Open Thread.
I have several fairly unrelated thoughts making demands on my mental bandwidth -- maybe other folks do, as well?
1. There is a clear "divide and conquer" campaign going on in the aftermath of Prop 8 (a constitutional amendment in California to ban marriage equality). The passage of Prop 8 is being blamed on the African-American community, when a much clearer token of its supporters is religion. There have been public instances of gay people using the n-word in the aftermath of this searing disappointment, and then I swear I heard the same caller on two different Air America shows -- a man who identified himself as African-American and proceeded to trot out the worst cliches of fucked-up homophobic argumentation. Both hosts let this guy go on waaaaay too long, imo, generating a lot of hostility in listeners.
2. Why in the world would the Winter Patriot, whose blog I generally respect, think it's okay to refer to Obama as a rich white [n-word]? I agree with his analysis of the potential for imperial hubris in the Obama presidency almost completely, but let me be the first to tell him to shut the fuck up already with that completely unnecessary slur. [For extra points, people interested in visual communication and unspoken subtexts will want to make note of the way he has juxtaposed the image of a little African-American boy with an Obama sign, and his headline "watching the defectives."] This strikes me as example number two of racist backlash in communities which ought to know better.
3. There's an interesting, highly speculative blog people might want to check out at http://www.how911wasdone.blogspot.com/ The resident monkeys at Troofaction couldn't start hurling poo fast enough when the author stopped by to present his arguments.
4. Sometimes you just need something like this...
- casseia's blog
- Login to post comments
1) divide and conquer works
1) divide and conquer works so well, doesn't it? I remember reading about the imperialists (the Belgians, with the help of the Catholic church) in Rwanda. The imperialists were stymied in their usual strategy of D-and-C, so they invented a new, more sinister twist. They sorted out the tallest among the group and gave them special authority (like the Brits gave to the high-caste Indians) to control the others and run the country. Prior to colonial rule, Hutu vs Tutsi categorization was more fluid - Hutus who acquired cattle could move up to the level of Tutsi (and become Tutsi). Years later, the favored Tutsi group, long conditioned to breed only with their own "kind," became noticeably taller, and the other, permanently disenfranchised Hutu group, appeared noticeably shorter. They were one ethnic group divided by economic differences, but became permanently transformed into apparently different ethnic groups with built-in enmity for each other. So just think, permanent upper and lower castes, completely artifically created out of the normal variability in the population of one ethnic group. And once created, they were easy to turn against each other, easy to control, easy to manipulate, easy to turn into genocidal maniacs (resulting in the death of nearly one million in 1994).
2) "white nigger" - bizarre (and oxymoronic) neologism. I think we should just call him a neocon. And the electorate was neo-conned again. (Remember the 2006 election folks? when the dems were going to end the war in Iraq [and impeach Bush]? Hahahahahahhhha.) Now anytime anyone criticizes Obama, s/he will be called a "racist," just like anyone who says boo about Israel is called an "antisemite." Obama represents no meaningful change from Bush. Same shit, different color. But you watch, the pc-police will try to turn all critics into racists.
3) How 9/11 was done: I read this document; it's pretty good, pulls a lot together. I wish the author had not claimed that "jews were warned" on 9/11 (not to go in the twin towers); Israelis were warned, not jews.
4) What is this animal? It looks like a cross between a pig and a puppy.
E
-------
"It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there."
--William Carlos Williams (from the poem 'From')
Pygmy hippo, Australian zoo
"Now anytime anyone criticizes Obama, s/he will be called a 'racist,' just like anyone who says boo about Israel is called an "antisemite." Obama represents no meaningful change from Bush. Same shit, different color. But you watch, the pc-police will try to turn all critics into racists."
