For Whom The Bell Tolls: Why GLBT Issues Matter to Me

The first of the Mini-challenges for the 2010 GLBT Challenge asks why GLBT issues matter to me? My answer is a poem by John Donne.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

~~John Donne

Although I am a straight woman GLBT issues matter to me because mankind matter to me. I firmly believe that we love whom we love and that it should not matter to anyone other than the people in a relationship. To discriminate against someone because of whom they love is one of the most awful things we can do to another human being. Love is supposed to be beautiful and comforting and when others make it in to something dirty and evil then we have completely missed the point. Why can’t we just love and respect each other?

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North.This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.