Shepard vs Dirkhising

By Brian Webber

"You've heard about Matthew Shepard, but do you know about Jesse Dirkhising? Please Visit The Jesse Dirkhising Memorial Page" (http://www.americansfortruth.org/Dirkhising.html)

So begins the introduction to the "memorial," as presented by the horribly misnamed "Americans for Truth About Homosexuality." (AFT)

There we see a seventh-grade yearbook photo of Jesse, complete with scrolling, selected highlights about his death; while lurid, titillating comments ("Affidavits Reveal 'Gay' Sadism Link") encourage us to "Go to the AFT Pressroom."

Is this a "memorial"… or an adverstisement?

Recently, Joshua Brown was convicted of raping and murdering Jesse. His alleged accomplice, Davis Don Carpenter, will be tried in May.

The occasion of Brown's trial brought a resurgence of the Radical Right's attempts to use Jesse's murder to push their agenda. Once again, they hold up this horrible murder as if it condemns ALL homosexuals.

Worse yet, they seem to think that this somehow "offsets" Matthew's murder.

This is not only misguided, it is offensive.

The current outcry (from that side of the table), is that Jesse's death did not generate as much "press" as Matthew's. That there isn't enough "outrage" about it. And that this is somehow the fault of the "liberal media."

Will somebody please tell these jackasses that "media coverage" is NOT JUSTICE!!! Every single day, our Justice system grinds on, REGARDLESS of whether or not the media is reporting it. Who the hell CARES how many column-inches are generated, so long as the perpetrators are punished? Right?

And, personally, I prefer my news straight up, not with a swizzle. Just tell me what happened and I'll form my own opinion, thank you very much. What I can't stand about the media is the sensationalization. To me, these complainers seem to be offended about insufficient sensationalizing. I think it's ridiculous, and I couldn't care less.

But the gauntlet has been thrown. As much as I dislike the comparing of these tragic deaths, allegations have been made that must be answered.

(With respect to Matthew, Jesse; and their friends, families, and loved ones…)

HATE CRIME?

This is probably the most popular comparison; and also, the least relevant. Neither Wyoming nor Arkansas had "hate crime" statutes in place, so neither of these murders was classified as a "hate crime." That essentially makes the point moot.

Matthew was attacked (and ultimately killed) because he was gay. His killers admitted as much, and (at least) one of them went so far as to use the "Gay Panic Defense." (Essentially: "He was gay, so I killed him.")

They beat him so severely that that there is no question as to their intentions. They deliberately beat him to death. Matthew was killed publicly. He was crucified and left for all to see. Gay students fled the campus, they "got the message." His killers, on the other hand, took great pains to hide from their crimes. They concealed and destroyed evidence, and fully intended to escape Justice. In jurisdictions that have "hate crime" statutes, Matthew's murder would have been investigated (and possibly prosecuted) as such.

Jesse was neither attacked, nor killed, because of any perceivable "minority status." Sadly, he was a victim of opportunity. His killers fully intended for him to live. They wanted him as a plaything. Although it was capital murder, Jesse's death was accidental. He succumbed to "positional asphyxiation" whilst his killers were out of the room ("having a sandwich.") He was basically "ignored to death." Jesse died quietly and privately. His killers did not display him. His murder did not "send a message" to any identifiable, minority community. Nobody fled. It wasn't a public statement. Jesse's killers did not hide from their crimes. By calling for Emergency Services, they essentially called the cops on themselves. They made no attempt to hide or destroy evidence. They obviously did not try to escape Justice. In jurisdictions that have "hate crime" statutes, Jesse's murder would NOT meet the legal definition.

What else is there to say? These deaths are not at all alike. But I'll tell you something… if I was pressed for an answer… I would say that Jesse's death was more heinous.

Matthew, at least, had the opportunity to experience Life. He was out on his own, he had traveled, he had had… experiences. He was, at least, an adult. Jesse… Jesse was a child. He had NOT had such opportunities or experiences. He was not "out on his own," in any fashion. He was not an adult.

I would volunteer to "flip the switch" on Carpenter and Brown. McKinney and Henderson? I'd prefer that they spend a LONGGGG time in prison. But that's a personal fantasy, NOT a political perspective. The political comparisons of these crimes are reprehensible, and this outcry about "media coverage" is absolute nonsense.

Justice has been (and will be) served. Even if you didn't see it on the News.

End of rant.

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