Rolling Stone Panty Twist

So, I come into work today and when I get a free few minutes, I see my Facebook feed blown up with people upset with the current cover of Rolling Stone. So, I click on a photo of the cover. It has a selfie of suspected Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev plastered across the front. So, I check the headlines. I am still unsure what is the big deal.

Then. I am told Rolling Stone is "glorifying" Tsarnaev like he is some kind of rock star. So, my next thought was asking the question "When did a cover story turn a bombing suspect into a rock star?" I suppose as a journalist, I look at things differently. The exact same photo on the cover of Rolling Stone ran on the cover of both the New York Times and New York Post several weeks ago. Why was there no outrage in those instances? Granted, both are considered straight up news publications while Rolling Stone is a music magazine, but Rolling Stone has never strayed from covering everything from crime to politics to world issues. President Obama, Lindsay Lohan, Jon Stewart, Johnny Depp, and even Snooki have graced the magazine's cover. None of them have anything to do with music and some of them shouldn't be glorified either.

So, why all the fuss? People have their panties in a twist because of their perception of the cover. My perception is that Rolling Stone is covering a news story. Others perceive it as the magazine revering the bombing suspect. It seems to me that the people most upset over the cover are the ones who don't read the magazine. Look at it any way you want, but Rolling Stone is profiting from all of this. In the 1970's, they put Charles Manson on the cover, so this isn't something new for them or for anyone who knows about Rolling Stone.  CVS drug stores have banned the issue. It looks like CVS won't profit from a Rolling Stone issue that will certainly fly off of store shelves.

Another thing I need to point out is that last week, Tsarnaev pled not guilty to 30 federal charges relating to his alleged role in the Boston marathon bombing.  In the United States, you are innocent until proven guilty. But the American media and public have already put him in the electric chair. Now, I do believe he did what he is accused of, but like so many people in the spotlight who are accused of heinous crimes, he is already guilty.

Now, keeping in mind the depth of Tsarnaev's crimes, would we be equally appalled if, say,  Newton school shooter Adam Lanza were on the cover? My guess would be no. We are an "it's too soon" society and we wouldn't hear a peep of indignation if this exact cover story were published a year from now.

Lately, I have tried to stray from meaningless news stories or ones created to make you go to a website or tune into a certain show. One such example was a news story I saw regarding the death of Glee star Cory Monteith. TMZ posted several photos snapped a few days before his death where he was outside hanging with some friends. There was a 6 pack of beer present, but there wasn't even a single shot of him drinking a beer much less holding one. And the article made it sound like Monteith led a double life where he partied in Vancouver, but stayed sober while doing the show in the United States. It was a stretch for a story, but people buy into that. People actually BELIEVE what even their own eyes are telling them is not true.

So, when people are trained to believe the worst, then they actually do. And that is why I still don't understand the outrage, but I understand why people believe Rolling Stone was glorifying a man, who, according to the United States legal system, is presumed innocent.

The Tennessee Legislature: A Paradox in Terms

I have officially lived in Tennessee for over ten years, so it's safe to say I am a citizen. And the longer I have lived here, the more I have become aware that the body of individuals who make laws for Tennessee are, for the most part, embarrassing. Granted, there are some that actually do some good, but usually, the news from the Capitol is about how absolutely ridiculous these people think and the actions they take to put their twisted views into law.

For example, very recently, some Tennessee lawmakers got their panties in a twist because they thought a mop sink at the state capitol building was a foot-washing sink for Muslims.

http://www.tennessean.com/viewart/20130325/NEWS02/303250057/TN-lawmakers-confuse-mop-sink-Muslim-foot-washing-sink

I truly wish I was making this up. Their fear of a religion that has existed peacefully in Tennessee for over a hundred years is all of the sudden trying to put their evil plumbing just yards from where they make laws specifically aimed at keeping that religion from practicing in Tennessee. Oh the humanity!

But that is just one instance of the joke that is the GOP-dominated Tennessee General Assembly. The TGA makes up the 33-member state senate and 99-member house of representatives. I, for one, am a bit tired of these people making this great state look like were all a bunch of right wing nut job homophobes with a Jesus complex.

