Journaling on estrip is easy and free. sign up here

James's Journal

james
My Podcast Link

09/03/2007 16:37 #40917

From the ironic file
Category: queer
A school district in Marlton, New Jersey banned a video to help teach diversity.

First, if you don't use your own community to discus diversity and instead look to a video to do it for you... well, you kind of missed the whole point. You might as well be talking about cyborg diversity in Renaissance Flanders.

Well, the video itself was dull enough. It was designed for elementary school kids to teach them about many different sorts of families: bio moms and dads, single parents, step parents, foster parents, and the one that launched a thousand ignorant ships: a same-sex couple.

When I said the video was dull enough, I should have said it was innocuous. It shouldn't have riled anyone up. No single mother took a swig of malt liquor and proclaimed "I am so glad my husband had an affair with a hooker and left me and the kids for dead." No foster parent took precious-moments Christian children and circumcised the girls and threw them into burkas.

"When does Evesham Township or any school have a right to show to my grandchildren something I believe to be morally wrong," asked one woman.

Well, if one considers the fact that same-sex couples merely exist morally wrong... but this is silly. As if the very fact that kids saw a same-sex couple carried with it a seal of approval on homosexuality itself.

Furthermore, what if I find math to be morally wrong? The onus for morality education is thrust on the schools when it serves tawdry little purposes and often flies in the face or reason and research. New Jersey has civil unions and certainly has same-sex parents recognized by law. And yet, they have to go! Abstinence education has never worked and is more dangerous than reasonable education, as documented by decades worth of research. Forget about our children's safety, it has to go!

And surly, when the school district voted to can the video 7-1 it was not out of any real concern that the video would turn New Jersey's youth into drug-addled sodomites, but because of fear of a law suit. One that the district would win but couldn't afford to fight. Our schools are held hostage.
metalpeter - 09/04/07 20:00
I do think that it is good for kids to know that there are different kinds of families. But from the aspect of them selves feeling like there type of family is ok (again I don't think this is the schools place to try and teach that). I have to say though that I'm not sure if a kid gets it or not. But showing to men or two women as parents and saying that is ok is also saying indirectly that homosexuality is ok. Because they wouldn't be together unless they where gay. The same thing could be said about single fathers or mothers that it says that divorce is fine. The reason it says this is that the film endorses single parents (I assume). So even though the film doesn't come out right and say that these ideas is ok it does imply that they are. I think that people should try to treat everyone as equals. But I still don't think a public school should teach that directly.
james - 09/03/07 21:04
Jason: It is third grade. It is very fluffy and things like diversity are their subject matter. That is of course if the high-stakes-testing crowd gets in any deeper despite tons of research...

Also, what is the state imposing? The state sets a diversity curriculum standard but the individual district, school, or teacher chose the video.

Further, if homo-hating parents want to indoctrinate their own children, fine, that is what home is for. Ignorance like this has no place in a classroom. You can't hold a school hostage because a few Ludites can't take responsibility for morality education for themselves.
jason - 09/03/07 20:54
Damn. I will off a light touch on this one. Those kids had better be to a person aces in every single academic subject if they have time to get into this kind of thing. I am 1000% (no typo) against the state imposing itself in this way, giving the finger to parents, even if the cause is as innocuous as this.

It just doesn't work, and it isn't the school's responsibility to do this, as is evidenced by this scenario, and it will never work. The homo hating parents, and even the ones that aren't blatantly anti-gay are going to take control of their own families regardless of the social engineering the school tries and will instill their own family "values", whatever that means anymore.
james - 09/03/07 20:38
Peter: Clergy are not compelled to perform any sort of union unless their church dictates makes them. So, gay marriage is all about civil marriage and not religious marriage.

The video did not make a moral judgment on sexuality. It just pointed out the realities of their community. Namely, that families come in all shapes and sizes. No matter what you think of divorce, sex before marriage, homosexuality, or any number of possible issues this video could raise there was nothing inherently amoral in the video... with the exception of the stripper doing a pole dance. ^_~
metalpeter - 09/03/07 20:06
I will be perfectly honest here this is where I'm devided. I personaly feel that same sex parents isn't a big deal and so what. I will extend that to say I believe that same sex mariage is fine as long as priets who moraly oppose it can't be forced or sued for not doing. I think that marriage is just a contract with the state and that it being in a church is different then that, but that maybe spliting hairs. I think that encouraging diversity is a good idea.

