This story has really gotten under my skin. Michael Scott Goucher, 21, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was stabbed approximately twenty times and left in the woods.
You can get more details, including video, on the case here and here.
This story bothers me on so many different levels. Michael used internet chat rooms to meet his murderer. While I’m not opposed to chat rooms, or the use of the internet to meet people, this should be a wake-up call to everyone to use extreme caution when meeting people face-to-face for the first time.
It’s also made me think about hate crimes in general, and so-called hate crimes laws. I’m not impressed by hate crimes laws. They vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Hate is not something you can legislate away. And what kind of sentencing “enhancements” are going to scare people enough to stop hating gay people? I don’t want people to not hate me just because they don’t want to go to jail. I’d like for them to actually respect me. In this particular case, it is possible that the murderer is also gay. Is hating yourself also a hate crime? Is a criminal who commits a crime against a minority group that he is also a member of, committing a hate crime? Finally, what will a hate crime law do to bring Michael Scott Goucher back?
If we want to eliminate hate, laws are not going to do it. Remembering someone like Matthew Shepherd and Michael Scott Goucher will remind all of us, including those who hate us, that hatred of others and even of oneself, can lead some of us to do terrible things. Maybe, just maybe, some people will begin to realize their words and actions can and do encourage hatred. That’s for all those who claim to be Christian and use the Bible to attack and slander gay people as a group, and fail to look at each one of us as an individual.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Michael would have gone on to do even more great things in his community. From everything I’ve read about him, it’s obvious that he loved his family and his community. He was motivated to do good things.
Comments 2
You can see several videos regarding the case, by visiting this YouTube page:http://www.youtube.com/user/eaststroudsburg
Posted 01 Apr 2009 at 1:14 pm ¶I agree that hearts and attitudes have to change.
Have any of you seen this website? www.armofjustice.webnode.com
The person and group talked about seem to be targeted because of their beliefs. Maybe someone should do something before there is a death.
Posted 17 May 2009 at 8:46 pm ¶Post a Comment
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