One of the biggest examples is the infamous Don't Say Gay Bill. It was first introduced in 2011 and stalled in the House. But it's back and could have some terrible repercussions on Tennessee children. The irony is that it's called the Classroom Protection Act and it essentially prohibits the discussion of any sexuality besides heterosexuality in public school classrooms. But bill sponsor, Senator Stacey Campfield, has added another little tidbit to the bill's reintroduction earlier this year. The new and unimproved legislation would now require teachers to out their students to their parents. The sheer amount of bigotry and unconstitutionality of this so-called would-be "law" is a disgrace. And the fact that there are people out there -- and lawmakers no less -- that would be so willing to trample on a child's humanity and identity is deplorable. It's also another veiled attempt at people in power pushing their religious views on Americans. Let's be honest. This is simply about forcing conservative Christian beliefs on the children of Tennessee.

Another example of the veiled Neocon agenda is the more recent introduction of a piece of legislation that wouldn't allow the police forces of  certain private state universities (like Vanderbilt) to make arrests if they didn't amend their non-discrimination campus policies. In real terms: they wanted to give groups (and religious ones in particular) on these campuses the ability to discriminate against homosexuals. Fortunately, our Republican governor (give credit where credit is due) did veto a similar bill last year and he has noted that this new piece of legislation doesn't exactly thrill him.

And while I give Governor Bill Haslam credit for stopping some of this nonsense, I am more angered by the fact that my tax payer money was wasted on a single piece of copy paper for these bills. If we want to focus on real issues in this state, let's start with education because it seems like a lack of education is what is causing these brainless laws to be introduced in the first place. Every time I flip on my local news, I hear about money problems in schools and a recent report from Education Week's Quality Counts gave Tennessee public schools a C+ grade and a national ranking of 22. I am not paying a 7% sales tax (and higher in the Nashville area) for Tennessee children to get a C+ rating and for TN lawmakers to introduce legislation that teaches creationism in public classrooms. Again, a veiled Christian agenda snaking its way into public school. No pun intended.

Let's also keep in mind this is the same group of legislatures that banned Sharia Law and passed an abstinence-only sex education program that prohibits almost any discussion of sexual activity. The sex ed bill was also known as the "gateway body parts" legislation because it states educators can mention kissing or hand-holding, but can't talk about the touching of "gateway" body parts like genitals. Ummmm.... so explain to me how this is sex education?

The Tennessee General Assembly has also passed a law that would make causing a miscarriage murder and let's not forget that life-altering bill that makes saggy pants a crime. And these are just the laws they PASSED. The amount of ridiculous bills introduced, but didn't pass includes a bill discriminating against transgender Tennesseans. And let's not forget a GOP rep who sent an email to constituents saying that President Obama was planning to fake an assassination attempt in order to fix the 2012 election.

I really have trouble trying to picture the reality these people live in because it's not even close to the real world. Tennessee doesn't need a bunch of Bible thumpers imposing extreme agendas. Other countries in the world ruled by religious law should be a clear indication that theocracies don't work and never will. Perhaps they should pay attention to their counterparts in wacky over in Texas who decided to cut Planned Parenthood. But because of rising health care costs, they are quietly restoring federal family planning funding. So much for pushing that quasi-religious agenda, Texas. Tennessee, are you paying attention?

The Raping of American Women

It has taken me several weeks to find a good head space to write about rape in the United States and how too many politicians from the right are using it to exploit their abortion beliefs. I boil up with anger just thinking about it, so I have to pause a lot to get my thoughts together.

I will start with attempting to make a person (especially men) understand what a woman goes through when she is raped. First of all, she is forcibly and sometimes violently violated in the most personal way possible by a person she did not want to have sex with. Not only can it cause irreparable physical damage, but it completely causes irreparable psychological damage. It not only destroys the life of the victim, but the victim's friends and family are also permanently scarred. It sets off a chain of destruction in the lives of countless people and that kind of deep-seated suffering and trauma never completely goes away.