Here is the however. If I'm parent that thinks homosexuality, race mixing, or not being a member of the church I belong to is wrong then I don't want school teaching my kid that it is ok. If I had a gay kid and in sex ed all they mentioned was hetrosexaul sex I would feel the same way. The point is I don't want a school to tell my kid what is right and wrong moraly that isn't there job that is my job.
james - 09/03/07 19:14
School is taxpayer indoctrination. Pure and simple. Everything taught in school indoctrinates kids in some fasion. It is the letter of the indoctrination that get people fired up.

This video, and I have not seen it I have only read a description, has absolutely nothing to do with sex what so ever. Family has nothing to do with sex on the level they are presenting it. It shows a wide range of families as they are and not how they came to be. The sexual reality of couples and individuals is as explicit with het, bio-parents as it is with same-sex couples.

Further, I don't think sex or coupledom should be a secret to kids, to be sprung on them at some age when deemed appropriate. There are thousands of kids who's reality is that they have same-sex parents, and that fact isn't shocking to them nor is it a topic to be addressed later.

Kids aren't dumb and they are well aware of people gay and straight. By keeping the straight in the school children's eye and not the gay says that gay people are inferior, taboo. If people were more aquatinted with the reality of their communities they might not try to pray the gay away when their son Billy doesn't turn out the way they hoped.

Also, heterosexuality it everywhere. Heterosexuality is compulsory and any other expression of sexuality is deviant. If one is to shield kids from homosexuality then they better shield their kids from heterosexuality as well. Anything else is bigotry.
joshua - 09/03/07 17:36
Hmm. This is a sticky situation. Many, many people consider something like that taxpayer-funded indoctrination, especially since this video was to be shown to elementary school kids. I think something like this should be reserved for high school - the bottom line is that elementary school kids are too young to be sophisticated enough about sex of any kind, let alone the "ebil gayness" that some parents are afraid of. Some might say that this isn't about sex, but ultimately, yes it is. Additionally, I think control of this sort of thing should be in the hands of the parents and not the school, but like I said - at some age these kids will have to be prepared for the world rather than protected.

This sort of thing happens all the time - its simply the issues that change. The ACLU targets and sues small municipalities on a regular basis because of Christian symbols in the city seal, or in a courtroom. School prayer? Outlawed. In these cases controversial issues are almost always have a specter of litigation surrounding them, none of which is affordable. So what do these schools and municipalities do? They cower. This sort of thing is one of the reasons why I hate lawyers and decided to forego law school.

The big picture is that gay folks aren't going away and its a reality in our culture that some people choose not to accept. That is their choice, similar to athiests, etc. choosing to erase any semblance of Christianity in our culture. Diversity is a slippery slope, and everybody has their own flavor of diversity (sexual but not religious, religious but not sexual, racial, or none at all) but like I said, in the end I don't think that this sort of thing is appropriate for elementary school kids - they are simply too young and parents shouldn't be forced to have to address such a topic with a 7-year old because of what the taxpayer-funded school board has on their agenda. When these kids are older I think that they shouldn't be shielded from the realities of the world, however... but in the end that should be up to the parents.

09/02/2007 22:54 #40899

Grey Gardens
Category: work
I love my job, I really do.

My boss has a terrible habbit of chatting stream of conscious while giving no context what so ever. And these stories are repeated for months. Eventually you hear them enough that you can piece this fragmented, sloppy narrative together into something cohesive but still absolutely irrelevant.

For example.

She was someplace with some people. She may have been invited, she may have been trespassing. She may have known these people, they could be relatives. I don't know what purpose she had there, or really where that place was. But I do know they had delicious corn and that she put a frog in a plastic container to keep away from a child.


After hearing this a dozen times over the corse of the week I was able to figure out that she infact knew these people and that the corn was taken home as leftovers. But unlocking the mystery of this story yields no wisdom or quirky tale. They are all mundane and unrelated to what ever got her going in the first place. It is enough to wish power tools on your ears so you may never hear ever again.

Thankfully, I am scared of power tools.

But tonight I watched the documentary Grey Gardens and the charecters were just like my boss, two of them. Bat shit crazy, constantly chattering, and damned if you know what it is they are talking about.

Here is a clip.



crazy woman. Anyway, they turned this documentary into a musical. A Tony award winning musical. Here is a clip.



