Protest / Rally Regarding Sex Change Operations for Minors in Tennessee

In January of this year, a protest at a “Gender Mutilation Rally” was held in Murfreesboro, TN. Prior to this taking place, some people never realized that multiple children in Tennessee underwent surgery in Nashville to change their sex from boy to girl or girl to boy. The rally surrounded a proposed law in the Volunteer State to make it illegal for a juvenile to undergo a sex change operation or to begin hormone therapy to begin the process of changing their sex.

Protestors against the proposed law for children to be allowed to make the decision to change their biological sex suggested it would take away their rights. The ACLU argues hormone therapy or sex change procedures are the only solution to saving some children from suicide – if the child identifies as the opposite sex they were born as and is having identity problems.

View fullsize

In Tennessee, you have to be 18 to get your ears pierced, get a tattoo or go to a tanning bed… but protestors believe a teenager, or a child has a brain that is developed to the point of being able to decide to forever change their biological sex.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an adolescent brain is not fully developed until the mid to late twenties.

View fullsize

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”

— Nelson Mandela

Others at the rally highlighted another proposed law in Tennessee that would not allow for a child or teen to attend a show or event where sex acts are performed before the audience.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Rally on Murfreesboro, TN Square

The Murfreesboro, TN square… a vigil held in honor of George Floyd. The event involved deep emotions for many at the event.

Hate dressed as Love

Sometimes, hate tries to be disguised as love while holding a megaphone and wearing a "Jesus Saves" shirt.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Looking back to 2017, Standing Up

Looking back to October of 2017: During a protest held in both Murfreesboro and Shelbyville, TN, those against anyone of color or foreign background showed up in fairly large numbers. I should add, they showed up in Shelbyville, but failed to show up in Murfreesboro after learning the police presence was larger than expected.

Outside of the local square in Murfreesboro, TN some were armed with loudspeakers and were preaching their version of truth. The two women standing in front of the man on the speaker disagreed with what he had to say and they were not timid about standing up against him.

“Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else.”

— Maya Angelou

Shelbyville, Tennessee on October 28, 2017

My pictures and the environments I deliberately place myself in are often not my views on life. The setting is many times an uncomfortable place.

Shelbyville, Tennessee on 10/28/17: Do young men like these that include in one photo of a person who appears to be a boy standing like Hitler and wearing a fake mustache - understand the Holocaust? I would venture to guess no. I would go as far as stating that most have no idea what really occurred in Germany and because of that I look at them with sadness as do many others as opposed to anger.

This type of action would be like mocking the attacks on innocent children at Columbine High School where an April 20, 1999 school massacre left 15 dead and 24 injured along with countless others to face mental illness for the remainder of their lives. Of course, the mocking seen in these photos that are filled with hate, are much more devastating because of what they represent.

In these photos I see smiles as hate is yelled.

Holocaust Facts:

• Over 1.1 million children died during the Holocaust.
• The most intensive Holocaust killing took place in September 1941 at the Babi Yar Ravine just outside of Kiev, Ukraine, where more than 33,000 Jews were killed in just two days. Jews were forced to undress and walk to the ravine’s edge. When German troops shot them, they fell into the abyss. The Nazis then pushed the wall of the ravine over, burying the dead and the living.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust. 
• Over one million people were murdered at the Auschwitz complex
• Those who survived Dr. Josef Mengele’s experiments were almost always murdered and dissected. Many children were maimed or paralyzed and hundreds died.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust.
• Between 1933 and 1945, more than 11 million men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust.
• Over one million people were murdered at the Auschwitz complex.
• The soldiers who patrolled and operated concentration camps were known as Totenkopfverbande, or “Death’s Head” detachments. They wore skull-and-crossbones insignias on their uniforms to reflect their namesake.
• Those who survived Dr. Josef Mengele’s experiments were almost always murdered and dissected. Many children were maimed or paralyzed and hundreds died.
• During the Holocaust, the Nazis looted everything they could from their victims, including wedding rings, watches, precious stones, and eyeglasses.
• Children of African-German origin and the mentally or physically handicapped were surgically sterilized, often brutally.
• Thousands of infants and babies were killed by Nazis before their births could be recorded.

Almost a fight

At a rally, ordinary people may do unordinary bad things. While that may sound grim, it is quite true.

Take for example, this man with the beard. He was preaching and on a roll. Word after word about how this is bad verses this is good.

Regardless of what “This” maybe about, ordinary people around him started to criticize his words. The criticism grew louder and louder as some criticism turned into challenges of fighting.

View fullsize

One young man stepped before him and invited him to throw the first punch with a slew of words that most would not want our children to hear. As the challenge grew, others in the crowd encouraged the punching as if that was all of a sudden okay to do in society.

Another man stood directly in front of him as well - expecting a fight to take place. However, no fight occurred as the older man had no intention to strike, only to speak and be heard.

View fullsize

If you simply slowed your anger and listened to the words of the older man, you recognized that he spoke out of a troubled past and just wanted to be heard. He talked about living on the streets while being homeless in Nashville. He talked about murderers and how some in the crowd know of dark secrets, but have yet to admit to them. It was obvious to some that he spoke out of sadness in his past and instead of accepting his words, others felt attacked by them although they were not directed at any one person.

Actions of one following the crowd happen quickly and turn into group violence’s and rioting. That of course explains the psychology behind the show of a strong police presence at such an event. Regardless of the cost to produce such force, it is sometimes necessary to deescalate a situation before it has the water to grow.