"Victims who survive these crimes have to worry about having contracted sexually transmitted diseases, they may have physical injuries, girls and women have to worry about pregnancy. This is on top of the stigma, fear and anger that being victimized may bring. It is never 'just sex'. Ask any victim of any age or gender. Anyone who's ever had someone trespass against them can start to understand how this crime can traumatize."

That quote is from an unidentified rape victim I found on a victims support website.

And let's also keep in mind that many rapes aren't reported because the crime is so personal and heinous and private. When asked about the attack, victims must relive what happened and reporting it to the police means reliving it. Reliving it at trial etc... That's not to mention the medical examination after the attack. You were just man-handled inappropriately and traumatically and now, you must undergo similar touching as part of your exam.

And despite what some politicians claim, you can indeed get pregnant from a rape. It has happened hundreds and hundreds of times. And I guess this is leading up to what I really want to address in this blog and that is politicians continually excusing and trivializing rape in order to push their anti-abortion agenda. 

After seeing the reports of New Mexico rep Cathrynn Brown, who introduced a bill where rape victims who got pregnant from their attack would be jailed for having an abortion because they destroyed evidence of the crime, that was the last straw. (Fortunately, Brown's bill doesn't have the support to become a law, but the fact it was even introduced is mind boggling. And the fact it was introduced by a woman is disgusting.)

Of course, there have been other pieces of legislation introduced and my mind automatically turns to Paul Ryan, who doesn't seem to care much for the victims of rape, but more for the product of rape. 

"Whether it's the language of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan that isolates the concept of  'forcible rape,' simply looking to limit abortions at all costs, or bills like Brown's that have a myopic focus on punishing the assailant, the GOP continually misses what should be one of the most critical parts of any rape-abortion legislation -- the perspective of the victim." - Brittany Bullock, Huffington Post blogger.

Bullock's point is what's so infuriating. These laws are introduced with ZERO consideration of the victim of a heinous crime. These politicians are introducing legislation that would allow rapists parental rights to children they created during a rape. It's bad enough these women are victims, but people like Paul Ryan want to force them to have a child they probably don't want and then have to DEAL with the man who attacked them in their everyday lives because that child has a right to see their rapist father. It is sick. 

You have to be a sick, heartless bastard to push your pro-life agenda? We get it. You are pro-life, but be pro-life to the point of reason. In trying to save the life of one child, how many more are you destroying?  These proposed laws turn rape victims into criminals. Rape is NEVER deserved and if pregnancy is the product of that rape, you should NEVER be forced to have that child. 

This mindset of using rape as a means to give your pro-life agenda a boost is doing nothing but trivializing rape. The more you talk about it happening and the more you give reasons as to why a rapist has certain rights, the more you put the notion into society that rape is okay. And rape is NEVER okay. EVER. And lending it credence is Mr. Ryan saying that rape is just another "method of conception." 

If you want the national mindset on abortion to turn around, then use education (something the GOP seems to dislike) instead of asinine laws that will only empower rapists. We need common sense in these kinds of situations. Women who are raped are victims and they have and will have gone through enough without a heartless politician furthering their suffering to gain brownie points with an extreme right agenda.

I have personally seen the negative toll the rape of one person can have and the aftershocks number in the hundreds. Stop being a champion for an agenda and start being a champion for victims. You might also be able to keep your public office. Maybe. 

Call Me A Hypocrite

I am a hypocrite. I admit it. I got some not-so-nice messages after my last blog that discussed my complete hatred of guns. I cited mass shootings as one of my reasons and stressed why the deaths of children makes these crimes even more horrific.

Then, the cowards who decided not to air their grievances as comments on my blog, decided to DM me on facebook or email me. They said there was no way I could be pro-choice and anti-gun. How could I advocate killing babies and then advocate not killing babies?

