Showing posts with label Civil Rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Civil Rights. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Not So Different



It's easy to point fingers and cast aspersions, from a distance.

Self-professed 'moral' or 'upright' people watch the TV and wonder
how other countries can allow injustices and the trampling of personal
rights. Folks ponder how did things get so bad over there.

Religious, self-touting people prop up the U.S with praise of its superiority
as a nation, having been founded on civil liberties while casting off the wretched
shackles of oppression. "How can governments (a.k.a "them") allow poverty
and suffering in such a way? Over there."

We also have a tendency to use time as a distancing filter for disapproving
of how others may have dropped the ball, while we--hypothetically, mind you--
would have fared far better in that same instance...had we been there, at that time.
If only.

For instance; Just how could all those Germans let Hitler and the Nazi party 
get away with such atrocities last century. So far removed. How could a group,
a society, a country, a world let things progress to such a point of insanity?

It's easy to picture it, really-- if you try.

For clarity, I offer a homegrown experiment of equal measure, going
on now, here in America, in living color. Let's look at how the tactics have been
mirrored, quite expertly fashioned directly after the fascist architecture and evil
campaign of indoctrination featured so prominently in Nazi Germany.

* You start off with identifying a group; one that seems weak and small enough
to exploit. Perhaps one that has a history of being used and abused. One that 
already has a history of misinformation and degrading lies told about them. This is
who you will unify the people to target and attack, forming an 'acceptable' dog to
kick as a scapegoat for a cumulative mass of upsets and issues.

*Begin earnestly and doggedly disseminating and promoting negative information
about said chosen group in an effort to undermine their accomplishments. Spread 
discontent, sow distrust, tell outright lies, promote negative caricatures, degrade 
them as people, demonize them in every way. Take away any sense or semblance
of humanity that they had in the minds of your followers so that there is no reticence
in the mind or heart about these chosen folk being mistreated.

Not only is is acceptable to hate and be intolerant and condemning; these folks
deserve it; they have brought it on themselves. (And be sure and tie their 
immoral behavior to the completely unrelated hardships in your followers'
lives; histrionics wins out over illogical conclusions and lacking facts.)

*Set yourself up on a mission to save 'decent folk' from the ways and (fictional)
ills of said chosen people. The faux problem has been established; now you need
a solution, right? How convenient that a divinely inspired (and supported) intrepid
leader such as the one who brought the blight to your attention in the first place is
ready to step in and lead the way.

Unfortunately, hate-spewing mainstream churches are not listed,
despite being among the worst culprits. In the Corporate Theocracy,
some things will always be forbidden
.
Back to America, where every day, scads of churches with millions of followers
do the same every day. Whether it's blacks, women, 'the Mexicans,' or whomever,
someone is always being vilified. SOMEONE is to blame for all the problems on
the planet affecting them. (They're really into the whole "us vs. them theme; I think it
has to do with unfulfilled childhood connections. 'Course, that would also explain
the imaginary friend crutch, as well...but I digress.) Hey, by the way--whatever 
happened to that concept of predestination ...... Hmmmmnn. Now these thumpers
want to get all up in the middle of everything (except raising babies that don't 
get aborted and making sure they have food, an education, etc.)

But the utmost priority amongst all such people and all such churches for decades
now (and the hysteria seems to amp up more and more each year) are the gays.
We homosexuals are Public Enemy # 1 in the fragile minds and disturbed psyches of
people who want to appoint themselves as the Ultimate Moral Arbiters of this great
land. "Cuz Fox News saids we wuz a Christian-founded nation! And the 700 Club 
backed 'em up! They's TWO sources--bonafide!" (Of course, what the more vocal
American churchgoers equate with 'Christianity' bears little resemblance to anything
spiritual, godly, or remotely related to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, but why 
quibble over such minor semantics?)


So what ends up happening is that people hear a simple word. like 'gay people,'
and they have a Pavlovian reaction of fervent disgust and hate, through no
rational reason save conditioning, training (less actual thinking and discerning
always serves religious demagogues well) and they're off to the races with hate
and rhetoric and their supposedly Jesus-fueled mission to squash the chief 
problem in America.

In truth, the term 'gay people' means human being who are attracted to the 
same sex emotionally, physically, amorously. Nothing more, nothing less.
But the response and the rationales are brainwashed into existence.


In much the same way, we are trained to hear the words 'church'
or 'religion' and to see rainbows and sunshine and love and floating clouds.
Certainly we are not meant to question those words, and most definitely
we are not meant to OPPOSE those words...even when their true meaning
has nothing to do with the indoctrination we were fed.

Imagine that; 
People being referred to in a false and misleading manner!
It sounds like un-American activity to me.
What's the excuse this time around?

There doesn't seem to be a good one--
it's merely uncivil rites in response to civil rights.

***


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

"Do's and Don'ts of Being a Gay Activist"



(Viktor Kerney, activist and author of
"Maybe It's Just Me")
This is a great article from a sister blog called "Maybe it's Just Me."

