(no subject)
Dec. 4th, 2004 04:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cleolindaApparently Rep. Allen was on Hannity & Colmes yesterday; I'm waiting for a transcript to go up at the Fox site, because I have a feeling this is going to be good.
I'm not sure what to do at this point about the book banning issue, by the way. I've had more than one person advise me now that this is a big publicity stunt on Allen's part, and that no one ever expected the bill to pass--it makes Allen look good to his constituents and like-minded Alabamians, basically, while the bill itself is completely unenforceable, unconstitutional, unworkably expensive, and badly thought-out. The rest of the legislature thinks, or may think, in whole or in part, that he's being an ass, and bringing more attention to him is only going to help him. Alternatively, he's going to wear us all out on book-banning and then sneak something in like "banning all mentions of homosexuality from just textbooks," and we're going to feel so relieved it's nothing worse that we'll let it through.
Directors do this a lot with movie violence--I specifically remember stories about Scorsese and Tarantino amping up particular scenes so that the "regular" version actually looks good in comparison. The only problem is... and this has happened; I wish I could remember the specific example... sometimes the MPAA doesn't blink, and the worse version goes through. This is what I'm afraid of here. The wind is blowing in a terrifyingly conservative direction these days, and I'm afraid that if we don't speak up now--"Oh, that'll never pass"--well, what if this bill, or something like it, actually does?
Now that I've had time to think about it, I'm also a little disturbed that Rep. Gaines spoke so approvingly of censorship in general. It's a complicated issue, but... I was expecting a more moderate stance, somehow. Still, he is a Republican; I'm going to try writing to a Democratic representative and see how far that gets me.
I think the big issue here, to me, is that this is censorship on religious principles, and I want less religion in my government, thanks. We should all have the freedom to express our religions, and included in that is the religious affiliation of no religion. If religion therefore is a matter of choice, it should not and cannot be a matter of mandated law. I think a lot of anti-gay legislation could theoretically be approached on these grounds: civil unions for everyone, two people, any gender, and if they're going to hell, that's their problem, not yours. Not that coming out and saying it that bluntly would necessarily work, but that would be the underlying principle.
And as I said in a previous comment somewhere, we can rage and howl about how we're right all we want. But I'd rather win than be right. The logic we're using here, "the right to personal censorship" rather than "how dare you ban any books ever OMG," is sort of a thin-edge-of-the-wedge approach. We start small, and after we've defeated whatever fresh hell they've thought of, we move on to bigger and wider issues with the same calm, rational approach. But I don't know who to take this approach to, if you see what I mean. So.
Today: More power Christmas shopping. We found a great mini-CD player/radio for George at Brookstone, plus some of those Föm pillows that are so much fun. We still can't figure out which store carries this belt that my cousin wants, so we're having to wait until Aunt Awesome calls us back with a name. We only had a couple of hours today--Mom and I had to sneak out while George was at a special job interview for a position he really, really wants (so cross your fingers for him on that). Tomorrow we're decorating the tree, but I don't know if Sister Girl will be up and well enough to do the punch and cookies she wanted--she's laid out again, this time with the Sinus Infection of Doooom. I'm slowly but surely progressing on my final paper.
New icons: Six Ella Enchanted, two extra Padme, and one Mirrormask.
Also a ton of Eowyn, but they're over at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
icon_wh0res (the joining, it is painless! Why is it that you are not of the joining?).
I'm not sure what to do at this point about the book banning issue, by the way. I've had more than one person advise me now that this is a big publicity stunt on Allen's part, and that no one ever expected the bill to pass--it makes Allen look good to his constituents and like-minded Alabamians, basically, while the bill itself is completely unenforceable, unconstitutional, unworkably expensive, and badly thought-out. The rest of the legislature thinks, or may think, in whole or in part, that he's being an ass, and bringing more attention to him is only going to help him. Alternatively, he's going to wear us all out on book-banning and then sneak something in like "banning all mentions of homosexuality from just textbooks," and we're going to feel so relieved it's nothing worse that we'll let it through.
Directors do this a lot with movie violence--I specifically remember stories about Scorsese and Tarantino amping up particular scenes so that the "regular" version actually looks good in comparison. The only problem is... and this has happened; I wish I could remember the specific example... sometimes the MPAA doesn't blink, and the worse version goes through. This is what I'm afraid of here. The wind is blowing in a terrifyingly conservative direction these days, and I'm afraid that if we don't speak up now--"Oh, that'll never pass"--well, what if this bill, or something like it, actually does?