I suppose, however, my alleged hypocrisy has exceptions. It does bother me a bit when pro-lifers assume that just because I am pro-choice, I am pro-murder. That is like saying someone who is pro-death penalty is pro-murder. It's not exactly correct. I know there are some aspects of issues that I like to proclaim as being "that simple." But, abortion isn't simple and never has been. If it were, the Supreme Court wouldn't have ruled on the issue in the first place.

So, let's compare the killing of children in a mass shooting situation versus abortion.

The first word that came to my mind when thinking this through was choice. You see, that is why I am pro-choice. This gives a woman a choice in what happens to her body. With abortion, two lives are involved, not just one. In mass shootings, the perpetrator doesn't walk into a school and first call the parents of the children they plan on gunning down to check if that's okay. When a gunman walks into an establishment with the intent to spray bullets, and the child's mother is not around, it doesn't present a physical danger to the mother. You see, sometimes abortions are necessary to save the life of the mother. Sometimes abortions are necessary if the mother was raped or there is incest. Abortion can be mulled over, thought about, considered and discussed. Mass shootings are obviously NEVER necessary and rarely is discussion even an option.

Now, I understand how conservatives see abortion as just another means of birth control and I know for a fact that it has been utilized that way. Human life is precious and the decision to end a life isn't something that should be taken lightly. But we have all seen Dirty Dancing enough times to know that if safe and medically-performed abortions aren't available, then back alley and wire hanger abortions will begin again. These types of dangerous procedures threaten both the lives of the mother and child.

And it seems to me that most members of the GOP only care about those children being born. Once they are in this world, the charity stops. Many babies are aborted because families can't afford another child or the mother is drug-addicted, homeless, abused or destitute. The GOP is against funding welfare, food stamps, drug rehabilitation programs, low-income housing, Planned Parenthood and other social initiatives. So, they just want that child to be born so it can starve in the streets. Great plan. And I am the one being called a hypocrite by the right wing.

But, as usual, I digress.

I hear many say mass shootings are "God's will," but abortions aren't. Pardon me, but what's the damn difference? I don't believe in the will of any deity, but I do believe in the will of some wacko with a legal arsenal of guns that can take my life and your life in less than a second. So, take the guns.

Just like we don't call American soldiers "murderers" we shouldn't call people who are pro-choice murderers. Our beliefs and our actions are truly for the good of the United States and its children. And THAT is why a pro-choice, anti-gun America is heading in the right direction. It's progress. Deal with it.

Straight Shooter

December 1, 1997 West Paducah, KY: 3 students killed, 5 wounded by a 14-year-old gunman

March 24, 1998 Jonesboro, AR: 4 students and 1 teacher killed, 10 wounded by 11 and 13 year old gunmen

May 21, 1998 Springfield, OR: 2 students killed, 22 wounded by 15 year old gunman who also killed his parents

April 20, 1999 Littleton, CO: 14 students and 1 teacher killed, 23 wounded by 17 and 18 year old students

Ya know what? Go to this link and check out school shootings worldwide. Note how the majority take place in the United States.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777958.html

There are many more instances of babies killing babies. But honestly, that is only part of what this blog is about. What I remember asking myself repeatedly 4 days after the senseless killings in Newtown, Connecticut is what do these gun enthusiasts care more about? Are guns or American children more important? And I can already hear responses like "It's not that simple," coming from the pro-gun gallery. But in my eyes, it IS that simple. Do you want weapons like semi-automatic assault rifles readily available or do you want to watch your children grow up and give you grand kids? In light of recent events, I can't even think about my beautiful 6-year-old nephew and how much I love him without tearing up. The one time I wondered if it had been him at Sandy Hook, I had to pull over and sob uncontrollably on the side of the road.

