Many widely varied opinions have been expressed regarding the verdict in the Dharun Ravi case. Within the LGBT community here in New Jersey the opinions have been widely mixed. Some expressing relief he was convicted on all counts and others expressing some doubt. Out In Jersey asked College of New Jersey student and LGBT activist Matty Daley for his thoughts.
Late in 2011 Matty was breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest kiss. He and his friend Bobby smooched for over 32 hours to break the record on his college campus. For the first time in recorded history the record was held briefly by two people of the same sex. Meanwhile at Rutgers, Tyler Clementi was beginning to contemplate taking his own life due to the the actions of Dharun Ravi.
“Like all of us, I wish I could go back in time to stop kissing and run to save Tyler from his final self-destruction,” says Daley, “But none of us can go back in time. None of us can bring Tyler back from the dead. However, I believe that we should show Dharun Ravi compassion, just as we wish he had shown compassion for his roommate.” Daley also says, “No amount of jail time or exile can erase his fatal mistakes. But by gifting him with compassion, we are empowering ourselves as a community to put pressure on Ravi to become a voice against his own actions and wrongdoings. To use him as an example to show that we will not be used – as targets for cruel entertainment and social abuse. To become a unified voice against bullying, in favor of future justice. I don’t believe any “by-the-book” sentencing is just in this situation or is really the solution to the greater cause of bullying.”
“The only way to stop bullying, ” says Daley, “Is to get the bullies on board to stop themselves. In my heart, I feel it would be wrong to waste a second young man’s life in this matter, but it would not be unfair to have Dharun Ravi make a piece of his life into honoring the memory, spirit, and music of Tyler’s.”
Many widely varied opinions have been expressed regarding the verdict in the Dharun Ravi case. Within the LGBT community here in New Jersey the opinions have been widely mixed. Some expressing relief he was convicted on all counts and others expressing some doubt. Out In Jersey asked College of New Jersey student and LGBT activist Matty Daley for his thoughts.
