On June 12, 2016, one of the worst national shootings occurred. At Pulse nightclub, Omar Mateen killed 49 and injured 53 innocent people of the LGBT community. Before suicide by cop and as the tragedy was nearly over, Mateen stated his allegiance to a Muslim terrorist group ISIS. This tragic event shook the nation, and hurt many family and friends. To avoid another horrible act of violence, Orlando Police and the rest of the world are finding ways to put a stop to this ignition of hate in one’s heart by starting with what may have been the reason to commit such a crime, Mateen had a specific motive to shoot the gay nightclub but one man states it was not an act of terrorism.
According to Orlando Weekly, Mateen’s alleged lover stepped forward, stating Mateen himself was a gay man looking to seek revenge on gay hispanics, specifically Puerto Ricans, that have wronged him in the past.
Known as “Miguel” asked for heavy makeup and a wig to disguise himself from the killer’s father and the islamic extremist group ISIS since Mateen said he was affiliated with the group.
Having met on the gay dating app Grindr, Miguel stated that Mateen was a “sweet guy” and described their relationship as “friends with benefits”. Later on in the interview, Miguel reveals that two of his close friends were actually killed by Mateen that night. Diminishing hate for other races is crucial for the running and peace of our country. A race or group in its entirety should not be punished for one mistake or mishap.
Mateen felt since one gay hispanic wronged him that they will all wrong him, Mateen also seemed to be mentally ill to many of his acquaintances. According to NY Daily News, one acquaintance in specific, that met with him the day of the shooting, explained “deteriorating behavior” when he saw him last, Omar Mateen researched anti-psychotic drugs, changed his appearance by shaving his head and his face, and seemed “surly and agitated Mateen‘s ex-wife describes him as an “unstable person”, claiming he was abusive and would beat her if chores were not done in the home, etc.
An eX coworker ofMateen‘s quit the workplace complaining of Mateen sending many unwanted text messages and making inappropriate homophobic comments with talk of killing people. With extensive research into Mateen‘s life and mental state, officials found that we was investigated by the FBI twice for terrorist behaviors. This shows Mateen was in need of mental health evaluation and showed many signs of unstable emotions. This may have helped cause his impulsive choice to shoot more than one hundred people in a nightclub. With obvious hate for gay hispanics, he may have had an inward hate that spiraled into unruly actions. Being gay himself, he may have felt he could not be as free as other homosexuals, in turn, taking his frustrations out on them. Though this act is seen as more personal than political, taking proper care of Mateen’s mental state could have avoided such an act of hate.
In conclusion, it is in plain site that anyway this act is viewed from, there was built up hate and rage raveled within it. Taking the proper steps to stop Mateen’s alleged affiliation with ISIS and helping his mental state when signs were noticed could have stopped this shooting, Cultivating a love for all people or at least taking necessary steps to move toward a more accepting heart may or may not have changed the outcome of what happened at Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2016. With society stirring up compassion for all walks of life nowadays, this should have been taken action on immediately, some individuals need others to show them as an example what love and acceptance feels like, despite the wrongdoings of other unto them.
Diminishing Race Hate after Pulse Shooting. (2023, Apr 09). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/the-importance-of-diminishing-hate-for-other-races-in-the-pulse-nightclub-shooting/