4.28.2010
A Letter to Louise
I found this after I finished my post on the "god hates fags" church. In which I state that the main purpose for their campaign is that unlike race and sex, people choose their sexuality. "A Letter to Louise" was written by Bruce W. Lowe who wrote the letter to a good friend who told him that her "brother hates God, because God made him gay". He didn't know how to reply to this statement, so immersed himself in the physcological, theological, and social research pertaining to homosexuality. I read parts of the letter, and I now have a great admiration for Bruce W. Lowe. He was one who once thought of gays and lesbians and sexual deviants, but found that he had no foundation to these ideas. Anyone as annoyed with the "god hates fags" church as I am, should read his letter. It is insightful and refreshing to read a man of religious beliefs able and willing to understand our community. It really made my day.
We Hate Your Hate
Being obsessed with Constance McMillen, I read any article with her name mentioned in the headline. The latest one stated that the "god hates fags" campaign headed by the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas is going to be picketing McMillen's graduation. So I browsed their lovely website dedicated to hate and I was stunned in shock and horror. I have run into some "god hates fags" followers on the sidewalk downtown a few years ago, but I had no idea how committed they were. I mean they actually have a picketing schedule! Mostly of Jewish events...
Their logo is of an upside down American Flag which really demystifies some notions I have of fundamental Christians. From their website it's not easy to really find out what they actually believe in, besides hating the LGBTQ community. Apparently, the WBC during the 1960's fought for civil rights and used god to combat racism and segregation. So they have a sense of equality there. They believe though, that race and sex are factors of a person's character that they can not change, while sexual preference(s) are a choice...and according to them anything non-heterosexual is the wrong choice. Ugh. That's all I can really muster as a response. I'm too tired having the nature vs. nurture argument.
But what I am most offended by that I was expecting to be offended by is that the WBC refers to the bible in the feminine pronoun. I might be treading on thin lines when I say this but I don't think of the bible as preaching violence and I don't think as the feminine force as violent. If anything I think that the feminine has been oppressed and obliterated by violence and that violence has often been justified by the bible. Maybe that's the WBC's way of being progressive, or maybe that's the WBC's way of hiding behind the fact that Phelps is a man preaching violence. Whenever there is a debate on religion, I always just think to myself "the bible says a lot doesn't?" People make it say, whatever they need it to say. I can't help but think of a Broken Social Scene t-shirt they were selling at one of their concerts that read "we hate your hate". That's what I feel, but I don't think I'm breaking even on this one.
Their logo is of an upside down American Flag which really demystifies some notions I have of fundamental Christians. From their website it's not easy to really find out what they actually believe in, besides hating the LGBTQ community. Apparently, the WBC during the 1960's fought for civil rights and used god to combat racism and segregation. So they have a sense of equality there. They believe though, that race and sex are factors of a person's character that they can not change, while sexual preference(s) are a choice...and according to them anything non-heterosexual is the wrong choice. Ugh. That's all I can really muster as a response. I'm too tired having the nature vs. nurture argument.
But what I am most offended by that I was expecting to be offended by is that the WBC refers to the bible in the feminine pronoun. I might be treading on thin lines when I say this but I don't think of the bible as preaching violence and I don't think as the feminine force as violent. If anything I think that the feminine has been oppressed and obliterated by violence and that violence has often been justified by the bible. Maybe that's the WBC's way of being progressive, or maybe that's the WBC's way of hiding behind the fact that Phelps is a man preaching violence. Whenever there is a debate on religion, I always just think to myself "the bible says a lot doesn't?" People make it say, whatever they need it to say. I can't help but think of a Broken Social Scene t-shirt they were selling at one of their concerts that read "we hate your hate". That's what I feel, but I don't think I'm breaking even on this one.
Selling Biscuits and Gender
This is not breaking news, but every once in awhile when I'm watching T.V., a commercial just grabs my attention a.k.a. rubs me the wrong way. Last night it was the "'Nascar' Hardee's Biscuit" commercial.
