Mark Hogancamp's figures in scenerio
Terry Coffey, in response to many people's lauding of Caitlyn Jenner's televised "coming out" interview, wrote a Facebook post.
The post went viral. Like 300,000+ shares in the first day viral (which is super-duper viral). Right wing folks, like left wing folks love posting memes in comments. His Facebook was flooded with friend requests, Mr. Coffey could not believe how it took off. Mr. Coffey decided to look up the photographer for the hasty image choice he made—probably understanding that with the kind of exposure this post was getting he should credit the correct source. What he discovered was enlightening.
The man Coffey forgets to credit is Mark Hogancamp, the documentary is
"Marwencol". The film came out a few years ago and is a very moving and sad and interesting portrait of Hogancamp and the model "town" he's created, called Marwencol. Hogancamp's created the town out of figures and sculptures put together over the years, playing out scenarios, dealing with his own personal issues.
To his credit Coffey condemns hate. He hasn't changed his opinion of Caitlyn Jenner but he has been more honest than most of us faced with a bit of egg on our face.
When Daily Kos's Susan Gardner interviewed activist Daniel Ellsberg years ago he said something apropos to today's reactions to the Jenner announcement:
It's time for people in this country, civilians, to start looking into themselves for the ability to be brave like that. And not physically, but to have what the Germans term "civil courage." Bismarck said at one point, courage on the battlefield is not rare, but civil courage is rare. We need that concept over here. People talk of moral courage but it's rarely defined what that means exactly.
Civil courage means standing up for principle in the face of the state, risking career, risking the good opinion of other people for the good of the community and the society.
If the images of what Mr. Coffey wrote are hard to read I have put transcriptions below the fold.
As I see post after post about Bruce Jenner's transition to a woman, and I hear words like, bravery, heroism, and courage, just thought I'd remind all of us what real American courage, heroism, and bravery looks like!
And then.
This is the photo I shared yesterday in the spirit of spotlighting "true bravery."
This photo that accompanied my words, was chosen from a quick image search. Just wanted something to fit my words. I wanted to find out who the photographer was, so I could credit his work.
In an ironic twist, I have discovered that the photo is part of a documentary created by a man who was beaten nearly to death outside of a bar in 2000. After spending 9 days in a coma, suffering severe brain damage and being unable to walk or talk for a year, he chose to try and cope with his pain from the tragic event, by creating a world of stories and characters and photos set in WWII. The image I chose, was one of those created for an upcoming documentary. Why was he nearly beaten to death by 5 strangers?
Because he was a cross-dresser.
I could have chosen one of hundreds of other photos. But I didn't, I chose this one. Do I think it was an accident? I don't.
What happened to this man was wrong, cruel, and unforgivable.
Hate helps nothing.
Love wounds no one.
and God heals all.
(and irony makes us think)