"And though your skin's sheet white, and your arms carry scars..."

[greygirlbeast]

Here in Providence, it may be that Cold Spring is sliding towards the chilly beginnings of summer. We have some sun today, some sun, but still some clouds, too. Maybe mostly clouds. It's about 61˚F out there, and I have the office window open a crack. Just a crack, to let in some fresh air. But I have to keep the space heater running, or the

Comments

[andrian6]

African Americans oppose gay marriage 55 percent to 41 percent, while all poll respondents support it 52 percent to 43 percent, according to an ABC News poll taken in March. While 94 percent of black voters in California supported Obama in 2008, 70 percent also supported the Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage, according to exit polls.

This is irony, if ever you needed a concrete example of irony. It also isn't especially surprising, which I suppose creates a sort of psycho-social paradox.

You may want to check out a few items on the 1991 riots in the Mount Pleasant part of DC.

It is far too easy for the memory of life before basic rights to fade. And it becomes far to easy to accept taking it from others once you're secure it won't be taken from you.

[greygirlbeast]

It is far too easy for the memory of life before basic rights to fade. And it becomes far to easy to accept taking it from others once you're secure it won't be taken from you.

Exactly.

[ext_249035]

Everything you said is just so painfully and perfectly true. I don't really have anything to add, but felt like acknowledging that you hit the nail right on the damned head.

[ashlyme]

I used to think we *could* counter bigotry with reason; but you're right, it's going to be a long hard war. I can't dismiss a contemptible brat like Palin with a laugh. There are too many hatemongers with a Big Imaginary Friend to "justify" their worldview waiting to take her place.

[stsisyphus]

Bristol Palin blames the President's daughters for his support of same-sex marriage.

Yes, because how dare a father look at the children he's raised in the face and fail to maintain a hypocritical stance, to fail to perpetuate hatred and bigotry. How dare he set an example of dignity and respect to fellow humans, how could he possibly withstand the shame of providing his children with a high moral and ethical example to live by. Why couldn't he just listen to political minders and analysts and turn away from the people who look to him for their most essential, crucial guidance in life and say "Do as I say, not as I do".

...While living in the same house as someone who took their forefathers (and mothers) out of literal (if not figurative) bondage. While living in the same house as a woman who fought for their mothers' rights, for their future rights to vote.

...It took the Federal Government's intervention to end racial segregation, right down to the use of the National Guard, and it's going to require the Federal Government's

[stsisyphus]

Actually, I'd forgotten that painting hangs not far from the Oval Office itself right now, on this day and this time. If FoxNews and Bristol Palin want to blame any media for influencing Obama... they need to blame Norman Rockwell.

And by "blame", I mean "congratulate".

[greygirlbeast]

What an amazing fucking painting. For all Rockwell's Americana schmaltz and nonsense, he had his moments.

[stsisyphus]

I just think his sense of moral/ethical justice was smothered by his mainstream appeal and the publishing industries who wanted to capitalize on it, and later by the ironclad nostalgia surrounding the mythical America he was renowned for portraying.

[miakodadreams]

I am so, so weary of all the home-grown hate and oppression in the news these last few years. Between the upswing in blatantly anti-GLBT legislation and the nigh-constant attacks on women's health and agency, I'm worn out. Sometimes it's hard work just deciding whether to be furious or depressed. Sometimes you just have to say, "Fuck it," and embrace them both at once.

Change is inevitable, but it will be a long, difficult, ugly fight. I'll be honest, I've been giving the stinkeye (as Grandma would've said) to rich, old, white men for driving these terrible initiatives - it never would have occurred to me to look to the black religious community. Given their history, I cannot fathom how they justify this, unless it's a case of the victim becoming the new bully.

[greygirlbeast]

I am so, so weary of all the home-grown hate and oppression in the news these last few years. Between the upswing in blatantly anti-GLBT legislation and the nigh-constant attacks on women's health and agency, I'm worn out.

Yes. I'm spiritually bloodied.

it never would have occurred to me to look to the black religious community. Given their history, I cannot fathom how they justify this, unless it's a case of the victim becoming the new bully.

There's a long history of black homophobia, and, just as white racists used the Bible against black activists, so blacks can use the Bible against gay activists. That's the way that book works.