Even Matthew Shepard’s
Murderer
Apologized
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Dear Representative Foxx,
It’s been ten years, seven months, and fifteen days since the night Matthew Shepard was savagely beaten, tortured, pistol-whipped so badly his skull was crushed, and, yes, robbed, and tied to a fence for eighteen hours in freezing temperatures, during which he sank into a coma before dying five days later. It is four weeks to the day since you stood on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and delivered your now infamous speech to your fellow Congressmen, constituents, the media, and, yes, watching from the House gallery, Matthew Shepard’s mother.
On that hallowed floor, Dr. Foxx, you said, and I quote, “The hate crimes bill that’s called the Matthew Shepard Bill is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn’t because he was gay. This – the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it’s really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.”
Facts, Representative Foxx, are facts. They’re not malleable. They don’t change based on your opinion or that of your sources. They are “pragmatic truths”. And they can’t be cherry-picked to flesh-out a version of events that suit one’s purpose. Dr. Foxx, when you stood in front of your country and the world, on that Wednesday afternoon two weeks ago, however, that’s exactly what you did.
You may believe you have apologized, but you have not. You simply apologized for your choice of words. You apologized for semantics. You did not, however, apologize for the fact that you maligned the memory of a twenty-one year old, five-foot four-inch boy who weighted barely more than one hundred pounds. You did not apologize for getting the facts wrong. You added your voice to a lie. And that is unacceptable.
It is unacceptable to millions of Americans, some of whom, in North Carolina, you represent directly. It is unacceptable to millions of people around the world who hold the memory, and the very idea of what Matthew Shepard represents, in our hearts. It is unacceptable to me. And it is unacceptable to the nearly two thousand people, some of whom are your constituents, who very quickly after you spoke those now infamous, horrific words, joined a group dedicated to securing your resignation.
Representative Foxx, after reading your public statements, your voting history, and seeing the very manner in which you serve the people of North Carolina and this country, we do not believe that you understand the gravity of your actions, or the gravity of your office. You may be the elected representative of the Fifth District in North Carolina, but you are a United States Congresswoman. And as a United States Congresswoman, when you speak, America hears not the Representative from the Fifth District of North Carolina, America hears a United States Congresswoman.
We know you sent a letter of apology to Judy Shepard, and said, “If I said anything that offended her, I certainly apologize for it and know that she’s hurting, and I would never do anything to add to that.” But, Representative Foxx, you did. And you wounded millions of Americans with your uninformed and ugly rhetoric, you violated the trust placed in an elected official of The United States, and you violated the memory of Matthew Shepard. Saying “if” demonstrated, in yet one more poorly chosen word, your lack of understanding of the pain you have caused victims of hate crimes, their families, friends, and loved ones. Saying “if” demonstrated your lack of understanding of the significance of your office.
How can you deny facts, so many facts, not set the record straight, not say you were wrong? Even Russell Henderson, one of Matthew Shepard’s murderers, in the very ABC News 20/20 article you based your statement on, apologized. Dr. Foxx, we need a real apology, a real statement that says you understand the facts of the Matthew Shepard murder, and the reason it was, in fact, a hate crime. And we need you to understand that hate crimes are real crimes, far worse than isolated murders and violent attacks. As a lawmaker, you need to understand the difference between a crime and a hate crime.
A hate crime, in the words of conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, “is really two crimes — one against the individual and another against the group to which he belongs. By that definition, Shepard’s murder may be viewed as a terrorist act against all gays, who would have felt more fearful as a result.”
Perhaps, Dr. Foxx, not having been part of an oppressed minority, it is difficult for you to understand what it’s like to feel the fear of others who have suffered, knowing that, you, too, might one day befall the same fate, merely for the color of your skin, or your heritage, or for simply how you appear. What could possibly be worse than not supporting the idea of protecting those who need protection the most? Isn’t that what America stands for? Isn’t that the reason we, over the course of more than two centuries, have many times gone to war? How can you not support something so simple and so human as wanting to ensure all Americans feel free from the danger and harm that hatred can bring?
