NEW CRITIQUES

http://www.rosegardenofwhores.com/gah

Goths Against Hate: Subculture Speaks Out
By Christa Starr

The entire country was stunned on April 20, 1999 when two high school students, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, opened fire at Columbine High School in Colorado, killing thirteen and wounding many others. As tends to happen with any major tragedy, the news media and the government started pointing fingers, desperately looking to blame someone for the horrific massacre. Almost immediately, one of those fingers was pointing at the Gothic subculture, accusing Klebold and Harris of being members of this "satanic cult," and forcing this generally peaceful and non-confrontational community into the glare of the media's spotlights.

A lot of misinformation was spread about the Goths after Columbine, and to their credit they did not take it lying down. Many subculture members and sympathizers created sites in support of the Goths, attempting not only to provide the world with a clearer view of what the Goths are really about, but also to give the cultural members a place to express their fears and anxieties regarding the hatred and fear directed towards them.

Nearly two years have passed, and most of these sites have been taken down. However, some are still active, serving as a testament to the events of April 1999.

Goths Against Hate is an organization set out to help eliminate the negative images and stereotypes that the media and other uneducated people have about us… many goths have talked about being harassed on the street, or have been mocked, ridiculed and threatened. Without awareness the media will not understand what the subculture is about. They will continute to label us.

This is followed by a clear description of the subculture, listing what Goths are interested in (freedom, equality, respect, and appreciation) and what they are not. While this section of the site is important, the site's major contributions come from its guestbook and message board areas.

The guestbook, a moderated arena with the disclaimer "all negative material will be removed," is a place where people can post their thoughts on the subculture. Due to the moderation factor, the guestbook contains only warm and supportive messages, many of which start with phrases like "I'm not a Goth, but…" Through reading these, it becomes clear that the goal of the site, to educate and stop others from harassing the Gothic community, is being achieved, at least in regards to those who come and feel compelled to sign the guestbook. The message board, on the other hand is unmoderated, and contains posts on a wide variety of topics. It serves a much more social purpose, giving the Goths a place to gather and discuss issues in a more interactive environment.

There are many ways to deal with tragedy. One is to lash out and assign blame to those you think are responsible. Another is to accept it and form support networks to help yourself and others deal. The media tended to take the first approach, the Gothic community and sites like Goths Against Hate the second. Now the media has moved on to newer tragedies, while the damage they did to the Gothic communities is still felt. But at least the Gothic support sites are still around, continuing their mission of education and support for as long as it will be needed.