1. The Laramie Project
SUMMARY A montage of images– the prairie, cattle ranches, fast–food restaurants, a cement factory, car dealers, the University of Wyoming–
reveals the town of Laramie, Wyoming, pop. 26,687. As the town's police sergeant says, "It's a good place to live. Good people– lots of space. We're
one of the largest states in the country, and the least populated." Laramie residents take pride in being part of the "gem city of the plains," and appear to
believe in the motto "Live and Let Live." What happens to a town like Laramie when something unexpected, unconscionable and unforgivable rips it
apart? What happens to its people when they are thrust into the unrelenting glare of a national media spotlight? And what happens to a community when
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The Laramie Project includes scenes from the separate trials of McKinney and Henderson, climaxing with an impassioned speech from Matthew's
father at McKinney's sentencing. "I would like nothing better than to see you die," Dennis Shepard tells one of his son's killers. "However, this is
the time to begin the healing process, to show mercy to someone who refused to show mercy... I give you life in the memory of one who no longer
lives." Henderson pleaded guilty on April 5, 1999, and agreed to testify against McKinney to avoid the death penalty; he received two
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2. Essay on The Laramie Project
Bethany L. Coderre Theater–3 Ms. Kewley Hate Crimes After reading "The Laramie Project" your left with so many questions, ideas and emotions.
The play is a series of interviews (reenacted exactly as they happened) to give the audience facts and true statements so that they can form there own
opinion. The play takes place in Laramie Wyoming, after the "hate crime" that left 21 year old Matthew Shepard fighting for his life that ended soon
after all because the fact that he was gay. Hate is a feeling and hate crime is acting on that hatred, but what exactly is a "hate crime"? What makes it so
different from any other crime? Isn't all crime hate crime?
"People would like to think that what...show more content...
These reactions can include; deep personal hurt/betrayal, feelings of powerlessness/vulnerability, anger or sadness, fear for personal and family's safety
or even changes in lifestyle (where they walk, how they answer the phone,their reactions to strangers)." psychological problems like, post–traumatic
stress disorder, depression and anger, taking as much as 5 years for a victim to overcome the psychological effects from an attack.
In the article "All crimes are hate crimes" written by Jim McPherson, he states that "hate crime laws tend to promote inequality rather than curb it.
Such laws create special classes of citizens who enjoy a special status." When you think about it like that it opens the door for so many pros and
cons of whether or not "hate crimes" should be treated different from any other crime. "It is inherently unjust to punish certain crimes more harshly
than others simply because the victim is a member of a special chosen group, it demeans those who aren't considered special and is contrary to the
idea that laws should apply equally to everyone regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or other variables. If someones grandfather is assaulted,
should the law care less because he doesn't happen to be gay?" Some people believe that hate crime laws are a threat to our
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3. Laramie Project Review Essay example
A Death That Revealed the World's Concealed View on Homosexuality The Laramie Project is a play written by Moises Kaufman and the members of
Tectonic Theater Project. The play is based on the interviews of the citizens of Laramie about what's happening in Laramie and their responses to the
murder of Matthew. In addition to the various themes suggested by the play, the author wanted to present the varying perspectives towardhomosexuality
in the Laramie community at the time of Matthew's death. The author also wanted to explore how these perspectives may have changed as the result of
Matthew's death. Even though the citizens of Laramie persisted that hate is not a value they practice, they still showed contrasting and puzzled views
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Not all citizens of Laramie conveyed a negative view towards the LGBT community. Marge Murray, together with some of the citizens, gave a notion
of live and let live towards homosexuals. Marge explains,
As far as the gay issue, I don't give a damn on one way or the other as long as they don't bother me. And even if they did, I'd just say no thank you.
And that's the Attitude of most of the Laramie population. They might poke one if they were in a bar situation, you know, they had been drinking, they
might actually smack one in the mouth, but they'd just walk away. Most of 'em, they would just say, 'I don't swing that way' and whistle on about their
business. Laramie is live and let live. (17)
Marge talked about how the citizens of Laramie practice a philosophy that life goes on. There are times that they are bothered, and they exchange
words and even physically hurt one another; but that's it, they won't hold a grudge on one another. After such argument or fight, they'll just move on
and live another day. Marge pointed out that they practice the same view toward view about homosexuality; they neither reject nor accept homosexual
people.
There are also some citizens of Laramie that showed acceptance towards homosexuals. Father Roger Schmit was one of them; he showed compassion
and conveyed such resistance to violence
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