The Progressive Blog Alliance HQ

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

If you think I'm going to say what you think I'm going to say about Thanksgiving, well, I already did and it went over like a lead balloon. Boy, do people not what to hear about that stuff. Thankfully, this year other people are talking about that stuff.

Teacher Bill Morgan walks into his third-grade class wearing a black Pilgrim hat made of construction paper and begins snatching up pencils, backpacks and glue sticks from his pupils. He tells them the items now belong to him because he "discovered" them. The reaction is exactly what Morgan expects: The kids get angry and want their things back.

Morgan is among elementary school teachers who have ditched the traditional Thanksgiving lesson, in which children dress up like Indians and Pilgrims and act out a romanticized version of their first meetings.

Morgan said he still wants his pupils at Cleveland Elementary School in San Francisco to celebrate Thanksgiving. But "what I am trying to portray is a different point of view."

Others see Morgan and teachers like him as too extreme.

"I think that is very sad," said Janice Shaw Crouse, a former college dean and public high school teacher and now a spokeswoman for Concerned Women for America, a conservative organization. "He is teaching his students to hate their country. That is a very distorted view of history, a distorted view of Thanksgiving."

You know, the stuff we're not supposed to talk about today.

The first anniversary of the London bombings has provided the Masters of the Universe with another platform from which to lecture us lesser, presumably thicker mortals about the evils of “Islamic terrorism” - and in the process to consciously, deliberately manufacture the “fear of the other” that permits them to strip us of the remaining human and democratic rights of which their “war on terror” has yet to rob us.

Television screens all over the global village inform us that the “Islamic terrorists will never defeat us”. Images of London’s Nazi-era “Dunkirk Spirit” are invoked, even as we are told that more of our rights are going to be taken from us. They don’t of course put it that blatantly; they say they “will do everything necessary to defeat the jihadis.” In the US, UK, Canada, EU countries and elsewhere more “anti-terror” legislation is in the pipeline.

Crossposted from the Republic of T.
If you're a regular reader of my blog, or just happened by from another link, I have a favor to ask of you. I need you to make a phone call for me. The number is 202-224-3121, and the phone call actually isn't just for me. It's for my family, and for thousands of families like mine.

You see, the phone number above is for calling your Senator. Tomorrow (Monday) the Senate will start debating the Federal Marriage Amendment. The amendment would effectively make families like mine second class citizens by constitutionally denying even the possibility of accessing right's and protections that you and your family probably take for granted. Here's a brief rundown from an email sent by the Family Pride Coalition.

(Crossposted at Pushing Rope) There is a thirteen page report on why Officer Martha Gearity transferred out of a TPD anti-crime street unit.

The behavior according to the investigation includes constant flagellation, belching and excessive sexual joking by male officers. It says quote "officer Gearity said that they talked about anal sex, they watched pornographic movies at work, talked about their sex lives in the open, made reference to her menstruation, joked about having homosexual relations with one another in graphic detail and took pictures of a penis with a camera phone." Those involved include Officer Gregory Cotner, Officer David Duncan, Officer Ryan Sigler, and their superiors Corporal David Watt and Sergeant Gene Strickland.

*I blog from Kansas, and this piece is about what it feels like to be a lesbian and live in a red state.*

You wake up in the morning, rushed as always and get your 10-year-old son out of the door to school. He’s fed, on time and even has his math homework stuffed in his backpack, all of which is a miracle of sorts. After he’s gone, you pull on your winter coat and gloves and hope the car will start in this blasted cold. When you finally get to work, the phone calls and the meetings are a relief. You’ve been a single parent since breast cancer killed your life partner three years ago, and the challenges you face at the office are nothing compared to the challenges you see at home

Or perhaps…You’re late. You’d promised you would be at the hospital a half an hour ago, and even though 30 minutes doesn’t sound like much, you regret every instant you aren’t with her. But the bills are piling up now that you’re down to one income, and you had to work late. Your son needed attention before you took him to a play date. When you dropped him off, you had thank the mother and father of your son’s friend. You had to update them on your love’s condition, pretending all the time that you don’t feel the razors cutting into you heart as you speak.

