When I hear emo the last think I would think about is Mexico, yet these two things have much more in common than you might think. There is a current wave of violence towards emo kids that is spreading throughout Mexico. It is reported that the attacks are coming from metal, punk and rockabilly music fans that seem to have a problem with the look and attitude of emo kids.

In the city of Queretaro, around 800 young people gathered together in an effort against the emos that resulted in numerous violent attacks. In Mexico City a similar gathering occurred. However, the emo's responded the attacks peacefully while marching through both cities. The term PokEMOons are how emos are referred to in Chile.

Before I begin to rant about this let me give you the Wikipedia definition of what it means to be emo. Emo is also often associated with a certain fashion. The term "emo" is sometimes stereotyped with tight jeans on males and females alike, long fringe (bangs) brushed to one side of the face or over one or both eyes, dyed black, straight hair, tight t-shirts (sometimes with short-sleves) which often bear the names of rock bands (or other designed shirts), studded belts, belt buckles, canvas sneakers or skate shoes or other black shoes (often old and beaten up) and thick, black horn-rimmed glasses.

Basically this is nothing more than cruel and senseless hate crimes. To inflict violence on someone just because you don't like their attitude or look is a cowardly action. If you don't agree with the way in which someone portrays themselves then distance your hateful self away from them. You're not only doing yourself a favor but you're doing them one too.

Hearing about stuff like this, lights up a fire of anger within. There aren't many things that can make me mad but ignorance and hate are two that can really boil my kettle till the pot runneth over. Though it seems as though cases of hate crimes have gone down over the years, when you hear about this sort of display of hate, you can't help but to wonder whether we have really progressed or simply learned to tolerate one another.

If I'm being tolerated, that says to me that at any time when one can no longer tolerate me I will endure whatever wrath they plan to impose on me. I feel like this is what we're seeing in this situation. No one should ever be ostracized for being who they know how to be. No one should ever feel like they have the right to belittle someone just because they're different in someway. It's not enough to tolerate, it's about respect. Respect the fact that I'm different and my not be who you want me to be and I'll respect the fact that you may not necessarily agree with who I am. If I have respect for someone I wouldn't want to do them any harm whether it is through words or actions.

It's time for us to move beyond these petty differences and walls we build to seclude ourselves from other people. For it is the same walls we build that will eventually trap us. 



Aaron Fields writes for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are his.