It Ain't Pretty
Dear Goddess, where to start?
There are two issues that are weighing heavily on our society right now that hit very close to home for me. Unfortunately, both are akin to little canaries, indicative of where our society is today, and where we are on a political scale. It ain't pretty.
First is the blatant racism that has emerged under the election of Barack Obama. The second is the passage of the hate legislation making it illegal for gays and lesbians to marry. Both issues are examples of a frustrated and hateful segment of our society that is hell-bent on criminalizing otherwise legal and human feelings and activities. But, closer look of these two issues, and the closer look at who is perpetrating such hate brings me to a single conclusion: it's the same segment, the same haters, the same racist, homophobic community and their leaders who are complicit in this hate.
And, make no mistake about it.... the hate of gays and lesbians is as much a civil rights issue, as it is with race relations. Thousands and thousands of people across the country marched to denounce the passage of anti-gay sentiment, including the passages of anti-gay marriage legislation in three states this past November 4th election. Per the
NYTimes online,
"The demonstrations — from a sun-splashed throng in San Francisco to a chilly crowd in Minneapolis — came 11 days after California voters narrowly passed a ballot measure, Proposition 8, that outlawed previously legal same-sex ceremonies in the state. The measure’s passage has spurred protests in California and across the country, including at several Mormon temples, a reflection of that church’s ardent backing of the proposition." The passage of these legislative initiatives are clear examples of where hate is actually condoned and institutionalized by our society. Rather than spend the necessary effort to make this an inclusive and tolerant society, fat and lazy politicians defer to the prevalence of hate in our society, and allow such laws to be passed. These bums are more than just lazy, though. Their own hate is effectively muted by their collective claim that it was the choice of the majority. This, rather than taking on the issue of hate by its ugly horns. It's really sad.
News services are reporting all over this country that incidents of hate are on the rise, as pointed out by this
AOL news article,
"... just as many of us can feel proud of a country so enlightened that its majority can elect a minority to the highest office of the land, we must not shy away from the uncomfortable fact that a significant number of Americans dislike Obama based, first and foremost, on the color of his skin." It's a sentiment I will never, in a million years, understand.
Also, in this Yahoo article,
Obama has more threats than other presidents-elect,
"Earlier this week, the Secret Service looked into the case of a sign posted on a tree in Vay, Idaho, with Obama's name and the offer of a "free public hanging." In North Carolina, civil rights officials complained of threatening racist graffiti targeting Obama found in a tunnel near the North Carolina State University campus." As you can clearly see here, the hatred for Obama is not only predicated on their disdain for liberals and progressives. It's mired in the good 'ol hate of the black man. None of this is a surprise, I suppose. On the contrary, it's kind of expected, unfortunately.
But, here on Long Island, NY, where racism is overt and rampant, and Hispanic immigrants are prevalent, these immigrants are taking a huge brunt of this hate. Patchogue experienced the death of a hardworking and young Ecuadorean at the hands of seven high school students for the sole reason that he was Hispanic. Marcelo Lucero was an immigrant. It didn't matter whether he was legal or illegal. That was not at issue in this horrific murder. These arguably "upstanding" good students went out last week to do one thing: "beat up a Mexican."
Now, we're forced to confront this racism head on. Miggod! It's been apparent for years. As
this Newsday article points out,
"In nine years, Suffolk's gone from battling day laborers to batting illegal immigrants to battling Hispanics to having our children hunt "beaners."" It should have been confronted years ago. It should be part of school curriculum, starting at very early ages, to teach tolerance and inclusiveness. But, given how lazy we are, as a society, we look the other way until a boy dies at the hands of racist aggressors. It's hard to ask the family of this Ecuadorean immigrant to hope that society will maybe learn something from his death. If I was that boy's mother, I'd not be so forgiving.
So, who the hell are these haters? What makes them hate so much? Is it so simple to say that these hateful individuals need to put down someone in order to falsely elevate their own perceived standings in this world? I cannot answer these questions. I am not a sociologist, a student of this issue. All I can do is stand against hate, fight the institutionalization of hate, and work to teach the children well, as advocated by the
Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance agenda.