Now that I've had time to think about it, I'm also a little disturbed that Rep. Gaines spoke so approvingly of censorship in general. It's a complicated issue, but... I was expecting a more moderate stance, somehow. Still, he is a Republican; I'm going to try writing to a Democratic representative and see how far that gets me.
I think the big issue here, to me, is that this is censorship on religious principles, and I want less religion in my government, thanks. We should all have the freedom to express our religions, and included in that is the religious affiliation of no religion. If religion therefore is a matter of choice, it should not and cannot be a matter of mandated law. I think a lot of anti-gay legislation could theoretically be approached on these grounds: civil unions for everyone, two people, any gender, and if they're going to hell, that's their problem, not yours. Not that coming out and saying it that bluntly would necessarily work, but that would be the underlying principle.
And as I said in a previous comment somewhere, we can rage and howl about how we're right all we want. But I'd rather win than be right. The logic we're using here, "the right to personal censorship" rather than "how dare you ban any books ever OMG," is sort of a thin-edge-of-the-wedge approach. We start small, and after we've defeated whatever fresh hell they've thought of, we move on to bigger and wider issues with the same calm, rational approach. But I don't know who to take this approach to, if you see what I mean. So.
Today: More power Christmas shopping. We found a great mini-CD player/radio for George at Brookstone, plus some of those Föm pillows that are so much fun. We still can't figure out which store carries this belt that my cousin wants, so we're having to wait until Aunt Awesome calls us back with a name. We only had a couple of hours today--Mom and I had to sneak out while George was at a special job interview for a position he really, really wants (so cross your fingers for him on that). Tomorrow we're decorating the tree, but I don't know if Sister Girl will be up and well enough to do the punch and cookies she wanted--she's laid out again, this time with the Sinus Infection of Doooom. I'm slowly but surely progressing on my final paper.
New icons: Six Ella Enchanted, two extra Padme, and one Mirrormask.
Also a ton of Eowyn, but they're over at
icon_wh0res (the joining, it is painless! Why is it that you are not of the joining?). You Are a Dreaming Soul |
 Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you awy from this world So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all... But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you. Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses. Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others. Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life. Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul |
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 02:33 pm (UTC)And they have, in this administration, consistently signed something into law while we were busy looking somewhere else, whether that was Paris Hilton's latest escapade, or at a governmental situation that was very shiny and big and pretty.
We've got a lot of work to do, and I think that a lot of people are going to be bitterly exhausted of the whole process of making our government do what we want them to in four years.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 02:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 02:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-06 01:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-06 02:20 pm (UTC)I <3 TMW! Has
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Date: 2004-12-04 04:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-06 02:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-06 03:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 09:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-06 01:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 02:41 pm (UTC)BUT, I still think it is better to protest than to be silent. Enough silence and people will forget what anyone ever protested about.
In other commentation - those pillows! They are like the Urban Outfitters ones that I luuurved when my friend got them. Thank you for reminding me to put them on my christmas list!
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 02:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 03:37 pm (UTC)You can email it to emilyesse@gmail.com.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 02:45 pm (UTC)The icons are lovely.
And I need you to do my Christmas shopping. You are a fantastic shopper. Your mom too.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 02:55 pm (UTC)You're definitely right about this whole 'banning' issue. As far as I know, they aren't doing it here, thank Wotsit. Bloody idiots, trying to hide something that's just a part of life. What's the point?
Anyway...
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 03:08 pm (UTC)Nothing to add on the book banning issue other than "grrrrrrrr".
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Date: 2004-12-04 03:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-05 01:50 am (UTC):-)
Date: 2004-12-04 06:21 pm (UTC)Re: :-)
Date: 2004-12-05 01:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 03:13 pm (UTC)May I make a suggestion as to what to say to these people?
Corny as it may sound, cite the argument in that song from South Pacific: "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught". Tell them that a child's job is to learn that the world is full of many different things, and that while adults can and should make certain their children aren't exposed to anything extremely awful too soon in life, the worst thing they can be exposed to is hate. Active hatred is damaging, but the subtle, under-the-table type--that attitude of we're willing to let you live among us if you're different, as long as you don't ever act different or mention being different--causes much more hurt; it's like a cancer.