Representative Foxx, I invite you to reexamine your comments about Matthew Shepard. We need you to correct the record, apologize for the hurt and pain caused by not only your words, but by your position on the murder of Matthew Shepard and by your position on hate crimes. Apologize, and tell the truth: Matthew Shepard’s murder was a hate crime. If you feel these requests are too unimportant, then, Representative Foxx, you should consider the needs of the people of North Carolina and America, and let someone else, anyone who has the temerity for truth, take your place. Because, if you cannot realize that your understanding of the Matthew Shepard murder was wrong, that your words and your response were hurtful, and that your position on hate crimes is hateful, you may still be qualified to “hold office,” but you are in no way qualified to represent any part of this great country.
Sincerely,
David Badash
Founder,
FireFoxx
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{ 9 comments }
Outstanding… a new way of approaching the pain. Ms. Foxx will likely never allow herself to
come close to understanding. It opens too many painful doors – not to mention cost too many
valuable votes from the willfully uninformed. I have heard much about her record of working for her consitituents. Great – but as long as she continues to determine that some constituents are less vlauable than others, she continues to be a whore for votes. That isn't
"what it's all about'.
Well, I am all choked up. What happened to Matthew still echoes so painfully. The quote describing it as a terrorist act is powerful; I'd never thought of it that way before. Thanks, David. Clicking DIGG!
It's so strange that I feel I've read this before today! Like quite a while ago.
I agree, Ms. Foxx can play pretend all she wants…but, it is clear that she is uninformed, prejudiced and all-around dangerous to the emotional, spiritual and PHYSICAL HEALTH of those she Represents and others whom she represents simply by sitting in the Congress…there is no seat far enough away from the House of Representatives for her to sit in for OUR safety…clearly and loudmouth and a ill-spirited fear/hate-monger.
I hope that she never has to suffer the amount or kind of pain she has inflicted. Hatred no matter where it comes from and where it is directed is wrong. I am frightened for our future is this is the caliper of our elected officials, because it speaks not only of our lawmakers but also of the voters that put them there. The shame is that she will serve with support from people as cruel and mindless as she is. When she is finished be sure that there will be another so called "Christian" to take her place.
Thank you, David, for voicing so well what so many of us feel. Rep. Foxx will not change her words, thoughts or deeds and I suspect they are based on her religious ideology, that kind that is often totally closed minded. The pain of Matthew's death is still with us and will always be. If passing this bill discourages one person from attacking someone based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, it will be worth it's weight in gold. It's been a long time coming. We've been waiting long enough for Hate Crimes Legislation. Let's pass it now.
Susan Berland
http://susanberland.yolaasite.com
The events that took place, now over a decade ago, was not too long after I had moved back to the United States. Reading this letter, I found myself re-living all of those experiences that made me so afraid of returning to the U.S. Fortunately, daily I am proven wrong about my generalizations regarding Americans as more people are stepping to the forefront and addressing the issues facing LGBT persons. I've been living in fear for so long in this country because lawmakers such as Foxx legitimize the crimes that target our community. Though I am still afraid, I see the support and the demand for what is just and it gives me a sense of courage and strength.
Thank you David for speaking to this! You've helped so many find their voice.
when I first heard her words I was sad but not surprised. Many people still think like she does, but the fact remains that she is a US Congresswoman. She is an elected official in one of the highest offices in our country. I hold my elected officials to a high standard of conduct and Rep Foxx should feel shame and remorse for the lies and half thruths she said in the presence of Matthew's mother.I think her time in office should be at an end. Out with the old, in with the new. People like her make me ashamed to be an American.
Excellent letter, David. Thanks for putting our thoughts into words. I'm pleased to be an ex-constituent of Rep. Foxx. It takes a big person to apologize, and so far…
I am so totally ashamed this woman represents my home state. Intolerance is something to abhor and I most certainly abhor her and her small minded ideas. People call this the bible belt, well my bible teaches tolerance and love not hate and bigotry. Virginia Foxx should stand down from her elected postion and bow out of politics gracefully for she represents NO ONE!
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