Australia's Fueh... er... Prime Minister John Howard has refused to attribute the race riots to racism. Hmm... Anyway, below are some highlights of Howard's career, which may shed some light on the current events.  He predicted, in 1985, that "The times will suit me." Not that the times do suit him, but that they will. He has made his self-fulfilling prophecy come true by pursuing policies such as:

• Opposition to multiculturalism
• Promotion of "a shared national identity"
• Claims that the rate of Asian immigration was too high
• Repudiation of any accommodation with Asia or the Aborigines
• Turning away Asian asylum seekers on the high seas
• "Border protection" issues
• Enthusiastic participation in the war on Iraq

Obviously, the race riots have nothing to do with racism. If they did, John Howard would know...  http://alse.blogspot.com

This article first published on Two for Tea

Terry White, a man working for the Labour Party Communications
Unit wins this weeks “Think before you press send” award.
His email to the Campaign for An English Parliament Blog is copied below

Dear Correspondent,

Thank you for your email.

Neither the Labour Party nor the Labour Government are pursuing the policy towards England or the English that you claim.

England, as opposed to Britain, has an unfortunate history around the
world and within the British Isles and please do not say that it is all
past.

It is a fact that the right and extreme right in Britain cloak
themselves in the English flag, the cross of St. George and claim to be
the true representatives of the English.

Wherever there is hooligan behaviour, usually linked to extreme
right-wing political groups e.g. at football matches here and abroad,
it is the flag of St .George that is displayed and that, I would
imagine, is the reason why the MP referred to this type of
'Englishness' as a threat to democracy.

Regards,

Terry White
Communications Unit
The Labour Party

This has been well commented on by lots of people see here.

I find myself sympathetic to many of the points made even though I would not consider myself an English nationalist.

But I am a keen England fan. (And no the two are not the same
thing!). I have travelled all over the world supporting England
including Japan in 2002 and Portugal last year. Speaking from
experience, England fans come from a wide range of backgrounds and have
a wide range of political views.

The hooligan element are often not genuine football fans just drunken
blokes in England shirts (The Algarve). Sometimes they are not
even English (Dublin).

What annoys me most is the blatant hypocrisy of people like Mr
White. If any one made such sweeping judgements of people based
on race or religion they would rightly be castigated as a bigot.
Mr White obvious fear and loathing of England Fans gets him a plumb job
with the Labour party.

The Labour party have tried to play down Mr White’s email. Pointing out he is near retirement anyway.

But when people like Mr White have time on their hands that’s when the
trouble really starts. These are the kind people who are
currently setting the Police on any teenager who dresses in such a way
as to suggest that they might commit a crime at some point.

It is people like Mr White who will soon be handing out summary ASBO’s
to any one they feel like, and answerable to no one but themselves.

New Labours “Precautionary Principle” empowers bigotry and
prejudice. Rather than encouraging respect, New Labour is
codifying contempt.

And the Terry Whites of this world will sit in judgement of us all (but only after a 3 day training course)

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

Take a good look at these five guys. They are the face of compassionate conservatism, or at least one of its faces. They are the five Ocean County freeholders who denied lesbian cop Laurel Hester's request that her pension go to her partner Stacie Andree. Hester is dying of lung cancer, and her pension would allow Andree to keep the home they have shared. One of these guys, John Kelly, said earlier that granting Hester's request, and thus allowing Andree to keep their home, would “violate the sanctity of marriage.” The five have refused to make further comments, but issued a statement claiming “cost considerations” in the denial of Hester's request.

You can send them a message about their stance on “morality” and “values” in Hester and Andree's case, by contacting the Clerk of the Board at (732) 288 7777 or, from outside the USA +1 732 288 7777, or via email at CountyConnection@co.ocean.nj.us

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

Talk to me all you want about why gradual social change is the better in the long run, but there's not much of a chance I'll buy it. It's easy to say when you're not the one needing the change to happen, but justice delayed is justice denied to someone. When it comes to couples like Laurel Hester and Stacey Andree, I think the alleged long-term virtues of gradualism will be pretty cold comfort.

When lung cancer finally kills Laurel Hester -- and it will, in a matter of months -- she wants to know that her domestic partner, Stacie Andree, won't lose their home in Point Pleasant.

That legacy, however, is in doubt.

Ocean County's freeholders have refused to act on a request from Hester, an investigator for 23 years in the county prosecutor's office, to provide domestic partner benefits for gay and lesbian employees under a state law enacted last year. Without a resolution by the freeholders, her pension benefits cannot go to Andree.

"That's not what I hoped for with the legislation," said Sen. John Adler (D-Camden), a prime sponsor. "It's a missed opportunity for Ocean County to show that it respects families. ... It's a crummy, cold decision."

The surviving spouse benefit amounts to about $13,000 a year and would be paid from the state pension fund. For Andree, an auto mechanic, the money would "mean the difference in whether or not she can stay in the house," Hester said.