During rallies like the one held in Murfreesboro and Shelbyville on October 28, 2017, you could easily witness ordinary everyday people break out of their norm and say things they normally would not say. They may not realize it or admit it, but those in attendance had the potential to do great harm while following the masses in large groups.

Following the masses in social psychology is called Deindividuation. It is the loss of identity or self-awareness, usually in a group setting. People lose self-awareness and feel less responsibility of ones’ actions. An example would be a riot where all present mindlessly follow along. This can easily trap good people and convince them to follow along in beatings, vandalism, stealing and even murdering.

A similar word used in psychology is emotional contagion. Emotional contagion is the tendency to feel and express emotions similar to and influenced by those of others; also, the phenomenon of one person’s negative thoughts or anxiety affecting another’s mood.

Actions, challenges, sarcastic replies or strong words by someone who may normally be viewed as wise will make them look like a fool in protest settings. Especially when challenging someone to a duel whereas that same person would never do such in a typical setting.

"It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own." - Cicero, Roman politician, lawyer, orator, and writer. (106 BC - 43 BC)

The Star of David

What is often referred to as the Star of David is traditionally a Jewish symbol, but is also called or used as the Seal of Solomon, usually when it is encircled by a thin line in Islam. It is also called the Shield of David.

The star had grave meaning during the Holocaust as the Nazis used it to identify Jews, which is one reason it is often seen by those with opposing views at rallies that include White Supremacist, as captured in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on October 28, 2017.

It has been said to represent the shape of King David's shield, which stood for protection and force when needed. It is also a symbol thought to bring good luck by some of those in the Middle East.

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” ― Anne Frank

An unrealistic feeling

In·fe·ri·or·i·ty com·plex: an unrealistic feeling of general inadequacy caused by actual or supposed inferiority in one sphere, sometimes marked by aggressive behavior in compensation.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee square on 10/28/17.

A day filled with hate, not love

Today in Murfreesboro I witnessed so many things, most of which I found sad. 

Some people like this man speaking into a microphone connected to a speaker, was using words from the Bible to hurt, anger or tear down others. I witnessed the rage that stared down the Bible scriptures, which is inconsistent with what Christianity is about. 

Today, I saw young men literally pick fights with older men because they disagreed with an opinion. 

Today, I saw a father who brought his son to the rally in Murfreesboro. The young boy, not knowing what was happening, was simply sitting on the ground playing with a toy as his father watched the crowd in anticipation of a fight. 

Today, I saw where a young black woman was not told she was entering the gates on the wrong side of the protest and she could not cross over once inside… surrounded by angered white supremacist she bravely snapped a photo on her phone and I said, “Be careful over here.” As I walked away she quietly said, “Don’t leave.” 

Today I spoke to a white supremacist and asked why he came to Shelbyville, TN today and he turned his head and said no comment. 

Today I witnessed those who suggested they were on the Murfreesboro square to show love while holding signs that sounded sweet… only to hear them spew words of hate towards those standing on the opposite side of a fence. 

Below is a soundclip of the above man preaching into a loudspeaker: 

“I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.” - Booker T. Washington

Hiding who you are

If you have to wear a mask to do what you consider good, you’re probably not doing good. The group is known for vandalism and violence in America. Their name: Antifa (anti-fascist).

“The theory of Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.” ― Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto

View fullsize

A Black Lives Matter Rally

A Black Lives Matter rally was held on Saturday night in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The woman who organized the event told me something that for the first time, helped me to understand why they take offense when onlookers yell “All Lives Matter.” 

Kaymi Butler stated, “Right now everybody’s saying that all lives matter, and that is completely correct. But, you’re not gonna’ go to a breast cancer rally and say, What about skin cancer? You know why, because it’s disrespectful. So… When people are saying to us all lives matter we’re not ignorant to the fact that all lives matter, but right now black lives matter because our black people are getting killed. So that’s why we’re out here.”

Airline service workers want 5-cent fee added to tickets to cover insurance costs

Commercial aviation helps to create some 11-million jobs in America. If that is not enough to get your attention, I don’t know what will?

While in Washington D.C., I stumbled upon a major protest on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House. The wind was blistering cold and I struggled to take photos without my gloves on, but I wanted to make sure I captured the emotion that was stirred up by the workers who were asking for help to cover the cost of their personal medical insurance.

The group of airline industry service workers were asking for the airline companies they work for to add a nickel to the cost of every ticket sold in hopes of acquiring better health insurance for their families. The group suggested that an additional 5-cents added to every ticket would cover the cost of their family medical insurance plan, which right now is unaffordable for many. Their website stated, “We will be forced to pay the Obama Care Income Tax Fine for declining to purchase this un-affordable insurance.” That 5-cents per ticket, according to the protestors, would cover their expense.  

I walked in close for these shots as I was using my small 23mm fixed lens Fuji X100s. Those who were protesting seemed to be too busy shouting what they felt was needed for their family to even notice my encroachment into their personal space. Several police officers asked me to step back as they began making arrests while the crowd deliberately blocked the flow of traffic in the area of Pennsylvania Avenue.

After 15 or more protestors were arrested, the chants continued. The big question that lingers, will that additional 5-cents be added to the cost of an airline ticket and if so, will it be noticed by the traveling public? Only time will tell.