The Place of Transgender in LGBT

Susan Stryker of Salon.com writes:

Transgender people have become this political season’s version of the unisex-toilet issue that helped scuttle passage of the Equal Rights Amendment back in the 1970s, of Willie Horton’s role in bringing the first Bush presidency to the White House in the 1980s, and of the “Don’t bend over to pick up the soap in the barracks shower room” argument against gays in the military in the 1990s — a false issue that panders to the basest and most ignorant of fears.

In this article, Stryker is responding to, “Pity poor John Aravosis, the gay rights crusader from AmericaBlog whose “How Did the T Get in LGBT?” essay, in reference to the controversy over gender identity protections in the pending Employment Non-Discrimination Act, was published on Salon a few days ago.”

 Aravosis claims that we would be closer to having significant gay rights if it were not for trans-gender people.

Dear god.  Other than needing to go back to school to study sexual identity and gender, Aravosis needs to recognize his tremendous hypocrisy.  As a member of a group that has been unfairly discriminated against, you’d think he would be careful not to harbor unwarranted prejudices himself.

Stryker does a good job of addressing the issues at play here, and her article is definitly worth a read.

Quote of the Day – Edgar Allan Poe

All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry.

-Edgar Allan Poe

Religious Origins of the United States

From Tina Dupuy:

It’s a fabrication that an exclusively religious — peaceful and ultimately blissful era ever existed. It can’t happen ‘again’, because it never happened in the first place. The Puritans came to this land to practice THEIR religion without being persecuted and (at least in the Boston colony) quickly persecuted those who didn’t practice their religion. Quakers were hanged and tortured for blasphemy. Native Americans were killed for being heathens. And sassers, gossipers and adulterers got their ears cropped or their noses split.

Looking back to colonial days for religious precedent is like looking back at the Black Plague for health care reform.

It’s true.  More people are religious today in this country (per capita) than when this country was founded.  This is due primarily to the recent rise of evangelicalism.  There used to be a time that no person who wore their religion on their sleeve could get elected president.  Now, it’s the opposite.  Now it is the reasonable people who have to fight to get their voice heard.

The Rebel Flag

Apparently, there are two views on the Confederate flag -

1. a symbol of white supremacy

2. a symbol of pride and heritage

I would argue that those two things aren’t as different as some would have you believe, more specifically, those who claim the second category would have you believe.

The rebel battle flag has become a kitchy southern cultural phenomenon. It was painted on the rough of the Dukes of Hazard’s car, and to this day is incorporated in the state flags of a few southern states. People hang it on their walls as one would for their favorite sports team. It even has become clothing (see below).

So I consent that it may be a display of so called ‘southern pride’. But pride in what? The most devisive issue of the civil war (the obvious origin of the flag) was that of racial equality. Anyone that would claim today that the south wasn’t on the wrong side of that issue is a racist. So when southerners fly the flag, what can it mean except pride in slavery, in the dehumanization of our fellow man?

Sure, you can claim that you are proud of the southerner’s sense of independence – but surely there are better ways to do it – ways that don’t involve a symbol of an oppressive regime.

There is probably much good that can be found in 1940′s Germany, but no one will fly the Nazi flag and say that they’re only trying to remember the good parts.

It comes down to this: if you display the confederate flag in any sense (other than a history lesson, obviously) don’t be surprised to be labeled as a racist. You probably are. It scares me that people like that still exist in 21st century America.

Ann Coulter on Women’s Suffrage

Ann Coulter had this to say to the New York Observer:

“If we took away women’s right to vote, we’d never have to worry about another Democrat president. It’s kind of a pipe dream, it’s a personal fantasy of mine, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women.

“It also makes the point, it is kind of embarrassing, the Democratic Party ought to be hanging its head in shame, that it has so much difficulty getting men to vote for it. I mean, you do see it’s the party of women and ‘We’ll pay for health care and tuition and day care — and here, what else can we give you, soccer moms?’”

Update – I just stumbled upon this quote, on the same subject:

I think [women] should be armed but should not [be allowed to] vote.  No, they all have to give up their vote, not just, you know, the lady clapping and me. The problem with women voting — and your Communists will back me up on this — is that, you know, women have no capacity to understand how money is earned. They have a lot of ideas on how to spend it. And when they take these polls, it’s always more money on education, more money on child care, more money on day care.”
– Ann Coulter, Politically Incorrect, Feb. 26, 2001

My god.  I’m running out of ways to cleverly say that Ann Coulter is the stupidest fucking person alive.  She is though, honestly.  If she doesn’t think women should vote, she should lead the movement by not voting herself. 

