(no subject)
Dec. 3rd, 2004 09:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cleolindaSo, here's who I emailed last night:
>> The closest House representative to me, Mark Gaines. If I don't get a reply this weekend, he's getting a formal handwritten letter with the rest of 'em.
>> Jaunita Owes, the librarian/ALA (Alabama chapter) official quoted in the article.
>> Neil Gaiman, since the link basically came from his journal in the first place. You laugh, but since he's worked with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, I figured he might have some advice on the most effective way to tackle this.
Of the three people, who writes me back first? Neil. Here's what he has to say:
"Right now I'd concentrate on just bringing it to people's attention, and suggesting that Alabama people contact their lawmakers to ensure they understand that it would be a bad and expensive law and not one that would make them popular with their voters..."
So there you have it. Although I might amend the "not make the popular with their voters," because, quite frankly, there's a large number of people here it would make them popular with. And yes, that's terrifying. The tack I took with Rep. Gaines was to point out what a wonderful opportunity smacking this bill down quickly would be to show the rest of the world that Alabama isn't backwards, and that we can do the right thing. I'm hoping that, if we get this across to the more metropolitan representatives, they may be able to convince others.
So: If you would like to get involved, I would suggest 1) posting about this on your journal/blog/website and/or 2) sending a link to the al.com article, or the previous entry in this journal, or both, or whatever, to people you know and get the word out. While I want to stress the censorship angle because I think that's the one that will work, there are two kinds of people you'll want to alert: 1) gay & lesbian groups and 2) "book people," including librarians, English teachers and professors, freedom of speech groups, etc. If you're in Alabama, please tell them that they need to write to their representatives and encourage this bill's defeat on the following grounds:
1. Massive, wide-ranging censorship is bad, and defeating this bill is an excellent opportunity for Alabama to show the world that we don't do that kind of thing.
2. Massive, wide-ranging censorship is expensive--do you want to ask for the tax raise to cover it?
And if you know Alabamians, as someone in the comments last night pointed out, you'll know that we have a pathological fear of taxes; I can't tell you how many good initiatives have been defeated because they involved wrenching a few dollars from taxpayers.
If you're not in Alabama, I can only ask you to spread the word--to the same groups of people, but to anyone, really, you think would beoutraged interested. And y'all seem to have been doing pretty well in the last twelve hours or so. But in case you were wondering, yes, I have no problem if you link to this or the previous entry. I will, however, be screening comments on both entries starting now, because I know how high-profile posts attract trolls; comments that are helpful, positive, or legitimately concerned will be unscreened. Why? Because this is not about people coming here and making fools of themselves; this is about going out into the world and making our voices heard.
>> The closest House representative to me, Mark Gaines. If I don't get a reply this weekend, he's getting a formal handwritten letter with the rest of 'em.
>> Jaunita Owes, the librarian/ALA (Alabama chapter) official quoted in the article.
>> Neil Gaiman, since the link basically came from his journal in the first place. You laugh, but since he's worked with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, I figured he might have some advice on the most effective way to tackle this.
Of the three people, who writes me back first? Neil. Here's what he has to say:
"Right now I'd concentrate on just bringing it to people's attention, and suggesting that Alabama people contact their lawmakers to ensure they understand that it would be a bad and expensive law and not one that would make them popular with their voters..."
So there you have it. Although I might amend the "not make the popular with their voters," because, quite frankly, there's a large number of people here it would make them popular with. And yes, that's terrifying. The tack I took with Rep. Gaines was to point out what a wonderful opportunity smacking this bill down quickly would be to show the rest of the world that Alabama isn't backwards, and that we can do the right thing. I'm hoping that, if we get this across to the more metropolitan representatives, they may be able to convince others.
