I know, I know!!! Silly to put a redundancy in the title of this blog (hint- it is not "confederate flag"), but I mention the great Sunshine State only because it is the newest state to consider issuing Confederate Heritage License Plates (http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/02/fla-legislator.html). Proceeds go to the Sons of Confederate Veterans (Florida division: http://www.florida-scv.org/index.htm).
Hmm ...
According to the main SCV webpage, "The citizen-soldiers who fought for the Confederacy personified the best qualities of America. The preservation of liberty and freedom was the motivating factor in the South's decision to fight the Second American Revolution. The tenacity with which Confederate soldiers fought underscored their belief in the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. These attributes are the underpinning of our democratic society and represent the foundation on which this nation was built."
Now, I know that the Civil War was fought for reasons in addition to slavery, but I think we can agree that Abraham Lincoln and slavery are the first images that come to mind when we mention the Confederacy.
And so, a few comments on the SCV's opening paragraph:
(1) "Liberty and freedom"- for WHO? The irony ...
(2) "Rights guaranteed by the Constitution"- now I don't remember my high school government classes all that well, but I do recall something our founding fathers said about "promote the general welfare", which I assume can be applied to all persons regardless of color ... hmmm perhaps the Constitution has footnotes or clauses I am unaware of?
(3) "The foundation on which this nation was built"- yes, a racist foundation that continues to divide and weaken American communities to this very day. Lovely.
I believe in honoring those who gave their lives fighting for what they believed to be moral and true. I believe in looking at history that is not written by the "winners". Most of all, I do believe in preserving history-- but only as a means to remind us of past mistakes in an effort to improve ourselves as a humane and justice-seeking nation (obviously Vietnam didn't do the trick).
The Confederate flag is a significant feature of American history. It is also one that represents a very dark period of time in the collective consciousness of present-day Americans. The pink triangle, once a horrid mark used to identify gays in concentration camps, is now used with pride and assertion in the gay community. However, the Confederate flag is a different kettle of fish (and I really wonder where that expression comes from).
Furthermore, the Sons of Confederate Veterans will only accept people to be members that are "male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces".
Now wait a minute ... isn't this aforementioned "democratic society", one that boasts such supreme qualities and values, made up of men and women of almost every race and nationality? Aren't all of these persons able to unite beneath a banner that promotes its ideals as the foundation of our country? A country in which all of these persons live, work, and have families???
And lastly:
Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans
"To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you also cherish. Remember, it is your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations."
Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, Commander General, United Confederate Veterans
New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25, 1906
************************
Please make the right decision, Florida, for once in your life.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thunder from down under
Article: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3509263,00.html, entitled "Homosexual activity cause of earthquake, Shas MK says"
Sigh ... oh this is too much to pass up.
Apparently "homosexual activity", which can be broadly defined as any activity that a homosexual does (like public service, establishing a non-profit organization for education, and attending church), is the cause of a recent earthquake that has shaken several towns in Israel.
This particular earthquake only hit 5.3 on the Dickter scale (is that all? *disappointed* I need a measurement of at least 6.0 to get me going haha j/k), and lasted 19 seconds (typical *tsk*- all that trembling and then nothing!). This shift in the earth's tectonic plates is indickative of the consequences brought on by a country that is tolerating a gay movement (meaning limp wrists? I don't know...) that has been likened to the bird flu epidemic (what bird? a cock?).
Do whaaaat? The gay movement (and hell, we've been moving since the beginning of time!) is a "plague that could destroy Jewish Israel" and should be treated "just as the Health Ministry dealt with the bird flu epidemic." *car tires screeching to a halt*
Well, gay people have been victimized by oppression and attacks from "outside" peoples for centuries - of course a person who's Jewish wouldn't understand how that feels... *coughing profusely*
So how do we eradickate this most vile and dangerous disease? Well the last time Jewish people dealt with a ghastly plague they were protected by painting sheep's blood over their doorways (to which Mr. Sheep abruptly looks up and says "I beg your fuckin' pardon? Oh hell no! Baaaaaa!!!"). Suddenly an image of Moses came to me, him standing on a mountaintop stick-in-hand demanding "Let my homos go!"
