Domestic Partnership

here's a story from over the wire:


OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- A bill that will give gay and lesbian
couples in Washington state some of the same rights that come with
marriage has been signed into law.
The measure signed today by Governor Chris Gregoire (GREG'-wahr)
creates a domestic partnership registry and provides enhanced
rights for same-sex couples. Those include hospital visitation
rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and
inheritance rights when there is no will.
To be registered, couples have to share a home, not be married
or in a domestic relationship with someone else, and be at least
18.
Gregoire, who received a standing ovation, called it a "proud"
moment "to make sure the rights of all of our citizens are
equal."
The new law will take effect in July.
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Of course I'm going to agree with this as a monthly monetary supporter of the Human Rights Campaign. I think it's great that WA passed this bill. If you are reading this and are against gay marriage, ask yourself this question: Don't gay people who are married get to be just as miserable as straight people who are married? If you want to be with someone, you should be able to be with them.

"BUT IT'S NOT RIGHT"
According to whom?

"The Bible says so"
The Bible also said that a dude parted a body of water with his magical powers, another dude was called upon from the heavens above to build a huge boat and be able to accomodate two of every animal in the WORLD to protect them from a 40-day monsoon, and if you don't follow the ten commandmants, you will burn for eternity in the depths of Hell. You mean THAT Bible?

"But it's gross... I don't want them hitting on me and looking at me with naughty thoughts."
You're gross. Grow up. You think they're gonna hit on you? Just say "Hey, I'm straight" and they'll leave you alone! It's that simple! I think it's much easier to put down someone of the same sex as it is to put down someone of the opposite sex. If you're not gay, they will respect you for that. And there should be no reason they shouldn't receive the same respect. You're afraid they'll think of you in a sexual manner? Good! At least SOMEONE is! Don't be afraid of them, they're people too. And if you're still uneasy about it, just think about this: Every time you see a gay couple, just be glad that they're together and not trying to hit on you.

"They shouldn't be allowed in our military"
Why not? Looking at it from YOUR perspective, wouldn't you WANT them to be in it? They have more of a chance of diing in the military than as your next-door neighbor. You're fighting for your freedom and country. Are they not fighting for the same reasons? You're in the MILITARY and are afraid a guy is gonna look at your junk? I think you have a little more to worry about as a soldier than a dude checking you out in the shower.

peace.

VA Tech-- The Misfortunate Massacre

I would like to say how sorry I am for all those who lost someone in Monday's terrible incident. Nobody wanted it to happen, nor do we want it to happen again in the future to anybody, and we hold your tears in our hearts as the healing has begun. This is my sympathy to you. Now on to the scrutiny.

There were warning signs. There was something that could have been done. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. Unlike other tragedies, this one was fishy before it happened. Cho Seung-Hui had been hospitalized for his mental stability in the past, and he was able to buy guns. What does that tell you? It tells you that whoever sold him the guns obviously didn't care about what those guns were going to be used for. I hope that sales clerk feels like shit. There is no requirement of a background check when purchasing a gun. Mr. Joe Nobody could buy one and just have escaped from prison, but as long as Mr. Salesperson gets his bones, the problem is no longer in his hands. Great country we live in.

Apparently Seung-Hui had harrassed girls in the past, and I heard there was a bomb threat A WEEK AGO also made by this psycho. He was anti-social, wrote disturbing papers for english assignments, OBVIOUSLY showed signs of awkward and psychotic behavior... and what happened? These behaviors and past happening were IGNORED. HE was ignored. (this is why you should be nice to EVERYONE.) I don't raise him up him for his sadistic success, but he accomplished his goal and made a statement via his actions. We can't be SO absorbed in our own lives to pass up opportunities to prevent these kinds of things from happening. Wait, yes we can. We ARE.