I think that the reality is that society will have learned nothing from this killing in Patchogue. I don't know. Call me negative, and without hope. It's hard to hold such hope in my heart right now. Honestly, I thought that the election of Barack Obama would elevate the issue to a higher standing, put it up front right away. Maybe, this is what this "elevation" looks like right now. It ain't pretty.
Labels: hate, hispanics, murder, obama, politics, racism, tolerance
Obama Hope
As I bask in the sunshine that is streaming down upon us by the Obama win, I read with curiosity today's article in the NYTimes,
The Return of John McCain, But Which One?. I really don't understand why people think there are two McCains. As far as I'm concerned, there's only one, and has only ever been only one. He's the same pandering, sleazy excuse for a human being who somehow convinced people that there is some kind of noble side to him. In my opinion, he has no noble side.
This is the same McCain who graduated fifth from the bottom - 894th out of a class of 899 at Annapolis. Being a lazy, drunken sot must have had something to do with it.
This is the same McCain who got as far as he did, even while crashing three (or was it four?) fighter jets (before the one that ended him up as a POW), because daddy was a admiral who could pull strings.
This is the same McCain who only entered politics because he couldn't get four stars like his daddy.
This is the same McCain who was complicit in the Keating 5 scandal.
This is the same McCain who unapologetically continues to support the boondoggle called the Iraq invasion.
This is the same McCain who celebrated his birthday with cake on an airstrip with dubya while New Orleans drowned.
And, this is the same McCain who thinks that Obama pals around with terrorists, is unAmerican, is a socialist, and stupidly fell for the Joe the Plumber scam. Geez.......
This is the same McCain that Rolling Stone calls the
Make-Believe Maverick for all of the things I listed above, and then some. Per that article,
"The myth of John McCain hinges on two transformations — from pampered flyboy to selfless patriot, and from Keating crony to incorruptible reformer — that simply never happened. But there is one serious conversion that has taken root in McCain: his transformation from a cautious realist on foreign policy into a reckless cheerleader of neoconservatism."
There's only one John McCain, and he's a pandering, rightwing hack who continues to support deregulation while the banks and Wall Street laugh all the way the the US Mint. John McCain is a war hawk who is still submerged in the hate of the Vietnam era and the excesses of his unregulated buddies.
But, back to the
NYTimes article.....
"Some of the hatchets are quickly being buried. Senator Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat and Senate majority leader, spoke by telephone with Mr. McCain on Friday; according to an aide, they agreed to put the attacks of the last few months behind them. Mr. Reid, who for months during the campaign had carried with him a set of negative quotes about Mr. McCain from fellow Republicans to have ready for recitation, plans on ripping up the quotes, said his spokesman, Jim Manley." I don't know how people just "bury the hatchet" and pretend that John McCain is something that he's not. But unfortunately, Congress is made up of so many other John McCains that if they don't look the other way so as not to see McCain's very ugly personality, they'd essentially be condemning themselves.
The challenge for Obama, among all the mess that the dubya regime will leave him, will be to figure out how to work with all the Congressional dirtbags. Was he, after all, one of them? I don't think so. Thank the goddess for the new Democratic majority! I am still being showered with Obama Hope.
Victory!
The republicans got spanked tonight. McStupid will likely not make 200 electoral votes, given that Obama has 338 right now. The republicans represent a dying cause, an era gone by, an America that no longer exists. His America, as seen by the crowd at his concession speech was a lily white bunch of losers who will never get it. That mindset is now in the minority. That mindset is now irrelevant.
History was made tonight. Obama's rally is truly representative of what this nation is comprised of today. I am struck with awe. I never thought I'd live to see the day that a man of African decent would inhabit the White House. In fact, I have this vision of his girls running around there, and my heart swells. The stage they are on right now, Grant Park in Chicago, is comprised of two families, the Bidens and the Obamas. The stage is as gloriously mixed as the people in the crowd. I am so proud.