If a child has questions about anything, whether it's homosexuality or why the sky is blue or what "Aristotelian" means, that child should be free to ask questions and to do some research--it's the responsibility of every parent or teacher to make sure that kids learn, and, above all, to set a good example by letting them know that it's all right to ask a question to which there may not be an easy answer.
Besides, and on a somewhat lighter note, knowing that something exists is not stone-etched proof that you're going to do it someday. Most people who study Van Gogh in school don't suddenly take up Impressionist painting; most people who take the mandatory years of math classes don't spend an hour or two every night solving math problems (except during tax season). Just because a child knows that some people are homosexual, and that some people think that it's genetic and some don't, does not mean that child is going to spontaneously become gay.
Chatty CathyThe defense rests.no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 03:22 pm (UTC)*plans to steal in the near future*
*with credit, of course*
:-D
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Date: 2004-12-04 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 04:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 06:19 pm (UTC)Jessika
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 04:07 pm (UTC)I would argue that every weed that pops up needs to be dealt with vigorously before it grows. We tend to see these smaller local issues as not as important in face of so many larger national crises. But the right wing fundamentalists did not gain so much power by fighting large battles. They took over school boards, boards of supervisors, mayorships, sheriff's offices. They don't need to shut down every women's health clinic offering reproductive services, including abortion. They only needed to shut down the one in their town. They don't need to ban books in every library, just the library in their own county. We need to take a page from their book.
When Giuliani (sp?) was trying to fight crime in NYC, he didn't just focus on the big things like gangs, assaults, burglaries etc. He also focused on the little things like litter and graffiti. The logic was and is that it is easier to commit a big crime if you live in an environment that allows the smaller "victimless" crimes like graffiti.
So, every time we ignore a small threat like this one with the logic that it has no chance, it's just a publicity stunt etc., we make it easier for it to happen again; only the next time the stakes will be higher. Complacency is the real enemy. We need to stand up and shout at the top of our lungs every time the smallest affront to our constitutional rights occurs. Maybe this legislator is only putting on a publicity stunt to get in good with certain constituents and maybe he isn't but ignoring him won't work. Unless we tell him NO as loudly as we can he and his fellow legislators will assume the answer is yes and act accordingly.
So who to take it to? I think Neal Gaimon was right - make sure everyone you can think of knows where you stand and encourage them to do the same. Write letter to the editor and legislators and Congressman. Don't let them ignore you. Be just as obnoxious (in an I'm-not-going-to-leave-you-alone-until-you-see-reason kind of way). Join organizations and campaigns that promote our point of view.
Viva la revolucion!
no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 04:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 05:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-04 07:44 pm (UTC)G'luck to George, hope Sister Girl is feeling better, and those pillows are teh sexah, btw.
Oh and on the quiz I got:
Retrospective Soul
The most misunderstood of all the soul signs.
Sometimes you even have difficulty seeing yourself as who you are.
You are intense and desire perfection in every facet of your life.
You're best described as extremely idealistic, hardworking, and a survivor.
Great moments of insight and sensitivity come to you easily.
But if you aren't careful, you'll ignore these moments and repeat past mistakes.
For you, it is difficult to seperate the past from the present.
You will suceed once you overcome the disappoinments in life.
Souls you are most compatible with: Traveler Soul and Prophet Soul
no subject
Date: 2004-12-05 04:53 am (UTC)I've got one of those. They sparkle with static electricity in the dark. Fun!
I got a reply from Rep. Hubbard...
Date: 2004-12-06 09:08 pm (UTC)When I read about Rep. Allen's proposal in the news, I started writing representatives. Hubbard replied.
"I spoke with Gerald last week when I heard of his proposal and told him that he had gone over the line suggesting that books be banned...I don't believe this bill will have much support in the Legislature."
Just thought you might want to know. I'd write Allen, but he IS my district's rep...and lives a few blocks from me. I figure I'll let him know how I feel next time I see him. Loudly, and with great enthusiasm.
Re: I got a reply from Rep. Hubbard...
Date: 2004-12-06 09:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-09 06:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-09 11:11 am (UTC)