by: 
AFY_EmilyB
AFY_EmilyBSaturday, September 4, 2010 at 5:51:00 PM EDT
Facebook
The President of the Montana Big Sky Tea Party, Tim Ravndall, thinks it's funny to joke about murdering gays.
A Facebook exchange:
Dennis Scranton: "I think fruits are decorative. Hang up where they can be seen and appreciated. Call Wyoming for display instructions."
Tim Ravndal: "@Kieth, OOPS I forgot this aint(sic) America no more! @ Dennis, Where can I get that Wyoming printed instruction manual?"(A reference to the torture and murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming in 1998). Randval has apologized. But the organization has not yet met demands to remove himl from office.
What's it going to be, Tea Party and sympathizers? Are you going to have the guy who thinks murdering gays is hilarious as your president? Any official denunciation of violence coming our way anytime soon?
I was in college and had just come out when Matthew Shepard was murdered. His death was such a horrifying and unexpected tragedy that it left its mark on everyone I knew, even though none of us had ever met him. To read the exchange between Scranton and Ravndal makes me wince as if from a physical blow.
Matthew was my age - he'd be almost 34 now. Is the world now, no better than the world that he left? Is this truly where Tea Party and other anti-gay types want us to be? Because this is where the road of homophobia and discrimination against GLBTQ people ends. This is where the fractured discourse, alarmist propaganda, and fearmongering ends. In violence and death.
It's not funny to me. Is it funny to you, Tea Party?
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by MimiSushiPants
Apparently, the Big Sky Tea Party didn't find him very funny either...
September 5, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jim Walker, Board Chair of the Big Sky Tea Party Association announced today that the group’s Board of Directors voted to remove Tim Ravndal as President and member of the non-profit organization because of unacceptable comments made on his personal Facebook account.
I do believe Mr. Ravndal when he explained that he was in no way intending to promote violence and that he was not thinking about nor condoning the murder of an innocent victim in Wyoming in 1998 when he responded to some very disturbing comments made by another individual. However, no matter how we considered the commentary, it was clear to us that he was participating in conversation which was overtly bigoted and we cannot have an officer of our corporation engaging in such behavior.”
1st: I don't know the man who said these comments so no judgement there, especially seeing as how everyone I've ever met had said something offensive to somebody on accident or on purpose. So that right off is just hot air to me.
2nd It didn't offend me, which needless to say has pissed off my friends. And the reason it didn't offend me is because I know who I am and care enough not to care what others say about me. Also I don't assign myself labels so really I don't even call myself gay or bi ro whatever I just am. This helps when people start attacking group because I don't indetify with any one group.
3rd I understand why some people may be offend and that this may insight further bigotry and hate. But personally the word choice seems to me to above most readers thinking levels ceratinly in ignorant circles. I mean who really calls gay people fruits anymore? And frankly who ever hung fruit on a wall, maybe the used it as a centerpiece, but a wall hanging.
4th I found it a little funny. Yeah I said it! Of course I was thinking sexually at first (bondage and all that). But still who doesn't want to be admired I 'd love to be a wall hanging or hell a centerpiece fruit basket full of cherries...
I get the anger, I do, but "I do not have anger, anger a waste of time." (somebody famous once said and I often repeat). Life is too short to worry about other mother-fuckers you be you and let them be them. He has every right to be an insensitive twat when it comes to word choices and you have every right to spend your time be mad at him for being one but really is that what you want to spend time on an insensitive twat?
1st: You contradicted yourself twice by labeling yourself "AS a member of the aforementioned community..." and "...coming from a gay man."
2nd You might get your kicks out of saying "...similar things among freinds and at party in jest..." but that just shows your maturity level and your absolute lack of regard for others.
3rd You may know who you are and care enough not to care what others say about you but this wasn't about you. It was about the horrific MURDER of Matthew Shepard based on the same bigotry and hatred of a group of people that YOU supposedly don't label yourself as and that is just unacceptable.
4th Acquire a little sensitivity and learn about what the group of people that you choose not to label yourself as have had to go through so that you might take on the false attitude you have about "...I know who I am and care enough not to care what others say about me."
Ignorance is not bliss!!!
And I should also say that I have said similar things among freinds and at party in jest but I suppose coming from a gay man it is ok but coming from a straight man it isn't. Similar to black sang can't be used white people. The seems hypocritical and it also seems to keep these various groups down just a little longer.
It is appropriate to note that nowhere have I heard gays saying things like this about people like Tim Ravndall. They might suggest that we can't do that because we are inherently mentally ill or worse just plain sinners, but there is nothing to stop us other than that we strive to be accepting of others don't we? This isn't free speech like some say but it's a call to action to others that it is okay to kill people who are gay or lesbian. While it may seem like a flippant remark to some it is acceptance really of the idea that killing someone unlike you, or harming someone you feel is living in sin, a disgusting life, is okay. It isn’t okay. Firing and removing Ravndall is wholly appropriate but even more a civil penalty would be appropriate also.
Oh and anger is a healthy response to something like this remark. I only say that because I've been a psycologist for over 20 years and have taught many to not be afraid of their anger, but use it to take care of them. Not to be comsumed by it.
Paolo
Equally important, did anyone investigate this story by contacting the man accused of making these remarks? I think it incumbent on any "journalist" that is willing to disseminate information defaming another, to at least be able to say if the person was unwilling to talk about it or print exactly what the said without bias. We are a nation of free speech and because of that, anyone can say anything about a public figure. I wholeheartedly embrace the notion that people should stand accountable for their actions and words, but journalism today is not about facts but rather inuendo and inferences. Since I have contacted this man, I learned that the board is reconvening to investigate this claim. Don't you think that we might want to wait before convicting him of despicable comments? I was in Laramie the day Matthew's body was found. I was sickened and felt the sentiment of this town and the actions taken by law enforcement speaks to this. That being said, let's not be guilty of sweeping generalizations about a group or individual. Again, I believe in personal liberty and responsibility, but that makes us all accountable for what we say and do.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/montana-tea-party-group-fires-president-after-anti-gay-comments-on-facebook/
Now what do you think???
This is disturbing, especially since I have seen so much support for the Tea Party in the last few days.