I need a real job.
fellyconnelly - 09/03/07 11:55
wow! only 52 cats? that is nearly not enough for a 25 room mansion...
leetee - 09/03/07 08:54
Totally not the point of your journal... but... yay, Harvey Firestein rocks! :)

08/31/2007 21:04 #40867

Larry Craig is Disappointing still
Category: politics
So,

AP has a story letting us good citizens know that Larry Craig, the foot-tapping, wide-stance, closet case toilet queen senator from Idaho, will be resigning tomorrow. I for one, am underwhelmed.

It is like this. Larry committed a crime. Not a big crime. Lewd Conduct doesn't really call to mind abuses of his senatorial power. This crime does not prevent him from being an effective representative of the people of Idaho. So why have scores of Republicans jumped on his back demanding his resignation?

I mean, this is a fair question at any time, but under the current circumstances it is especially relevant. Senator David Vitter has committed an actual crime: he payed a prostitute to have sex with him. But no one on that side of the isle has demanded he resigned.

At first, it seems like homophobia would be the answer. Het sex with a prostitute < homo sex with anyone. And this would follow GOP logic (sorry to you hip, cool Republicans out there.) But I can't help thinking it is something else, something related to the nature of Larry Craig and this case.

Politicians need to be practical. And this is an issue of power and who retains power. Larry Craig is from Idaho, which has a Republican governor. David Vitter is from Louisiana which has a Democrat governor. When a Senator resigned the governor gets to appoint a replacement until the next election. Which, if both were axed that would leave the Dems up one. hm...

The GOP has waged a continual campaign of wedge politics where homosexuals are reviled and resigned to second class citizen status. But it really isn't because they are god's senators or because they morally have an opinion about homosexuality. It all comes down to power. Gay hate helped them win in 2004. But how many of their own lead double lives. Having the token wife and strong 'family values' conviction but enjoy a firm cock in their mouth? Craig, ultimately, has to go not because he tried to have gay sex (for the umpteenth time) but because his very presence in office taints the whole party. He is a liability and a victim of his parties disingenuous agenda.

To the GOP there is nothing greater than their own power. That is why Craig is a liability, his very existence in the party compromises the whole sham.

And Barbara Boxer, get off your pamper Dem ass and investigate a few people. Would that kill you?

ajay - 09/01/07 22:41
Carter expressed anti-semitic views?
I know he has criticised some of Israel's policies; and I don't think it's right to brand him as an anti-semite for that. It just cheapens the meaning of the word. And Israeli government, like any other man-made institution (let alone being a bunch of politicians), isn't above reproach by any means.
james - 09/01/07 19:30
John and Jimmy are good guys. Sure, both have their flaws. John was a slimy trial lawyer and Jimmy has expressed anti-Semitic views. No one is perfect, especially not a politician.
drew - 09/01/07 18:19
I don't know about John Edwards, and I would agree that most politicians are all about imagae and power, but I can tell you that Jimmy Carter is the real deal. I know people that have worked beside him for weeks at a time.
james - 09/01/07 17:21
Felly: ya, he performed so poorly it is amazing he was a senator. Again, pathetic

Ajay: Wyoming has a law I really like where the Governor is obligated to replace a senator with a member of that senators party. LA does not. So... Even if Craig did run again in '08 he wouldn't have been beaten by a Dem just lost his parties primary Joe Leiberman style.

And on that broader topic. Some naive little part of me wants to believe they aren't, just power hungry. It is the same part that makes me believe John Edwards doesn't really care about poverty, or the Jimmy Carter ever built a house for anyone other than his dog.
ajay - 08/31/07 23:32
Louisiana may have a Dem governor, but the convention is for the Governor to appoint a replacement from the same party.

I don't think it has to do with who's the Governor. It has to do with the fact that Craig would have been creamed in next year's election; so might as well get rid of him and let his R-eplacement get enough of a name recognition to win next year.

On the broader topic: Republicans *are* anti-gay and homophobic. They are of the same mindset as the racists from a century ago.
fellyconnelly - 08/31/07 22:22
did you hear the tape of the interrogation? the guy actually
a) refused an attorney
b) said he was not propositioning the officer, but trying to pick up TOILET PAPER OFF THE GROUND! (who does this?)

the point which amused me was when he spoke of how he has to spread his legs wide when he poops so his pants dont hit the ground.

