Maggie
March 17th, 2001, 03:14 PM
I have been watching the outpouring of sympathy for Tempest with interest, but also with growing misgivings.
First--I consider teenage suicide for any reason a tragedy, period. I believe it has even become the leading cause of death in certain teen age groups. It is a serious and growing problem. However, Tempest seems to be becoming something of a poster child for paganism, and I'm not sure that's a fair assessment.
Tempest dressed Goth (I am from Michigan, not far from her town, and I can assure you that alone would be enough to get teased). She was a loner, and rather shy. All of which were enough to set her apart. The books about Wicca found in her locker (that had been approved by her mother) were simply one more thing. There was no indication in the news stories here that she considered herself Wiccan, or that she was doing anything more than exploring something new as teens tend to do.
The school shooters recently were also victims of bullying, and several of them committed suicide before they were caught. In all the outpouring of sympathy for the victim's families (totally justified, BTW) why does no one spare a thought for the shooters and their families? If Tempest had been male, it's entirely possible that she would have shot her tormentors too. The real issue here is that human beings feel free to tear apart those who are different, no matter what the differences are. A more fitting memorial to Tempest would be a promise to try and curb the automatic putdowns that come so easily to human beings, NOT to add her to the Burning Times body count.
Thoughts?
Maggie
First--I consider teenage suicide for any reason a tragedy, period. I believe it has even become the leading cause of death in certain teen age groups. It is a serious and growing problem. However, Tempest seems to be becoming something of a poster child for paganism, and I'm not sure that's a fair assessment.
Tempest dressed Goth (I am from Michigan, not far from her town, and I can assure you that alone would be enough to get teased). She was a loner, and rather shy. All of which were enough to set her apart. The books about Wicca found in her locker (that had been approved by her mother) were simply one more thing. There was no indication in the news stories here that she considered herself Wiccan, or that she was doing anything more than exploring something new as teens tend to do.
The school shooters recently were also victims of bullying, and several of them committed suicide before they were caught. In all the outpouring of sympathy for the victim's families (totally justified, BTW) why does no one spare a thought for the shooters and their families? If Tempest had been male, it's entirely possible that she would have shot her tormentors too. The real issue here is that human beings feel free to tear apart those who are different, no matter what the differences are. A more fitting memorial to Tempest would be a promise to try and curb the automatic putdowns that come so easily to human beings, NOT to add her to the Burning Times body count.
Thoughts?
Maggie