You know what I don't understand? I don't understand why well known anti-gay activist, Randy Thomasson of Save California, recently suggested that a teenage homosexual, who was murdered by a classmate, provoked his own killing. No, I am not making this up. I wish I were, but I am not.
First, some background on the case, fifteen year old, Lawrence "Larry" King was openly gay and also a cross dresser. He was very flamboyant and thought nothing of chasing others boys around the school. He relished the attention that his being out and his appearance brought him. After making his interest in another boy obvious and public, the other boy shot King in the head twice in a computer lab at the school. King died from brain injuries two days later.
Folks, there is a lot going on with this story, both positive and negative. A young man being brave enough to be who he is. Some teachers and students who support King. An assistant principal who may have used King to advance her own agenda. Many, many students who bullied and harassed King. A city where the gay community is almost non-existent. The fact that King was very provocative and sexually suggestive with his male classmates. The behavior of a lot of people involved in this case is questionable.
Young, Gay, and Murdered
That being established, however.................................
Does any of King's behavior justify his being gunned down in cold blood by another middle schooler? Seriously, ladies and gentlemen, think about this. Even if King were parading himself about in front of his killer while telling the young man "You know you want me", does that justify cold blooded murder?
Thomasson certainly seems to think so.
Gay Teen Brought On His Own Murder
The audio clip in the above link is beyond repugnant. The killer was being "harassed", so it is understandable that he would pump a couple of bullets into King's brain. "Bad teachers" supported King to promote the "homosexual agenda". (On a side note, I have been asking for years what the "homosexual agenda" is, but I have yet to receive an answer that wasn't an illogical homophobic rant.) Allowing King to dress in female clothing caused "sexual tension". Allowing students to express themselves through their dress is "social engineering". Anti-bullying statues that include gays are "indoctrination".
This "gentleman" (and I use the term VERY loosely) is reprehensible. His anti-gay bigotry is sickening. His attempt to justify murder is stomach churning.
The killer in this case also had some serious mitigating circumstances in his life. These must be considered in court, but to suggest that King's homosexuality, cross dressing, and behavior legitimize his murder is abominable!
Quite frankly, friends, I would like to see this fanatic be forced to sit and listen to first hand accounts from gays and lesbians about the bigotry and prejudicial treatment that they endure on a day to day, hour to hour, basis. Maybe then, he could remove his cranium from his anus and realize that homophobia is criminal and that gays deserve the same rights, respect, and dignity as everyone else.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Showing posts with label Right-Wing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Right-Wing. Show all posts
Friday, September 23, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
An Example Of Rick Perry's Hypocrisy
According to recent media reports, wildfires have consumed 3.6 million acres of Texas since December of 2010. To put that in perspective, it is essentially an area the size of Connecticut. Over 700 homes have been destroyed and at least four people have been killed. Six of the ten largest wildfires in Texas history have occurred this year. Isn't that an interesting thought?
Here is another interesting thought. Texas governor and GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry has cut funding for volunteer firefighters, who respond to ninety percent of all wildfires in Texas, by seventy five percent. While the fires raged, Perry left his underfunded firefighters to fly to a Republican presidential debate at the Reagan Library where he proceeded, in his best tea party fashion, to bash "big government" while simultaneously praising "the brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect Texans' lives and property" whose funding he slashed.
Wow, Gov. Perry, it must really be difficult to talk out of both sides of your mouth like that.
Conservatives act as if the government is some alien, foreign entity when the Constitution (Are you listening tea partiers?) simply says, "We the people". The government is us. Among its other accomplishments, the federal government has, during our history, freed the slaves, defeated Hitler, built the interstate highway system, won the Cold War, integrated the South, put men on the moon, and killed Osama bin Laden. Perhaps the next time an al Qadea operative needs taken down, the tea party and Gov. Perry can call one of their millionaire CEO buddies out of the executive suite to complete the mission. Maybe Mr. Perry can ask the same CEO to hop on a fire engine and respond the next time his state catches fire.
Along those same lines, during the aforementioned debate, Mr. Perry praised, and rightfully so, the Navy SEALs who killed bin Laden while, in the next breath, stating that government does not create jobs. For whom, pray tell, does Perry think the SEALs work? BP?