When the Legislature passed the Domestic Partners Act of 2004, it covered all state employees. The act also changed state law to permit -- but not require -- counties, cities and other local government entities to provide pension and health care benefits for domestic partners of their employees.

From Disreputable Lazy Aliens

Today, 'Darwinism' and 'Darwinian' have entered into our common vocabulary. To read the Origin is therefore to grasp an opportunity to estimate how closely that common understanding relates to its supposed source. - Jeff Wallace [from his introduction to "The Origin of Species", Darwin, Charles. (1998, Wordsworth Editions Ltd. Ware, Hertforshire UK) ISBN 1 85326 780 5 itself a reprint of the 1st (Nov 1859) edition of "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or, The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life." Darwin, Charles]

So, although i had not yet read Wallace's invitation, when i bought the book, i had already decided to do exactly that. It has been something of a wade, not because the book or it's scientific information is at all difficult, but rather that there is much exhaustive detail in expounding Darwin's positions that is nothing new to anyone who has been taught elementary biology and while this may be of interest to historians or biologists, i am neither.

OK, so Survival of the fittest, right? No. That phrase was first used by Herbert Spencer in his 1851 work Social Statics, relating to free market economics. Only in his fifth edition of The Origin, did Darwin himself use the phrase, which had become popular and indeed popularly synonymous with his own descriptive phrase Natural Selection. As the linked Wikipedia article further states, however: At this time the word "fittest" would have primarily meant "most suitable" or "most appropriate" rather than "in the best physical shape". In fact, much of the revision and clarification Darwin added to his work, in later editions, was precisely to clarify his ideas in strictly evolutionary biological terms, both to answer his critics and distance himself from often Malthusian influenced social theories.

Of more importance to the understanding of the 'common vocabulary' use of 'Darwinian' ideas however, is the fallacious idea of 'Survival'.

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

The story of Zach and LIA/R has long since taken on a life of it's own, to the point that I haven't been tracking it very closely for a while now. So I missed the news this weekend that LIA/R failed to clear its first major hurdle in its lawsuit against the state of Tennessee, as a judge refused to allow LIA/R to continue "treating" people.

A federal judge has refused to allow Love In Action ministry, which counsels gay clients to turn straight, to continue treating people who are mentally ill and require prescription medication. An injunction was sought against an order from the state Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, which found that the group's two Memphis facilities were controlling patients' access to prescription medication and thus needed to be licensed as a mental health facility. Love In Action International Inc. has sued the state to oppose being required to get a license. It claims that the facility did not restrict access to medication but kept it in a central location to prevent theft and tampering.

Representatives from LIA/R say they're still hopeful that the courts will rule in their favor. And they could be right. After all, the Salvation Army found a judge to say it's just fine for them to get government funds and discriminate on the basis of religion and sexual orientation. If LIA/R can't find a similar judge in a state as "red" as Tennessee, then don't even deserve to be wingnuts. They'd have to be something dumber.

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

What some people do to their children in the name of their allegedly loving “god” ought to be a crime. When I saw the review of Julia Scheeres' memoir Jesus Land on DailyKos (written by Mrs. Kos), I knew I was going to read it. In fact, I reserved a copy at the nearest bookstore the next day, picked it up, and added it to my “stash.” I wanted to read it for a number of reasons. Like me, the author grew up in the 80s, during the Reagan era, and in a household so hyper-religious as to make my own look downright secular. But the book also promised a rare “behind the curtain” look at the foot soldiers of the religious right; not just into their politics (in a letter to missionaries, the author's mother praises Ronald Reagan as a “Christian leader” who “leads the country toward The Light”), but behind the closed doors of their homes.

It didn't disappoint. Two days after picking it up, I finished it. Scheeres' compelling voice, as she unwinds her tale of how she and her brother -- David -- survived the brutality of their home and the “christian boot camp” their parents sent them to, draws me to their side and keeps me there. Maybe it appealed to the parent in me. I found these two kids (though I'm roughly the same age group as Julia and David Scheeres) facing all manner of horror, and I couldn't leave them alone in it.

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

Oh don't act so surprised. I've mentioned before how I feel about Columbus Day (not to mention Thanksgiving). I guess some folks might find something in it to celebrate, but I'm long, long past being able to do that.

I remember learning about Columbus and his "discovery" of America in school. (To quote Chris Rock "How the fuck do you discover something that's already got people on it? That's like me 'discovering' your car stereo.") It wasn't until years later that I got some idea of what his "discovery" meant for the folks who already happened to be sitting on that patch of ground. I kinda figured it didn't go down to well for them, since there aren't many of their descendants left around.