I hear what you're saying, E, but in this case someone called him a you-know-what -- so there's some kind of super-sekrit triple-double trick going on (unless the answer is just simply that Winter Patriot is a flaming hater) and that's the deliberate mixing of legit criticism with really offensive racist language. This way, they can say, "Oh, anyone who criticizes Obama is a racist" and we CAN'T say, "Oh no, people making our critique are NOT racist -- we're anti-racist" without them having the ammo to come back with "Oh yeah, well what about that Winter Patriot guy who used the n-word and seems to agree with you about most things (and vice versa)?" I think there is approximately as much excuse for WP in this instance as there was for that supposedly anto-Zionist German guy who couldn't get enough of the expression "hook-nosed" -- which is to say NONE and to continue, who do you think you're kidding?
The Hutu-Tutsi situation is appalling and fascinating at the same time. That's the thing about the ideas of race and ethnicity -- they are mental constructs built on the shifting sands of fluid identity. Knowledge of their fundamentally illusory nature makes them both a tool that can be used to oppress and a way to resist the oppression. That's why I was not impressed, in the end, with dicktater's argument about "14th amendment citizens" which was, if you missed it, that the framers of the Constitution meant to reserve citizenship for white males. What did they mean by 'white'? How do we understand it? What is the true nature of 'whiteness"? blah blah blah
This topic is separate from (but obviously intersects with) my concerns about the wedge being hammered into position between African-Americans who are being falsely accused as a group of helping to pass Prop 8 and the LGBTQ and its fervent supporters, such as myself. I don't like shouting "Shut up you piece of shit!" at some dude who is simultaneously sucking up to Randi Rhodes ("Oh, I loooove you, Randi") and spewing anti-gay crap about having to legalize human and dog marriages, too (or human and pygmy hippo marriages, for that matter.) I am deeply suspicious of such a wedge being generated right now.
Anyway, what's really important in all of this is that the baby hippo was a breech birth and rejected by its mother, so it's having a lot of contact with humans now, and it has the cutest little splayed-toe hippo feet...
Hi Cass,
Hi Cass,
I just wrote you a big long reply and then lost it! Arrgghh.
For the record, calling anyone a "nigger" is wrong. This author seemed confused and I couldn't hope to identify his motives (poisoning the well, etc.).
RE: skin color. You're right - a bit of melanin. White skin makes it easier to absorb vitamin D from the sun when living in northern latitudes. That is all it's for and hating one other for that is as stupid as hating one other for having curly vs straight hair. I have freckles, does that make me colored? Well, yes, I guess it does (makes me polka-dotted). And so what? I wish we could be like I hear it is like in Cuba. I heard about two boys who grew up there as best friends, and then immigrated to the USA where they discovered that they are different colors - black and white - and should therefore hate each other. (Indeed, they drifted apart.) Back in Cuba, they didn't see each other's color, just their friendship, their shared fun, etc.
I don't get anyone who hates gays. WTF? Is this christian bigotry? Maybe. Fear of the other? Maybe. But statistically, there should be 20 percent of the black commmunity who are gay, too. (Maybe they're all in the closet.)
I read the thread with you and D discussing the 14th Amendment. I think I hear his strict-constructionist argument, but I don't mind it being violated as long as such violations follow (and extend) the spirit of the enlightenment. I'll worry about getting the Constitution amended to allow non-white males and females of any color to run for president AFTER I've managed to eliminate the Federal Reserve Act and the IRS tax amendment. Bigger fish to fry.
I'd also love a federal law to allow all humans to chose whomever they like as a marriage partner. I hate this state-by-state approval that is none of anyone's business. Why have laws that allow marriage in Vermont but not in CA? What happens when people living in VT move to CA? Not fair. Either you're a full citizen or you're not.
Baby hippo? Very cute.
Back to 9/11 truth. Interesting thread happening on "riseuprochester.org" about 9/11 truth and h-denial.
E
-------
"It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there."