(Special thanks to Paul Begala for contributing part of the material for this column.)
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Here is another interesting thought. Texas governor and GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry has cut funding for volunteer firefighters, who respond to ninety percent of all wildfires in Texas, by seventy five percent. While the fires raged, Perry left his underfunded firefighters to fly to a Republican presidential debate at the Reagan Library where he proceeded, in his best tea party fashion, to bash "big government" while simultaneously praising "the brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect Texans' lives and property" whose funding he slashed.
Wow, Gov. Perry, it must really be difficult to talk out of both sides of your mouth like that.
Conservatives act as if the government is some alien, foreign entity when the Constitution (Are you listening tea partiers?) simply says, "We the people". The government is us. Among its other accomplishments, the federal government has, during our history, freed the slaves, defeated Hitler, built the interstate highway system, won the Cold War, integrated the South, put men on the moon, and killed Osama bin Laden. Perhaps the next time an al Qadea operative needs taken down, the tea party and Gov. Perry can call one of their millionaire CEO buddies out of the executive suite to complete the mission. Maybe Mr. Perry can ask the same CEO to hop on a fire engine and respond the next time his state catches fire.
Along those same lines, during the aforementioned debate, Mr. Perry praised, and rightfully so, the Navy SEALs who killed bin Laden while, in the next breath, stating that government does not create jobs. For whom, pray tell, does Perry think the SEALs work? BP?
(Special thanks to Paul Begala for contributing part of the material for this column.)
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Blowhard Glenn Beck Strikes Again
To paraphrase President Ronald Reagan, well, there he goes again.............
That fine, thoughtful, deep, highly intelligent poster child for civilized political commentary, Glenn Beck, has hit a new low; and for him, that is really saying something. What brilliant, insightful observation has set Mr. Beck apart from the other hot air merchants on both sides of the political spectrum? Well, in his infinite wisdom, he compared the innocent victims of the terrorist attack in Norway with the Hitler Youth. Again, I don't make these things up; however, I wouldn't have believed it, had I not seen it and heard it for myself.
Beck Compares Massacre Victims To Hitler Youth
Seriously, Glenn? Those of us who can put together a string of logical thoughts know that you are a caricature, but this is pathetic, even for you. These kids were learning about democracy from the ground up. Perhaps if we tried such a thing here in the US, we wouldn't have so many clueless citizens. Further, the LAST thing that the Hitler Youth were was a political organization. Of course, with your obvious lack of knowledge of American and world history, I am not surprised you would not be aware of this well known fact.
I realize you have to be outrageous to compete with Limbaugh, Coulter, and their ilk, but how dare you compare innocent victims of a shooting rampage to a paramilitary group of Nazis? Disgusting. And yet there are people out there who think you actually have something to contribute to political discourse in this country. Maybe after this latest episode, they will see you for the windbag you are. Here is hoping you fade into obscurity and never pollute our media with your venom again.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
That fine, thoughtful, deep, highly intelligent poster child for civilized political commentary, Glenn Beck, has hit a new low; and for him, that is really saying something. What brilliant, insightful observation has set Mr. Beck apart from the other hot air merchants on both sides of the political spectrum? Well, in his infinite wisdom, he compared the innocent victims of the terrorist attack in Norway with the Hitler Youth. Again, I don't make these things up; however, I wouldn't have believed it, had I not seen it and heard it for myself.
Beck Compares Massacre Victims To Hitler Youth
Seriously, Glenn? Those of us who can put together a string of logical thoughts know that you are a caricature, but this is pathetic, even for you. These kids were learning about democracy from the ground up. Perhaps if we tried such a thing here in the US, we wouldn't have so many clueless citizens. Further, the LAST thing that the Hitler Youth were was a political organization. Of course, with your obvious lack of knowledge of American and world history, I am not surprised you would not be aware of this well known fact.
I realize you have to be outrageous to compete with Limbaugh, Coulter, and their ilk, but how dare you compare innocent victims of a shooting rampage to a paramilitary group of Nazis? Disgusting. And yet there are people out there who think you actually have something to contribute to political discourse in this country. Maybe after this latest episode, they will see you for the windbag you are. Here is hoping you fade into obscurity and never pollute our media with your venom again.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Science Class Or Christian Indoctrination Class?
