An Open Letter

[DeSwiss]

Much ink (electrons in cyberspace) have been allocated to news stories over the past few years, concerning the Baby Boomer Bubble (born between 1945 - 1960), and how this large bubble has begun to swell the ranks of the elderly population in America. And will continue to do so for the next 20 years. While not included in this Boomer group, a man name Andrew Anthos knew what it meant to be an elderly man in America.

Andrew Anthos, known to his loved ones as "Buddy," was a 72-year old biracial man who lived alone. He was tall and slight, and was much loved by his nieces. He spent most of his time frequenting libraries in Detroit, and his other obsession was soliciting Michigan state legislators in an attempt to get them to pass legislation to light up the state capitol building once a year on Veterans Day with red, white and blue lights. And he liked to sing. Mostly to himself.

And one other thing about Andrew -- he was gay. And on February 13th he was beaten to death with a length of pipe. Because he was gay.

Andrew was harassed on a Detroit city bus by an unknown assailant because he was singing to himself while he rode home in the freezing temperatures. The assailant demanded to know if Andrew was QUEER?? Was Andrew a GAY man?? Was Andrew a FAG?? All this took place in full public view, while the other passengers just looked on. They said nothing. The driver didn't stop the bus and put the offending passenger off or call the police or make any attempt to stop this harassment. Andrew Anthos tried to ignore him. But the assailant would not cease. Why would he? Who would stop him?

Coming to his stop, Andrew assisted a fellow passenger in a wheelchair off the bus so that he could clear the snow that had been banked in huge piles at the curb. Andrew's assailant followed. And while Andrew helped his neighbor his assailant snuck up from behind and began to beat Andrew with the length of pipe. This 72-year old man was beaten about his head and shoulders until he fell unconscious and then lapsed into coma. While in the hospital, it was discovered that Andrew had been paralyzed from the neck down as a result of the beating. His injuries were so terrible, doctors gave up any hope he would recover. Then 10 days later Andrew was given the last rites. Then Andrew died.

Its obvious that the Detroit Police Department, a department besieged with one murder after another in this high-crime, rusted-out bygone urban city have few leads. The wheelchair bound neighbor's information has been of little help. All the police have said is that the assailant was a light-skinned black man, no more than 23 years old, about 5 foot 7 and 150 pounds, wearing a dark coat and pants. No word on whether or not the pipe was recovered and whether there were any fingerprints or DNA recovered. There has been nothing but silence. Silence.

The purveyors of Christian love and compassion have been silent. The preachers, the rabbis, the priests have all been silent. Not one of them has spoken a single word for Andrew. None of them have condemned this heinous crime. No city leaders have held a press conference nor issued any statements deploring what happened to Andrew.

One brave state legislator -- Sen. Hansen Clarke, (D-Detroit) has spoken. He's the same state legislator that Andrew has cajoled and bothered for the past 18 years about his idea for the red, white and blue lights in honor of those who have served their country. At a press conference he called, Senator Clarke said that Andrew's death was "so tragic and sad." And he is also said he would try to expand Michigan's hate crime law to include sexual orientation. He isn't expecting any other legislators to join him in his quest for justice. But what is just as sad and tragic about Andrew's death, is the silence that preceded it and that follows it now.

In our youth-obsessed culture, the elderly are a forgotten people for the most part. That is, until right before an election. Then they are valuable. But our culture doesn't want to think about growing old. Being old in our culture means that you're useless. No one cares what happens to you when you get old, except maybe the pharmaceutical companies.

Poll after poll has been taken which reflect that a majority of Americans stating that they are heterosexuals, don't condemn nor do they hate gay people. They don't believe that gay people are inherently evil or deficient in some way. They may not understand them, but they don't hate them. They just ignore them for the most part. Most people probably know someone who is gay. A friend, a co-worker, a family member. But heterosexuals in this country (for the most part) DO sit on their collective asses -- in silence. And they do so while those who believe that they are the appointed judges of God spew their hatred and condemnations which enables and indirectly condones such crimes.

Their silence creates and sustains an atmospehre of incivility and the rejection of gay people. And this condemantion, this rejection, this silence from the "holier than thou," encourages and spurs on the more stupid among us -- to lash out, to maim and to kill. And they refuse to accept any responsibility for their silence. It isn't them. They did nothing to Andrew did they? They didn't wield a pipe and beat an elderly man?? Or did they?

In my view, those who remain silent are conscientious co-conspirators. Their fingerprints are also on the pipe. They are the silent fellow passengers who ride with other Andrews all across the country. Watching and witnessing. In silence. And their silence makes them assailants. But there have always been assailants such as this in America. It was much the same way for decades, while whites stood by silently as black people had their rights and their lives twisted and contorted and maimed -- and in some cases taken away from them for the crime of being born black. Just like Andrew's was for being born gay.

It is true that Andrew could have run in fear for his life and may have avoided his death. But instead he stopped to help someone whom he thought was in greater need. Or, Andrew could have stayed on that bus to the terminus point to avoid what happened. But he tried to ignore his assailant. Andrew was used to the silence. So I find it ironic that Andrew's last act upon this mean earth, was to help another. And that the last act perpetrated against him was an act of hatred, stupidity and inhumanity.

To the privileged heterosexuals of America I ask: Where is the outrage? Where is the condemnation? Where are the family values? Where is the Christian compassion? Where is the Mainstream Media like NBC, CBS and ABC? Why are only gay newspaper and websites and the Detroit papers the only places that are reporting on Andrew's death? Is it not reported widely and loudly because it lacks an Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears or Paris Hilton connection? Do we even have a press in this country anymore? Does America care anymore when an elderly man is beaten to death in broad daylight and in public?

Does silence = APPROVAL???

Does silence = ACCOMPLICE???

Does silence = COWARDICE???

So for those Baby Boomers who are already or are slowly easing into elderhood, I hope that you're not gay. Or that you do not have any gay friends, have a close gay former co-worker or a gay family member who are also entering their senior years. If you do, you might want to start spending some time with them now. They may not be with you much longer. Because if they are gay their fate may be the same as Andrew's. And it will be their fate because it is WE who are silent.

And when those Baby Boomers go on to meet their respective Makers and open their ethereal eyes in heaven, I hope that the first person they meet is Andrew. Still singing to himself, still helping others, still reading his books from the heavenly library. And cajoling God about maybe adding some red, white and blue lights.....

http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2007/02/23/5

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070228/BLOG07/70228059