Far too often is the concept of love twisted into that of hate, the connotations of positive thinking warped into those of negative thought; even more often, though, is the arise of indifference and distance towards both concepts. The Laramie Project cultivates these sentiments in their entirety, ranging from the cruelest acts of biased hate to the most uplifting love humanity is capable of. “Live and let live,” the notion that underlying resentment need not matter and need not surface provided that certain societal circumstances are met, is challenged in the play. While the plot consists of this hatred or love for others based on sexual orientation the message is a universal one, applicable to every instance, every aspect of life. It is then interesting to note that this play dealing with the real murder of a real homosexual young man in a real place has been performed at a Catholic college; the official stance of the Church is that a homosexual is not necessarily sinful simply because he or she is not heterosexual but that it is through acting on and living honestly by one’s homosexuality that one is sinful. Is this not ironic?
This position taken by the Church is certainly one of “live and let live”—homosexuality is not sinful until it is acted upon, brought before reality to be seen and understood for what it truly is as an existent thing. In the play, the character Father Roger Schmit, a Catholic priest, notes that even the vaguest thoughts of hatred, the simplest acts of addressing someone in unkind terms, are cruel and violent in essence and sprout into physical violence. Hateful thoughts foster hateful acts; it is our very thoughts, our very being, from which love must bloom, and then that love will permeate our actions and thus our environment, including those around us. As a well-known Buddhist saying goes, “as we think, so we become.” How difficult it must be to look on homosexuality, which in some manner composes one as a unique individual, with such disdain and disapproval and yet still attempt to love said individual. Are not you then no longer loving the person—instead only loving certain aspects of him or her? Should not love be all-encompassing and unquestioned? Should not it be permitted to bloom in full with no moment of apathy or hatred to wilt it and force it towards indifference or distasteful acts?
I make no claim to be an expert on teachings of the Church, nor do I claim to put any particular faith to question. But after seeing the Abbey Players’ incredibly moving and cathartic production of The Laramie Project, a story with nearly unbiased portrayal of the evils of human hatred and indifference, I think it is worth stopping and considering just how much, if any, resentment we ought to be allowing into our lives. Logically we should possess not even the minutest speck of hatred in us if we truly wish to be loving, good people; if this means questioning particular religious statements, personal obligations, or long-embedded biases, then so be it. If murder is a possible outcome of allowing hatred to fester, then that questioning, that doubt, may very well be worth it.
One of the most powerful moments of this particular play was when Reverend Phelps, screaming hatred from God towards all, is blotted out by Romaine Patterson’s band of friends dressed up as angels, blocking him from view with their fabricated wings, earplugs in their ears to ignore his words. This pacifist act at first glance seems so loving and strong—erasing evil without doing it any apparent harm. But is not ignoring Phelps an act of violence and hatred? Is it not out of distaste for his thinking, his person? This is a clear moment of love being twisted into hate; an attempt to prevent others from being harmed by Phelps’ rather unkind words becomes an unkind act towards Phelps. This whole process then becomes cyclical, and the hatred is passed around from one party to another and is never truly nourished into something loving. While talking with Phelps or showing him kindness may at first seem foolish or difficult, it is necessary—it is absolutely necessary if we are to be loving people, if we are to truly understand this hope that shines forth from these frightful, horrendous moments of torture inflicted upon individuals. For the sake of people like Matthew Shepard, we must question whether or not we can hate an aspect of what makes an individual who he or she is and still claim to truly love them.