The Skinny on Political and LGBT News
In a recent AP-AOL poll readers were asked who their villains and heroes were. Honestly, the results are H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!
1. If you were asked to name a famous person to be the biggest villain of the year, whom would you choose?
Kevinbegood (a regular patron of Pam’s House Blend) made a very important comment to a post that needs to be seen by all.
It is tyranny – plain and simple.
And we’ve been much too careful for the last two years about calling this situation exactly what it is – tyranny. This heterosupremacist attitude that only married people should be entitled to have control over their lives and relationships is not only against the framework of our own freedom of association, but is obscene in the methods being used to maintain supremacist control over our lives.
There are times when we have to step up to the plate and not be afraid to call these people what they are – and bigots is just the polite form. They are every bit as tyrannical as the very king and Parliament this nation fought to gain independence from – and they are just as determined to maintain some ridiculous sense of special rights for themselves just because some American “Christian” ayatolluh’s business is completely dependent on propagating a caste system.
When Leonard Pitt’s column ran in our local newspaper this morning (and what a shock that our local rightwing rag would even print it) there had to be at least one christo-fascist commenter whining about how we “choose” to be “unnatural”. Typically, I sent an online comment right back, challenging him to talk about how he projects sexuality in terms of his own experience – meaning apparently he chose the more “correct” one. You can’t choose anything unless you have the notion that you can be something else – it’s time to make these supremacists whining this crap to start spilling their tales of conscious selection.
As for third class status, Wisconsin can forget my support. When the people of an entire state are so stupid and so willing to sell out a basic human right to determine my own damned burial arrangements or let a partner make a simple hospital visitation, there isn’t much of a way to put lipstick over the bruises.
But I do blame our own community for much of this defeat. I know we have an uphill battle, but until we are willing to tell our stories – and tell them loudly – and insist our local media give us the right to say something about our OWN experiences, this situation ain’t gonna change too soon. And I’ve read those experiences even here on the Blend – those comments in a thread the other day which talked about how families accepted or rejected our relationships are exactly the kinds of stories that need to be told to everyone.
We shouldn’t have to continue attempting to overcompensate for being gay by trying to be better principled human beings than those lowlife trash who pass themselves off as “religious” people with a “moral” foundation. The only damned foundation these people have is to give themselves as much of a step up in life as possible at the expense of as many other people as possible.
There has never been a real “debate” over marriage, period. Straight people are too insecure to actually examine statutes dealing with such matters as life, property, health and death – and they most certainly don’t wish to discuss their abhorrent behavior when they strip a gay relative’s home of every possession and toss a partner out into the street because the good Lord told them being “gay” was a sin. But it is high time this discussion was handled – not just for gay Americans, but for every single person in this country.
Families are (and have never been) ideal structures where everyone gets along famously, no one abuses anyone or beats their children, and no one abuses their spouse and destroys any love that should naturally be there. And we all know the fundies are at the heart of the perpetration of those dysfunctional homes – there are too many stories of children and spouses abused and neglected by one member of a family joining some nutcase church and hauling home the nose of a meddling minister (or worse, his peepee) into that home environment.
It isn’t rocket science for any American to relate on his or her own experience and understand that there are millions and millions of people in this country who just don’t have the ideal 1950’s television sitcom life. And it sure as hell ain’t rocket science to figure out that in every damned family in this country, a funeral is nothing but the backdrop for the heavy-handed greed ensuing over anything of mortal and monetary value. We’ve all seen it – and so has every single official “family” member. The laws in their present form do not protect the people they are created to serve. And when those who have been awarded the only right to form relationships based on an image (and regularly break their vows without legal/social penalty)are also given absolute control over the lives of all other members in a family, then the “family” associations are promoting nothing but tyranny.
Well now – I’ve just been on a ranting spree lately…hahaha. I might just cross-post this rant on Democratic Underground…
It would appear that our ‘friends’ in Italy who are waging their own battle for equal marriage rights against the Vatican’s desires have gone a little too far. Two Italian leftists have taken it upon themselves to mock a manger scene in probably the most vulgar none-too-subtle way. They added four additional dolls to the official nativity.
The problem is not that they added the 4 dolls as same sex couples.
Bruno Mellano and Donatella Poretti placed the Barbie and Ken-type dolls in the parliamentary nativity scene, each couple lying down embraced among the shepherds witnessing the birth of Jesus.
Granted it was only for a few minutes before ushers came and took the dolls away but this is not how anyone should go about making their point. If anything they could have added a second “Mary” or a second “Joseph” standing next to Mary and Joseph. It would have been very controvercial still but it would have been less so.
This is blasphemous in the highest sense and it offends not only Christians, Christianists, but Athiests, and Agnostics and anyone sensible enough to know better.
Obviosly these two were not sensible and the Italian government, it’s citizens, and the Vatican has every right to be angry.