So: If you would like to get involved, I would suggest 1) posting about this on your journal/blog/website and/or 2) sending a link to the al.com article, or the previous entry in this journal, or both, or whatever, to people you know and get the word out. While I want to stress the censorship angle because I think that's the one that will work, there are two kinds of people you'll want to alert: 1) gay & lesbian groups and 2) "book people," including librarians, English teachers and professors, freedom of speech groups, etc. If you're in Alabama, please tell them that they need to write to their representatives and encourage this bill's defeat on the following grounds:
1. Massive, wide-ranging censorship is bad, and defeating this bill is an excellent opportunity for Alabama to show the world that we don't do that kind of thing.
2. Massive, wide-ranging censorship is expensive--do you want to ask for the tax raise to cover it?
And if you know Alabamians, as someone in the comments last night pointed out, you'll know that we have a pathological fear of taxes; I can't tell you how many good initiatives have been defeated because they involved wrenching a few dollars from taxpayers.
If you're not in Alabama, I can only ask you to spread the word--to the same groups of people, but to anyone, really, you think would be
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 07:23 am (UTC)I'm glad to see someone IS.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 08:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 07:25 am (UTC)I got there before you on this one! It is great that you are trying to do something about it though - I never expected any less of you tbh.
Go girl! Give 'em hell!
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 08:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 07:26 am (UTC)Consider the cause duly pimped!
:D
Indeed!
Date: 2004-12-03 11:46 am (UTC)^_^
Re: Indeed!
Date: 2004-12-03 01:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 07:29 am (UTC)The next meeting is Dec. 15, 7:00 p.m. at Anthony's
(2131 7th Ave S).
If you aren't familiar with us, the HRC is a national lobby organization dedicated to securing equal rights for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Our chapter in Birmingham has chosen to focus on reaching out more to the community first, rather than politicians. We're always looking for people to help us change minds.
Maggie
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 07:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 08:52 am (UTC)Plus, it's fun. And there's Italian food.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 11:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 11:17 am (UTC)Letter writing guidelines and information
Date: 2004-12-03 07:33 am (UTC)I haven't ever written a letter to any elected official and the site above isn't mine, but she gives a lot of good information about the letter writing and receipt process.
Re: Letter writing guidelines and information
Date: 2004-12-03 08:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 07:38 am (UTC)This is fantastic. I'm not in America, nor am I a US citizen, but I am linking as many people to this story as possible. Bless you.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 07:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 07:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 07:47 am (UTC)But here's some good news about us regarding the medicinal marijuana hearings: "Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, conservative states that do not have medical marijuana laws, sided with the marijuana users on grounds that the federal government was trying to butt into state business of providing 'for the health, safety, welfare and morals of their citizens.'"
Now if only we could get that pot. And vibrators.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 08:02 am (UTC)(I love how there are specific issues you can use as levers here in AL. Can't convince them to be open-minded, but if you try to raise taxes or butt into state business, God help you.)
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 08:18 am (UTC)I'll probably just go pimp this on my LJ now.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 09:06 am (UTC)Wouldn't that mean that they would have to cut out the Classics department in all the universities in the state? I mean hell, there are many a gay innuendo or blunt references to it there.
What ever happened to being the country of tolerance? I'm all for gay rights and is friend with many a gay. I have my limits to one what I can accept. But if one wants to limit or not have their kids read such things, don't put it in the ciriculum? Like Texas with their "great idea" of teaching the kids safe sex. They tell them to practice abstinence and don't tell them of alternatives. Yet they have one of the highest, if not the highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. Yeah, that's teaching them to be smart. Slowly but surely I feel like this country is headed towards an Orwellian fate.
Sometimes the politics of this country irritates me so, that I would love to just go conquer a island nation, via the planting of a flag. The only people who can live there are people who are smart and fair. None of this fuzzy math, none of this stupidity.
That is my 2 cents. Why are we academic folk barraged with such stupidity? How is it that few of us lead the country? or if they do, go down the path of greed? Stupidity grates the nerves. Mine are frayed. *sigh*
two random thoughts
Date: 2004-12-03 12:58 pm (UTC)But the truely wise saying, (which I am not intentionally stealing HONEST) "The man who desires power should never have it, and those who are qualified would never want it." Always loved that one.