Perhaps the persons who agree with this condemnation should reconsider the Old Testament passages that deal with the justification of slavery and limited women's rights? Yes, yes- "all of those are taken out of context". Yeah well, when y'all decide to stop playing scripture-a-la-carte with holy texts, you just let me know.
For serious, how much more ridickulous can this get? First gays are responsible for the burning of Sodom and incurring the wrath of god, and now we are to blame for natural-- err, I mean (super)natural disasters! Are we that powerful? Do we piss off the Creator that much?
Damn ... I should start building that ark I've been planning right away! First things first, though- I need a crew that's got plenty of seamen.
Sigh ... oh this is too much to pass up.
Apparently "homosexual activity", which can be broadly defined as any activity that a homosexual does (like public service, establishing a non-profit organization for education, and attending church), is the cause of a recent earthquake that has shaken several towns in Israel.
This particular earthquake only hit 5.3 on the Dickter scale (is that all? *disappointed* I need a measurement of at least 6.0 to get me going haha j/k), and lasted 19 seconds (typical *tsk*- all that trembling and then nothing!). This shift in the earth's tectonic plates is indickative of the consequences brought on by a country that is tolerating a gay movement (meaning limp wrists? I don't know...) that has been likened to the bird flu epidemic (what bird? a cock?).
Do whaaaat? The gay movement (and hell, we've been moving since the beginning of time!) is a "plague that could destroy Jewish Israel" and should be treated "just as the Health Ministry dealt with the bird flu epidemic." *car tires screeching to a halt*
Well, gay people have been victimized by oppression and attacks from "outside" peoples for centuries - of course a person who's Jewish wouldn't understand how that feels... *coughing profusely*
So how do we eradickate this most vile and dangerous disease? Well the last time Jewish people dealt with a ghastly plague they were protected by painting sheep's blood over their doorways (to which Mr. Sheep abruptly looks up and says "I beg your fuckin' pardon? Oh hell no! Baaaaaa!!!"). Suddenly an image of Moses came to me, him standing on a mountaintop stick-in-hand demanding "Let my homos go!"
Perhaps the persons who agree with this condemnation should reconsider the Old Testament passages that deal with the justification of slavery and limited women's rights? Yes, yes- "all of those are taken out of context". Yeah well, when y'all decide to stop playing scripture-a-la-carte with holy texts, you just let me know.
For serious, how much more ridickulous can this get? First gays are responsible for the burning of Sodom and incurring the wrath of god, and now we are to blame for natural-- err, I mean (super)natural disasters! Are we that powerful? Do we piss off the Creator that much?
Damn ... I should start building that ark I've been planning right away! First things first, though- I need a crew that's got plenty of seamen.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Do you reuse your shopping bags?
Every Christmas I have the ultimate pleasure of perusing The Lakeland Ledger, the ultimate comprehensive guide to national news and the local to-do-s of Polk County.
Everyday The Ledger poses a question to the general public in their special segment called "Polk Pulse" (please note that The Pulse is the most frequented gay bar in Lakeland -- coincidence?). Yesterday's question was: "Do you reuse your shopping bags?"
I pray, pray, PRAY on bended knee that this person's response was really a satirical spoof, cleverly poking fun at conservatives. If this is a real person, may god have mercy on our souls.
I quote: "No, I don't reuse my shopping bags. I love it the way it upsets liberal idiots that think that 'Oh, you're going to save the trees, you got to reuse your plastic bags because our resources aren't infinite.' Actually, they are. I don't reuse my bags. I think anybody that says you should ought to be shot."
I find myself, probably for the first time in my entire life, completely speechless.
I'm imagining a world where everyone wanders around assuming that natural resources are automatically replaced once tapped, and that people who care about the earth we live on should no longer have the privilege of existence.
Peace on earth, but screw the earth itself. Huh???