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Conservatives/Republicans think that the poor — even those who find themselves in the path of a hurricane, with no escape — generally deserve whatever they get. Most conservaties won’t come right out and say it. Some will express a thinly veiled contempt for the poor (working or not), but only a handful will come close to saying "good on ‘em" and "maybe it’ll learn ‘em something."

Say what you will about George Lakoff and his theories. He’s dead on about this one. These folks equate wealth and well-being (basically being middle class and up) with virtue. Quite simply, if you have the right values, you will have enough wealth to provide for your well-being, and that of your family; perhaps more. If you don’t, then you won’t. It’s really that simple.

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

It's been a while since I posted anything about Zach's story, mainly because since his return home I felt it necessary to back off and give him whatever space he needed to work out what he's experienced. Since then, a discussion about whether Zach was controlling his blog or not broke out on a previous post. Zach's blog is now temporarily disabled. But's that's not what this post is about. It's about the other side of the story, which involves LIA/R being investigated by the Tennessee Department of Health. This evening I got an email from EJ, which linked to his post concerning the outcome of that investigation. The news for LIA/R is not good.

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

As I was reading this article about Sen. Mary Landrieu's criticism of the Bush administrations post-Katrina bungling (I was a bit critical of her earlier, but she's found her voice since), this statement from Sen. Barak Obama struck me as strangely familiar.

Obama was asked on ABC's "This Week" whether there was racism in the lack of evacuation planning for poor, black residents of New Orleans. He said he would not refer to the government response in that way, but said there was a much deeper, long-term neglect.

The California legislature passed new legislation that would allow homosexual marriages. California is now the first state in the Union to pass such a law. Of course there is one obstacle that could prevent this from becoming law – Arnold "the Governator" Schwarzenegger. When he ran for election, he told the voters that he was a fiscal conservative. He told Californians how the California budget was being controlled by the “special interests.” He also down played any support for the social reforms of the radical right. This is the only way that a Republican can get elected in California. But, the fear of the Religious Right can put political pressure on the man who said that he would not bow down to “special interests.”

So, this is basically the moment of truth for Arnold. Is he going to bow down to the “special interests” that are sure to help him get re-elected? These “special interests” may be different than the “special interests” that pour money into some campaigns. This “special interest” influences the large number on conservative Christians from the pulpit. Being able to hold onto this block of voters is key to Schwarzenegger’s re-election campaign. However, if the Governator veto’s this bill the electorate will certainly know that Arnold is in the pocket of the Radical Right “Special Interest” group.

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

Easy, you might say. They don't. But you might be underestimating. I came across this yesterday, and spent much of the evening digesting it. I thought it was maybe sarcasm or paraody, until the author finally got down to business (ironically, right after the 2004 elections) explaining just how fundamentalists -- christian fundamentalists, specifically -- think.

The truth is, having been raised baptist and in the south, there isn't anything here I haven't encountered before or that I didn't already know on some level. But this writer has clearly thought about it, and I could not have put it all together as well as he's done. Probably because I rejected it so young that I never fully absorbed it. (Which, by the way, is fine with me.)

Crossposted from The Republic of T.

Well, not yet, but soon. This week’s Washington Blade runs a story about Zach’s impending release from Love In Action/Refuge (LIA/R). The article, for the first time in any gay publication I’ve seen, uses Zach’s surname. It also notes the interview Zach’s dad gave to CBN, and his dad’ s confirmation that Zach was enrolled in the program at LIA/R. A disappointment, perhaps, to those who claimed (and continue to claim) that Zach’s story was a hoax.

Early last month, a Love in Action administrator said that two male teens in the program were both enrolled for six-week stints in the “ex-gay” camp, and last week in an interview broadcast on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Zach’s father, Joe Stark confirmed his son’s identity as one of Love in Action’s clients.

Every time I think about speaking on what the government is doing to our country and us as a people (Because as they say: when it rains for white folks, Black folks get a hurricane), There is some guy coming out in the news with dumb stuff that makes me think that there is one more Black person that has set their timer to "self-destruct."

Ladies and Gentlemen, Rev. Willie Wilson, Pastor of the Union Temple Baptist Church, Washington DC

Apparently, Rev. Wilson stated in a sermon on Sunday July 3rd that Lesbianism (is that a word) is going taking over the Black community. One of the reasons for this is because Black women earn more money than Black men (story).