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Orlando

2016-06-14 · letter vlog · John · 3:37 · watch on YouTube

Topic: US politics & society · mode: News analysis · tags: timely hook, heavy topic

After the mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, the city where he grew up, John says he has nothing constructive to add and that we should listen to those affected and remember the 49 victims, whose names he reads.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Greeting ('I don't really want to make a video today'); growing up in Orlando, never feeling at home; Orlando has become a great city with strong Latino and LGBT communities

  • ★ John says he doesn't really want to make a video today, but it's Tuesday. — 00:00:01
  • ★★ John says growing up in Orlando always felt like everyone was just visiting for the theme parks, and he still says he is from Alabama though he moved there at 14. — 00:00:04
  • ★★ John says believing no one could feel at home in Orlando because he didn't was narcissism; in the 24 years since he left, Orlando has become a great city. — 00:00:19
  • ★★★ John says people made Orlando an awesome hometown, including strong Latino and vibrant LGBT communities that achieved much with love and activism despite a long history of violence and discrimination. — 00:00:29

00:00:43 — 49 people killed in a gay club in Orlando; John doesn't know what to say; listen to those affected; words of a partner, a brother and a friend of victims

  • ★★★ John says 49 people were killed in a gay club in Orlando. — 00:00:43
  • ★★ John tells Hank he doesn't know what to say or whether he has anything constructive to say. — 00:00:49
  • ★★★ John says it is valuable to listen to people directly affected by the shootings, and has put reading in the description. (hedged) — 00:00:54 · doobly-doo
  • ★★ John was moved by the partner of victim Leroy Valentin Fernandez, who wrote 'You will always be my baby, and I will always love you.' — 00:01:00
  • ★★ John cites the brother of victim Amanda Alvear: she wouldn't want anyone to spread hate for her, but more love. — 00:01:06
  • ★★ John cites Daniel, a friend of victim Luis Wilson-Leon: he had dealt with hate all his life but never retaliated with hate. — 00:01:12

00:01:21 — He wants to share the victims' names; Orlando's vigil; stand with them by listening and remembering

  • ★★★ John says he wants to share the names of the people who were murdered, because we should hear their names as much as possible. (hedged) — 00:01:21
  • ★★ John says that last night thousands of people came out in Orlando to memorialize the dead and stand with their friends and families, showing what a great city it is. — 00:01:26
  • ★★★ John asks that we also stand with the victims' loved ones by listening to them and to those who loved the victims, and by remembering them. — 00:01:33

00:01:39 — John reads the names of the 49 people murdered

  • ★★★ John reads aloud the names of the 49 people murdered, from Edward Sotomayor Jr. to Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz. — 00:01:39

In the description and comments

  • ★★ The description recommends the LA Times' profiles of the victims and Alfred Soto's essay 'Only When I'm Dancing Can I Feel This Free'. — video description
  • ★★ The description also recommends Daniel Leon-Davis's Fusion piece on Pulse, an NPR story on what queer Latinos are saying about the shooting, Richard Kim's 'Please Don't Stop the Music', and the Orlando Sentinel's coverage of the victims, what happened, reactions and vigils. — video description

Threads in this video

Mentioned

Central: Orlando, Florida · Pulse nightclub shooting

Also: Alabama · doobly-doo

Only in the description or credits: Alfred Soto · Daniel Leon-Davis · Fusion · Los Angeles Times · NPR · Only When I'm Dancing Can I Feel This Free · Orlando Sentinel · Please Don't Stop the Music · Pulse (nightclub) · Richard Kim

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