It doesn't take a lot to see the sexism in the commercial but analyzing helps me cope with the blatant gender stereotypes. The big claim Hardee's makes is that "men don't bake" so men need to buy their biscuits from Hardee's. Of course, this is related to the idea that men don't cook because women do it for them. Which is...sexist. More and more I find that flexibility and fluidity are major advantages to any functioning relationship. I recently heard on the morning news that a large percentage of married couples find that chores are very important in their relationship and many couples split because of bickering over chores. I can see how gender stereotypes and gender binaries seem to simplify this matter. Women are constrained to the inside domestic, while men are in charge of outdoor public matters. There is a line that is drawn so that fights are minimized. But what about non-heterosexual relationships. And isn't it naive to think that relationships are always 50-50? Sometimes it's 75-25. When we confine our ideas to gender stereotypes in the 'modern' age, women often have "double shifts". Meaning they go to work in the morning, but they come home having to do their domestic chores.
Men do bake, they need to bake. And this is the interconnectedness of women's rights and gender.
Commercials like the Hardee's commercial sell gender just as much as they are selling biscuits. According to Hardee's, real men lounge in an untidy living room watching Nascar...and buy their food rather than making it themselves.
It doesn't take a lot to see the sexism in the commercial but analyzing helps me cope with the blatant gender stereotypes. The big claim Hardee's makes is that "men don't bake" so men need to buy their biscuits from Hardee's. Of course, this is related to the idea that men don't cook because women do it for them. Which is...sexist. More and more I find that flexibility and fluidity are major advantages to any functioning relationship. I recently heard on the morning news that a large percentage of married couples find that chores are very important in their relationship and many couples split because of bickering over chores. I can see how gender stereotypes and gender binaries seem to simplify this matter. Women are constrained to the inside domestic, while men are in charge of outdoor public matters. There is a line that is drawn so that fights are minimized. But what about non-heterosexual relationships. And isn't it naive to think that relationships are always 50-50? Sometimes it's 75-25. When we confine our ideas to gender stereotypes in the 'modern' age, women often have "double shifts". Meaning they go to work in the morning, but they come home having to do their domestic chores.
Men do bake, they need to bake. And this is the interconnectedness of women's rights and gender.
Commercials like the Hardee's commercial sell gender just as much as they are selling biscuits. According to Hardee's, real men lounge in an untidy living room watching Nascar...and buy their food rather than making it themselves.
4.27.2010
Williams Staged the Attack?
I just read an update on the Williams case from the Lexington Kentucky Newspaper. (Is it weird that their logo is oddly similar to Walmart's?"). The local newspaper article reports that the alleged victim, Williams, shot a video from her cell phone during the attack. The defendants attorney's claim that this proves that Williams was just staging the attack along with the other three high school students who have plead not guilty. Their attorney's believe that since Williams had a cell phone to shoot a video, she could have just called 911 for help. Instead she shot the video on Friday April 16th, the day of the alleged attack and then reported it the following Monday.
The local police investigating this still claim that there is no evidence that this is a hate crime. Williams mother still believes otherwise.
My initial reaction that the idea that Williams staged this assault, was that it was definitely possible. What a better way to commemorate The National Day of Silence than to stage a hate crime based on sexual orientation? It gets the point across that school in the United States need to fight harassment and bullying towards the LGBTQ students. But there could be more to this case that the investigators who are stubborn to see this case as anything but a practical joke.
Williams may have fought a video because she was afraid that no one would believe her that she was kidnapped, beaten and then was a victim of attempted murder. It would have been the stories of three against one, and it seems that the Jackson County police are a bit weary on throwing out 'progressive' terminology such as 'hate crimes'. Maybe Williams understood the resistance her community has against LGBTQ issues, and recording a video would be the only valid evidence lawyers and police investigators couldn't explain away. She was kidnapped and taken to Flat Lick Falls. Flat Lick Falls and the surrounding 86 acres of land was purchased by the government. There is little development in the area that Williams was taken to. I know that when I go camping at my nearby National Park, I get zero cellphone service. Perhaps Williams couldn't call 911 because she couldn't get any reception and then opted for the next best thing she could think of which was to get evidence of the attack.
Nothing would surprise me about this case except for the local police opening themselves up to possibilities of this being a hate crime.
The local police investigating this still claim that there is no evidence that this is a hate crime. Williams mother still believes otherwise.
My initial reaction that the idea that Williams staged this assault, was that it was definitely possible. What a better way to commemorate The National Day of Silence than to stage a hate crime based on sexual orientation? It gets the point across that school in the United States need to fight harassment and bullying towards the LGBTQ students. But there could be more to this case that the investigators who are stubborn to see this case as anything but a practical joke.