It's no secret I despise guns. I think a machine specifically designed to take human life has no place in civilized society. Why do we need something in everyday life that allows one human to take another human life so readily? Don't think I know what I am talking about? During my work as a journalist, I have been shot at. Repeatedly. I have seen countless gun violence crime scenes. And some of those crime scenes involved the deaths of children. Don't preach to me about protecting your family after you go to a remote creek bridge in Texas to view a crime scene where a teenage girl had her head blown off and her body thrown off the bridge. She had been shot nine times. I had a sheriff's agent point out remnants of her brain, scalp and hair on the bridge rail. I was more stunned by my lack of shock at what I was seeing. I hadn't even been a reporter for that long, but I realized I couldn't become desensitized to that sort of thing ever again. And you know what? Two of the three men involved in killing that beautiful high school cheerleader were also high school kids. Babies killing babies. Later, the girl's father filed a lawsuit against the store that sold and handed over shotgun ammunition to two of the killers. The complaint alleged negligence on the grounds that the action violated state law on the supply of offensive weapons to minors, and that this negligence caused his daughter's death. Because the lawsuit was brought about in a conservative state, it went nowhere. After all of my experiences, I hate guns even more. According to ABC News, 34 people die as a result of guns every day in America. That is 34 too many. Yes, gun nuts, WAY TOO EFFING MANY!

Back to recent events...its despicable it took the killing of 20 little angels and 6 brave adults to finally justify an outcry for tougher gun legislation. Take a look at that link again. How many Americans died? Many of them were kids.  How many died after 2004 once George W. Bush allowed a federal assault weapons ban to expire? And now, who do we blame?

Blame seems to be a tough word for people these days. I have seen blame put on the NRA, Dubya, Democrats, Republicans, Obama, parents, mental illness, congress, and even ME over the past few days. And in a way, we are ALL to blame. I could have lobbied harder to my local representatives for tougher local and national gun legislation. I could have signed more petitions or sent that one email that changed the heart of Bob Corker or any of my local or national representatives. But we ALL have blood on our hands. Some more than others. We failed these children by being complacent and wrapped in our own little world of "it won't happen to me and mine."

I have never been a fan of the NRA. I don't think a lobby with that much money and power should be fighting to continue to allow death machines in the hands of any American. The fact that this group exists is so ridiculous, it defies explanation. And the further fact that this group is feared by politicians, and in Washington D.C., must stop. We are the people of the United States not the NRA. They are not powerful if the people speak out. And along that vein, the NRA has been surprisingly quiet since the killings in Newtown. All the while, they welcome new members they scared into believing that Obama was going to take their guns. Check Obama's record. He has never even once said he would do that. Well, maybe its finally time he did.

And just in case you were wondering, here is a list of politicians on the NRA payroll:

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2012&id=D000000082 

Is your rep on it? Senator Bob Corker, my rep, is on that list and I will indeed be sending him a concerned email. I'd be surprised if he read it, but stranger things have happened. But let's look at it this way. The NRA gave him $4,950 in 2012 donations. So, I plan on asking him if his support for the NRA and its policies along with the 2004 assault weapons ban expiration was worth the lives of 20 children and 6 adults in Connecticut or 12 people in Aurora, Colorado etc...

And I know that tougher gun legislation is just the tip of the iceberg. President Obama took a huge step this year in signing the Affordable Healthcare Act which also helps with access to low-cost mental healthcare. Americans who need access to quality mental healthcare and medications should never have to pay an arm and a leg for the help they need. Plus, insurance companies should have little say in who stays in and who leaves mental health centers. A friend of mine, who was caring for her suicidal cousin, wasn't able to keep him in a center because, after four days, their insurance company insisted he be released. Why was that? It was because he hadn't tried to kill himself in that time. Doctors and healthcare experts should have a say in when  patients are released. Not the insurance companies. But I heard on NPR this morning from a man who worked in a pediatric hospital. He claimed that children with serious mental health issues are admitted for around one to weeks, then released. Some anti-depression and anti-psychotic medications take 5-6 weeks to begin taking effect. The system, when it comes to mental healthcare, also needs a close look and perhaps an overhaul. 

Another good point is brought up by my incredibly smart boyfriend, who suggests we go after the ammunition. The 2nd Amendment is seriously outdated, but it still says nothing about ammunition. We should outlaw the ammo or at least price it like it's a Rolex watch. We have a serious budget deficit in this country and taxing the hell out of ammo (and guns) would be a great way to help get us out of this financial crisis. It isn't the answer, but it will certainly help. Do you really think drive by shootings would happen daily if bullets costed $100 a pop? 