This women not voting thing is just the latest in a long line of stupid, offensive, and evil things to come out of that woman’s mouth.  I think mainstream media should just refuse to publish anything she writes, or cover her in any fashion.  Maybe if we ignore her she’ll go away.  (Yes, I realize me saying that we should ignore her is, in fact, not ignoring her – but let’s face it . . . I’m not CNN)

Court Rules in Favor of MPAA

1 Song from I-Tunes – $.99

1 Song from Kazaa – $9,250

Getting fined $222,000 for downloading 24 songs – priceless fucked up

That’s right, a jury just fined a woman $222,000 for allegedly downloading 24 songs from Kazaa, the P2P network. This sets a horrible precedent and is completely ridiculous. Read about it here.

Bourne Co. to Sue over Family Guy’s Jew

The copyright owners of “When You Wish Upon A Star” are sueing the makers of the TV show “Family Guy”.  The case goes beyond simple copyright infringment and allges that it “harmed the value and reputation of `When You Wish Upon a Star’ by associating the famous song with a vile and outrageous anti-Semitic message”

Peter Griffin:
Nothing else has worked so far
So I’ll wish upon a star
Wonderous shining speck of light
I need a Jew

Lois makes me take the rap
Cause our checkbook looks like crap
Since I can’t give her a slap
I need a Jew

Where to find
A Baum or Steen or Stein
To teach me how to whine and do
my taaaaaxesss…

Though by many they’re abhored
Hebrew people I’ve adored
Even though they killed my Lord
I need a Jew

Max:
Hi, my name’s Max Weinstein,
my car just broke down,
can I use you phone?

Peter:
Now my troubles are all through
I have a Jew!

Max:
Hey!

Part of me thinks that they are overreacting – but then the part of me that has been boycotting ‘when you wish upon a star’ and all other Jiminy Cricket related songs, says that they make a lot of sense in bringing this case.

I hope the judge in this case makes them prove damages – because I sincerely doubt that there have been any.

Bush Speaks

The Huffington Post has a great article about an event they sub-titled: Audience Endures 76 Minutes of Unscripted Bush Speak.

And as you might guess, there are at least a few gems:

My job is a decision-making job. And as a result, I make a lot of decisions.

I delegate to good people. I always tell Condi Rice, `I want to remind you, Madam Secretary, who has the Ph.D. and who was the C student. And I want to remind you who the adviser is and who the president is.

I got a lot of Ph.D.-types and smart people around me who come into the Oval Office and say, `Mr. President, here’s what’s on my mind.’ And I listen carefully to their advice. But having gathered the device (sic), I decide, you know, I say, `This is what we’re going to do.’ And it’s `Yes, sir, Mr. President.’ And then we get after it, implement policy.

I’ll be glad to answer some questions from you if you got any.  If not, I can keep on blowing hot air until the time runs out.

Quote of the Day – Steven Wright

I have an existential map. It has ‘You are here’ written all over it.

-Steven Wright

Slavery Not That Bad

Townhall.com has a fascinating post by Michael Medved called “Six Inconvenient Truths about the US and Slavery”.

An honest and balanced understanding of the position of slavery in the American experience requires a serious attempt to place the institution in historical context and to clear-away some of the common myths and distortions.

1. SLAVERY WAS AN ANCIENT AND UNIVERSAL INSTITUTION, NOT A DISTINCTIVELY AMERICAN INNOVATION.

2. SLAVERY EXISTED ONLY BRIEFLY, AND IN LIMITED LOCALES, IN THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC – INVOLVING ONLY A TINY PERCENTAGE OF THE ANCESTORS OF TODAY’S AMERICANS.

3. THOUGH BRUTAL, SLAVERY WASN’T GENOCIDAL: LIVE SLAVES WERE VALUABLE BUT DEAD CAPTIVES BROUGHT NO PROFIT.

4. IT’S NOT TRUE THAT THE U.S. BECAME A WEALTHY NATION THROUGH THE ABUSE OF SLAVE LABOR: THE MOST PROSPEROUS STATES IN THE COUNTRY WERE THOSE THAT FIRST FREED THEIR SLAVES.

