This article from the Boston Phoenix is a good explanation of what went on yesterday. Even though I was there I found it very hard to follow.
Also, please contact your legislators and either thank them for their support thus far, or try to convince them to do the right thing the next time. You can find out how your legislators voted and how to contact them here.
The title to the article I link to above is "Gays Win Huge Victory" but I really think this is a victory for all of us, gay and straight alike because once the people in power start discriminating against one group of people, all of our rights are at risk.
Interestingly, the Boston Globe reported that it was "hundreds of gays and lesbians" singing is an attempt to make this debate seem a battle of extremes. Yes, there were gays and lesbians singing, but a lot of straight folks were there too. It is important to remind people that supporters of gay marriage come from all walks of life (E.g., I saw a sign that said "Another Straight Catholic for Same Sex Marriage"). So, keep the media honest. And, when you make that phone call to your legislators let them know who you are so they know what a broad base of support they have when they vote down the amendment.
Friday, March 12, 2004
Being a patriot...
As many of you know, this blog is written from Massachusetts, center of the gay-marriage debate. Yesterday was the much awaited constitutional convention in which our elected officials were to decide whether or not to write discrimination into the constitution. After a long day of political and strategic maneuvering, including some surprising votes of supporters of gay marriage (note: strategic maneuvering) they adjourned at 11:40 p.m.
I was there for about 5 hours. But many many others had been there since 8am. Singing their hearts out. Yes, singing. Hundreds of us stood outside the chamber where our legislators were doing their thing and we sang 'till we were hoarse. Bags of cough drops were being passed around. What most moved me was that what we sang were patriotic songs: America the Beautiful, God Bless America, My Country 'Tis of Thee, and The Star Spangled Banner. I have never sung that many patriotic songs in my life. I think I have always felt a little fearful of flag-waving patriotism, believing that it was reserved for right-wing conservatives, the kind who would not look kindly on my family's historically left leanings. (Yes, there are communists on my family tree). But as I sang the words to some of these songs, they took on new meaning. This debate, and, more importantly, this activism is truly patriotic. God Bless America... Land that I love. My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing... from every mountainside, let freedom ring. We are singing for liberty and freedom and justice. God bless America, my home sweet home. Because even though I'm only half-joking when I say I'm moving to Canada if Bush stays in the White House, this is my country. And, I want my country to live up to its values. I want it to honor and protect freedom and equality. It's our country too.
I was there for about 5 hours. But many many others had been there since 8am. Singing their hearts out. Yes, singing. Hundreds of us stood outside the chamber where our legislators were doing their thing and we sang 'till we were hoarse. Bags of cough drops were being passed around. What most moved me was that what we sang were patriotic songs: America the Beautiful, God Bless America, My Country 'Tis of Thee, and The Star Spangled Banner. I have never sung that many patriotic songs in my life. I think I have always felt a little fearful of flag-waving patriotism, believing that it was reserved for right-wing conservatives, the kind who would not look kindly on my family's historically left leanings. (Yes, there are communists on my family tree). But as I sang the words to some of these songs, they took on new meaning. This debate, and, more importantly, this activism is truly patriotic. God Bless America... Land that I love. My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing... from every mountainside, let freedom ring. We are singing for liberty and freedom and justice. God bless America, my home sweet home. Because even though I'm only half-joking when I say I'm moving to Canada if Bush stays in the White House, this is my country. And, I want my country to live up to its values. I want it to honor and protect freedom and equality. It's our country too.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Presidential Flip-Flops
When you're talking about flip-flops....
are you sure you're not talking about George W. Bush?
--- Bush is against campaign finance reform...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against a Homeland Security Department...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against a 9/11 commission...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against an Iraq WMD investigation...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against nation building...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against deficits...
... then he's for them.
--- Bush is for free trade...
... then he's for tariffs on steel...
... then he's against them again.
--- Bush is against the U.S. taking a role in the Israeli Palestinian conflict...
... then he pushes for a "road map" and a Palestinian State.
--- Bush is for states right to decide on gay marriage...
... then he is for changing the constitution.
--- Bush first says he'll provide money for first responders (fire, police, emergency)...
... then he doesn't.
--- Bush first says that 'help is on the way' to the military...
... then he cuts benefits
--- Bush: "The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden."...
... Bush: "I don't know where he is. I have no idea and I really don't care.
--- Bush claims to be in favor of the environment...