08/29/2007 13:36 #40805

Sometimes Art Imitates Gay Sex
Category: politics
Howdy,

So, I mentioned Larry Craig yesterday and that whole gay sex in public toilets thing. Well, yesterday he had the most hilarious press conference which began with "Thanks to everyone for coming out" HA!

Here are a few clips from the show Little Britain that are eerily close to our own goings on. Enjoy.



and


scary isn't it? One more?


mike - 09/01/07 11:08
those are hilarious!
tinypliny - 08/29/07 21:31
I am hooked. And I can assure you, I will think of you all the time I watch it.
fellyconnelly - 08/29/07 19:38
ha i love this demented weirdo show! i think i need to download some episodes.
leetee - 08/29/07 14:39
i love how the wife and children are standing apart from him on the last, and most insane of the press conferences.
lauren - 08/29/07 14:34
HaHa Yess! I love this show and have totally forgotten about it until now. I once watched it for 3 hours straight and couldn't stop saying the phrase "NO! I am the gayest gay in the village"!!!

08/28/2007 12:56 #40780

Pathetic
EH,

Since I have been blabbing about Politicians who have gay sex I figured I might as well do this one as well.

Larry Craig has been a vocal opponent of gay marriage. The Idaho Republican was arrested back in June and pled guilty on August 8th to lewd conduct. But the story is sad.

First, he was in an airport bathroom in a stall. In the stall next to him was an undercover cop investigating complaints of lewd conduct in that bathroom. Craig would give signs that he wanted some man loving, reaching under the stall and what not. Click-click, on the cuffs go and somehow the story just hit yesterday.

As much as I love it when closet homosexual Republicans with an anti-gay streak get caught with a sausage in their mouth this story is pathetic. First, he didn't actually do anything lewd. He didn't actually get it on in the bathroom. No scandalous press photos as he is lead into the back of a police car, viscous fluid on his lapel. Just an insinuation.

Second, there have been rumors for decades in Idaho regarding Craig's sexuality. Christ, what a poisonous environment to live in where you have to try to get your rocks off in a public bathroom because you need to pretend. He may not be gay. He may just like a little slice of hot man ass once in a while. But to be so divorced from self that you can go from conservative gay-hating politician to toilet queen.

How long do we have to wait for Trent Lott and Orin Hatch to get caught in each others sticky embrace?
james - 08/29/07 12:51
You have to wonder though if you were in a public restroom and just didn't notice the signals because they are so arcane. I had no idea of such an arrangement. However, the cop was responding to complaints of cruising and was familiar with the signals because it is his job. That and he pled guilty to a lesser charge.

And here is the thing, the man has been the target of a witch hunt because he is very vocally anti-gay and this upsets the many men who claim to have slept with him. But whether or not he is gay or just is straight and just likes the occasional bout of gay sex is inconsequential.

In short, unless you are looking for man-ass, there is never an excuse to stick your hand underneath another bathroom stall.
joshua - 08/29/07 12:13
I have to say I've never experienced anybody doing any tapping or reaching underneath into my stall in an airport. I did see a guy basically changing his clothes in the airport bathroom at Logan last week though!

I have no idea what to make of this story or if any of it is even accurate. After all, he is being condemned based on the interpretations of his actions as recalled by someone else. This is par for the course for Republicans these days anyway. This man has been witch hunted in his own state for years! I'm not going to pretend to know the intricacies of baiting for cock in an airport stall but as for me, unless its overt then I can't call him a closet gay guy pretending to be a homophobe.
james - 08/28/07 18:28
oh no! People think of me when they hear about scuzzy Republican Senators cruising for sex in a public toilet? I need a new PR person.
libertad - 08/28/07 15:47
haha i thought of you when i saw this on the news today! i love these stories.
jason - 08/28/07 14:32
Yeah, he must really be full of it!
james - 08/28/07 14:19
He does have a rare condition in which he discharge has such a force it propels him heavenwards. He was simply holding on for dear life lest his deuky launcher flies out of control.
jason - 08/28/07 14:11
Oh, and do you buy the "wide stance" nonsense he's pushing? I mean really?? What about the hands under the stall? Does he have to wrap his hands around the bottom of the stall wall for leverage when he's blasting a deuce?
jason - 08/28/07 14:10
Back in the day, the cops would just blackmail the "offenders" and move on with life. This cop has to be commended for his commitment to cleaning up lewd airport nookie.