I had a man try to tell me recently that sugar killed more people than guns. I am not sure as to the validity of that statement, but even if it's true, the argument is silly at best. You can't take a 5 pound bag of sugar into a crowded mall and kill 10 people in less than a minute. You can also control the intake of your sugar. The arguments I hear about cars being deadly is also a heap of crap. Cars are not designed to kill. You don't take a car or truck into the middle of the woods and shoot deer with it. Guns are SPECIFICALLY designed to kill, injure, and maim. And target practice is simply rehearsing to kill, injure, or maim. Oh- and those that suggest we arm principals, teachers, and guards in schools are the ones who really do need mental healthcare. More guns is certainly NOT going to solve the problem. The solution to gun violence is NOT more guns. 

I am well aware that overly expensive guns and ammo, better and affordable mental healthcare and stricter gun laws are not going to prevent school shootings from happening again. But if it will help in the prevention of incidents like Newtown and Columbine from happening, then I am all for it. It's like I told a gentleman yesterday "If  these things can save the life of one American, isn't it worth it?" And I will happily debate anyone who thinks their guns are more valuable than human life. It's an argument they will not win because, as I stated earlier, it IS that simple. Do you want your guns or do you want a safe America?

I conclude with a quote from The West Wing: 

"I do know that if you combine the populations of Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and Australia, you've got a population roughly the size of the United States. We had 32,000 gun deaths last year and they had 112. Do you think it's because Americans are more homicidal by nature? Or do you think it's because those guys have gun control laws?"

Coughing Up To The Cop Out

I saw the movie Lincoln recently starring Daniel Day Lewis. It's a great film about Abraham Lincoln and the reason he pushed through the 13th Amendment to the United States constitution. Perhaps I am being arrogant (and it wouldn't be the first time I was being so) but it made me think that my fight for marriage equality is more important than ever.

I truly am tired of the complacent people who are fine with being friends with homosexuals, but show zero initiative in helping to fight for their rights.Simply saying that it should be left up to the states or that it will happen eventually is a cop out. That's right. A BIG, HUGE, CRAP LOAD OF COP OUT!

You see, that is their excuse that allows them to support candidates or bills that do not help their LGBT pals. It's what they tell themselves in order to get to sleep at night, I suppose. Being their pal is fine, I am sure. But how would they feel if their spouse was dying in the hospital and the law didn't allow them to be by his or her side? How would they feel if they spent most of their life dedicated to a spouse, and when that spouse died, they had zero say in funeral arrangements or assets or possessions or anything really?

But don't let me try to convince you. Let's hear the voices of a few of my LGBT friends who were kind enough to give their two cents about people who are happy to be their friends, but are complacent about their rights. And as you read these stories, keep in mind, they just might be people you know and love.

LGBT Pal #1:

 I am always taken aback by that because it clearly demonstrates that they don't take me--or our friendship--seriously. It also prompts me to tell them the story of losing my home and livelihood five years after my partner died because his cold-hearted bitch of a mother sued me for his half of everything. And with the lack of laws that would protect my interests, I had to sell our home and most of the stuff in it in order to pay her. As a result, my memories of him are forever clouded by his inaction and refusal to see his family for what they are: prejudiced and bigoted.

I firmly believe that if people who purport to care about me hear that story, they will understand why rights for people in same-sex relationships are essential and examples of basic human rights.

LGBT Pal #2:

I have friends who support candidates who go against gay rights and when I ask them about that, they often say something to the effect of, "Well, it's not that we don't support you, but we have to look out for our own best interests, and the Republican party aligns with our way of being fiscally conservative." I think that's a total cop out and speak up about it. I point out that by supporting Republican candidates, they're supporting people who are against equal rights. I don't want special rights, just equal rights. I want to be able to visit my partner in the hospital, I want the same tax rights, social security rights, the right to be legally married, and the list goes on and on. They often try to argue about Biblical principles, which is an even bigger cop out. I'm very spiritual, and there are hundreds of passages in the Bible that our society no longer lives by, but the right wing likes to pick and choose the scriptures that seem to condemn gays. It makes my blood boil. I have no patience with it, but I think many right wingers have formed opinions based on fear and ignorance. It's often a pointless cause to try and educate them because fear and ignorance build a wall around them.

