To Pride or Not to Pride - Resolved

[CosmicSex]

Slimebeast said:

It's easy to say "do not let the terrorists win" and "don't let fear rule you", when the risk of getting harmed is so extremely small (as it is in a parade with over 100,000 participants, insane security and awareness, and statistically a very small risk of an attack).

But in truth, it's quite hypocritical.

"Je sui Charlie", eh? My ass. It was so easy to write a message on twitter and boast about it where nobody could reach you, but completely different to do something in reality. As soon as the risk becomes significant, we run like chicken. We won't go, we won't talk, we won't write.

Like the aftermath of the terror attack on the French satiric magazine Charlie Ebdo proved one and a half years ago. The terrorists actually won. Nobody paints Muhammad cartoons anymore, not even Charlie Ebdo. People are in general extremely careful to provoke islam. If they do it, it's from a completely safe position. Noble ideas of "don't let fear rule over you" are completely out the window.

As another example, think about the situation in other parts of the world where values are very different and human rights aren't respected in the same way. For example, think of any Muslim country in the world today. Would you go to a gay parade or to a gay club? In countries where the punishment for being homosexual is severe, possibly even the death penalty. And if the authorities wouldn't arrest you, chances are high you'd instead be mauled by an angry mob. No, we wouldn't go. But in these places sometimes, very rarely, people actually go out and show their true selves and provoke the society knowing these risks, but sadly they also face these consequenses. These people are heroes. But they're very rare.

Meanwhile we in the West, we are so moral, we stand up for values and care about the weak. That's what we think, totally ignorant to reality growing up in a small safe bubble.

When we go it's only when the risk is extremely small, not because of a noble cause. Do not pretend otherwise.

Very good points.  I would like to respond.

When my sister told me she didn't want to go, it wasn't just becuase of the attack in FL.  It was also the subsequent threats and arrests that took place after that across the country.  Wheteher they were being copycats or not, she was afraid.  The risk was real to her.  That someone could affect her in this way really upset me.  This is the point of terror.  And to your point about people in other countries, namly ones with a heavy muslim population and ruling class, those individuals who do venture out are, as you said heros. So, I will go.  Buit not just on my behalf or the behalf of the victims of FL, but also on behalf of the people who can not and the heros you correctly identified.  

Over the past few years in the US, we have seen the incidences of terror go up.  Speaking out against radicals is still dangerous but our comedians still make jokes and tell it like it is. I am not going to say that our risk is the same as the French or people in Muslim countries face, but I still think it is important to continue living in spite of those risks and know that it could be worse.  In the OP I refered to a coworker who is so afraid of terror dispite the low risk that she will not board a plane.  What we seek to do is to avoid being gripped by fear like those other countries. 

Thank you for your comment.