Williams may have fought a video because she was afraid that no one would believe her that she was kidnapped, beaten and then was a victim of attempted murder. It would have been the stories of three against one, and it seems that the Jackson County police are a bit weary on throwing out 'progressive' terminology such as 'hate crimes'. Maybe Williams understood the resistance her community has against LGBTQ issues, and recording a video would be the only valid evidence lawyers and police investigators couldn't explain away. She was kidnapped and taken to Flat Lick Falls. Flat Lick Falls and the surrounding 86 acres of land was purchased by the government. There is little development in the area that Williams was taken to. I know that when I go camping at my nearby National Park, I get zero cellphone service. Perhaps Williams couldn't call 911 because she couldn't get any reception and then opted for the next best thing she could think of which was to get evidence of the attack.
Nothing would surprise me about this case except for the local police opening themselves up to possibilities of this being a hate crime.
4.26.2010
Prank or Attempted Murder?
Every April 16th, The National Day of Silence is held annually in schools across the United States to bring attention to the bullying and harassment to LGBTQ students. Cheyenne Williams is an out lesbian and attends high school in Kentucky. On The National Day of Silence, Cheyenne Williams was kidnapped by three high school students where they drove Williams to a cliff and then tried to push her off the 50 foot cliff. Kentucky police are still investigating but so far do not believe this is hate crime but a prank. "Right now, we have obtained certain facts that would indicate that might be the case, that it may have been a prank,” Sgt. Matt Feltner with the Kentucky State Police told WKYT 27. “This is not a hate crime. Right now we’re still gathering facts and still investigating.”
Lets go over some facts Sgt. Feltner. Hate crime by definition (Wikipedia): Hate crimes (also known as bias-motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, or political affiliation.
"Hate crime" generally refers to criminal acts which are seen to have been motivated by hatred of one or more of the listed conditions. Incidents may involve physical assault, damage to property, bullying, harassment, verbal abuse or insults, or offensive graffiti or letters (hate mail).
Just to put on thing out of the way: kidnapping someone and then attempting to push them off a cliff is NOT a prank. It's a lot more than a simple prank. While we are at it we should Wikipedia define "prank": "A practical joke (also known as a prank or gag) is a trick to purposely make someone feel foolish or victimized, usually for humor. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on, the joke rather than being fooled into handing over money or other valuables. Practical jokes or pranks are typically lighthearted and made to make people feel foolish or victimized to a certain degree, although in some practical jokes there could be an inherent strain of cruelty present."
Some people might say that it was a coincidence that Williams is a lesbian, and just because she's a lesbian, doesn't dictate that this is a hate crime. Answer: It was The National Day of Silence! An LGBTQ campaign to end discrimination, bullying and harassment in schools. This was something that was planned to happen on April 16th. And it happened to Williams because she was gay.
I hope that the Kentucky police look into the definitions of hate crimes and really think about correct punishments. And if not, I hope that Williams has a wonderful lawyer and help from the ACLU.
Lets go over some facts Sgt. Feltner. Hate crime by definition (Wikipedia): Hate crimes (also known as bias-motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group, usually defined by racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, class, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, or political affiliation.
"Hate crime" generally refers to criminal acts which are seen to have been motivated by hatred of one or more of the listed conditions. Incidents may involve physical assault, damage to property, bullying, harassment, verbal abuse or insults, or offensive graffiti or letters (hate mail).
Just to put on thing out of the way: kidnapping someone and then attempting to push them off a cliff is NOT a prank. It's a lot more than a simple prank. While we are at it we should Wikipedia define "prank": "A practical joke (also known as a prank or gag) is a trick to purposely make someone feel foolish or victimized, usually for humor. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on, the joke rather than being fooled into handing over money or other valuables. Practical jokes or pranks are typically lighthearted and made to make people feel foolish or victimized to a certain degree, although in some practical jokes there could be an inherent strain of cruelty present."
Some people might say that it was a coincidence that Williams is a lesbian, and just because she's a lesbian, doesn't dictate that this is a hate crime. Answer: It was The National Day of Silence! An LGBTQ campaign to end discrimination, bullying and harassment in schools. This was something that was planned to happen on April 16th. And it happened to Williams because she was gay.
I hope that the Kentucky police look into the definitions of hate crimes and really think about correct punishments. And if not, I hope that Williams has a wonderful lawyer and help from the ACLU.
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