Gonna say something kind of ugly and no doubt controversial -

[markodochartaigh]

48. I grew up gay a half century ago in

Amarillo Texas. My schoolmates beat me up and tried to set me on fire. I was sent to the principal's office because of my burned shirt. The principal told my Mother that I would need to learn how to fight. A couple of years later my world geography teacher (the tennis coach and a local star) told my class that I should be killed. Every single day was hell. After I graduated I worked at the only job in town for those without education or connections that paid more than minimum wage, the factory slaughterhouse. I stayed 18 months, made enough for junior college and left that place behind.

Almost everyday I see someone on the internet saying that "This is not the America that I grew up in" or "This is not my America". Well, great. I'm happy for you. But for many of us this is exactly the America that we know.

I think that I have a good idea of where we are headed. I'm not too afraid for myself. I'm tough and I have already lived longer than about one fifth of my high school class. But I'm very afraid for the youth of this country.