The GLBT community does not need this kind of help achieving rights. We can do it on our own with respect and dignity as these two “Rose in the Fist” partyliners deserve neither.
Source: Reuters via Yahoo!
*Update* (H/T Pam)
Caption: In this image made available by Italy’s Radical Party website, two dolls with signs reading: ‘Also in Italy gay marriages like in Zapatero’s Spain’ which were reportedly placed near the traditional nativity scene at the Italian parliament’s Lower Chamber by two Radical party deputies, in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, in a gesture intended as a show of support for a law that would give unmarried couples, including gays, some of the same rights as married couples. Two deputies with Italy’s small but vocal Radical Party caused an uproar among appalled legislators in this predominantly Catholic country on Wednesday when they placed dolls representing two gay couples next to Parliament’s nativity scene. (AP Photo/Radical Party)
The latest “Action Alert” from Don “Can’t change the channel” Wildmon goes after CBS’s Two And a Half Men for parodying “Joy to the World” and “Gloria” during Christmas time.
December 13, 2006
CBS, Charlie Sheen bash Christ, Christmas and Christians
Charlie Sheen makes Joy to the World into a cheap sex song
CBS and actor Charlie Sheen have used the Christmas season to ridicule and mock Christ, Christmas and Christians. CBS approved actor Charlie Sheen’s vulgar adaptation of a favorite Christian Christmas carol. On the December 11 program, the network included in their Two and a Half Men an episode featuring Sheen singing about his sexual activity to the tune of the traditional Christmas hymn “Joy to the World.”
CBS and Sheen knew that the lyrics would greatly offend Christians, but did not hesitate to air them. Click here to see the episode on CBS.
The episode opens with series star Charlie (Sheen) singing:
“Joy to the world, I’m getting laid; I’m getting laid tonight. We’ll light the yule log, deck the halls, and then we’ll play some jingle balls. It’s been a real long wait – this is our second date! It’s Christmas Eve and I’m getting laid.”
His housekeeper/cook comes in and asks:
“Hey, I’m mixing up the egg nog. You want this broad lit up or just slightly glowing?” “Well,” Charlie says, “let’s see, we’re celebrating peace on earth and good will towards all mankind, so let’s get ‘er plowed!” “Hallelujah!” says the cook.
Charlie returns to singing, “Glo-oh-oh-oh-oh-ria, tonight I’m boinking Gloria!” CBS punctuates every single line with a laugh track.
Take Action
Such actions send a signal from CBS and Hollywood: “It’s ok to bash Christians, their religion and their God.” If you are tired of this bigotry from CBS and Hollywood, please take action and then forward this to your friends and family.
Yes, He even has the audacity to call others bigots. ‘Cause, you know, parodying a Christmas song is all about slamming Christians. Maybe, perhaps he should check out the “hits” from Westboro Baptist Church in which many a Christmas song is parodied or mocked.
Surprisingly he didn’t jump on the fact that it’s two men raising a boy, and no mother around.
Yes from Wildmon and his camp the “hits” keep on coming and coming. It’s amazing that his TV hasn’t burnt out, since he obviously can’t turn it off. It would explain the thick glasses though.
The comedic gold of Christian bashing. Every day something new to laugh about. Where on Earth does it come from?
Source: http://www.afa.net/aa121306.htm
Uh oh, the so-called “War on Christmas” is raging over at Concerned Women for America. Check out their latest contribution. A naughty and nice list of vendors who do or do not use “Merry Christmas” in their advertising or in their stores.
NICE:
New! LL Bean – Released three Christmas catalogs this year!
Belk
Target
Kohl’s
Macy’s
TJX stores (TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, HomeGoods, A.J. Wright, Bob’s stores)
Walgreen’s
Wal-Mart
J.C. Penney’s
Dillard’s
Joann Fabrics
Linens ‘N Things
K-Mart
Chick-fil-A
Hobby Lobby
Michael’s
Farmer Jack (grocery)
Stater Brothers (grocery)
Kroger’s
Denny’s
In-N-Out Burger
Christian Brothers Automotive
Bath & Body Works
SCROOGES:
Best Buy – steadfastly refuses to mention Christmas
Old Navy
Home Depot – still hiding behind the “holiday” trees
Lowe’s – clerks will only say “Merry Christmas” when it is customer initiated
Plow & Hearth – you might find Christmas in the fine print
Crate & Barrel
Eddie Bauer – doesn’t want to offend anyone
Toys ‘R’ Us
Banana Republic
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Dick’s Sporting Goods
The Gap
Safeway
Ahh the fundie insanity continues…
Source:
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/11904/CWA/family/index.htm
The Veep’s daughter, Mary Cheney is pregnant with a child. She made the announcement yesterday. While this is great news for the couple and apparantly happy news for Dick and Lynn the rest of the right-wing is getting upset.