5. WHILE AMERICA DESERVES NO UNIQUE BLAME FOR THE EXISTENCE OF SLAVERY, THE UNITED STATES MERITS SPECIAL CREDIT FOR ITS RAPID ABOLITION.

6. THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT TODAY’S AFRICAN-AMERICANS WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF THEIR ANCESTORS HAD REMAINED BEHIND IN AFRICA.

In short, politically correct assumptions about America’s entanglement with slavery lack any sense of depth, perspective or context. As with so many other persistent lies about this fortunate land, the unthinking indictment of the United States as uniquely blameworthy for an evil institution ignores the fact that the record of previous generations provides some basis for pride as well as guilt.

Ah yes.  And here I had started to think that slavery was this awful thing that was in every way morally reprehensible- but it turns out that it’s not so bad.  I mean after all, live slaves are more valuable than dead slaves – why doesn’t anyone ever bring that up?  Thank you Michael Medved -

 Thank you for showing that although this country abolished slavery there is still a long way to go until we have racial equality.  Thank you for demonstrating the amazing ability of Americans to be complete fucking morons – always choosing hate and ignorance over all else. 

Let’s take on his six points one by one, shall we?

1.  America didn’t invent slavery.  So the fuck what?  I don’t recall anyone suggesting that we did.  The fact that we were not the first slavers does not mean that we are absolved from its evils. 

2.  Slavery existed only briefly.  So the fuck what?  The Nazis exterminated 6 million people in only a few years – so if you’re saying that time is proportional to seriousness than the holocaust is actually a very trivial event – really not even worth remembering.

3.  Live slaves worth more than dead slaves.  So the fuck what?  That statement misses the point entirely.  In your estimation then it is ok to own another human being, as long as you don’t kill them?  There is more going on with slavery and morality than accusations of genocide.

4.  The US didn’t become wealthy solely from the use of slave labor.  I repeat – so the fuck what?  I mean, that’s what really made slavery evil, right?  The white man was making money off of the black man.  Those heartless bastards. 

5.  The US should get credit for getting rid of slavery.  SO THE FUCK WHAT?  What you want?  A fucking cookie?  It’s ok judge, sure I killed that guy, but I haven’t killed anyone since then, don’t I get credit for that? 

6.  Africans wouldn’t be better off if slavery never happened.  Holy shit.  Medved, you’re an asshat.  So the fuck what?  If we didn’t enslave them, someone else would have!  Oh, that makes it all better!  Here I was under the impression that it was worse to beat someone yourself . . . but if they’re going to get beaten anyway, it is your moral responsibility to beat them yourself.

What the fuck is going on in this country?  How is Medved allowed to exist?  How can we live in 21st century America and still breed such ignorance?  It’s people like this that make me wish I believed in Hell.

The World Without Net Neutrality

This image was sent to me (I don’t know who created it).  It shows what the world of Internet Service Providers might look like if the net doesn’t stay neutral.  Scary stuff.

Quote of the Day – Dick Cheney

Once you get to Baghdad, it’s not clear what you do with it. It’s not clear what kind of government you put in place of the one that’s currently there now. Is it going to be a Shia regime, a Sunni regime, a Kurdish regime? Or one that tilts toward the Baathists, or one that tilts toward Islamic fundamentalists? How much credibility is that going to have if it’s set up by the American military there? How long does the United States military have to stay there to protect the people that sign on for that government, and what happens once we leave?

-Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney – 1991

Archbishop of Mozambique Claims Condoms Tainted

The BBC reports that,

 Archbishop Chimoio told our reporter that abstention, not condoms, was the best way to fight HIV/Aids.

“Condoms are not sure because I know that there are two countries in Europe, they are making condoms with the virus on purpose,” he alleged, refusing to name the countries.

“They want to finish with the African people. This is the programme. They want to colonise until up to now. If we are not careful we will finish in one century’s time.”

Chimoio is the head of the Catholic Church in Mozambique, and therefore the leader of an estimated 3.35 million people.  It is also estimated that in Mozambique 500 people are infected with HIV every day.

This is another example of how religion effects everyone.  Publicly making statements and accusations like those of the Archbishop takes you out of the realm of personal beliefs and into the realm of public policy.  So next time you religious apologists say peoples personal beliefs shouldn’t be attacked, remember that it’s not personal if it is killing people.  And that damn well makes it my business.