Archive for April, 2009
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One of the things President Obama stated in his inaugural speech was that he was going to reach out to enemies and try and make them friends. After years, if not decades of animosity, this will be no small feat. Iran, North Korea, and even Venezuela, are now countries that we would like to bring into the global family. So when President Obama visited Venezuela, it was with the intent to open dialog with a country that has long said that it will not bow to U.S pressure on anything. From most accounts, the meetings between Obama and Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, went well. So I found it funny that there are certain segments of the press, the right wing nut jobs, who are focusing on something like a handshake.
CNBC host Larry Ludlow was INCENSED that President Obama and President Hugo Chavez greeted each other with the “Boyz in the Hood” handshake. For those of you who don’t know what that means it’s when two people shake hands but instead of grasping each other’s full hand first, you grasp each other’s thumbs first. The venom with which Ludlow voiced his opinion speaks more about him than it does about President Obama. Ludlow stated that the picture of them shaking hands “bugged the hell out of him and really pissed him off all weekend.” A HANDSHAKE did all that? He does admit that they “greeted each other warmly.” But that is the point DUMBASS!
Those people in the “know” are aware that you greet friends, family members, co-workers, and business associates differently. Friends and family members call each other names that they would never say to anyone else. I’ve seen Black, White, Asian, and Latino people great one another and their own race in this manner. It is a greeting of LOVE and RESPECT, PERIOD! The greeting between Obama and Chavez was that type of greeting. Two people who have a mutual respect for one another.
People of African descent have never done anything to anyone on the same or similar levels as to what was done to them. And that is a reason the world was euphorias when Obama was elected. Because the hope is that instead of blowing into countries and pushing our military weight around, we will be able to sit down with people FIRST and try and come to an understanding. And the “Boyz in the Hood” handshake was just that kind of understanding. The problem is that Larry saw something that he didn’t understand and to deal with it, he lashed out at it.
Ludlow should be glad that President’s Obama and Chavez didn’t break down and have a “dance off.” Or do the “fist pound.” Or a “chest bump.” Because he might have had a heart attack!
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The latest salvo in the Same Couple Marriage debate, was a “bikini model” masquerading as a Miss USA candidate, speaking for the “whole country, saying that marriage is between a man and a women.” And this is what was taught to her in her home mind you. What galls me is that while people are more than within their right to state their bigoted opinions, those opinions affect people’s lives. Within the last two weeks, two bright preteen boys committed suicide because they were being bullied and teased MERCILESSLY because they were thought to be gay. Another kid, 17yr old Eric Mohat, was told to go ahead and commit suicide, because “no one will miss you.” It is in this climate of BIGOTRY, HATE, and INTOLERANCE, that the way to keep “someone in their place” is to call them “gay!”
That two kids committed suicide because of being teased at school has pretty much gone unnoticed. Kids tease other kids. Boys will be boys. But for those two kids, it obviously was more than that. That days of upon days, weeks upon weeks, and months upon months, of being called “fag“, “queer“, “homo“, and “gay” took their toll of these young boy’s self esteem. And even when the mother’s of these two boys continually called to try and resolve this situation, it was met with a blind eye and a deaf ear. When the government requires that you attend school, doesn’t the government have the obligation to make sure it is safe, physically and emotionally, to be there?
As I stated in an ealier post, I was teased in college about “looking” at girls. Nothing to the extent that these kids went through but yeah, it got old quickly. So I know EXACTLY how they felt. For me, the torment would be intermittent and last no more than 3 hours, depending on the class. I can’t imagine being someplace for 6 or more hours and treated to choruses of verbal abuse. So even when they woke up in great moods, ready to tackle the world, within minutes of being in school, that state of mind was under assault, on a daily basis, for no good reason.
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When I initially heard the comment from Miss USA runner up Carrie Prejean, I just shook my head. Another IDIOT using bigotry to justify a situation that has nothing to do with her. What do I mean by that? NO ONE has yet to give a satisfactory answer for why they care about Same Couple Marriage. The only answer they give is to hide behind the bible. Yet there are tons of other things in the bible that they either PURPOSELY forget, WON’T admit, or RESEMBLE a little to close for their own good. Who someone marries has NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYONE ELSE EXCEPT THOSE TWO PEOPLE! Why is that so hard for people to understand?
It’s interesting that days later bikini model number two is now couching her words more carefully. On the Today show, her words now seem conciliatory. She is now talking about how “great it is that in America we have the right to choose what partner we want to have.” Two days ago, she “stood behind her answer” and “wouldn’t change a thing.” What a difference a few hours make!!!! If she had made that statement during the pagent, she would have a crown on her head instead of a high heel pump in her mouth! Now we know why our parents told us to “count to ten” before answering delicate questions. I bet she wishes she would have done just that!
She has also stated that her sister, who is in the military, supports gay rights. Did Miss “walk and twirl” just OUT her sister? Or did she forget about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell! Even if her sister isn’t a lesbian, her military life just a little harder. I can guarantee you that! THANKS SIS! Again, talking without thinking. Making light of someone else’s life. While you people are making flippant remarks, we are dealing with REAL LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS! And you’re a CHRISTIAN RIGHT!!!
I don’t have the slighest idea who told her that she speaks for the WHOLE DAMN COUNTRY, but she doesn’t. She speaks for those people who are MISERABLE in their own lives and want to make sure they are not alone.
I have a great idea for her next gig. She could be the next person in the Southwest Airlines new “wanna getaway” commercials!!! Or she could be in the next Twix candy bar commercial where she is asked a question and keeps stuffing Twix candy bars in her mouth until she can think of an answer! Or maybe we could wait a few years when she is a footnote in history, posing for Playboy, and saying that it has “nothing to do with her faith.”