31. May I ask the same question of you? Just curious.
I get the context. I do. I've been saying that all along, which is why it's kind of frustrating when people keep saying, "No, no, Sam, you're not thinking about the context." Because I am thinking about the context. I was born in the context. I was raised in the context. I keep acknowledging the context, yet people keep bringing up the context like I haven't thought about it yet.
Not a knock on you, by the way. Your post was polite, though a little patronizing (though I know you weren't trying to be). I'm just explaining my frustrations.
I'm not saying that Wally is a bad person and that we shouldn't hold him up as a hero. I'm not saying that issue wasn't progressive at the time. I'm just saying we should acknowledge that Wally's actions in running was not cool. It isn't cool now and it wasn't cool then, regardless of context. The coming back is great, but it doesn't mean that there wasn't an error in how he behaved.
You are right that our societal perception of race issues, gender issues, and LBGTQ issues have changed. But if the goal is equality. If the goal is for our society to treat everyone equally, then there is no sliding scale of morality on these issues. Far enough for now isn't a thing, and it isn't good enough.
When I say Wally wasn't right in running, I'm not ignoring the context. I'm thinking about the context. But the context doesn't play a role in whether that was the right thing to do or not. Context doesn't free us from responsibility. We have to acknowledge these kinds of mistakes to move forward. Otherwise, the resulting message is that homophobia is okay in context, which it isn't.
I'm not demanding that the issue be different, which I feel like some people might be thinking I am. All I want is the acknowledgement from us as a community that running away from someone because they are gay isn't the right thing to do, and even if you do go back later, it doesn't wash away that initial action. It just means you're on a better path forward. Wally fixed a mistake, but he still made a mistake.