Everyday The Ledger poses a question to the general public in their special segment called "Polk Pulse" (please note that The Pulse is the most frequented gay bar in Lakeland -- coincidence?). Yesterday's question was: "Do you reuse your shopping bags?"
I pray, pray, PRAY on bended knee that this person's response was really a satirical spoof, cleverly poking fun at conservatives. If this is a real person, may god have mercy on our souls.
I quote: "No, I don't reuse my shopping bags. I love it the way it upsets liberal idiots that think that 'Oh, you're going to save the trees, you got to reuse your plastic bags because our resources aren't infinite.' Actually, they are. I don't reuse my bags. I think anybody that says you should ought to be shot."
I find myself, probably for the first time in my entire life, completely speechless.
I'm imagining a world where everyone wanders around assuming that natural resources are automatically replaced once tapped, and that people who care about the earth we live on should no longer have the privilege of existence.
Peace on earth, but screw the earth itself. Huh???
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Jesus, money, and sex
I know what you're thinking- "what do Jesus, money, and sex have to do with one another???" And then you start thinking about the temple and the money changers, and Jesus' alleged prostitute wife (don't look at me, blame Dan Brown). And suddenly I feel like we should be chanting "Jerry … Jerry !!!" whenever we crack open the holy book.
But before I step on any more toes (hey! he just washed those feet!), I shall share what religious sentiments have floated my way in the past few weeks:
-"Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt sues Congress for suppressing his First Amendment rights to pray in the name of Jesus at public ceremonies for the Navy."
I wonder if Chaplain Klingenschmitt ever considered how a gay person in the military feels when they cannot exercise their right to freedom of speech by disclosing their sexuality? Hmm… I guess it's alright- this poor guy probably has pent up aggression due to an embarrassingly longwinded last name (NO Gordon, you may NOT go out to recess until you've spelled your last name correctly!! – DAMMIT!!!!!!!!)
-A sign on campus advertising a seminar, and I precisely quote: "using scienctific facts to prove bible is true!"
I suppose correct spelling isn't valued in the scientific community, but I would recommend that this bible study group do some dictionary-thumping as well before they start explaining the trufth.
-CNN did a report on an "ATM for Jesus", in which a church had set up a "giving kiosk" where you could charge your offerings to the church by debit or credit card.
Right … So I'm imagining it's like at a restaurant when they bring you the bill (one entree of righteousness, a side of blessing-biscuits, and two filtered holy waters) and then you have to fill in the amount for the tip (Holy crap! Tax is 10%, and then another 10% for tithing!!! Then I have to tip this friggin' server on top of that???). It's OK, just slide your card and Jabez will multiply your earnings ten fold …
And that about wraps up our religious debriefing for the evening (and no, not that kind of de-briefing Mr. Foley! You can be religious and off your knees, you know…). Good night!
But before I step on any more toes (hey! he just washed those feet!), I shall share what religious sentiments have floated my way in the past few weeks:
-"Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt sues Congress for suppressing his First Amendment rights to pray in the name of Jesus at public ceremonies for the Navy."
I wonder if Chaplain Klingenschmitt ever considered how a gay person in the military feels when they cannot exercise their right to freedom of speech by disclosing their sexuality? Hmm… I guess it's alright- this poor guy probably has pent up aggression due to an embarrassingly longwinded last name (NO Gordon, you may NOT go out to recess until you've spelled your last name correctly!! – DAMMIT!!!!!!!!)
-A sign on campus advertising a seminar, and I precisely quote: "using scienctific facts to prove bible is true!"
I suppose correct spelling isn't valued in the scientific community, but I would recommend that this bible study group do some dictionary-thumping as well before they start explaining the trufth.
-CNN did a report on an "ATM for Jesus", in which a church had set up a "giving kiosk" where you could charge your offerings to the church by debit or credit card.
