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thoreauJoe Behr over on his journal asked to questions:
I think the problem? Is that gay men in America - sit on their asses - and don't get involved. They love to bitch - but ask them to do something about it in real time - and they continue to sit on their ass. I think we need to pay REAL attention to ourselves - when even minimal political ACTION vs. chatter on our blogs - - could accomplish real power rather than virtual power that has no value in the real world.
It's been MUCH longer than just the last seven years that politics have been nauseating and absurd. I think it's been at least since 1980 when Reagan was first elected - American Politics has been a polarized MESS ever since.
People talk like Bill Clinton was such a boom for gay people? Since when? It's not like Bill Clinton accomplished anything for gay people while he was in office.
He signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law. He instituted "Don't Ask Don't Tell" which created a worse atmosphere for gay people in the military. The degree of official and unofficial attempts to separate gay people from the armed forces seems to be directly related to the personnel needs of the armed forces - even in Iraq. Gay rights have not been at the front of the bus YET in American Politics accept to scare American conservatives in the 2000 and 2004 elections.
The Reagan/Bush/Clinton/Bush span of 28 years of political life? Is that gays are only pulled out as a political card to accomplish something else. I voted for Clinton the first time - because as a sailor that WAS beaten for being gay and forced out - I heard him talking about my rights as a citizen. Then he went into office and signed my marriage rights away - and then did nothing to forward the legal equality of gay people in America.
So - if we hate American politics so much - what are we doing to change that? Most gay americans are sitting on their duffs and doing NOTHING. Not one envelope stuffed - not one call made to a family member to discuss issues - not one check made out to their local or national gay rights advocacy group. Because we're privileged boys with toys (for the most part) - it seems to me we feel like our equality in America is going to come to us on a silver platter.
After living in Idaho for 10 years - I'll tell you - it's not. There are people out there ACTIVELY seeking ways to remove our rights and KEEP US discriminated against.
I think - back to your point - that we don't care about ourselves and our community enough? Why don't we write checks? Why DON'T we volunteer in our communities? Why are we a discriminated against class of Americans - that seem lazy and apathetic to change things?
That local rights organizations close from lack of funds in "red states" is atrocious. That we spent $150 on lattes a month (minimum) but can't write our assemblyman or local cause a check - is atrocious.
I think gay men in particular - could gain a lot of power in this country if they loved themselves enough to simply get involved even at the most minimum level. Write a letter to your local paper. Write your congressman.
Anything is better than bitching about Project Runway fauxpas instead of reading your voters pamphlet and understand the REAL issues. Anything is better than blogging adnauseum about wanting rights - wanting to be at the front of the bus - but then sitting there on your ass and listening to your iPod silently in the back of the bus. I'm not saying - if you aren't doing something - "sit down and shut up" - - I'm saying the absolute opposite. If you aren't doing something? You ask yourself WHY THE HELL NOT?!
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boyshapedbox? I read your post today - and hear you loud and clear. I'm leaving comments on this entry to hear dialogue - and hear what people have to say. I'm not posting this in the face of your heartfelt comments. You're a good man for your post today - if nobody has told you that yet.
1) The past seven years (in the U.S., anyway) have numbed us to politics and civic life. We've turned in and focused on the things over which we still have some control.
2) Whatever our relative place in the scheme of things, many of us are privileged white boys who need to get over - and pay attention to something other than - ourselves.
I think the problem? Is that gay men in America - sit on their asses - and don't get involved. They love to bitch - but ask them to do something about it in real time - and they continue to sit on their ass. I think we need to pay REAL attention to ourselves - when even minimal political ACTION vs. chatter on our blogs - - could accomplish real power rather than virtual power that has no value in the real world.
It's been MUCH longer than just the last seven years that politics have been nauseating and absurd. I think it's been at least since 1980 when Reagan was first elected - American Politics has been a polarized MESS ever since.
People talk like Bill Clinton was such a boom for gay people? Since when? It's not like Bill Clinton accomplished anything for gay people while he was in office.
He signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law. He instituted "Don't Ask Don't Tell" which created a worse atmosphere for gay people in the military. The degree of official and unofficial attempts to separate gay people from the armed forces seems to be directly related to the personnel needs of the armed forces - even in Iraq. Gay rights have not been at the front of the bus YET in American Politics accept to scare American conservatives in the 2000 and 2004 elections.
The Reagan/Bush/Clinton/Bush span of 28 years of political life? Is that gays are only pulled out as a political card to accomplish something else. I voted for Clinton the first time - because as a sailor that WAS beaten for being gay and forced out - I heard him talking about my rights as a citizen. Then he went into office and signed my marriage rights away - and then did nothing to forward the legal equality of gay people in America.
So - if we hate American politics so much - what are we doing to change that? Most gay americans are sitting on their duffs and doing NOTHING. Not one envelope stuffed - not one call made to a family member to discuss issues - not one check made out to their local or national gay rights advocacy group. Because we're privileged boys with toys (for the most part) - it seems to me we feel like our equality in America is going to come to us on a silver platter.
After living in Idaho for 10 years - I'll tell you - it's not. There are people out there ACTIVELY seeking ways to remove our rights and KEEP US discriminated against.
I think - back to your point - that we don't care about ourselves and our community enough? Why don't we write checks? Why DON'T we volunteer in our communities? Why are we a discriminated against class of Americans - that seem lazy and apathetic to change things?
That local rights organizations close from lack of funds in "red states" is atrocious. That we spent $150 on lattes a month (minimum) but can't write our assemblyman or local cause a check - is atrocious.
I think gay men in particular - could gain a lot of power in this country if they loved themselves enough to simply get involved even at the most minimum level. Write a letter to your local paper. Write your congressman.
Anything is better than bitching about Project Runway fauxpas instead of reading your voters pamphlet and understand the REAL issues. Anything is better than blogging adnauseum about wanting rights - wanting to be at the front of the bus - but then sitting there on your ass and listening to your iPod silently in the back of the bus. I'm not saying - if you aren't doing something - "sit down and shut up" - - I'm saying the absolute opposite. If you aren't doing something? You ask yourself WHY THE HELL NOT?!
boyshapedbox? I read your post today - and hear you loud and clear. I'm leaving comments on this entry to hear dialogue - and hear what people have to say. I'm not posting this in the face of your heartfelt comments. You're a good man for your post today - if nobody has told you that yet.