--William Carlos Williams (from the poem 'From')
No Air America
No Air America here in this part of Florida.Just your run of the mill right wing nazi hate radio all day everyday.I would think California would have a much better chance of passing gay marraige ammendment than Florida(Our gay marraige ammendment failed also).I do know culturally many African Americans are very homophobic.Many here are also are also Babtist.Whether the holely rollers or the African Americans are to "blame?" for excersising their right to vote one way or the other I cant say.
Im not sure why winterpatriot chose those that picture or words either.It is fucked up.I do agree with the gist of the article though.
1) Phew!
Can you say "The Time Machine"?
and 3) sounds pretty plausible to me...
_________________________________
happiness is either here or nowhere
So, to further complicate the Winter Patriot thing...
His use of the word that I find inexcusable was a link to a really good blog about Obama's repudiation of his pastor, Jeremiah Wright -- the upshot being that Obama should have embraced Wright and repudiated his foreign policy advisor. I couldn't agree more...
http://winterpatriot.blogspot.com/2008/03/horrifying-obamas-brilliant-sp...
one thru four (ok, only #1 for now, gotta go)
1. a relative of mine who married his boyfiend the week before prop 8 had this to say. btw, i think he is a closet truther.
"I'm thrilled that Barack Obama is our President-Elect. In no way do I regret giving donations and time, or proudly displaying Obama pins, stickers, window signs, or any other chum I could get my hands on. But as I predicted it would be, the victory is bitter-sweet.
Arabs and Muslims can't help but feel a bit slighted. When accusations flew that Obama was Arab or Muslim or both (some people still don't know the distinction), Obama told the truth: 'I am none of the above.' But quite notably missing was the follow-up: "And so what if I were?" Embedded in this denial was the tacit affirmation that there is something wrong with being an Arab or Muslim or Muslim Arab, because -- goes the thinking -- "they" are un-American terrorists (or at least sympathetic to terrorists). Colin Powell did his part to dispel this hateful (or at least ignorant) position. But Obama said nothing.
If the Arabs and Muslims feel slighted, the gays feel like they've been thrown under a slow-moving freight train. Back in July, Obama came out with a statement saying that Proposition 8 -- the proposition that purports to eliminate the fundmental right of same-sex marriage -- was "discrminatory and divisive." But who remembers July? When campaign flyers hit African-American homes insinuating that Obama supported Proposition 8, the Obama campaign whispered a weak condemnation heard by no one. Obama didn't want to jeopardize votes in key swing states. A purely political move. The gays and lesbians had been sold out.
To defeat Proposition 8, all that was needed was 2% of voters who voted "yes" to vote "no." Black women -- who overwhelming supported Barack Obama in California -- were the strongest proponents of Proposition 8, voting somewhere around 70% in favor of the proposition according to exit polls. Had Obama said something stronger -- in October -- he would have convinced some of those women (and others) to vote No on 8 -- probably enough for us to defeat it. As his landslide shows, he would have still won the presidency.
But there's another layer. More than what he didn't say on this issue is what he did say about it. His (and Hillary's) schizofrenic position that you can somehow be for full equality of gays and lesbians, but still be against marriage equality gave people the out they needed to embrace a "separte but equal" mentality on the issue. Black voters and other democrats know that separate is not equal, but how can they deny it when Barack and Hillary -- hailing from Harvard and Yale law schools respectively -- both say it's okay?
I'll say it now and I'll say it clearly. Obama, you owe us.
In the end, I think Barack Obama will be able to heal the wounds. When else have we been given a shout out in a presidential acceptance speech? I think he will do what is necessary to repeal DOMA, prevent anti-gay legislation, and balance out the conservative-biased Supreme Court. We have other victories to celebrate, as well. New Mexico (http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2008/11/more-victories.html) and Colorado (http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2008/11/rocky-mountain.html) just got a whole lot gay-friendlier.
We may have lost the battle, folks, but not the war. In 2000, they won by 61%. In 2008, they won by only 51%. In 2016, they stand no chance. As this last election shows, the other side has grown desperate, spreading specious lies and manipulating audiences with fake threats of harm to their children. They know that if their message of hate were known, they would be defeated. And one day they will be.
