Oklahoma State Rep. Sally “gays are more dangerous than terrorists” Kern caused quite an uproar last week with her anti-gay tirade that was recorded and put on YouTube (listen above if you haven’t already heard it).
Yesterday a high school student who lost his mother in the Oklahoma City Bombing responded to Sally in a very thoughtful letter, which was picked up by several local news stations. I know it’s a little out of character for us to post anything longer than a couple paragraphs, but I think this letter says all the right things and should be seen by as many people as possible.
Please read it after the jump. Afterwards, if you are moved to sign the Victory Fund’s open letter to Sally Kern, you can do so here.
Rep Kern:
On April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City a terrorist detonated a bomb that killed my mother and 167 others. 19 children died that day. Had I not had the chicken pox that day, the body count would’ve likely have included one more. Over 800 other Oklahomans were injured that day and many of those still suffer through their permanent wounds.
That terrorist was neither a homosexual or was he involved in Islam. He was an extremist Christian forcing his views through a body count. He held his beliefs and made those who didn’t live up to them pay with their lives.
As you were not a resident of Oklahoma on that day, it could be explained why you so carelessly chose words saying that the homosexual agenda is worst than terrorism. I can most certainly tell you through my own experience that is not true. I am sure there are many people in your voting district that laid a loved one to death after the terrorist attack on Oklahoma City. I kind of doubt you’ll find one of them that will agree with you.
I was five years old when my mother died. I remember what a beautiful, wise, and remarkable woman she was. I miss her. Your harsh words and misguided beliefs brought me to tears, because you told me that my mother’s killer was a better person than a group of people that are seeking safety and tolerance for themselves.
As someone left motherless and victimized by terrorists, I say to you very clearly you are absolutely wrong.
You represent a district in Oklahoma City and you very coldly express a lack of love, sympathy or understanding for what they’ve been through. Can I ask if you might have chosen wiser words were you a real Oklahoman that was here to share the suffering with Oklahoma City? Might your heart be a bit less cold had you been around to see the small bodies of children being pulled out of rubble and carried away by weeping firemen?
I’ve spent 12 years in Oklahoma public schools and never once have I had anyone try to force a gay agenda on me. I have seen, however, many gay students beat up and there’s never a day in school that has went by when I haven’t heard the word **** slung at someone. I’ve been called gay slurs many times and they hurt and I am not even gay so I can just imagine how a real gay person feels. You were a school teacher and you have seen those things too. How could you care so little about the suffering of some of your students?
Let me tell you the result of your words in my school. Every openly gay and suspected gay in the school were having to walk together Monday for protection. They looked scared. They’ve already experienced enough hate and now your words gave other students even more motivation to sneer at them and call them names. Afterall, you are a teacher and a lawmaker, many young people have taken your words to heart. That happens when you assume a role of responsibility in your community. I seriously think before this week ends that some kids here will be going home bruised and bloody because of what you said.
I wish you could’ve met my mom. Maybe she could’ve guided you in how a real Christian should be acting and speaking.
I have not had a mother for nearly 13 years now and wonder if there were fewer people like you around, people with more love and tolerance in their hearts instead of strife, if my mom would be here to watch me graduate from high school this spring. Now she won’t be there. So I’ll be packing my things and leaving Oklahoma to go to college elsewhere and one day be a writer and I have no intentions to ever return here. I have no doubt that people like you will incite crazy people to build more bombs and kill more people again. I don’t want to be here for that. I just can’t go through that again.
You may just see me as a kid, but let me try to teach you something. The old saying is sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you. Well, your words hurt me. Your words disrespected the memory of my mom. Your words can cause others to pick up sticks and stones and hurt others.
Sincerely
Tucker
The video was disturbing, the letter was beautiful. I wrote one of my own and emailed it a moment ago….
