Who Killed Tyler Clementi?

By Javier Robles

America is becoming the country we use to point fingers at, a place were intolerance of others is commonplace. Where we do not think twice about using someone’s sexuality or sexual preference for our own comic relief. We put people like Rush Limbaugh on a pedestal and go out of our way to make a point of showing what we don’t like about other people. As the polarization of these “United States” continues so will tragedies like the suicide of Tyler Clementi a freshman at Rutgers University. Tyler was outed as being gay after his roommate Dharan Ravi, and Ravis friend Molly Wei, taped him and another man engaging in sexual acts. Rhavi and Wei face invasion of privacy charges, and may also be charged with bias intimidation. Tyler, however, will never see justice served as his body was found floating on the Hudson, September 29th, according to the Wall Street Journal. The 18 year old’s last message to the world posted September 22nd, on Facebook, read, that he was going to jump off the George Washington Bridge.

This young man saw no other way out but one, suicide, why? Because many times we learn from our parents, clergy, media, family and “Friends” that being gay is bad. It is not “normal” and in the religious case, “it is a sin against God”. We as a society tolerate intolerance. We sit back in the house of the lord while a person of this Earth riles on about the sin of being homosexual. We tolerate the imposition of laws and lawmakers who believe they can legislate sexuality, morality and personal choice. In fact, we leave the television and radio on while the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan educate our toddlers about hate and fear mongering. These same people also lambaste certain television shows as too violent, sexual or “non-American”. There is an indifference towards those not in the mainstream, the gays, disabled, immigrants, and poor. Yet, we tolerate!

It is this tolerance for ignorance and intolerance for people different from us that should have the spotlight shined on it. Do not get me wrong, the two perpetrators in this incident Ravi and Wei, deserve what ever is coming to them. However, we deserve a collective blame. Parents, who allow their child to believe it is all right to dislike others, simply because “they are not like us”. Pastors, who preach love in one, breathe only to stigmatize and hate in the other one. Politicians, so afraid of their base or blinded by their “family values”, that they cannot open their mouth against legislation or laws that continue to oppress our men and women in uniform. Media, that promotes hate like a sporting event, that actually pay commentators to profess their dislike of (according to them) those so morally corrupt that they cannot possibly be “Real Americans”.

It is our tolerance of anti gay, racist, anti disabled and lack of empathy for the poor in this country; that make, a bright young man like Tyler, think the only solution to his sexuality is death. That is a low-point in our Countries history. Just like the murders of Mathew Sheppard in Texas, Frank Rodde’s in Chicago, and Jorge Steve Lopez Mercado in Puerto Rico; were all committed by others, we just supplied the ammunition.

For more information on organizations and websites providing services and positive messages on gay issues visit:

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
http://www.thetaskforce.org/

Gay Men’s Health Crisis
http://www.gmhc.org/

GLBT National Help Center
http://www.glnh.org/

To Talk to a Live Person

GLBT National Hotline
1-888-843-4564

GLBT Youth National Hotline
1-800-246-7743

Christopher Reeve, Inspiration and Success

Did you know, CNN is doing a story on Parenting with Disabilities. I’m sure it’s very difficult for many of us to feel comfortable opening up and sharing ou stories. Although I found the switch to give me the passion to come forth and become some what of an exhibitionist , it’s not always easy. Well I also noticed while watching television , shows aren’t always delivering content involving issues, actors or athletes with disabilities. I wonder to myself sometimes since my disability I watch more television. I wonder if any of you experienced this as well and if so I asked myself, if television is mostly viewed by individuals with disabilities. If this theory is true then why aren’t we seeing ourselves or representations of our real aspiration on film and television.

Ratings are made up of human viewers, if no one is watching , industry is dropping. My comrade Larry the Rolling Filmmaker is a big advocate on putting more actors with disabilities working in Hollywood, I’m sure seeing this would give many more inspiration as well. The few friends I made that are aspiring to break down barriers as well as fulfill their dreams are continuing to pursue their passions. I’m not a famous actor, I didn’t grow up in Hollywood and I don’t have famous friends but I still see those who are struggling within their own careers. I didn’t truly become more of a name among my peers on my own. It took everyone I met on Care Cure Community to help me get to this point where I’m taking a stand on this movement for supporting each other.