LGBT Pal #3:

I think it’s easier for someone to say “Well I love YOU, but…” and then proceed to contradict that statement. This is because most people who believe this way have been taught that it’s okay to be homophobic or anti-gay....just don’t ever say it out loud.

How can you say you love and support me in one breath, and then tell me you don’t believe I deserve equal rights or treatment under the law? It’s a huge slap in the face. Most of them don’t get it.

I used this example with a friend not too long ago. She lives with diabetes, but at one point said to me that most people will never even give it a second thought. I turned this around and said “Okay. You know how you live with diabetes every day? That’s how it is for me. You might think about gay rights once in a blue moon, but I live it every single day.” While it’s not the best example, she finally began to understand that it’s not just something I choose to be a part of... it’s a fight every day for my life.

I have found myself in tears many times over the last two elections because of people in my life who, in my mind, just don’t get it. These are people who aren’t even vocalizing their opinions about gay marriage, but chose a side with their vote. While I know that the economy is important, I just don’t see how it can take precedent over the basic civil rights of the people in this country.

However, I think many people in the majority are hung up on the idea that gay people are somehow second-class citizens and thus deserve to be treated as such. It’s the very childish ideal of “We have these rights and privileges but we don’t want to share them with YOU because you’re icky.” It’s human nature to love power and control…and to me this is all just one big power play.

The biggest disappointment is comes from within my family. This is a group of people who have two openly gay relatives (myself and my aunt) and yet still do not believe that we deserve equal rights or protection under that law. Why? Because God says it’s wrong. That’s it. That’s the only reason anyone ever wants to give me.

What it really comes down to in this instance is the need for separation of church and state to be a REAL thing. Don’t get me wrong, I am Christian and I do believe in God, but I refuse to believe a book written by man thousands of years ago should be the social standard of what’s best for the people of this country in 2012. It’s an archaic, backwards way of thinking. If you want to live by Old Testament rules, go back to Old Testament times. The rest of us will continue evolving just fine without you.

LGBT Pal #4:

People who think "progress is just gonna happen eventually" while voting for candidates who want nothing but societal digression, are morons. Regardless of one's way of thinking. There's no such thing as a progressive conservative. The longer this country stays still, the more potential for growth it loses and the more it comes off as a cultural and intellectual wasteland. I'm sorry, but it's true.

And NOTHING regarding even the most basic rights of people should be left up to states. State governments are decided and controlled by the sheep. And yes, there are, and unfortunately always will be sheep. Sheep cannot make good decisions. Sheep cannot think outside themselves and their own interests. And allowing every slack-jawed hick and elementary school drop out to decide the rights of OTHER people is nothing short of criminal. The best example of this: the death penalty in Texas. Texas is the jewel on the Republican crown. Heaps of people are put down without any decent reason. Why? Because the hick dickfucks who are in charge and the oilmen who wanna play God make the decisions.

A BIG THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS FOR SPEAKING OUT!

These are just the words of four fellow Americans who want equal rights. If you still want to deny these people their rights, then find another reason because the excuses are growing old and illogical. Showing your lack of concern by throwing out evasive diarrhea no longer holds water. Admit you care more for a political party than the rights of your friends and family. Thanks. 

How To Lose An Election

I was listening to NPR during my drive in to work like I do every morning and the discussion was over how the Republican party lost the Presidential election. A resounding agreement was that the GOP panders to white men over the age of 50 and has done a great job of alienating women, the LGBT community, minorities, and Americans younger than 30. Another point brought up was that it SEEMS Republicans only care for the wealthy and see the rest of Americans as moochers. They quoted Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity who said Obama supporters were just looking for a handout. These were members of the GOP citing these reasons. Some Republicans who called in said they were tired of GOP representatives being obstructionists while others said they leaned way to far to the right to be taken seriously. Perhaps it is time they finally take a long, hard look at themselves. And I hope they won't be proud of what they find.

