Day of Remembrance speech

Written by Katt Kongo

I’ve been hearing this new song on the radio, where the guy is saying how much his life sucks. In one part, the lyrics are “A quarter of my life gone by and I met all my friends online.”

There seems to be a perception among many people that meeting people and making friends online makes you something of a loser.

But online, I met people who pushed and inspired me. I met people who made me laugh, cry and, more importantly, think. Growing up in a small rural town, my world was tiny. By making friends online, that world expanded as I learned about new cultures, lifestyles and more.

One of the friends I met online was a young gay man. Getting to know him and the struggles he had gone through in his life enabled me to respond perfectly when my daughter told me that she’s gay.

My life, and maybe yours, has been so very enriched by people I have never, and likely will never, physically met – in so many different ways.

Sometimes, especially when you go through a trauma, you find that your real-life support system fails miserably. But you can log into a place like Second Life and make friends who have been through the same experience.

I’ve met more people online that I actually like or love than I have in my First Life. It’s easier to get to know people online… you don’t have to worry with sometimes-inhibiting social factors like gender, status, and race.

So I challenge the perception that online friendships are lame or make you something of a loser. Online friendships are instead powerful and can forever change the way you see the world.

This belief in the power of relationships is why we are here today, because of those friends who mean so much to us. Today shouldn’t be one of sadness, but of celebration… that we were so fortunate to meet those residents who have since departed both worlds. It’s a day to share stories of how these people touched our lives, and hopefully make new friends in the process.

Thank you.