He does some great stuff, and he gave me permission to re-post
this especially well-done piece on "Do's and Don'ts of Being a Gay
Activist" that he recently wrote!

Enjoy!

****************************************************
This gay activist stuff is no joke. I had no idea what I was getting into;
but I can't complain, it's been an interesting experience. Free trips,
meeting great folks and getting great opportunities, it's truly been
rewarding.


But I thought I would share some nuggets of info for those who are
thinking about getting into the activist game.

DO know where you stand on the issues and stand firm.


DON'T just follow other activists blindly, they can and will be wrong
at times.


DO research all causes, laws and lawmakers.


DON'T accept anyone's word, without proof of truth.


DO realize that your views may not be popular.


DON'T kiss ass to be popular. Many activists try anything to get the
attention of the JoeMyGods out there. Just be yourself and stand firm
with your beliefs.


DO know the gay rights fight is long and tedious.


DON'T think our civil rights can be completed in a presidential term.


DO know the political game.


DON'T be naive about politics.


DO know how to be strategic.


DON'T go all in without plan B & C.


DO know who and what you're fighting.


DON'T fight everyone and every battle.


DO have an open mind.


DON'T suffer from tunnel vision and group think.


DO remember it's about our community.


DON'T make it all about you.


Okay, that's my 3 cents.


**********************************************************

"Maybe it's Just Me..."

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

North Carolina's Amendment One

Here's the latest frightening letter from Adam Bink of the
Courage Campaign.
Anyone can respond to this, so here it is in its entirety.
Click on the links for more info.

This is an important report on reprehensible behaviors
of those out to take this country backwards.
Fore-warned is fore-armed.
Don't despair; take action!

********************************************************



Robert: late last night, confidential memos by the National Organization for Marriage to its Board of Directors were published -- and they're disgusting(1).
In them, NOM's leaders pledge to:

"Drive a wedge between gays and blacks" by pushing these communities to fight over the language of "civil rights";


"Develop side issues to weaken pro-gay marriage political leaders" such as "protection of children," pornography and religious liberty;

"Find, train and equip young leaders" to become a "next generation of elites" working to defeat marriage equality; and

Emphasize "the consequences of gay marriage for parental rights."

But the most important part of this: NOM trumpeted their plans to dump millions of dollars into state-level campaigns while avoiding disclosure. In fact, they just reported a $50,000 contribution to pass Amendment One in North Carolina(2).

We're fighting back -- yesterday's launch of a nationwide moneybomb raised over $30,000 across ActBlue to defeat Amendment One, including over $10,000 from Courage members. Will you chip in on ActBlue to fight back against NOM's nauseating tactics and match their contribution in North Carolina?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Robert:

On May 8th, North Carolina will vote on Amendment One, which bans marriage equality and any other form of recognition for same-sex couples. Polls show the public increasingly against Amendment One, but our opponents just began running an ad this weekend that spreads lies about same-sex families and urges a Yes vote on Amendment One. Our side has ads of its own, but we need the money to get them on the air.


That's why Courage Campaign is joining with the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families to launch a nationwide $50,000 moneybomb and help the campaign hit its $1 million goal to get its first ads on the air. Will you chip in on ActBlue to help get our response up?

Robert, we can win this campaign. This month's Elon University poll showed 56.9% of North Carolinians oppose or strongly oppose an amendment that would ban civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples(3). That poll is one in a long string of polls showing increasing percentages of North Carolinians opposed to Amendment One.

We know what that means -- the more North Carolinians learn about how Amendment One harms same-sex families and their children, the more they're opposed to it. Our message is winning, Robert: now we just need the resources to get that message on the air. That's where you come in.

Please, chip in $15, $25 or more to help raise $50,000 on ActBlue this week so the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families can respond to anti-gay ads and get our message on the air. We can beat this, with your help.


Amendment One harms families, especially children. It will hurt businesses and the economy when families decide to move out of a state that treats them as second-class citizens. Whether you identify as LGBT or are a straight ally, Amendment One will hurt North Carolina. President Obama knows this -- that's why he publicly denounced Amendment One on March 16th. Courage members like us have to tell that story to the rest of the state and we've got just over a month to do it.


Thank you for doing your part to beat Amendment One,

Adam Bink
Director of Online Programs, Courage Campaign

 
(1) "Top 10 Highlights From NOM's Race-Wedging, Donor-Hiding, Victim-Playing Confidential Strategies," Think Progress, March 27, 2012, http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/03/27/452430/top-10-highlights-from-noms-race-wedging-obama-smearing-donor-hiding-victim-playing-confidential-strategies/

(2) "Independent Expenditure Report: National Organization for Marriage" North Carolina State Board of Elections, February 27, 2012, http://www.ncsbe.gov/

 
(3) "New Poll Shows Increasing Opposition to Amendment One," Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families, March 9, 2012, http://www.protectncfamilies.org/press/new-poll-shows-increasing-opposition-amendment-one

To support our efforts to defeat Amendment One, click here to chip in on ActBlue: