Kim Pearson, writing for BlogHer, mentioned my May report on Col. Ann Wright in her article, "At Home and Abroad, American Democracy is at a Crossroads."
BlogHer is a great resource for women bloggers, and I am honored to have been mentioned there.
BlogHer
29 July 2008
Unitarian Church shooting in Tennessee
There was a horrible shooting at a Unitarian congregation in Knoxville on Sunday, leaving two dead and several more injured. I already mentioned this in my other blog.
As the investigation unfolds, it is being revealed that the attacker was upset over the cuts to his food stamp rations, and after reading some far-right propaganda books by the likes of Michael Savage and Bill O'Reilly, decided that the liberals were the problem. And since he couldn't kill liberal leaders, he decided to kill the voters that supported them - namely, the Unitarians.
It's ironic that this guy went on a rampage to kill the liberals, while being utterly dependent on liberal government handouts in the form of food stamps. He's no different from the Alaskans, who vote Republican because of the oil dividend, another government handout program (one that the Democrats claim credit for, at that).
The right-wing pundits who influenced the attacker, including Michelle Malkin and Mann Coulter, ought to be charged with inciting violence, thrown in jail (make sure to throw the Mann in men's jail), and forever be banned from the public radiowaves. There is a fine line between free speech and inciting violence, and the hateful rhetoric of most of these talk show hosts is nothing short of the latter.
Some thoughts are shared by DiAnne Grieser over at Silenced Majority.
Also, the advertisers to Fox News and other hate networks will need to be reminded of what they're supporting. If they can pull out, like Lowe's and Home Depot, then business continues as usual. If they blatantly and proudly keep advertising, like BMW, then it's boycott time.
As the investigation unfolds, it is being revealed that the attacker was upset over the cuts to his food stamp rations, and after reading some far-right propaganda books by the likes of Michael Savage and Bill O'Reilly, decided that the liberals were the problem. And since he couldn't kill liberal leaders, he decided to kill the voters that supported them - namely, the Unitarians.
It's ironic that this guy went on a rampage to kill the liberals, while being utterly dependent on liberal government handouts in the form of food stamps. He's no different from the Alaskans, who vote Republican because of the oil dividend, another government handout program (one that the Democrats claim credit for, at that).
The right-wing pundits who influenced the attacker, including Michelle Malkin and Mann Coulter, ought to be charged with inciting violence, thrown in jail (make sure to throw the Mann in men's jail), and forever be banned from the public radiowaves. There is a fine line between free speech and inciting violence, and the hateful rhetoric of most of these talk show hosts is nothing short of the latter.
Some thoughts are shared by DiAnne Grieser over at Silenced Majority.
Also, the advertisers to Fox News and other hate networks will need to be reminded of what they're supporting. If they can pull out, like Lowe's and Home Depot, then business continues as usual. If they blatantly and proudly keep advertising, like BMW, then it's boycott time.
23 July 2008
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson(Photo by Jackson Lee, Splash News)
Some news items rolled in regarding Lindsay Lohan - and they definitely are of interest to me.
What got my interest:
- Lindsay is getting more sober, after three rehabs and a crash in her career.
- She and Samantha Ronson do appear to be a couple after all, by all available accounts. Dyke Power!
- Her leggings line is selling briskly at Intuition in Los Angeles. Thanks to Lindsay, it looks like leggings are officially a lesbian fashion statement (though also thanks to her, they are getting a bit long in the tooth).
Now, I really need to look for even more lesbian fashion statements to wear...
22 July 2008
"Lesbian" doesn't have to be from Lesbos
There was a court decision in Greece today, where some homophobic residents of the island of Lesbos sued to limit the word "Lesbian" to themselves, and the court disagreed.
The court simply said that the word "Lesbian" does not define the identity of the residents of Lesbos, and that the word is free to be used by gay women throughout Greece and elsewhere.
Of course, Lesbos is closely identified with gay women, due to the poet Sappho, a resident of the Eresos village on the island, writing poems in admiration of other women. In fact, some residents make a good living off of the lesbians on pilgrimage - which should hopefully include me in the near future. Those residents were against the drive to limit the word "Lesbian" to themselves.
For now, I am glad to know that the label "lesbian" continues to apply to me.
MSNBC
BBC
Online Lesbos travel guide
The court simply said that the word "Lesbian" does not define the identity of the residents of Lesbos, and that the word is free to be used by gay women throughout Greece and elsewhere.
Of course, Lesbos is closely identified with gay women, due to the poet Sappho, a resident of the Eresos village on the island, writing poems in admiration of other women. In fact, some residents make a good living off of the lesbians on pilgrimage - which should hopefully include me in the near future. Those residents were against the drive to limit the word "Lesbian" to themselves.
For now, I am glad to know that the label "lesbian" continues to apply to me.
MSNBC
BBC
Online Lesbos travel guide
21 July 2008
Prop 8 is trailing!
Good news - Proposition 8 is losing 42-51 at this point.
According to a Field poll (available to subscribers only, but I have a copy) dated July 18th, the gay marriage ban is doing much worse than the last time it was on the ballot. Most demographics are distinctly against Prop 8.
