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There is another side to the Orlando tragedy that we’re ignoring

Jun 16, 2016

“We all have a monster within; the difference is in degree, not in kind”, so said Douglas Preston.

The events of the last few days has left this world in disbelief. Disbelief that 49 gay people are dead and another 50 odd injured. We are reading headlines from around the world – sensational headlines like “HERO TOOK HIT FOR LOVER”; tweets with the hashtag ‘#TwoMenKissing, #LoveisLove” and profile pics with “We are Orlando”. The LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex) community across the world has been shaken by the attack, which comes during America’s Pride Month and on the day of the LA Pride parade.

It has been reported that allegedly Omar Mateen (the shooter) saw two men kissing each other in front of his wife and child, and he got very angry. Now, I’m no expert and nor do I profess to have the answers… but, here’s the thing! There is another side to this tragedy.

It’s the side that most would not have known about until the information hit social media and then was picked up by the mainstream networks..

This homophobic maniac, who murdered 49 people inside Orlando’s gay-friendly nightclub Pulse, on Sunday morning had been hanging out there for three years — and chatted with men via online dating services like Grindr. Multiple witnesses have claimed to have first-hand knowledge of Mateen’s habits. A former classmate of Omar Mateen’s 2006 police academy class even said he believed Mateen was gay. The classmate said Mateen had asked him out. One couple, who work together as drag-dancing performers, said they’d seen Mateen as many as a dozen times at Pulse. And even his his ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, who was asked on CNN if he was gay, sat in silence for a few seconds before answering, “I don’t know”.

As the rumours circulated that Mateen had been hiding a double life, his father Seddique Mateen insisted his son was not gay.

His ex-wife Sitora Yusifiy, said he was “mentally unstable and mentally ill”, was bipolar and also had a history with steroids.

There is much more still to be discovered about this terrorist. In the coming days and weeks we will become sick of it. Sadly, this is the reality of social media today: everyone has an opinion, right or wrong.

To be honest, many people are secretly glad this has happened.

You see, these people are homophobic, no, they won’t admit this to you or I. Surreptitiously, they are elated that this has happened, not that they are going to come out and state the obvious by putting it in the public arena…but they are out there!

I overheard a conversation where a group of tradies were talking about this tragedy. The comments I heard were far than comforting and less than pleasant. I was disgusted, did I speak out? Yes! You bet I did. I suggested they think about these poor souls that have lost their lives, just by simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I suggested they think about their families and friends, their grief and loss of these beautiful souls.

I suggested they showed some tolerance toward these people and to put themselves in their shoes.

There are some who are just more stupid than brave and willing climb on board with the media circus. Just like the Family First Senate candidate from Tasmania. He sparked fury with his anti-gay marriage tweet. But the anger came from the Westboro Baptist Church’s headline: ‘GOD SENT THE SHOOTER’. People are paying attention to a group of wackos that number less than 50! “Christians” from Westboro Baptist Church have now entered the picture. The LGBT activists blame Christians for the Orlando attack and on it goes. Unfortunately, people are forgetting the most important and fundamental of all here is tolerance!

People also forget the role Jihad has played in all of this! Well, for starters, it’s Ramadan.

Just to refresh your memory, ‘Jihad’ is an Arabic word meaning conflict, used especially to mean a holy war waged by Muslims against infidels. This is precisely what took place in Orlando. This terrorist was well organised and heavily armed with an assault rifle, handgun and some other device. It appears that his target may have been Walt Disney World in Florida.

Of course this would not be a story without comment from Trump would it? He said, “When I am elected, I will suspend immigration from areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the US, Europe or our allies, until we fully understand how to end these threats”.

You know, for once I’m on his side. I think that he has made a stand and it is one I feel many people just might embrace. I’m with him on this one!

As Douglas Preston said…

“We all have a monster within; the difference is in degree, not in kind.”

May they rest in peace.