April 21, 2008

From the Mail Bag: Re: Scott E. Graham

Regarding Scott E. Graham, who was found murdered in his West Palm Beach, Florida, home last week, and my denunciation of the Palm Beach Post for referring to him as a “homosexual activist,” David M—- writes:

I don’t know who you are but I was a personal friend of Scott’s. While “gay rights activist” seems more conventional and appropriate than “homosexual activist,” I mark up the Post’s gaff as having originated from the same ineptitude that lead to “investigator’s” rather than any kind of bias.

I personally am more concerned with the authorities bringing Scott’s murderer to justice than typos and semantics in the Palm Beach Post.

Dear David,

First, I’m so sorry for your loss. I know how empty that sounds, but it’s sincere.

Second: Absolutely, bringing Scott’s murderer to justice is issue number one. My take on the PBP’s reporting is that it heaps insult upon injury. We’re so demonized in life, it outrages me that we get even less respect in death.

Watch my “Life, Interrupted” video sometime; the violent death of any of us, no matter the reason, is an issue that affects me very deeply. That the dead among us have no voice provokes me to defend them more quickly, and more strongly. There’s not much I personally can do, but if coming down on a newspaper for treating a murder victim as an object instead of a human being makes even one person stop and think about the power of words, then that’s something.

I hope that makes more sense — that it’s not merely a matter of semantics, but a recognition of human dignity, and taking to task those who don’t (or refuse to).

Posted by: Sapphocrat