You know what I don't understand? I don't understand why state boards of education and elected officials insist on trying to inject their personal religious beliefs into public school science classes. Tonight's articles are from the State of Texas, but this type of thing happens on a regular basis all across America.
Texas School Board To Push For "Intelligent Design"?
Texas In A "Spiritual Battle" In Science Class?
I just don't understand this on many different levels, folks. First, these are public schools. It has been the law of the land for many years that religion is not to be taught in public schools. Public taxes are not to be used for religious indoctrination. If you want to teach your child about your religion, I have no issue with that. Just please do so in the house of worship of your choice, in a religious school, or a combination thereof. However, it has no place in a publicly funded school.
Another thing that bothers me is the amount of time, money, and resources that are utilized by the religious right to try to interject their views into public education. American children continue to lag behind children in other industrialized nations in math and science scores. Major corporation and health care providers have to recruit outside the US to find competent engineers, mathematicians, scientists, and physicians. American children don't even know the history (the true history, mind you, not the Sarah Palin version) of our country, and, yet untold millions of dollars are spent trying to convert science teachers into Christian messengers. Am I the only one that sees the connection between these things? Perhaps if we actually taught our children math and real science (not "intelligent design"), we wouldn't be importing our engineers, scientists, and medical doctors from Europe, Asia, and South Asia. (And yet the same people who want to inject religious dogma into science classes also bellyache about immigration, but, once again, I digress............)
Another point, ladies and gentlemen, why is there no thought whatsoever given to children who are not Christians? I realize Texas isn't the most multicultural place in the US, but I can promise you that 100% of the population is not Christian. Why is there no thought given to the Jewish child, the Muslim child, the Buddhist child, the Wiccan child, the Atheist child, and so on? The lack of respect and consideration, to borrow a phrase from a dear friend of mine, is simply stunning.
The lat point I want to make is that I am utterly baffled by how Texas Governor, Rick Perry, a Republican of course, can actually be considered a viable presidential candidate when he has been the driving force behind this nonsense over the past few years. Will he try to do to American what he is trying to do to Texas? Between that and recalling how tragically wrong things went the last time we elected a GOP governor from Texas as president, I certainly hope Perry's obvious presidential ambitions never get off the ground.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Texas School Board To Push For "Intelligent Design"?
Texas In A "Spiritual Battle" In Science Class?
I just don't understand this on many different levels, folks. First, these are public schools. It has been the law of the land for many years that religion is not to be taught in public schools. Public taxes are not to be used for religious indoctrination. If you want to teach your child about your religion, I have no issue with that. Just please do so in the house of worship of your choice, in a religious school, or a combination thereof. However, it has no place in a publicly funded school.
Another thing that bothers me is the amount of time, money, and resources that are utilized by the religious right to try to interject their views into public education. American children continue to lag behind children in other industrialized nations in math and science scores. Major corporation and health care providers have to recruit outside the US to find competent engineers, mathematicians, scientists, and physicians. American children don't even know the history (the true history, mind you, not the Sarah Palin version) of our country, and, yet untold millions of dollars are spent trying to convert science teachers into Christian messengers. Am I the only one that sees the connection between these things? Perhaps if we actually taught our children math and real science (not "intelligent design"), we wouldn't be importing our engineers, scientists, and medical doctors from Europe, Asia, and South Asia. (And yet the same people who want to inject religious dogma into science classes also bellyache about immigration, but, once again, I digress............)
Another point, ladies and gentlemen, why is there no thought whatsoever given to children who are not Christians? I realize Texas isn't the most multicultural place in the US, but I can promise you that 100% of the population is not Christian. Why is there no thought given to the Jewish child, the Muslim child, the Buddhist child, the Wiccan child, the Atheist child, and so on? The lack of respect and consideration, to borrow a phrase from a dear friend of mine, is simply stunning.
The lat point I want to make is that I am utterly baffled by how Texas Governor, Rick Perry, a Republican of course, can actually be considered a viable presidential candidate when he has been the driving force behind this nonsense over the past few years. Will he try to do to American what he is trying to do to Texas? Between that and recalling how tragically wrong things went the last time we elected a GOP governor from Texas as president, I certainly hope Perry's obvious presidential ambitions never get off the ground.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Are Bachman And Santorum This Ignorant?