I am so proud
Labels: election, obama, politics
Toast, Burned Toast & TheTaste of Victory
As of this morning,
FiveThirtyEight has Obama beating out McStupid 332.9 to 205.1 electoral votes. After watching this morning's George Stephanopolis roundable, all of the panels are predicting an Obama win of approximately 240-250 electoral votes. Makes me wonder..... Given that there are 538 electoral votes to be had, will McStupid even get 200 votes? I'm guessing not. He's toast. His lipstick is burned toast. An Obama/Biden victory will be so sweet regardless.
Restoration of Faith and Trust
I came across
this story today, and I find it horrifying. I hope that one of the first orders of Obama's first days in office will be to rescind the two executive orders signed by the dubya regime. (I think it's pretty safe to say that if McStupid is elected, he would do nothing, and in fact, likely support this fascist piece of garbage.) I look forward to the restoration of Constitutional rights in this country of ours under an Obama/Biden administration. I look forward to the restoration of sanity in the Oval Office.
I got this from the
Project Censored website. It's a wealth of information about the subversive activities that go on at the hands of government, at the hands of corporations, at the hands of lobbyists, and with a free pass from the press, the
Fourth Estate.
An exerpt is included below. I encourage everyone to read it, then go to the site to read the entire story. What I find striking about it, other than the absolute unconstitutionality of this order, is that the investigation report was written in 2007, but it is still worthy of making onto Project Censored top unreported stories of 2009. Scary stuff.
Seizing War Protesters’ AssetsPresident Bush has signed two executive orders that would allow the US Treasury Department to seize the property of any person perceived to, directly or indirectly, pose a threat to US operations in the Middle East.
The first of these executive orders, titled “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq,” signed by Bush on July 17, 2007, authorizes the Secretary of Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, to confiscate the assets of US citizens and organizations who “directly or indirectly” pose a risk to US operations in Iraq. Bush’s order states:
I have issued an Executive Order blocking property of persons determined 1) to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq or undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq . . . or 2) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order . . .
Section five of this order announces that, “because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render these measures ineffectual. I therefore determine . . . there need be no prior notice of listing or determination [of seizure] . . .”
On August 1, Bush issued a similar executive order, titled “Blocking Property of Persons Undermining the Sovereignty of Lebanon or Its Democratic Processes and Institutions.” While the text in this order is, for the most part, identical to the first, the order regarding Lebanon is more severe.
More
here.
As Barak Obama and Joe Biden transition into their new roles, I'm sure they'll have a host of issues and just plain evil executive orders to roll back. I'm sure this is but one of many (think
signing statements). Having posted this, and feeling somewhat secure that Obama will do everything within his power and judgment to end the Iraq debacle, thereby rendering protests against the Iraq war unnecessary. I sure hope so. But, I think that every single little piece of unconstitutional legislation and executive orders that were the products of the worst and most fascist regime ever to inhabit the Oval Office must be rescinded. It's Step One (or very close to it). It's a matter of restoring faith and trust in our government for all Americans and the rest of the world.
Labels: dubya, fascism, obama, politics
Where's The Outrage?
When I first read the
article about McStupid busing in 4,000 Florida school children into his rally to fill a 6,000 person venue (if that's what it was), I found it amusing that the low-life candidate of the republican party just can't get enough people at his rallies, while Obama can't fit everyone who shows up into his. I do find it amusing.
On second thought, however, I find it to be outrageous. If I was a parent of one of those kids, I'd be outraged. Of course, given my political bias, getting bused to a McStupid rally would be the worst. But, getting bused to any political rally, including an Obama rally, is an outrage. In this particular case,
"The entire 2,500-student Defiance School District was in attendance, the official said, in addition to at least three other schools from neighboring districts, one of which sent 14 buses." 