... and then secretly starts drilling on Padre Island.
--- Bush talks about helping education...
... and increases mandates while cutting funding.
--- Bush first says the U.S. won't negotiate with North Korea...
... now he will
--- Bush goes to Bob Jones University...
... then say's he shouldn't have.
--- Bush said he would demand a U.N. Security Council vote on whether to sanction military action against Iraq...
... then Bush announced he would not call for a vote
--- Bush said the "mission accomplished" banner was put up by the sailors...
... Bush later admits it was his advance team.
--- Bush was for fingerprinting and photographing Mexicans who enter the US...
... After meeting with Pres. Fox, he's against it.
Keep paying attention, folks. I'm sure there will be more....
are you sure you're not talking about George W. Bush?
--- Bush is against campaign finance reform...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against a Homeland Security Department...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against a 9/11 commission...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against an Iraq WMD investigation...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against nation building...
... then he's for it.
--- Bush is against deficits...
... then he's for them.
--- Bush is for free trade...
... then he's for tariffs on steel...
... then he's against them again.
--- Bush is against the U.S. taking a role in the Israeli Palestinian conflict...
... then he pushes for a "road map" and a Palestinian State.
--- Bush is for states right to decide on gay marriage...
... then he is for changing the constitution.
--- Bush first says he'll provide money for first responders (fire, police, emergency)...
... then he doesn't.
--- Bush first says that 'help is on the way' to the military...
... then he cuts benefits
--- Bush: "The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden."...
... Bush: "I don't know where he is. I have no idea and I really don't care.
--- Bush claims to be in favor of the environment...
... and then secretly starts drilling on Padre Island.
--- Bush talks about helping education...
... and increases mandates while cutting funding.
--- Bush first says the U.S. won't negotiate with North Korea...
... now he will
--- Bush goes to Bob Jones University...
... then say's he shouldn't have.
--- Bush said he would demand a U.N. Security Council vote on whether to sanction military action against Iraq...
... then Bush announced he would not call for a vote
--- Bush said the "mission accomplished" banner was put up by the sailors...
... Bush later admits it was his advance team.
--- Bush was for fingerprinting and photographing Mexicans who enter the US...
... After meeting with Pres. Fox, he's against it.
Keep paying attention, folks. I'm sure there will be more....
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Ah, Bush
Thanks to Mo for this link. Yahoo! News - 9/11 Victims' Kin Angered by Bush Ads I was not surprised when I read that Bush was using the Twin Towers and September 11th for his ads. I was dismayed though, and I wondered how it would play to the voters. Well, now I guess we know. I'm sure some people will continue to see him as a leader in a time of crisis, but it was a truly crass thing to capitalize and politicize such a tragedy.
Fast Day
Today, in Jewish tradition, is the Fast of Esther. Most years I only fast on Yom Kippur. In fact most of the other fast days in the Jewish Calendar I know nothing about. But this year, I feel moved to observe Esther's fast. The Fast of Esther is the prelude to the holiday of Purim. And the story of the Purim is told in Megilat Esther (aka the Book of Esther). The story of Purim is a remarkable tale of the Jews triumphing against an enemy who would have put them to death. What is most remarkable about this story, retold each year amid raucous festivities, is that there is no mention of God. Not once. Not anywhere. The entire story is filled only with the actions of the people involved, no divine intervention whatsoever. I am sure that there is some religious interpretation of this, some God back story. But this year I choose to fast specifically because of the absence of God from this miracle, I choose to fast to commemorate the power of two brave woman, and to inspire myself, in a way, for the long fight we have ahead, not just as Jews, but as Americans, to return justice and rights and freedom and equality to the United States.
Two Brave Women: There are two women crucial to the story of Purim, both of whom were queens married to King Ahaseurus. Though the more memorable, more famous of the two is Esther, the other, earlier queen, deserves recognition as well. Vashti was the King's first wife. One evening as the King partied with his friends, he began to brag about how beautiful his wife was. And, in so doing, called her to come dance for him, and his friends, naked. Vashti refused. And, for this she was banished. It is important to remember Vashti, for she sets the stage for the rest of the story. But it is not simply that without her banishment, Esther would not have become queen. It is that she is the first to stand up for her self and her rights, as a woman and as a person entitled to dignity. Because in the end, that is what Purim is about, standing up in the face of wrong.