You know what I don't understand? I don't understand how any person who wants to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate could sign the Family Leader's so-called "marriage vow". (Pun intended, I am sure.) Ladies and gentlemen, if you haven't seen this pledge, its original text essentially stared that African American children were better off being born into slavery, where according to this right wing group, both parents were most likely to be present (unless of course one parent was killed or sold off by their owner, but I digress with those pesky historical facts again) as opposed to being born now into a single parent family.
Read The "Vow" Here
Historically inaccurate, you say? Outrageously offensive to African Americans, you say? Insulting to single parents nationwide, you say? Blatantly bigoted, you say?
Well, I say you're right. However, Republican (of course) presidential candidates, Michele Bachman and Rick Santorum do not agree with you. Both of these ultra-conservative candidates have vowed to stand by this pledge with Rep. Bachman being the first to actually sign the pledge and return it to Family Leader.
Now, this extreme right-wing organization has since backed off on this part of their pledge, but the rest of the document is almost equally offensive, mean spirited, and undignified. Oddly, only GOP candidate Mitt Romney has had the decency to say so.
Right Wing Groups Back Off On Offensive Slavery Language
Mitt Romney Shows Some Class
My question, dear readers, is how Bachman and Santorum could actually agree with this pledge in any for, let alone its original form? Do they really believe what was written, or are they pandering to the religious right that controls the modern day Republican Party? Which answer to that question is less disturbing? Do they actually think black kids were better off being born into slavery, or are they so determined to kowtow to the religious right that they will promise to follow and pledge or vow put in front of them?
Is this what the Republican Party has become? Is this what the right wing in this country has become? If so, ask me again why I am a liberal and a Democrat.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Read The "Vow" Here
Historically inaccurate, you say? Outrageously offensive to African Americans, you say? Insulting to single parents nationwide, you say? Blatantly bigoted, you say?
Well, I say you're right. However, Republican (of course) presidential candidates, Michele Bachman and Rick Santorum do not agree with you. Both of these ultra-conservative candidates have vowed to stand by this pledge with Rep. Bachman being the first to actually sign the pledge and return it to Family Leader.
Now, this extreme right-wing organization has since backed off on this part of their pledge, but the rest of the document is almost equally offensive, mean spirited, and undignified. Oddly, only GOP candidate Mitt Romney has had the decency to say so.
Right Wing Groups Back Off On Offensive Slavery Language
Mitt Romney Shows Some Class
My question, dear readers, is how Bachman and Santorum could actually agree with this pledge in any for, let alone its original form? Do they really believe what was written, or are they pandering to the religious right that controls the modern day Republican Party? Which answer to that question is less disturbing? Do they actually think black kids were better off being born into slavery, or are they so determined to kowtow to the religious right that they will promise to follow and pledge or vow put in front of them?
Is this what the Republican Party has become? Is this what the right wing in this country has become? If so, ask me again why I am a liberal and a Democrat.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Right Wing Extremists On The Rise
You know what I don't understand? I don't understand the rise in right wing extremists groups and white supremacist groups in the US. Frankly, I don't understand the existence of these groups period, but I certainly don't understand why the number, and number of members, of these groups are on the upswing.
Extremist Groups on the Rise
For the record, the attached article from the AP discusses a rise in these groups in the Northwestern US, but it seems obvious that this problem is not geographically isolated to one part of our country. That being said, let's review some of the things these groups stand for.
They are "anti-government". Okay, what does that mean exactly? Are they against the federal government? Are they against their respective state governments? Regardless, what I find so ridiculous about this is that so many of the members of these groups want to stand on soapboxes and bellyache about law and order, call themselves "patriots", and blather on about the Constitution, yet they are against legally, Constitutionally elected governments? They talk about law and order, but fire weapons at law enforcement officers?
They rail against "big government" and "government intrusion" into their lives while driving on federally funded highways to attend their rallies where security will be provided by locally funded police officers, firefighters, and EMS providers. They will then fly home from federally funded airports with federally funded air marshals on the flights where they will eat food screened for safety by state funded food safety workers. I would also be willing to bet none of them turn down their Medicare cards or social security checks either.
