The Tragedy of Orlando

Before the horrific mass murders in Orlando, Florida was completely enfolded in and submerged by the politics of this year’s presidential elections. We ought to remember what is most human, and most important, about the tragedy.

We ought to, more than anything, remember the names of the victims, even as presidential candidates get caught up in the blame game, even as the press analyzes the disturbing persona of the killer, even as Donald Trump becomes even more Trump-like, like one of those sky-high parade balloons.

We ought to remember, and continue to remember, the names.

Forty-nine people were murdered in a matter of minutes by a man with a semi-automatic weapon and a handgun, an American-born man of Afghanistani parentage who pledged his allegiance to ISIS with a 911 call right before he began killing people.

We ought to remember Stanley Almodovar III. Amanda Alvear. Oscar A. Aracena-Montero. Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala. Antonio Davon Brown. Darryl Roman Burt II. Angel L. Candelario-Padro. Juan Chevez-Martinz. Luis Daniel Conde. Cory James Connell. Tevin Eugene Crosby.

President Barack Obama, in a measured observation in the immediate aftermath, called it both an act of terrorism and a hate crime. The victims were all celebrating Latino Night during the course of Gay Pride Week celebrations in Orlando, Florida, at the Pulse nightclub, dancing the night away, before the killer arrived and changed it all. In the end, 49 died, another 50 or more were injured, and the murderer was himself killed by SWAT-team policemen who stormed the club, clogged with bodies.

The fact that this was a specific target — the gay community of Orlando, but also LBGT communities everywhere — by someone who also appeared to embrace, and may have been inspired by, ISIS — and who wanted their approval — made the tragedy a perfect storm, a perfect political storm that is only growing.

As the bodies of victims are being dealt with, as people mourn, and vigils pop up all across a suddenly rainbow-colored America, two things made themselves felt almost immediately: that this would have enormous political implications in the presidential race, given the contenders, and less obviously, that a sea change was coming.

The names, as they became known, resonated with ordinary Americans, families, parents, children, young people.
Deonka Deidra Drayton. Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez. Leroy Valentin Ferandez. Mercedez Marisol Flores. Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz. Juan Ramon Guerrero. Paul Terrell Henruy. Frank Hernandez. Miguel Angel Honorato. Javier Jorge-Reyes. Jason Benjamin Josaphat. Eddie Jamoldroy Justice. Anthony Luis Laureanodisla. Christopher Andrdew Leinonen. Alejandro Barrio Martinez. Brenda Lee Marquez McCool. Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez. Kimberly Morris.

Here in Washington, which held its own Gay Pride parade, a color-saturated celebration which draws big crowds every year, vigils and sadness and shock were the norm.
In politics, it was another story. While gay political issues from weddings to bathrooms were still playing out in the political discourse, the tragedy resulted in what appeared to be a nation-wide outbreak of compassion, love and empathy for the gay community and for the victims. The names remain and resonate with our common humanity:

Akyra Monet Murray. Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo. Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera. Joel Rayon Paniagua. Jean Carlos Mendez Perez. Enrique L. Rios, Jr. Jean C. Nives Rodriguez. Christopher JosephSanfeliz. Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado. Edward Sotomayor, Jr. Yilmary Rodreiguez Sulivan. Shane Evan Tomlinson. Martin Benetiz Torres. Jonnathan Antonio Camuy Vega. Franky Jimmy Dejesus Valazquez. Juan P. River Velazquez. Luis S. Vielma. Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon. Jerald Arthur Wright.