Keep your heads up."
On marriage
Never been there or done that but, I have looked into it a bit.
Briefly, for the state in which I inhabit, there is NO LAW requiring anyone to obtain a marriage license. There are statutes and regulations that cover the procedures and administration of marriage licensing for those who perceive a "need" to get one, though. Nor is there any law criminalizing marriage without a state-issued license.
License = permission granted by some "authority" to someone to do something without which would be otherwise illegal for that someone to do.
Free people DO NOT ask for permission of anyone to do anything which is available to them by Right.
mmmmm....
Black's Law Dictionary, 6th Ed [1991] (which is the one used in a Family Law court):
Marriage license - A license or permission granted by public authority to persons who intend to intermarry... By statute in most jurisdictions, it is made an essential prerequisite to lawful solemnization of the marriage."
So far, so good; a license is required for persons who desire to "intermarry". Fine; but what exactly does "intermarry" mean?
Black's Law Dictionary (6th Ed):
Intermarry - See Miscegenation.
Black's Law Dictionary (6th Ed):
Miscegenation - Mixture of races. Term formerly applied to marriage between persons of a different race. [Now called "intermarry".] Statutes prohibiting marriage between persons of different races have been held to be invalid as contrary to equal protection clause of the Constitution.
If you care to venture down this rabbit hole further, the blockquote above was snippetted from this four-page treatise:
http://originalintent.org/edu/marriage.php
"A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money."
~~ attributed to Senator Everett Dirksen
Just a thought, C455
"Why in the world would the Winter Patriot, whose blog I generally respect, think it's okay to refer to Obama as a rich white [n-word]?"
To comment at the blog one must be a member but, to read costs nothing. WP may have answered your question in the comments to the blog post:
Don't know if this provides a satisfactory answer but, you could ask Winter Patriot directly:
winterpatriot@gmail.com
"A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money."
~~ attributed to Senator Everett Dirksen
Thanks, dt
I recognized the Elvis Costello reference, but I still think that juxtaposing a picture of a Black kid with that headline is unnecessarily cruel.
I've developed what I consider to be a more or less foolproof rule of thumb for using words like the n-word: you get to use it if you identify AS it. For instance, I enjoy Immortal Technique's use of it in the "Bin Laden" song (but I wouldn't sing along to that except in private). I suspect that IM has probably reclaimed the n-word for himself and thus has the privilege of using it as a derogatory term as well. The same goes for fag, bitch, slut, cunt, dyke, and so forth.
What I haven't been able to deduce from WP's blog is whether he identifies as an n-word. I've been assuming he's white, but we all know what happens when you assume.
winterpatriots choice of words
1. Many words have more than one meaning. I'd hazard his use of it is not so much a racial epithet as much as a statement that Obama is not his own boss...
2. You do not have to be a member to comment on his blog, anonymous posts are screened, which in my opinion is not a bad idea in this day and age.
2A. Joining as a member of his blog costs nothing other than a throwaway Email address.
3. John Lennon used the N word and he's all right in my book. As far as I can see he ain't black or a woman. Should we hate on him now too? It took him 2 years to "dig it" maybe give WP/yourself a little time.
Semantics are a bitch - and no i don't identify myself as a female dog :)
It's not about hating on him...
That word in that context makes a very powerful statement -- thanks for the reminder. I don't think I'd pick it for karaoke, though.
Let me re-assert that I believe at this moment, there is a racist backlash going on -- partly unconscious, partly engineered, and partly just stupid -- because whatever his politics, having a Black man in the White House is major cultural change. I think it behooves everyone, especially smart articulate people, to take extra care not to throw fuel on the backlash fire.
Maybe I take that back about the karaoke...
It's hard not to love John Lennon.
