Alright Moscow...Your Dark Little Secret Is Back

["Vince Buntrock" <vbuntrock@hotmail.com>]

After having read the almost continuous childish bickering and squabbling 
that pretty much makes up 99% of the content of this list I was finally 
compelled to post my thoughts. Before I continue I wish to first send my 
condolences out to Wils parents, with whom I have great respect, and to Wils 
partner Jerry, with whom I can share his pain & loss.  I wish all the best 
for them from this point on. Now Moscow, let's talk about the thing you 
desperately wish to avoid, the Abduction and Murder of Wil Hendrick.  Months 
after the savage beating, torture and Murder of Gay College Student Matthew 
Shepard in the state of Wyoming, Idaho had its own case right here in sleepy 
Moscow.  Of course most everyone (with notable exceptions) did their utmost 
to distance the two cases, not wanting the kind of close examination that 
Laramie and its citizens were subject to. This included the Moscow Police 
Department, who decided that the possibility of this being a "Hate Crime" 
was something to be resisted. Unfortunately they were all to similar. Now 
the hunt for the Murderer(s) must be pushed with all speed possible because, 
as the recent incident of the flag burning at the UI shows, the bigotry and 
hatred that led to Wils Murder is still alive and well here in "such a nice 
town such as Moscow".  It is very possible that the perpetrator(s) was a 
student, and has since moved on, but maybe he/they are still here. Or 
he/they could be locals and part of the trusted "community". We do not yet 
know. But whomever the Murderer(s) prove to be I doubt that many will be 
interested and even less will truly care what the Gay Population of Moscow 
feels about its safety or how its concerns are addressed. Now I fully expect 
to get flamed by the right-wing/holier-than-thou set but I do not care. 
Their opinions mean nothing to me. I officially speak only for myself, but 
somehow I believe I speak for others also.

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