In Defense of Laramie

Maybe it was the hopelessness in their eyes or their extreme concern, but I
believed them when I heard their voices in the Laramie Project film state, “Laramie is not this way”. The people of Laramie, though wrought with devastation, had to defend everything they had ever known and believed. A town known by few before 1998, Laramie, Wyoming was suddenly swamped with media and recognized as a place filled with hatred towards homosexuals. My question is, is this fair? Is it just and logical to give a town such a reputation of hatred to the point where good people who mean and do well would hesitate to go there? I do not believe it should be so. We do not throw babies away when they poop in their diapers, nor do we disown our family members after an argument. Just as we do not throw babies away or disown our family, neither should we dub Laramie, Wyoming or any place or person with a negative reputation based on the actions of a few people. Everyone and everything deserves an opportunity for another chance because mistakes happen to the best of us, there is some good in everything, and assuming that a majority of the time most people are reasonable, there is a reason that people call Laramie home and, for that, it deserves to be defended.

Before the tragedy, Laramie was recognized as the town of the west. A visit Laramie website, called Live the West, states that Laramie was recognized for its beautiful landscape, rich culture, and plethora of outdoor activities. According to The Laramie Boomerang, a local newspaper, Laramie is so dedicated to outdoor activities that it is even supporting bike and pedestrian policies in Wyoming. In spite of this, Laramie is identified widely as the town of the hate crime. Tragedies happen everywhere and everyone makes mistakes; even the most perfect invention malfunctions. This is not to say forget about the tragedies that occur but, rather, do not let those negative aspects be the forefront of any judgment. It is only logical to give a pro and con to everything. The basis of every rational decision is to look at both sides. There are few human beings who would prefer to be viewed in a negative light. Most want to be remembered for their best qualities of brilliance, kindness, talent, etc. How many of us have been late to class or a meeting or been swamped with a lot of work and missed the deadline for something? None of us would want to be branded as disrespectful or irresponsible. For a weightier example: how many of us have broken something expensive or stolen something or hurt someone? None of us would want to be forever branded as a destructive person or a thief or an abuser. Let us give Laramie the same opportunity we all ask for. Let us give Laramie the benefit of a doubt and see it as something that is characterized more so for its good qualities than its negative ones.

Laramie, in spite of its tragedy, is a place filled with good people. It is a close-knit community in which people have know each other for their entire lives. People live there, and people stay there. There is too much good going on in the town for it to be known only for the tragedy that happened there. Some may argue that Laramie, though it may have positive qualities, created an environment that was conducive for such a violent hate crime to occur. I would have to agree with this but I implore everyone to also look at the other things that were able to occur in Laramie, Wyoming because the environment was conducive for it. People are educated there, people make a living there, people raise their families there. People stand for their friends and family there. In the film, The Laramie Project, after the death of Matthew Shepard, a group of Laramie residents marched for him in the local parade. In addition, when a radical group was professing fire and brimstone on Matthew Shepard, a group of Laramie residents blocked the signs with handmade angel wings. The integrity of Laramie and its good-standing should be defended because there is good to be defended.

In Act I of the Laramie Project, the residents of Laramie, Wyoming state that they love it there because, “My kids can play outside at night and I don’t have to think twice about it” , “…Laramie is a beautiful town…secluded enough where you can have your own identity…” and “It’s a good place to live. Good people—lots of space”. Jonas Slonaker knew it would be difficult as a homosexual to live in Laramie, but that was the place he wanted to live. Even knowing he would be an anomaly, he knew Laramie was the place for him. Colorado Springs is my hometown and like Laramie, to the outside world it is associated with an unfortunate event. Colorado Springs is infamous for the Ted Haggard incident. People outside of Colorado Springs may associate it with that incident, but when I think of Colorado Springs, I think of various other things. I think of Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and the zoo. I think of my elementary school, middle school, and high school. I think of my home, my church, and my family. I have quite a bit of empathy for the residents of Laramie who love their hometown and do not want it identified with a hate crime. The residents of Laramie are willing to defend their town and livelihood, and that is worth taking note of.

The question of whether or not to define and label a town by its past actions is an ethical dilemma to say the least and has been attached with clichés. Don’t throw the baby out with the baby water; can’t see the forest for the trees are some of these. When is it fair to denounce a town because of past actions? Where is the line? A little poop does ruin a batch of brownies and a half millimeter spot of Louisiana Pete’s hot sauce ruins the perfect wedding dress. It may be more forgiving. A barbeque stain on a white shirt is nothing a little bleach won’t fix and even the worst scars don’t bleed forever. This argument must be qualified simply because there are a handful of counter examples to the argument. There are places even I hesitate going because of actions past. The South, though hospitable and beautiful, is a place that I do not think of with such ease. My argument is not that anyone who has a negative connotation of a specific place is wrong; my argument is simply: think twice. Wisdom and caution are necessary in every situation, but so is the ability to understand that mistakes happen, there is good in a lot of things, and if something is worth defending, it is important to consider both sides. Did a wrong and brutal tragedy occur in Laramie? Yes. Are there people in the town who have ignorant and aggressive notions towards those who do not have a traditional sexual orientation? Yes. This, however, should not be the end all be all of Laramie, Wyoming. In defense of Laramie, give Laramie the chance to renew its reputation and be known for the beautiful town that it is, not the ugly hate crime that occurred there.