In fact, it's easier to name the smaller number of demographics that are for Prop 8 - Republicans, evangelicals, Protestants, Latinos, and rural areas of the northern 2/3 of the state. Even Southern California, led by Los Angeles, is trending against Prop 8, including Orange County and Inland Empire - though barely. (Of course, the strongest opposition is in the Bay Area.)
Also of interest is the fact that independents are more against Prop 8 (66%) than Democrats (63%). Maybe this has to do with the fact that many of the Democrats are Latinos and other socially conservative immigrant groups that are less likely to oppose Prop 8.
So far, this is promising, but it is important for Equality for All to keep up its fight even more, so that even the conservative immigrants can be won over. The Yes campaign is well-funded, and can run slick ads to pull out a nasty surprise, especially among these immigrant demographics.
Update: Sacramento Bee has detailed data from the poll.
According to a Field poll (available to subscribers only, but I have a copy) dated July 18th, the gay marriage ban is doing much worse than the last time it was on the ballot. Most demographics are distinctly against Prop 8.
In fact, it's easier to name the smaller number of demographics that are for Prop 8 - Republicans, evangelicals, Protestants, Latinos, and rural areas of the northern 2/3 of the state. Even Southern California, led by Los Angeles, is trending against Prop 8, including Orange County and Inland Empire - though barely. (Of course, the strongest opposition is in the Bay Area.)
Also of interest is the fact that independents are more against Prop 8 (66%) than Democrats (63%). Maybe this has to do with the fact that many of the Democrats are Latinos and other socially conservative immigrant groups that are less likely to oppose Prop 8.
So far, this is promising, but it is important for Equality for All to keep up its fight even more, so that even the conservative immigrants can be won over. The Yes campaign is well-funded, and can run slick ads to pull out a nasty surprise, especially among these immigrant demographics.
Update: Sacramento Bee has detailed data from the poll.
19 July 2008
Rev. Moon in helicopter crash
BBC reports that a helicopter carrying Sun Myung Moon and his relatives crashed in South Korea, and that Moon is being treated at one of his hospitals near the crash site for "minor" injuries.
The fact that Moon is being allowed to travel freely between South Korea, the US, and many other countries is itself a travesty of justice. Both the Republicans in the US, and the Grand Nationals in South Korea, benefit too much from Moon's activities to ever pull sanctions out against him.
The article also says that Moon has ceded the control of the Unification Church organization to son Hyung Jin Moon, 28, this year. The younger Moon is often known as Preston Moon, and being US-educated, is potentially far more lethal in the US society.
BBC
The fact that Moon is being allowed to travel freely between South Korea, the US, and many other countries is itself a travesty of justice. Both the Republicans in the US, and the Grand Nationals in South Korea, benefit too much from Moon's activities to ever pull sanctions out against him.
The article also says that Moon has ceded the control of the Unification Church organization to son Hyung Jin Moon, 28, this year. The younger Moon is often known as Preston Moon, and being US-educated, is potentially far more lethal in the US society.
BBC
17 July 2008
Republican predicts Prop 8 will lose
The gist: Prop 22 of 2000 should've been a constitutional amendment in the first place. Making it a "mere" statutory law allowed several years for gay activists to regroup, in time to make the May 15 decision by the Supreme Court happen. Also, Prop 8 will be on the November presidential ballot - with relatively high turnout, including younger, more liberal voters - making it much harder to pass.
I hope this analyst is right. However, I believe that the Republicans can still rely on the hated immigrants, and their shared social conservatism, to carry Prop 8 through, as they did for Prop 22. But then, the stupidity of the Republicans in killing their goose with the golden egg - immigrants - may haunt them here again.
Los Angeles Times
I hope this analyst is right. However, I believe that the Republicans can still rely on the hated immigrants, and their shared social conservatism, to carry Prop 8 through, as they did for Prop 22. But then, the stupidity of the Republicans in killing their goose with the golden egg - immigrants - may haunt them here again.
Los Angeles Times
What's wrong with Canada?
First, peaceful American activists have been barred from Canada, because they've been labeled by FBI as political criminals.
Then, the Supreme Court says American war deserters are not welcome, and must go home, even though they face possible death back in the US.
Now, word had it yesterday that a Canadian at Guantanamo Bay, being held without charge, will not be retrieved by the Canadian government, even though it is fully aware of what's going on at Guantanamo.
I don't have links to these stories anymore, but nevertheless these are very worrisome developments, and a complete about-face from what Canada had done in previous occasions.
Canada seems to have made a big mistake in installing a Conservative government under Stephen Harper, who's all but given up Canada's sovereignty to the W regime.
All the more reason to plug my nose and vote for Obama, so that Harper (and other reactionary leaders) have one less pillar to lean on. In the meantime, my planned trip to Toronto is still a go, but I will hold off on a planned visit to Alberta and the Canadian Rockies, due to Alberta's reactionary politics.
Then, the Supreme Court says American war deserters are not welcome, and must go home, even though they face possible death back in the US.
