect all people is just plain wrong.

I will never thank anyone for treating me like a human, and I would be heartbroken if anyone else used to be treated like dirt thanked me for the same.

He's an inspirational speaker, well educated, and blessed with a gift of charisma, but beyond that he simply has some moral knowledge. People have been doing what he's just done for centuries, and fought for it, while being treated like the foulest type of dirt and without any of his privilege. Every single one of those people deserve to be called amazing, and ten times more.

[trappermcintyre.livejournal.com]

You say it's his moral duty and I don't disagree but think of all the people in his position who choose not to make a stand.

Within his own country there are still so many fights to be fought. By the same token that you won't fight for prostate cancer awareness or stronger laws against male rape because you have to concenrate your energies on the fights that benefit you and other women he doesn't have to pay any attention to events anywhere else (including Israel/Palestine, the war on terror, guantanamo bay and others besides the one we seem to be hilighting) but he does and he makes a powerful stand against them.

[bethanthepurple.livejournal.com]

You say it's his moral duty and I don't disagree but think of all the people in his position who choose not to make a stand.
And thus I have no respect for them at all wrt this issue.

Trying to do a degree while finding time to run campaigns is very different to making statements. I respect so much what he does for people, but at the same time, he's no more amazing than the rest of us for his comments on queer stuff. No-one has to stand for any of these issues unless they have no choice, but if people take what you say seriously, it's your *duty* to protect the weak. I wouldn't expect to be called amazing for any of the non-women's/queer things I also do, it's just my duty. I can't do everything, but I can bloody well try.

[benc.livejournal.com]

I agree those people deserve to be called amazing. I don't understand why Tutu's actions are any less amazing. He's in a privileged position now, certainly - and that gives him a certain amount of impact, but that doesn't mean he hasn't struggled in similar ways. His continued fighting for equality since the end of apartheid isn't devalued simply because his life isn't as difficult as it was.

[bethanthepurple.livejournal.com]

He's amazing for what he has done, but this statement doesn't make him amazing, any more than me defending the rights of Asian people in my community is amazing. I have arguments about it, and put up with uneducated comments when I could be passing my degree, but some things happen to be more important.

[foibey.livejournal.com]

It doesn't have to be anyone's fight. Think about all the self-hating "straight-acting" assimilationist queers who snark at visible queers and prop up homophobic "I don't mind gays, I just don't like having my face rubbed in it" junk.