Here’s what the cretons said in the swamps of the Freepi:
Whose the proud papa?
I don’t know if Mary Cheney ever wanted to be the “poster child” for lesbian parents – but she has the job now.
I hope people here can muster some common decency and show a little of the dignity and class the Cheney family demonstrates.Aren’t you the dreamer.
smile
Sometimes I actually think that posters here are cognizant of the impact of what they write on the majority of voters here in America. But, as you say, I’m a bit of an optimist
I see no dignity in artifical insemination resulting in pregnancy supported by some anonymous seman donar at the clinic. I certainly see no class in that. Decency? Toward what? Lesbians raising children? How do you later in the child’s life explain to them that they were artificially conceived by some anonymous donor?
I’d rather see someone like Mary Cheney who isn’t out there shoving it down our throats than the openly gay ones who are marching, having parades, carrying signs & wearing t-shirts that you wish your kids weren’t with you & could read, when you see them.
She carries herself with pride & isn’t flaunting anything. I do not approve of gays or lesbians but can accept that they have a right to live as they want, but don’t push it in our faces. We do NOT have to accept it as normal & those are the kind that really bug me.Heather has two mommies; it’s just wrong.
Not to defend the practice, I think kids, especially boys, need fathers, not two mothers, but how much harder could that be than explaining the usual process?
The same way that all women who have utilized artificial insemination have explained it. I’m not sure it’s too very different than later in life explaining to a child that they have no father because he chose not to be a part of their life.
Btw, the dignity I speak of has to do with the entire Cheney family and the way they have conducted themselves during the last six years.Hopefully Ronald Reagan [sic]but a tube on ice waiting for a moment just like this.
Heather Cheney-Reagan For President in 2048!“Whose the proud papa?”
Let’s just pray it isn’t David CrosbyMust be difficult for Dick Cheney sometimes.
I see no dignity in violating the principals set out in the bible on how to procreate a child.
I feel sorry for the Cheney family but Mary is their burden and is not for us to carry.
I believe that God may have a different take on artificially manufacturing a child.
You plea reeks of more feminazi emasculation of the already weak American male.To save America for the long run we may need to open a “GOP Stud Farm.”
Of course no Rino’s could be introduced but we could find a great breading stock starting with Ann Coulter and Michele Malkin.
On the other side of the fence we could start with Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Rummy, Bush and Cheney.The concept is to breed the best conservative female minds in our country with with the best conservative male minds. The kids are then provided with a solid conservative education on military tactics, economics and social issues.
Once educated they will be elected to the Presidency and perhaps the Senate. [further proof that insanity is genetic]
The insanity is mind numbing, while Mary may not be helpfull regularly to the gay community, this will undoubtedly help in the long run. While she previously helped sweep gays and lesbians under the bus she now has to step forward somewhat or her family could see what the hatefulness and bigotry of this country have seen. Mind you, Mary is pregnant and so this child is guaranteed the best care even if something happens to her. Her partner is not eligible for the slightest opportunity to raise the child or receive any help.
Will the Cheney’s care? Will the Bush’s? We’ll see.
Sources:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1749133/posts
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/05/AR2006120501712.html
The Christianists group “Young Conservatives” at Texas University are the latest warriors in a non-existent “War on Christmas” brought to us by the likes of Bill O’Reilly, Donald Wildmon, and John Gibson.
The conservative youth take a jab at the ACLU and the “secular progressive warriors” by making a “scene” on the front steps of the campus. The scene includes a gay couple, Gary and Joseph, in place of Mary and Joseph, Nancy Pelosi and a terrorst complete with suicide bomb belt as the angels presiding over the birth of “Happy Holidays.” The Three wisemen, Lenin, Marx, and Stalin provide gifts of gold, frankensense and…child pornography?
Their press release:
Conservative Students to Display “ACLU Nativity Scene”
November 29, 2006
Contact: Tony McDonald, Chairman – 512.923.6893FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUSTIN, TX – The Young Conservatives of Texas – University of Texas Chapter announced today that they will be displaying an “ACLU Nativity Scene” on the West Mall of the University of Texas campus on Monday and Tuesday, December 4th and 5th. The group’s intent is to raise awareness on the extremity of the ACLU, and bring to light its secular-progressive efforts to remove Christmas from the public sphere. The display, the first of its kind in the nation, will feature characters that are quite a bit different than the standard crèche.
“We’ve got Gary and Joseph instead of Mary and Joseph in order to symbolize ACLU support for homosexual marriage, and of course there isn’t a Jesus in the manger,” said Chairman Tony McDonald. “The three Wise Men are Lenin, Marx, and Stalin because the founders of the ACLU were strident supporters of Soviet style Communism. The whole scene is a tongue-in-cheek way of showing the many ways that the ACLU and the far left are out of touch with the values of mainstream America.”