I don't know if you're school has a Women's Studies Dept, but I can't help but think that it would be completely eliminated. Which would fit they're agenda, stopping the free expression of feminism. Next they'll get rid of all books pertaining reference to non-biblical relationships, and there goes the neighborhood. Say goodbye to "To Kill a Mocking Bird." and millions of other works.
When humans abbandon compassion and reason, they sacrafice their humanity.
Re: two random thoughts
Date: 2004-12-03 01:28 pm (UTC)I am wary of what the next 4 years will bring. But you are right, "when we abandon compassion and reason, we sacrifice our humanity." To go the way of the cynic, I would not be suprised if the idea of rounding up all the muslims and gassing them have crossed the President's mind. sad. really sad. To me I have likened this (and I think many have as well) whole Homeland Security and Guantanemo Bay thing to _1984_ and (pick one) Nazi/Japanese concentration/internment camps of WWII.
There ought be a way to rally the despondents to vote for what is reasonable correct, and not become despondent ourselves.
Pugamos barbaros! (We fight the barbarians! in Latin)
Re: two random thoughts
Date: 2004-12-03 01:45 pm (UTC)Blue States and Republican Governers eh? I'm in Nevada. We have a fairly Liberal Republican Governer, and are home the the Senate Minority (Democratic) Leader... There's a great book on my state that's out of print unfortunately.
"Morals Legislation without Morality: A case for Nevada" HAHAHAHA On a school note-When I was a Senior in HS (2000-2001) our brand-new AP government books included facts up to the latest Clinton Scandles and the immediately previous Senate session... My sister's friend is a Senior this year, and his AP book was updated for the 1994 election. This is the SAME school I went to three years ago. The books apparently went BACK in time. We also were required to attend "Sex Ed" for graduation, but were not permitted to ask any questions relating to birth control, abortion, condoms, etc. The girl behind me was 5 months pregnant at the time mind you.
Re: two random thoughts
Date: 2004-12-03 06:39 pm (UTC)On better days, I believe that we make anew old ideas so that the current generation will know of 'lost legends'.
I'm watching "NOW with Bill Moyers" on PBS. He makes mention of how the government and some other people want to repackage Creationism as "Intelligent Designs", so that they can teach it in the public schools. UGH! This is not to say that I do not believe in God/higher being, what have you. But to only believe that the world was created only a little over 6000 years ago, when there is staggering evidence to say otherwise?! ...but I digress.
Anyway back to the topic at hand. I was just discussing this article, Cleolinda showed us, and my brother pointed out that its not just the Classics (as in ancient Roman/Greek/etc texts) that could be banned, but also Shakespeare!
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." --From Hamlet (I, iv, 90)
Though in the play it refers to Claudius, I feel it fitting to some things going on in the government.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 09:07 am (UTC)And the advice you are giving out sounds eminently sensible.
You have my sword.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 10:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 10:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 12:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 12:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 10:12 am (UTC)I've spread the word on my journal.
Cleo, you absolutely rock for doing something about this.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 11:04 am (UTC)and i am SO happy with what you're doing here! keep up the good work. and all those other supportive cliches people say.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 11:52 am (UTC)I don't have all that many places to pimp this, but I definitely will. God. someone should geld that goddamn Allen so he doesn't ever spread the genes of stupididty and rampant prejudice to another generation.
On a more positive note - how awesome is Neil that he writes you back? The man is a prince.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 12:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 12:18 pm (UTC)Matt
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 12:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 02:15 pm (UTC)Anyway, I'm going to post the article in my journal and I sent the article to my mom the English teacher (in NJ, but whatever. She loves The Color Purple and they teach Dorian Gray in school, so maybe she will help spread the word).
Good luck with hearing from the reps!
no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 03:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 04:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 05:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-03 05:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 10:59 am (UTC)http://www.livejournal.com/users/captainsblog/76181.html
tying together this stupidity with the Attack of the License Plate people.