General Feedback
From: Jason Horne ([email protected])
Sent: Sat 5/10/08 5:25 AM
To: [email protected]
Dear Mrs. Kern,
I recently came accross your remarks regarding the gay community on youtube.com. I have to say that I am shocked and saddened that anyone who claims to be a Christian woman, who is a state representative and leader in their community, would ever utter something so hateful. I can only say that your God and mine must be two different entities. I hope the speech you made is with you all the days of your life, and I pray that you learn how to be tolerant so that you can truly become the Christian woman you claim to be.
Best wishes,
Jason A Horne
Spot on…the less people in the world like Sally Kern, the better chance we all have at peace. Her Christian values are on equal footing to radical Islamic extremists; both hate filled.
Tucker,
You are, quite simply, an incredible human being–someone who we should all strive to emulate.
Beautifully written letter. Very powerful. I hope that ‘Representative’ Kern actually reads it.
Tucker,
Thank you for writing this. I know that it must not have been easy. Clearly, your mother was a GREAT person because of who you have become. Please know that you are in my thoughts!
I have also written an email to Sally to express my disgust with her thoughts.
We will all get through this!
Stop the hate
picking up this news from sweden, touching letter you wrote. I used less polite words for my email, but this was touching, great.
I just wanted to say that those scomments that Kern made are not only ridiculous but absolutely hideous! I agree with every single thing that Tucker said. Tucker, if ye read this, know this: That when ye miss your mother, know that ye had a very good mother and that she is still with you, inside you and living through you. Your mother, although I never knew her taught you how to be an excellent human being! And…I am so sorry that this whole thing happened to you.
Peace and love to you!
I am a writer too, and I respect what your potential as a writer will be in the future. I wish you much success with your career.
sincerely,
Suzanne Puckett
Cincy, Ohio
Thank you! Thank you for posting this video. I saw it earlier in the week and posted it on my own blog. The more people who see it, the better the chance that something will be done. Something really should be done.
Tucker is my hero. Sometimes young people can teach more to older folks.
Kern’s needs to step back and take a closer look at her preaching of hatred.
It is definately not the love of Christ.
Thanks Tucker.
That letter almost moved me to tears. Then I played the video and I did cry. How utterly horrible. I don’t say this about many people, but that woman deserves to burn… We need more people like Tucker in this world!
Apparently in Oklahoma they don’t flush their feces, they build politicians out of them and teach them to speak.
A Fuckin men. Great letter.
A Fuckin men. Great letter.
As a resident of Oklahoma City, I am ashamed and embarrassed for our state because of actions like Rep. Kern. This isn’t the first time she has stirred the pot against the gay community. A couple of years ago, she led an effort to have children’s books with gay themes moved to a special section in the public library. Apparently “Heather Has Two Mommies” couldn’t DARE be on the shelf next to Curious George. This letter actually made me cry this morning. It truly takes on a whole new dimension when you are a resident of Oklahoma and have experienced the Oklahoma City Bombing.
This letter almost brought me to tears. To be able to speak with such passion and conviction is a trait admirable in someone so young. Amazing that someone over half Sally Kern’s age understands intimately the power of words, and how they should be used for good rather than evil. Tucker’s ambition to be a writer should not take long to be fulfilled, I’d imagine.
When I watced that video and listened to that woman I literally began to cry, I don’tknow what did it but I think it’s that I have never in my ife heard something so purely evil, and hateful from someone in a position of political power. It terrifies me to see or hear something like that. On the flip side the letter moved me to tears as well because of the purity and strength of the writers words. Maybe I’m just a tad emotional this morning. but wow. I agree that EVERYONE should listen and read. I would say this is the most important post you have made Frank, Thank you.
What A Great Letter, from a wise Teenager! That State rep Should Hang Her head in Shame!
heartbreaking, and right on the money
Wow, what a hideous woman. The truth is people filled with hate and intolerance are what’s wrong with this country and this world.
As for Tucker’s letter, those are words that TRULY need to be heard.
Wow….im speechless. You’re right, everyone should read that.
This girl should get a Pulitzer Prize for writing this letter. Seems like she has more brains in her pencil then the so-called “representative” Kerns.