Here's what Tahooey linked to
yeah i love that one
check out the second link too? he expounds the modern definition of the word and proceeds to rock out.
Obama’s TEAB – Transition Economic Advisory Board
Is there any reason to suspect that Obama's TEAB will be similar to Cheney’s energy policy task force assembled in early 2001 that met and devised the Bush administration's energy policy in total secrecy. Did that set precedent for Biden to do the same with TEAB and whatever becomes Oblamalama's permanent Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)?
Or, am I just being paranoid? The list of TEAB members below may play part in a revolving door of who knows who shuffling in and out of the group assembled from the transition.
Given the relevence of Cheney's quickly assembled group team to events that soon followed, perhaps heavy scrutiny of this group will provide clues as to what in in store for us early on, as Biden, et al have warned.
I am very suspicious of a dollar implosion early on that will "require" unpopular, draconian measures to be implemented by the gnu Oblamalama administration. I am also hearing rumblings of something possibly requiring a naval blockade of the Straight of Hormuz as potentially the gnu manufactured crisis.
Obama appoints advisers including Buffett
US President-elect Barack Obama has appointed a team of high-level advisers including billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Google chief executive Eric Schmidt to guide his thoughts on the economy ahead of taking office on January 20.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/3394087/Obama-...
By James Quinn, Wall Street Correspondent
Last Updated: 3:33PM GMT 07 Nov 2008
Mr Obama’s team – to be called the Transition Economic Advisory Board (TEAB)– will meet for the first time on Friday to discuss the state of the economy and the prospect of taking early action ahead of his inauguration.
The President-elect will meet with the board in Chicago on Friday, before then giving his first press conference since being elected at 1.30pm local time (7.30pm GMT).
It is not known if he will use this opportunity to appoint his first Treasury Secretary – although speculation was mounting on Thurday night that he may well do so.
One of two favourites for the post – former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers – is on the advisory board, but his main rival, New York Fed chief Tim Geithner is not.
One source suggested the fact that Mr Geithner’s name did not appear on the list of advisers was telling, but refused to elaborate.
Of a poll of 48 leading economists conducted by Reuters, 26 thought Mr Geithner will be chosen for the key role.
Other members of the advisory board include former Fed chairman Paul Volcker, whose name has also been connected with the Treasury job, as has former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, who will also be at the meeting at the Chicago Hilton on Friday.
Corporate America is also well represented, with Time Warner chairman Dick Parsons and Xerox chairman Anne Mulcahy sitting alongside Mr Schmidt, who was a loyal supporter of Mr Obama during his election campaign.
The members of the TEAB could yet form the backbone of the President-elect Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers.(CEA)
Laura Tyson, one of Obama’s key economic aides who will sit on the TEAB, was chairman of President Bill Clinton’s CEA from 1993-1995.
Full list of TEAB members:
-David Bonior (Member House of Representatives 1977-2003)
-Warren Buffett (Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway)-will participate via speakerphone
-Roel Campos (former SEC Commissioner)
-William Daley (Chairman of the Midwest, JP Morgan Chase; Former Secretary, U.S. Dept of Commerce, 1997-2000)
-William Donaldson (Former Chairman of the SEC 2003-2005)
-Roger Ferguson (President and CEO, TIAA-CREF and former Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve)
-Jennifer Granholm (Governor, State of Michigan)
-Anne Mulcahy (Chairman and CEO, Xerox)
-Richard Parsons (Chairman of the Board, Time Warner)
-Penny Pritzker (CEO, Classic Residence by Hyatt)
-Robert Reich (University of California, Berkeley; Former Secretary, U.S. Dept of Labor, 1993-1997)
-Robert Rubin (Chairman and Director of the Executive Committee, Citigroup; Former Secretary, U.S. Dept of Treasury, 1995-1999)
-Eric Schmidt (Chairman and CEO, Google)
-Lawrence Summers (Harvard University; Managing Director, D.E. Shaw; Former Secretary, U.S. Dept of Treasury, 1999-2001)
-Laura Tyson (Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley; Former Chairman, National Economic Council, 1995-1996; Former Chairman, President’s Council of Economic Advisors, 1993-1995)
-Antonio Villaraigosa (Mayor, City of Los Angeles)
-Paul Volcker (Former Chairman, US Federal Reserve 1979-1987)
"A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money."