We have to be smarter than this. Don'tignore signs like this. Don't be shy to "tell" on someone if you have a reason to. If you feel threatened or uncomfortable in ANY situation, talk to someone about a possible solution. If it's threatening enough, take it to the police. If the police ignore it, raise HELL. Make them see that you are serious and make a scene.. cry.. pout.. scream.. YELL at them. Well, you might be taken in for disorderly conduct, but the fire under that conduct? THE PO-POS IGNORED YOU. If something can be done, do it. Don't wait for 32 people to die because you stayed silent.

peace

Don Imus: Part 2

So it is official: Don Imus has been FIRED from CBS radio and MSNBC.

CBS Corp. chief executive Leslie Moonves in a memo to his staff said, "In taking him off the air, I believe we take an important and necessary step not just in solving a unique problem, but in changing that culture, which extends far beyond the walls of our company." I can agree that it was a step towards diminishing how easily neglegable statements are said, but Imus didn't violate anything more than what messages are portrayed in a lot of today's rap, hip-hop, and R&B. Found in a song by Ludacris called "U Got a Problem" these lyrics say "Women indeed, keep ya eyes closed Keep yo' eyes closed, 'bow blows, come on out dem clothes hos." And Imus gets fired for saying "Nappy-headed hos?" I don't see a difference.. in fact, I take more offense to what Ludacris said. Those two lines (keep in mind: young people are learning these words to be 'ok' because albums are recorded and sold, and are made easily accessible) had more of a demeaning message against women than what Imus said. I'm not saying that Ludacris should be reprimanded for his lyrics and be fired as an artist, but I am wondering why he hasn't been, if Imus' comments raised such a hub-bub. With that in mind, wouldn't you think it WAS a race thing? Not the comments Imus made, but the reasons why everyone freaked out? because Imus is WHITE? Ya'll be hatin' cuz dude be white! shit...

Imus knew what he was getting into as extremist radio talk-show host. He had to know that people would get mad at things he would say, and he couldn't have expected every word he said to fly with the general public. BUT the general public needs to either lower their standards, or shut the hell up because if they're 'ok' with songs that portray defamatory verbiage produced, sold and listened to every day, then they should be 'ok' that Imus called 14 girls a bunch of "nappy-headed hos." The whole situation is just silly, if you ask me.

I was listening to Sean Hannity last night and he had a caller who was the president of some black organization; I didn't catch the name of that org. The man said that Don Imus didn't create these words. These words were created by rappers who are role models for kids. They endorse products, own sports teams and recording companies, they're seen on TV all the time, and THEY were the ones that made public these defamatory words. BUT because he was a white dude in a cowboy hat, HE was the one to get in trouble for it. It's a bunch of crap. I'm just going to post a bunch of lyrics... you be the judge of whether they're "appropriate" and defamatory:

LUDACRIS::I'm nastier than thinkin about yo' parents sex each other/No glove, no love, betta tell yo' dick to run for cover/Girls "backin dey ass up" now they +400 Degreez+, ha/Hot girl, tryin to give to niggaz up on the block girl/Have you screamin "STOP GIRL!"I rock worlds with my nine inch Louisville slugga/I place the stethoscope quite close to yo tittie/and have yo butt checks Red-man like Uncle Quilly

JA RULE::Face down ass up/You know we like toFuck ya girl!/In the middle of the night/Put it in your butt/You know what's up I'll/Fuck ya girl!/If the puss gets dry/And the bitch gotta curl/Rub it in ya hair/I wannaFuck ya girl!

You get the point. I mean, seriously. GREAT lyrics, fellas. I totally believe in the freedom of expression, and I know that a lot of music these days doesn't even mean anything to anybody except looking cool when listening to it, but you have to pay attention to the content. If you don't support the lyrics, don't listen to it. You will only perpetuate the falsities that come with the territory. It sucks that Imus was fired, and it was an unfair action. But let's use his situation to teach us how to react to extreme content. Either react to EVERYTHING or nothing. There shouldn't be regulations on speech, and so says our first amendment, but the FCC and audiences all around this country are proving that to be wrong. What the hell.

peace and what the HELL?!

Don Imus

don imus: man of passion, man of extreme words and verbiage, man in trouble. If you haven't followed this story, Don Imus has done wrong (oh no! an extremist radio talk-show host said something he shouldn't have!) and has apparently taken away the pride of Rutger's basketball team. He called them "nappy-haired ho's." I don't know about you, but I've heard that kind of shit since grade-school. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've heard WAY worse.