I was jobless for nearly a year between 2009 and 2010. I never collected unemployment, was never late paying any of my bills and I voted for President Obama. Twice. So, if all of those who voted for Obama are a bunch of government moochers, I would like to know how I fall into that category. I don't have kids that go to school, I pay my taxes on time every year, and fall above the income level where I do indeed pay income tax. I am not Romney's so-called 47% and I still voted against him.

I guess what I am trying to say is that those of us who voted for President Obama are not evil deadbeats waiting for our next government handout. This nation is not going to crumble over the next four years under his leadership. It has never crumbled to the point of non-existence under any of our leaders, so what makes some believe its going to start now? Our nation has been in much worse shape and our economy IS slowly and surely recovering despite what FOX News will tell you. You can't unfix years of unchecked Dubya spending in 4 years. And you have to have both sides of the political aisle working together to get it done. So, if you want to complain about why its taking so long, point a finger to the GOP who has been unwilling to work with Democrats. Again, back to my first paragraph where Republicans admitted they were being obstructionists. Don't believe me? Let's use the GOP's own words against them. Minority Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said his number one goal was to make Obama a one term President four years ago. The goal wasn't to put Americans back to work or create new jobs or balance the budget or do ANY NUMBER of things for the American people. But his best interest wasn't the American people. It was creating political discourse. Now, just how did that help America?

How does it help America when corporation CEO's like Robert Murray punish the American people by laying off employees a day after the election. Murray laid off close to 200 people at Murray Energy citing a bogus "war on coal" by Obama. According to the Washington Post, "energy analysts say that the coal-mining business is suffering because of competition from low-cost natural gas and rising production costs of coal, especially in the Appalachian region." So, it's not Obama's fault these people are losing their jobs, but I suppose it's easier to blame the President than the actual competition stemming from free enterprise. 

I see online petitions flying around for states to secede. Well, I've got some news for you people. Do a little real homework and you'll learn that unless you live in the state of Texas, you can't secede. And losing Texas wouldn't be that big of a deal really. It's been a waste of red(neck) space for years. But, I have never cared for Texas, so that is my own prejudice rearing its ugly head. But seriously, besides pro-sports teams, what else does Texas have to offer? Traffic and strip malls. Where do I sign up? (ADDENDUM: It turns out that as a student in Texas, I was misinformed in my Texas history class and Texas cannot secede from the Union. So, chalk it up to Texas Public Schools. Gotta love a one-sided view of history for all!)

When Dubya won in 2000 and 2004, I wasn't upset. I was concerned. I didn't start throwing petitions around trying to get my home state to secede from the country. I honestly knew he wouldn't do a very good job and he didn't, but I didn't act like a sore loser and take to calling my Republican friends Facists and Nazis. You want further proof he was an unpopular President? He wasn't invited to the 2012 Republican National Convention and he was the last Republican to hold the Presidency. Romney intentionally separated himself from Dubya. And he was smart to do so.

I got off topic a bit here, but it seems to me that the GOP needs to stop alienating core groups of Americans if they want to win elections. They need to embrace the fact that the United States is evolving and things like gay marriage and global warming are real and will happen. They need to stop trivializing things like rape and supporting equality for women, minorities and the LGBT community. They need to pull away from the outrageous, ignorant, petty and sometimes racist agenda of the Tea Party. They need to stop clinging to the Christian religion as public law and forcing it on the American public.

In conclusion, I believe I have heard Ronald Reagan's name being brought up quite frequently since President Obama took office. The GOP lauds the days when he was President. Many Tea Partiers want to go back to the times when he was in office. Well, let's see, he supported a woman's right to choose, unions, infrastructure spending, tax hikes (and lots of them), corporate tax increases, the Brady Act, and amnesty for immigrants. Doesn't sound much like the Republican platform of today. But, when a platform reeks of the 1950's, then just about anything looks better than regression.