Right … So I'm imagining it's like at a restaurant when they bring you the bill (one entree of righteousness, a side of blessing-biscuits, and two filtered holy waters) and then you have to fill in the amount for the tip (Holy crap! Tax is 10%, and then another 10% for tithing!!! Then I have to tip this friggin' server on top of that???). It's OK, just slide your card and Jabez will multiply your earnings ten fold …
And that about wraps up our religious debriefing for the evening (and no, not that kind of de-briefing Mr. Foley! You can be religious and off your knees, you know…). Good night!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
different people
I was working in the dorm office the other day when a student's mother decided to horrify me with the most blatantly racist comment I've come across in a while:
"I noticed there are a lot of black people outside. Is my son going to be safe here?"
*sound of my jaw hitting the ground*
That very day I went into a Subway where a woman was having difficulty expressing the precise kind of condiments she wanted on her sub. The Subway sandwich artist's first language was not English. She ended up screaming at the top of her lungs "Cut it up!!! Cut it up!!! Cut it up!!!" Now, is that necessary?
Is it pessimistic or merely realistic to realize that we as humans seem to be continuously striving to systematically categorize and exclude others that we feel do not fit into our concept of "normal"? He's fat, she's gay, they're foreigners, and you're another race. How many labels can we possibly assume?
A woman was recently fired from her position as a sunday school teacher at a Baptist church simply because she was a woman. In her letter of dismissal a Biblical passage was quoted as the reason for her termination. Can you imagine? Lucky for us the Bible stays quiet about different races, otherwise we might have "justified" genocides.
And nothing fuels the American fire more than the immigration debate. "But they're using our tax dollars!!!" (and "doing the jobs that we won't do" -- good lord!!!). Apparently birth privilege isn't enough for us- we want those other people not to be given the same opportunities we have to make something out of life.
A humble reminder to everyone in America who claims a stake in their homeland and seeks to drive our foreign invaders:
A sign on an office door somewhere in DC: "American Indians -- Fighting illegal immigration since 1492"
"I noticed there are a lot of black people outside. Is my son going to be safe here?"
*sound of my jaw hitting the ground*
That very day I went into a Subway where a woman was having difficulty expressing the precise kind of condiments she wanted on her sub. The Subway sandwich artist's first language was not English. She ended up screaming at the top of her lungs "Cut it up!!! Cut it up!!! Cut it up!!!" Now, is that necessary?
Is it pessimistic or merely realistic to realize that we as humans seem to be continuously striving to systematically categorize and exclude others that we feel do not fit into our concept of "normal"? He's fat, she's gay, they're foreigners, and you're another race. How many labels can we possibly assume?
A woman was recently fired from her position as a sunday school teacher at a Baptist church simply because she was a woman. In her letter of dismissal a Biblical passage was quoted as the reason for her termination. Can you imagine? Lucky for us the Bible stays quiet about different races, otherwise we might have "justified" genocides.
And nothing fuels the American fire more than the immigration debate. "But they're using our tax dollars!!!" (and "doing the jobs that we won't do" -- good lord!!!). Apparently birth privilege isn't enough for us- we want those other people not to be given the same opportunities we have to make something out of life.
A humble reminder to everyone in America who claims a stake in their homeland and seeks to drive our foreign invaders:
A sign on an office door somewhere in DC: "American Indians -- Fighting illegal immigration since 1492"
Saturday, July 1, 2006
Peace and Freedom
"Our nation is free"
"We are laying foundations of peace for our young generations"
-- Bush, 29 May 2006
Freedom should be defined by those who have the least amount of power in a political system- their perspective isn't as plagued by privilege, greed, and ignorance. Fortunately, we live in a place where even the individuals with the least amount of power still hold more freedoms in our country than do many others in the world.
What scares me is this masquerade of democracy and freedom while the system is slowly closing in on the personal freedoms it so adamantly parades as its strong suit.
-Yesterday I saw a report on CNN saying that it is now legal for states to rezone their districts to maximize votes along party lines.
-The current administration is attempting to censor the media for the sake of national security.
-A single political party controls the entire government.
-Citizens are tying religious doctrine to their decisions at the polls.
And peace? It's so easy to turn a blind eye to the genocide and human rights atrocities all over the world, so long as those countries aren't of any economic benefit to us ...