First of all, as in all situations, you must look at both sides for perspective and understanding. I can understand why the girls of the said basketball team would be upset. If I was called a "nappy-haired ho" by a guy eligible for social secutiry, I would say "fuck that guy, he don't know me!" If he came to apologize to me, I would ACCEPT the apology.

Second-- it was quickly turned into a race issue. You ever notice that people bring race into issues when it's a white vs. a black thing? If a white person does something against a black person, it's "discrimination" and racist. If a black person does something against a white person, it's a crime. HUH? Well that doesn't make sense. But also, have you ever noticed that it's a "race" thing when a black person says so? It's the easiest form of blame: using an existing ploy that everyone knows is already an issue. Racism is perpetuated by these things. If white people would watch their fucking MOUTHS sometimes and black people weren't so ready to play the "race" card, I think some problems could PLAUSIBLY be solved. Racism could be wiped off the planet if everyone wasn't so consumed by its accessibility for blame, and if individuals would take responsibilty for their actions.

Third-- I think the girls are being a little dramatic. And by "a little dramatic" I mean that they are REALLY over-reacting, along with the rest of the people who were offended by Imus's comments. Found in an article, one of the players was quoted as saying "I think that this has scarred me for life." Really? ONE MAN'S comments SCARRED you for life? You weren't scarred in high school by anything? This must have been the first time her feelings were hurt in her life because JESUS CHRIST she can say it scarred her LIFE. her fucking LIFE. you know what scarred MY life? my mom was shot and killed by her newly-wed husband in a murder-suicide in the middle of fucking white-suburbia. my kids don't get their grandmother.. i didn't get to say goodbye.. i was woken up in my dayton home by a police officer telling me that my BEST FRIEND and CONFIDANT was shot in her sleep... and these girls are saying that their lives have changed FOREVER because a dude called them hoes? I don't care who you are.. that's ridiculous.

Fourth-- I may be biased because I work for a newstalk station and hear extreme opinions all the time. We syndicate Neal Boortz, Rush Limbaugh, and Michael Savage, and YES i actually listen to their shows to gain perspective and to hear what crazy things they have to say. It could be that I'm used to hearing these things that I am able to defend Don Imus. If he were to target my radio station (the other one I work for at Wright State) and call us all a bunch of inexperienced kids with shitty taste, I could agree with him to an extent.. but I sure as hell wouldn't say that his extreme and inappropriate comment RUINED MY LIFE AND PRIDE. YES he would make me look bad. YES he would defame our station. But I know the truth to be that we AREN'T just a bunch of inexperienced kids with shitty taste. I am stable enough in my own esteem to block his criticism and MOVE ON with my life and career. If someone says something that isn't true and they KNOW it isn't true but they said it anyway, they have the right to an accepted apology. Sometimes when in the heat of an argument, or in the prime of an idea or thought, people say things they don't mean. I've had my ass chewed out for saying something I didn't mean, and I felt like shit for saying it. There's something I learned recently in one of my communication courses. It's simple and obvious, but more of a "oh, yea! well, duh!" statement: Communication is permanent and irreversible. That means that NO MATTER WHAT we can't take something back. We can't erase it off the board. So we as people need to understand that others will say things they don't necessarily mean or believe in. Yes people should watch what they say, and YES they should think of their words before they blurt them out, but what happened to our basic instinct of forgiveness? Gotta run.. comments?

peace and sleep

Confessions of my Atheism

I confess! there ya go. this does not mean that i worship the devil. it actually means that i don't believe that there IS a devil. nor does it mean that i just do whatever i want, regardless of consequence. i'm not stupid. if you want a successful life, i don't care who you are, don't act stupid. take responsibility for your actions. don't do the crime if you can't do the time. in this blog i will vent my every-day frustrations, but probably not literally every day. i'm a firm believer in self-efficacy and being a geniuinely good person.

love life, love your friends and family, and love yourself.

peace and happiness