Obviously socialism really has run amok here in America, and all of these services should be privatized as soon as possible!!! Am I the only one who sees the utter hypocrisy and lack of logic here? If these people weren't so dangerous, even deadly at times, it would actually be funny.
Of course, the number, and activity level, of these groups has increased exponentially since President Obama's election in 2008. Of course, it isn't racially motivated. It is because Mr. Obama is a "socialist". I am sure the increase in white supremacist groups is merely coincidental. (I shall also state for the umpteenth time that most of those who shriek about Mr. Obama being a "socialist" would not know a true socialist if Karl Marx shook their hands. I have a dear friend who escaped from a true socialist country with her parents many years ago, and I truly wish the dunderheads who so flippantly toss that word about could hear her story.) I am sure the fact that Mr. Obama has been subjected to more threats on his life than any other president in history is also a coincidence. I am sure the attempted bombing of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade in Spokane was yet another chance happening.
Folks, is this 2011 or 1964? We elected an African-American president, yet racism runs rampant in our country. Black folks have achieved prominence in all aspects of society, yet they are still stereotyped as lazy, uneducated, promiscuous, ignorant, and prone to criminal activity. African-Americans are elected officials, CEOs, heads of industry, lawyers, physicians, nurses, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, accountants, farmers, and members of all other professions imaginable, yet so many members of our populace think all they are capable of is playing basketball and rapping.
Dear readers, all people are equal. We all come from the same God. We all deserve equal opportunity and equal protection. It is too bad members of these racist groups don't, or won't, understand this basic premise.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
Extremist Groups on the Rise
For the record, the attached article from the AP discusses a rise in these groups in the Northwestern US, but it seems obvious that this problem is not geographically isolated to one part of our country. That being said, let's review some of the things these groups stand for.
They are "anti-government". Okay, what does that mean exactly? Are they against the federal government? Are they against their respective state governments? Regardless, what I find so ridiculous about this is that so many of the members of these groups want to stand on soapboxes and bellyache about law and order, call themselves "patriots", and blather on about the Constitution, yet they are against legally, Constitutionally elected governments? They talk about law and order, but fire weapons at law enforcement officers?
They rail against "big government" and "government intrusion" into their lives while driving on federally funded highways to attend their rallies where security will be provided by locally funded police officers, firefighters, and EMS providers. They will then fly home from federally funded airports with federally funded air marshals on the flights where they will eat food screened for safety by state funded food safety workers. I would also be willing to bet none of them turn down their Medicare cards or social security checks either.
Obviously socialism really has run amok here in America, and all of these services should be privatized as soon as possible!!! Am I the only one who sees the utter hypocrisy and lack of logic here? If these people weren't so dangerous, even deadly at times, it would actually be funny.
Of course, the number, and activity level, of these groups has increased exponentially since President Obama's election in 2008. Of course, it isn't racially motivated. It is because Mr. Obama is a "socialist". I am sure the increase in white supremacist groups is merely coincidental. (I shall also state for the umpteenth time that most of those who shriek about Mr. Obama being a "socialist" would not know a true socialist if Karl Marx shook their hands. I have a dear friend who escaped from a true socialist country with her parents many years ago, and I truly wish the dunderheads who so flippantly toss that word about could hear her story.) I am sure the fact that Mr. Obama has been subjected to more threats on his life than any other president in history is also a coincidence. I am sure the attempted bombing of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade in Spokane was yet another chance happening.
Folks, is this 2011 or 1964? We elected an African-American president, yet racism runs rampant in our country. Black folks have achieved prominence in all aspects of society, yet they are still stereotyped as lazy, uneducated, promiscuous, ignorant, and prone to criminal activity. African-Americans are elected officials, CEOs, heads of industry, lawyers, physicians, nurses, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, accountants, farmers, and members of all other professions imaginable, yet so many members of our populace think all they are capable of is playing basketball and rapping.
Dear readers, all people are equal. We all come from the same God. We all deserve equal opportunity and equal protection. It is too bad members of these racist groups don't, or won't, understand this basic premise.
Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.
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