I don't know what to do.
"We are laying foundations of peace for our young generations"
-- Bush, 29 May 2006
Freedom should be defined by those who have the least amount of power in a political system- their perspective isn't as plagued by privilege, greed, and ignorance. Fortunately, we live in a place where even the individuals with the least amount of power still hold more freedoms in our country than do many others in the world.
What scares me is this masquerade of democracy and freedom while the system is slowly closing in on the personal freedoms it so adamantly parades as its strong suit.
-Yesterday I saw a report on CNN saying that it is now legal for states to rezone their districts to maximize votes along party lines.
-The current administration is attempting to censor the media for the sake of national security.
-A single political party controls the entire government.
-Citizens are tying religious doctrine to their decisions at the polls.
And peace? It's so easy to turn a blind eye to the genocide and human rights atrocities all over the world, so long as those countries aren't of any economic benefit to us ...
I don't know what to do.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Democrazy
The Library of Congress celebrates the famous quotes of inspirational American leaders by brilliantly posting them as engraved beacons of sage light for all to see, admire, and ooohhhh at.
"There can be no perfect democracy curtailed by color, race, or poverty, but with all we accomplish all" – W.E.B. Dubois
Obvious Mr. Dubois has never dined in the cafeteria of the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill.
Leave your jeans and T-shirts at home, boys and girls; this is where the big dogs play in their Gucci and Armani. Just two minutes from the House and Senate, the Rayburn Building houses many of the Congressional offices of the political big wigs (it just struck me that "big wig" as an expression may have something to do with pre-Propecia colonial snobs with gavels).
Jeans = tourist … but I wouldn't let that stop me from seeing what the Congress folk and their staff munch on during their hectic day of misusing government funds. The cafeteria was clean, inexpensive, and altogether pretty decent (the dessert cart, in particular, was more tempting than even an intern with a cigar).
I took a moment to pan over the cafeteria and its patrons. The "democracy" that Dubois refers to should be evident in this, the United States of America; prized democracy that stands as a leader to the rest of the world for values and ideals such as equality, tolerance, and gorging.
Instead what I saw was a room FULL of white people (mostly men) in suits. I could count the persons of color on two hands. Interns, office assistants, lobbyists: everyone was white.
Well, "everyone", except for a small group that was probably working the hardest that day- the clean-up crew.
"With all we accomplish all" – indeed: we pass laws that instill racism and neglect within our entire system, we encourage individualism at the expense of others' misfortune, we don't have national health insurance, and we expect people to clean up after us.
Seems like we accomplish quite a bit.
"There can be no perfect democracy curtailed by color, race, or poverty, but with all we accomplish all" – W.E.B. Dubois
Obvious Mr. Dubois has never dined in the cafeteria of the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill.
Leave your jeans and T-shirts at home, boys and girls; this is where the big dogs play in their Gucci and Armani. Just two minutes from the House and Senate, the Rayburn Building houses many of the Congressional offices of the political big wigs (it just struck me that "big wig" as an expression may have something to do with pre-Propecia colonial snobs with gavels).
Jeans = tourist … but I wouldn't let that stop me from seeing what the Congress folk and their staff munch on during their hectic day of misusing government funds. The cafeteria was clean, inexpensive, and altogether pretty decent (the dessert cart, in particular, was more tempting than even an intern with a cigar).
I took a moment to pan over the cafeteria and its patrons. The "democracy" that Dubois refers to should be evident in this, the United States of America; prized democracy that stands as a leader to the rest of the world for values and ideals such as equality, tolerance, and gorging.
Instead what I saw was a room FULL of white people (mostly men) in suits. I could count the persons of color on two hands. Interns, office assistants, lobbyists: everyone was white.
Well, "everyone", except for a small group that was probably working the hardest that day- the clean-up crew.
"With all we accomplish all" – indeed: we pass laws that instill racism and neglect within our entire system, we encourage individualism at the expense of others' misfortune, we don't have national health insurance, and we expect people to clean up after us.
Seems like we accomplish quite a bit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)