Fourteen buses??!! Was this an appropriate use of anyone's school tax dollars? What about the separation of politics and education, particularly for grade schools? If I was a parent of one of those children, I'd sue the ass off McStupid, his campaign, his advisors, and the school district. As a matter of fact, I'd absolutely insist, via court order if necessary, that the McCain camp show how they paid for this venture. If they didn't, they'd damned well better. I'd make that part of the law suit settlement. Where's the outrage? Where's the ACLU?
As a parent (my two children are grown now), I sent my kids to school under the assumption that they were relatively safe, hopefully learning, essentially handing over the responsibility of them to the Board of Education, the school district from where I live. If I found out later that my children were then plucked from that school setting to fill a political venue, I'd be livid. This McStupid stunt goes beyond the pale. It's a violation of trust. It's inappropriate beyond belief.
I would think that this would go without saying, but apparently nothing goes without saying. These are
CHILDREN! Children in their formative years, not yet old enough to make mature decisions. For cryin' out loud!!! They were sent to school, for cryin' out loud. To learn, for cryin' out loud. Not to be used as props for a political rally. Where's the outrage?
And, not for nothin', but I'd bet dollars to donuts that if it was the Obama camp who bused in the children (which I trust they'd never even think of doing), the republican dirtbags would be on a tear about how the liberals are trying to steal the minds of the children by turning them into socialist automatons. I'd guarantee that.
For anyone that's interested, I did a bit of google digging, and came up with these images of the rally, and worse yet, the actual text that the school district put on the site.
John McCain Visits Defiance
October 30, 2008
Defiance students were extremely fortunate to see our political process in action when Presidential Candidate John McCain visited our city. Every child had the opportunity to attend the rally held in front of the Middle School/Junior High Complex. It was an educational experience that will be long remembered.
I continue to be amazed at the depths that the McStupid camp will plumb to maybe eek out a victory next week. I continue to be amazed at what our society allows them to get away with. I continue to be totally amazed, and outraged.
There are two issues that are weighing heavily on our society right now that hit very close to home for me. Unfortunately, both are akin to little canaries, indicative of where our society is today, and where we are on a political scale. It ain't pretty.
And, make no mistake about it.... the hate of gays and lesbians is as much a civil rights issue, as it is with race relations. Thousands and thousands of people across the country marched to denounce the passage of anti-gay sentiment, including the passages of anti-gay marriage legislation in three states this past November 4th election. Per the NYTimes online, "The demonstrations — from a sun-splashed throng in San Francisco to a chilly crowd in Minneapolis — came 11 days after California voters narrowly passed a ballot measure, Proposition 8, that outlawed previously legal same-sex ceremonies in the state. The measure’s passage has spurred protests in California and across the country, including at several Mormon temples, a reflection of that church’s ardent backing of the proposition." The passage of these legislative initiatives are clear examples of where hate is actually condoned and institutionalized by our society. Rather than spend the necessary effort to make this an inclusive and tolerant society, fat and lazy politicians defer to the prevalence of hate in our society, and allow such laws to be passed. These bums are more than just lazy, though. Their own hate is effectively muted by their collective claim that it was the choice of the majority. This, rather than taking on the issue of hate by its ugly horns. It's really sad.
But, here on Long Island, NY, where racism is overt and rampant, and Hispanic immigrants are prevalent, these immigrants are taking a huge brunt of this hate. Patchogue experienced the death of a hardworking and young Ecuadorean at the hands of seven high school students for the sole reason that he was Hispanic. Marcelo Lucero was an immigrant. It didn't matter whether he was legal or illegal. That was not at issue in this horrific murder. These arguably "upstanding" good students went out last week to do one thing: "beat up a Mexican." 
So, who the hell are these haters? What makes them hate so much? Is it so simple to say that these hateful individuals need to put down someone in order to falsely elevate their own perceived standings in this world? I cannot answer these questions. I am not a sociologist, a student of this issue. All I can do is stand against hate, fight the institutionalization of hate, and work to teach the children well, as advocated by the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance agenda.
