I want to forget Mateen. Forget he ever drew breath. And remember and honor

[cali]

those who died.

Here's one: His name was Edward Sotomayor, Jr. He was 34. He was a travel agent. He evidently had a great sense of fun and loved top hats.

?w=938


I know it's not possible to forget Mateen, but I believe his victims deserve more attention than he does.

My deepest sympathies go out Mr. Sotomayor's family and friends.

<snip>

Ferguson described Sotomayor as among the best-known figures in the gay travel industry, as national coordinator for the "Drag Stars at Sea" cruise, which featured stars of the popular reality TV show "RuPaul's Drag Race."

"He had traveled to so many places in the world," Ferguson said. "He loved travel."

Sotomayor was keenly aware of the dangers facing gay travelers, and of prior incidents of mass violence like the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris, Ferguson said.

But he never let fear stop his adventures.

"What I will say, over and over again, was he was a person who said, 'We cannot be afraid,'" said Ferguson. "I know his friends are going to be the exact same way… we are not going to be afraid."

<snip>

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/victims/os-orlando-mass-shooting-edward-sotomayor-20160612-story.html

[cali]

1. This was Stanley Almodovar III

He was a young pharmacist technician. 23.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting/victims/os-orlando-nightclub-shooting-stanley-almodovar-20160612-story.html

http://cdn.thedailybeast.com/content/dailybeast/articles/2016/06/12/gay-nightclub-massacre-these-are-the-victims/jcr:content/body/inlineimage.img.800.jpg/48858875.cached.jpg

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. VERY well said... kick!

[cali]

3. Eddie Justice.

Eddie Justice, who texted 'I'm gonna die. Mommy I love you' during Orlando shooting, confirmed dead

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/13/im-gonna-die-mommy-i-love-you-desperate-texts-of-orlando-shootin/


?quality=65&strip=all&w=740







[Bluenorthwest]

4. Does it serve anyone to forget the monsters and pretend their motives are not their motives?

I do not want to forget that monsters exist, to forget is to command them to act again.

He who does not punish evil commands it to exist. Never forget.

[cali]

5. No, I know it's not possible. that's why I said that in the op

But right now I want to honor his victims, even if it's just a dumb post on DU.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. I understand. But the thread is full of people who have bad intentions.

So I had to say something. Probably not the right thing but I am about ready to give up.

[cali]

14. I don't know, Blue. I just don't know.

I don't know what to say or how to say it. I just hope you don't give up. Yours is one of the most powerful, passionate and important voices here. That much I do know.

[emulatorloo]

6. Thank you

Weeping over the loss of these wonderful people. Thanks for getting past the sterile statistics and letting us know who they are they are.

[cali]

9. me too, em. Me too. I keep crying and crying

I sat and meditated this morning and just wept, breath after breath.

[smirkymonkey]

7. God, just so incredibly sad.

[First Speaker]

8. What a wonderful post! Thank you--let's indeed remember the victims...

...and try our best to forget the killer ever existed...

[cali]

10. This was Luis Vielma. He was 22 and worked the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studio

theme park. He wanted to become a medical technician.

[cali]

12. The youngest victim identified so far

At 20 years of age, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo is the youngest of the victims to have been identified so far.

He described himself as a dancer on his Facebook account and had added a tricolour filter to his profile photo after the terror attacks in Paris last November.


<snip>

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36516389

[romanic]

13. RIP to all of them.

Mr. Sotomayor was right, we can't be afraid. Live without fear.