Now, word had it yesterday that a Canadian at Guantanamo Bay, being held without charge, will not be retrieved by the Canadian government, even though it is fully aware of what's going on at Guantanamo.
I don't have links to these stories anymore, but nevertheless these are very worrisome developments, and a complete about-face from what Canada had done in previous occasions.
Canada seems to have made a big mistake in installing a Conservative government under Stephen Harper, who's all but given up Canada's sovereignty to the W regime.
All the more reason to plug my nose and vote for Obama, so that Harper (and other reactionary leaders) have one less pillar to lean on. In the meantime, my planned trip to Toronto is still a go, but I will hold off on a planned visit to Alberta and the Canadian Rockies, due to Alberta's reactionary politics.
11 July 2008
Campaigning to defend marriage equality
I joined Equality for All last night on the streets of West Hollywood, to reach out to the passersby and ask them to oppose Proposition 8.
I was a nervous wreck at first, as this was my first attempt at in-person political campaigning. But I did end up signing three people to volunteer for future events. I do have to say that gay male couples were the most receptive, while straight couples tended to be too preoccupied with the bars and clubs to stop for me.
Again, I won't be able to help much. But in any way I can, I will continue to help. In addition to collecting $5 from a student volunteer at a mobile AIDS testing station, I pitched in $50 of my own, in addition to $100 I already put in last month. Considering that Prop 8's supporters have raised over $2.5 million (thanks to conservative groups funded by Reverend Moon's slush funds), I need to do my part in fending them off and going on counteroffensives.
I was a nervous wreck at first, as this was my first attempt at in-person political campaigning. But I did end up signing three people to volunteer for future events. I do have to say that gay male couples were the most receptive, while straight couples tended to be too preoccupied with the bars and clubs to stop for me.
Again, I won't be able to help much. But in any way I can, I will continue to help. In addition to collecting $5 from a student volunteer at a mobile AIDS testing station, I pitched in $50 of my own, in addition to $100 I already put in last month. Considering that Prop 8's supporters have raised over $2.5 million (thanks to conservative groups funded by Reverend Moon's slush funds), I need to do my part in fending them off and going on counteroffensives.
06 July 2008
Fighting the Gay Marriage Ban
I've been in touch with Equality California, through a member at my Unitarian church in Pasadena, so that I can help them defeat the proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage, now known as Proposition 8. Yes, the propositions are being renumbered from 1 all over again - for the second time in a decade.
I am expecting to attend a function Thursday night in West Hollywood for this very purpose. Looking forward to getting to know some activists, and to helping them defeat this evil initiative.
The help that I can offer will be limited (I declined to volunteer for the phone banking, after not doing too well during the No on 22 campaign in 2000), but I am willing to help the No on 8 campaign as much as I can.
I am expecting to attend a function Thursday night in West Hollywood for this very purpose. Looking forward to getting to know some activists, and to helping them defeat this evil initiative.
The help that I can offer will be limited (I declined to volunteer for the phone banking, after not doing too well during the No on 22 campaign in 2000), but I am willing to help the No on 8 campaign as much as I can.
05 July 2008
A bit extra travel
I decided to make an overnight run to Vegas for the 4th of July at the last minute.
The Blue Man Group was wonderful at the Venetian, though I have to say that I was a wee bit too tired to enjoy it. If I were a kid, I would've really enjoyed the colorful, wacky presentation. Even for the young at heart, scientific facts and "how-to" rock star instructions thrown in here and there added some humor.
I spent time playing blackjack at the Venetian, with $25 minimum bumped up to $50 later. I lost $250 - I was down $500 at one point before recovering. Fortunately, I made up my losses at Excalibur and MGM Grand, at the $10 minimum tables - the latter a lucky spot from my visit there in 2006 for a Mariah Carey concert. My gambling tally this trip: I won $6.
Despite the 105-degree heat, I'm happy with this trip. I was also impressed with the new Hyatt Place hotel at Paradise and Harmon - especially the self check-in feature and the HD plasma TV; I am definitely going back there next time!
P.S. I'm way too old to be carded now, but I was carded anyway at the Venetian - and when all I had was a male ID, it didn't go over well. Only after the pit boss OK'd me could I play.
The Blue Man Group was wonderful at the Venetian, though I have to say that I was a wee bit too tired to enjoy it. If I were a kid, I would've really enjoyed the colorful, wacky presentation. Even for the young at heart, scientific facts and "how-to" rock star instructions thrown in here and there added some humor.
I spent time playing blackjack at the Venetian, with $25 minimum bumped up to $50 later. I lost $250 - I was down $500 at one point before recovering. Fortunately, I made up my losses at Excalibur and MGM Grand, at the $10 minimum tables - the latter a lucky spot from my visit there in 2006 for a Mariah Carey concert. My gambling tally this trip: I won $6.
Despite the 105-degree heat, I'm happy with this trip. I was also impressed with the new Hyatt Place hotel at Paradise and Harmon - especially the self check-in feature and the HD plasma TV; I am definitely going back there next time!
P.S. I'm way too old to be carded now, but I was carded anyway at the Venetian - and when all I had was a male ID, it didn't go over well. Only after the pit boss OK'd me could I play.
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