"OUT" Rage To OUTRAGE
An Essay by Jim Pizzo
September 19, 2001

One definition in Webster's Dictionary for the noun rage is violent and uncontrolled anger. Definitions for outrage include a violent or shameful act, injury/insult, to subject to violent injury or gross insult and to arouse extreme resentment. The events that took place on September 11, 2001 and the recent actions of some public figures and fellow Long Islanders provoked this essay.

I don't have any reason to doubt President Bush or his advisors when they say that alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden guided last week's terrorist acts. New York City, Washington, D.C. and those on board the four flights were all innocent victims of one madman's plan to teach the world a lesson. Yes, the world, since some of the NYC victims are from the UK, Japan, Mexico, Middle Eastern countries and South America to name a few. Most were here on business some were tourists.

One lesson bin Laden and the Taliban want the world to learn is that 'freedom' has no place in a shared world with them. CNN.com reports that the Taliban sprang from religious schools in Pakistan near the Afghan border and, with almost no military experience, swept from obscurity to their 1996 capture of the capital, Kabul, in only two years. Immediately the Taliban provided stability to a country torn by civil strife. The introduction of strict Islamic Sharia law bought the group tremendous international condemnation, especially for its suppression of women. Under the Taliban's rigid interpretation of Sharia law women can neither work nor attend school, a regulation that has bought a flurry of condemnation from the international community. Forms of entertainment are severely restricted and television is banned outright. Despite widespread international media attention, the UN-led sanctions have had little effect in weakening the militias hold on the country or influencing its policies.

The Taliban have not responded well to any international pressure, especially when it has challenged both their religion and national sovereignty. The most pointed illustration of this came earlier this year when, despite a massive international outcry, the Taliban went ahead and demolished two ancient stone Buddhas carved into the cliffs above the central town of Bamiyan. The Taliban's comments about the relics' destruction included comments to the effect that they were just rocks.

The "Out" Rage I refer to in the title stems from my being an OUT gay male, outraged (using the last definition above) at bin Laden as well as Jerry Falwell's & Pat Robertson's recent comments. These included: ..."I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say "you helped this happen."..." Well, Jerry, I totally concur, and the problem is we have adopted that agenda at the highest levels of our government. And so we're responsible as a free society for what the top people do. And, the top people, of course, is the court system..." "Pat, did you notice yesterday the ACLU, and all the Christ-haters, People For the American Way, NOW, etc. were totally disregarded by the Democrats and the Republicans in both houses of Congress as they went out on the steps and called out on to God in prayer and sang "God Bless America" and said "let the ACLU be hanged?..." "Amen..."

Each recently expressed their apologies to the American people that they offended and now expect that I turn the other cheek and say, "Yes, I forgive you for blaming me!" I don't know that I can. I don't know if I can forgive the alleged terrorist acts of a man who killed innocent people in the name of teaching the world a lesson. I don't know if I can forgive a News Media that includes Newsday's printing of a photo showing one man jumping from the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, obviously deciding to end his life on his terms rather than die at the hands of others. I don't know if I can forgive CNN for showing me the pictures of the Afghans celebrating the destruction that the United States suffered at the hands of a madman. I don't know if I can forgive my countrymen who recently killed Americans, legal citizens from Middle Eastern countries. I don't know if I can forgive either the driver who tried to get on the Southern State Parkway on 9/17 at 8:06 PM or the driver who would not let him, causing a near fatal accident with myself and three other cars. I just don't know any more who I can forgive!

That's what bin Laden has taken away from me, my idealism. The terrorist actions of one man and his influence to get many to do his deeds, the ignorant reactions of two men who are viewed by many (not by me at all) as role models, and the actions of some Americans, have all contributed to my questioning my ideals and their essential core.

As an "Out" Gay Male, as an outraged American citizen, I have my rage under control. I don't know if I can get my heart to forgive those responsible for causing the rage in the first place! Only time will tell.

Jim Pizzo has been long active in the Long Island GLBT community.

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