The scene will also display a terrorist shepherd and an angel in the form of Nancy Pelosi.
“The ACLU and other left-wing extremist groups are working diligently to destroy American’s rights to the free expression of religion,” said Executive Director Joseph Wyly. “We’ve already seen in Chicago an attempt to censor the nativity by a city government this week. It’s just more evidence that there is a War on Christmas being waged by the far-left in this country.”
Young Conservatives of Texas, a non-partisan conservative youth organization, has been fighting for conservative values for more than a quarter century in the Lone Star State and publishes the most respected ratings of the Texas Legislature. YCT has chapters at universities across Texas including Texas A&M University, West Texas A&M University, Baylor University, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, Midwestern University, Texas State University, University of Texas San Antonio, University of North Texas, Hardin-Simmons University, Texas Tech University, and Stephen F. Austin University.
The true irony in all of this is the history of the Christmas Celebration. Most people if asked will say it is the celebration of Christ’s birthday. That more than 2000 years ago on December 25th, in a manger in Bethlehem, Jesus, the son of God was born to the Virgin Mother Mary. They’ll tell you that the angel Gabriel appeared to shepherds watching their flocks and told them of the birth of the King of Kings. They’ll talk about a star that shone down upon the city Bethlehem that guided three wise men of orient to the baby Jesus and bestowed upon him God, Frankcense and Murrh. The truth however is something entirely different.
While parts of the “Christmas” story may be true such as the birth in a manger or the three wisemen bearing gifts, the rest scientifically speaking is probably bunk. If a star shone down on Bethlehem it would take quite a signifigant amount of time for the wisemen to travel from the Orient and Mary and Joseph had only just gotten into town, ready to give birth. Since the Earth rotates and Stars are not fixed the wisemen would likely have traveled in circles from night to night following the star from its rise till its set. It is in ancient times as it is in modern times that stories have been invented to explain the traditions we enjoy today.
Bill O’Reilly states that ”Christmas is under seige,” and that it’s wrong to call the Capitol Tree a “Holiday Tree.” Well one thing about the tree in question, Mr. O’Reilly, is that it’s mentioned in the bible, but it is a sin to cut one down and bring it indoors and adorn it with gold and silver as I’m sure most Americans do each year.
Jeremiah 10:2-4: “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.”
So why must we call it a Christmas Tree? Christians considered these pagan acts and even the Anglican Church banned such festivals and right on through to the 19th century when the “everyone else is doing it” mentality allowed them to say “okay okay already.”
As Mr. O’Reilly and the Young Conservatives already know, there are many holidays that are celebrated during this time of year. And even if we were dealing with only Christians “Happy Holidays” is still an appropriate phrase as there are 3 holidays during this time of year that include Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. So saying “Happy Holidays” applies to Christians as well. The reason that businesses and people in general say “Happy Holidays” is because this nation does not have one state sanctioned religion. Many people of many faiths celebrate many holidays this time of year. Hanukka, Kwanza, Boxing Day, Christmas, the winter solstice, New Years, Ramadan, and a few others are celebrated. Why should people who do not subscribe to Christianity be excluded from a store or government celebration of this time of year? Bill would say it’s “because Christmas is a federal holiday.” Yes, and so? Giving people the day off is not such a bad thing. Since most are Christian it is fair to give them the day off along with EVERYONE ELSE. Our economy would not do so hot though if all the men and women who celebrate Hanukka got eight days off though. In all fairness I’m not trying to stereotype Jewish people as being frugal or economical, I’m making a statement that I believe the majority of people in the financial capitol of the United States are Jewish.
The Young Conservatives get upset that the Chicago city government decided a nativity scene on government property and sponsored and maintained with government monies would be inappropriate. Why would it be inappropriate you ask? The reason is simple. “Congress shall make no law respecting the establsihment of religion.” Simply paying for, allowing and maintaining a nativity scene on gov’t property would be endorsing Christianity. The Nativity is something only in the Christian tradition. The government essentially dictating this should be offensive to all Americans, not just non-Christians.
Now before I get hate mail, I’ll say this, I do, as an Athiest, celbrate the holidays with the Christmas traditions that I grew up with. I have a tree, decorations, and even Christmas songs about Jesus. Why? I like this time of year. It’s a season of giving and love. It’s a time of year we celebrate coming together and the warmth of family. However, I do not yell at anyone to say “Merry Christmas.”
However, this year I will wage my own little war. I’m going to start to demand that Jewish people are treated with more respect and dignity during the Hanukka Holidays. Wal*Mart greeters need to understand that not all of their customers may be Christian and so as not to offend any Jewish people they must start saying “Happy Hanukka” to all of their patrons. Christians beleive in the Old Testament and should therefore not be offended.
In conclusion, Happy Chrismahanukwanzadan to all, and to all a good night.