It’s been my statement that Christopher Reeve is my inspiration, I learned more about spinal cord injury because of him. Not just learning about the research, politics and technology but collaborating and helping others. Although it’s very important we support each other for the things we need to live we also need to enjoy life. We are still human despite our disability but sometimes we feel detached from the world considered normal. I’m assuming we possibly make up a very large percentage of viewers when it comes to television ratings. I’m sure someone would enjoy researching this idea but I know the many friends I chat with online many are stuck at home. That’s no luxury like some may think. I had a few people say to me I live like a King having people cater to my needs. If being stuck in bed and can’t get up and having to wait for someone to wake up to help me eat is living like a King, someone please dethrone me.

Back to the topic about what we see on TV. I would like to finally see a network about disability, they can call it TDC The Disability Channel, not an unique name but something to get us relative television. I can be conceited saying this but that’s just another theory, I bet if Christopher was here we had a television show maybe a network by now. Christopher seemed to have the super powers to be forever Superman and he broke more barriers then most actors with disabilities for disability, not only for himself. I feel beyond whatever reason others may feel they can’t get ahead , many times when you use your talents or power for others you succeed a lot more. That was Christopher, no matter what ever anyone thinks, he didn’t use his power for self gratification he used his power to help all of us.

So finally what I’m trying to say, is we need to try to support bringing disability in the media. If there’s no ratings there’s no sponsors. CNN called me to be part in a promotion about Parents with Disabilities. The show has nothing to do with me but I will support, watch, blog, bulletin or send out a newsletter. No matter weather you are a disabled parent or not, post , watch, add a video of your support. The key to balancing all these TV shows we say are crap yet get the most air time is going to need the same attention. So please pass on this link and encourage others to if not get involved, read the synopsis.

http://www.facebook.com/l/9ed79;www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=432759&hpt=Sbin

Professir X

Avatar – A broomstick stuck through the spokes in a wheelchair.

By Professirx

Take a look at these 3 videos. This is what inspired me to write this blog.

http://www.facebook.com/l/38c78;www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OyrXd-uZRE

http://www.facebook.com/l/38c78;www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ1Z9-Hdmrs

http://www.facebook.com/l/38c78;www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbD8QVNuXZM

OK,I said, ”Let me check out this movie, finally someone with a disability is in a box office smash.” Boy was I wrong. I spent 2 hours waiting to get to the point of why this paraplegic was involved in this virtual world. Was he going to find a cure and walk at the end. Why did he even have to be paralyzed for this story. I never got to understand the impact his paralysis was going to inspire. Oh sure, I must be a hermit because I didn’t even know this guy has been in other movies and to my surprise, he can walk.WTF . I need to watch moves more. Yea right. Outside of the disability issue in the media, the movie is pretty dam good but this is bullshit. The actor is a great actor, but the role could of been played by a real paraplegic. Sigourney Weaver was suffice enough to draw an audience.

But Professir X, if the actor was really paralyzed, how could he could do all that running and jumping.

Dude, it was a computer generated image, the flesh and blood man only spent 10 minutes in this film. Did you not see the video where Christopher Reeve walked, that was superimposed.

OK my point is this. with today’s technology, anything’s possible, able or disable. I don’t know about you, but disability is the new Black. The media is discriminating us from our human rights to get a fair chance. I Rallied for Stem Cell, the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act and other causes , I found an organization who’s mission is to help aspiring disable actors get into the media. I wrote them last year, haven’t received a reply yet, hey give them some time , they may be busy on their own agenda huh.

Well 2010 wasn’t a year I wait on a phone to ring before I move. I will always rank as soldier, Christopher Reeve will forever be General, but my mission for 2010 is to collaborate with as many others as possible. Make our own and share it all over the world. We have the Internet, you can get a camera for under 200.00, get you ideas on video and upload it all over the web. I truly have to thank the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, they made it possible for me to continue to bring awareness for Spinal Cord Injury. I also thank Leroy Moore for his work with Krip Hop. Bringing aspiring artist together and not waiting on a so called Hollywood decision.

If anyone with a disability is interested in collaborating. Read this article and send me your material.

http://www.facebook.com/l/38c78;communities.kintera.org/REEVE/forums/thread/68794.aspx