~~ attributed to Senator Everett Dirksen
Dicktater-Double naught spy of love for humanity
sorry,Its saturday and I'm hammered.Your new avatar was my drunken inspiration.Absotivly posalutly hilarious.
I hope that you aren't suffering...
... too badly today.
Thanks but, I think this is probably more accurate:
[EDIT: DT please don't quote songs that advocate murder. -gReT]
"A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money."
~~ attributed to Senator Everett Dirksen
Egad!
Minions of KAOS, Groovy Guru and the Sacred Cows, were defeated by my hero proving the futility of their eVil aims, already.
"A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money."
~~ attributed to Senator Everett Dirksen
More crap
Here's a comment made on Dan Savage's blog.
"In case you did not know...And this has nothing to do with your sexuality or whatnot, this is the ugly of ugliest politics in play, as well as a theological war in which homosexuals are both pawns and operatives.
Christian Orthodoxy VS. Talmudic Judaism and political Zionism. First, chew on this short clip of Dave Chapelle talking to Oprah Winfrey, it helps outline what i am referring to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddA6uutzMKk
Simply put, Jews push homosexuality on the gentiles.
Now, what percentage of homosexuals are Jewish, and what percentage of these Jewish homosexuals voted for Barack Obama? Are you Jewish Mr. Savage?"
This is bullshit that undermines anti-Zionism. And Dave Chappelle is hung up on gender roles. [Cross-dressing is a tradition as old as theater itself.]
i'm confused...
who's who in all of this again? who are gay people supposed to dislike? and do black people dislike "homos" or the Jews who some claim they claim push "homos" on them? Jesus H. Christopher! Who's accusing whom of what here? Here's some random thoughts:
You can't force people to be comfortable with homosexuality nor should anyone be trying to.
You can't give heterosexual domestic partners rights that homosexual domestic partners can't have. Period.
Homophobia is written into all the Abrahamic faiths and probably a few non-Abrahamic ones.
I don't know any openly gay truthers even though I know plenty of gay people and plenty of truthers. Some may well be closeted one way or the other.
Most interest groups seem to be to be overwhelmingly concerned with their own agenda until they think they can trade support with some other group with political expediency as opposed to true solidarity as the impetus.
The controlled pro-black pro-gay pro-woman "anti-hate" political left is dominated by people against 9/11 truth, which is one reason 9/11 truth is not bigger on college campuses today.
Divide and conquer works very well with identity politics.
...
You can't force people to be comfortable with homosexuality nor should anyone be trying to.
Can you force people to be comfortable with other expressions of sexuality and partnering, such as inter-racial relationships or relationships in which there is a major age disparity (between adults, of course)? No? Can you at least require that they accept difference and mind their own business?
right
you can require that people live and let live, but people must be free to express disapproval and be bothered by whatever it may be that they aren't comfortable with. people have a right to be racists and homophobes, and others have the right to call them racists and homophobes and what mean and stupid people they are. and in turn others have the right to call those people PC-nazis. no one has the right however to threaten anyone with violence or to call for or commit violent acts against anyone else. let me know if you disagree!
puppies
Oh my god.
There goes my last shred of productivity... at least until these guys and girls are big enough to leave the kennel...
I'm going to flunk out of school, but it's so, so worth it.
the puppies
were sleeping at around 12:30 p.m. here and then one of them woke up and jumped his sleeping sib... he just couldn't fall back asleep so he played with the monkey instead while the others moved away from him to avoid harrassment..