And now about Esther. [note: this is going to be greatly abbreviated] The King must choose a new Queen, and chooses Esther, who is Jewish, though the King does not know it. About the same time, Haman, the King's vizier (or some other high and lofty position) begins to craft a plan to kill the Jews, telling lies to the King about them and why they deserve to be killed. Haman begins building the gallows. Esther's cousin (or uncle, I never remember which) Mordechai hears of this plot and warns Esther. He tells her to go to the King to make him put an end to this. Esther is afraid to do this because if you go to the King without being sent for you can be put to death. But, Esther, realizing that the life of her people, and herself, is in her hands, decides to go anyway. And before doing so, to prepare herself, she fasts. I'm a little fuzzy on the next bit of the story, but Esther plans two banquets for the King and Haman and shows the King what an evil man Haman truly is and Haman is hung on the gallows he built for the Jews.
And so in celebration of all this, every year we retell the story, and each time Haman's name is read we drown out his name with shouts and noisemakers. And we dress up in costumes, and eat Hamantaschen (three cornered cookies with sweet filling meant to represent Haman's hat, or, in Israel, Haman's ears "oznei haman") and we put on Purim shpiels (plays) which usually involve a lot of cross-dressing and we get so drunk that we can't tell the difference between good and evil, Mordechai and Haman
And so it is in this election year that I am observing Esther's fast. It is oversimplification to say that the current is administration is evil. But I truly believe that they are causing great, monumental harms in ways that we don't yet even know. And we cannot rely on some supernatural being, whether it is God or Superman, to save us. We have it in our power to oust the President and to elect a good leader, one who will respect the rights of all our citizens and also the citizens of nations throughout the world.
Two Brave Women: There are two women crucial to the story of Purim, both of whom were queens married to King Ahaseurus. Though the more memorable, more famous of the two is Esther, the other, earlier queen, deserves recognition as well. Vashti was the King's first wife. One evening as the King partied with his friends, he began to brag about how beautiful his wife was. And, in so doing, called her to come dance for him, and his friends, naked. Vashti refused. And, for this she was banished. It is important to remember Vashti, for she sets the stage for the rest of the story. But it is not simply that without her banishment, Esther would not have become queen. It is that she is the first to stand up for her self and her rights, as a woman and as a person entitled to dignity. Because in the end, that is what Purim is about, standing up in the face of wrong.
And now about Esther. [note: this is going to be greatly abbreviated] The King must choose a new Queen, and chooses Esther, who is Jewish, though the King does not know it. About the same time, Haman, the King's vizier (or some other high and lofty position) begins to craft a plan to kill the Jews, telling lies to the King about them and why they deserve to be killed. Haman begins building the gallows. Esther's cousin (or uncle, I never remember which) Mordechai hears of this plot and warns Esther. He tells her to go to the King to make him put an end to this. Esther is afraid to do this because if you go to the King without being sent for you can be put to death. But, Esther, realizing that the life of her people, and herself, is in her hands, decides to go anyway. And before doing so, to prepare herself, she fasts. I'm a little fuzzy on the next bit of the story, but Esther plans two banquets for the King and Haman and shows the King what an evil man Haman truly is and Haman is hung on the gallows he built for the Jews.
And so in celebration of all this, every year we retell the story, and each time Haman's name is read we drown out his name with shouts and noisemakers. And we dress up in costumes, and eat Hamantaschen (three cornered cookies with sweet filling meant to represent Haman's hat, or, in Israel, Haman's ears "oznei haman") and we put on Purim shpiels (plays) which usually involve a lot of cross-dressing and we get so drunk that we can't tell the difference between good and evil, Mordechai and Haman
And so it is in this election year that I am observing Esther's fast. It is oversimplification to say that the current is administration is evil. But I truly believe that they are causing great, monumental harms in ways that we don't yet even know. And we cannot rely on some supernatural being, whether it is God or Superman, to save us. We have it in our power to oust the President and to elect a good leader, one who will respect the rights of all our citizens and also the citizens of nations throughout the world.
Note about Kerry
Kudos to Kerry for winning the nomination. One of my readers has pointed out the juxtaposition of two of my previous posts, the one in which I defend Kerry as being more than Bush Lite and the other when I bash him for his hypocrisy on gay marriage. Kerry's move regarding same-sex marriage was hypocritical and cowardly and politically motivated. And for this reason I did not vote for him on Super Tuesday. However, he is the democratic nominee and as such has my full and complete support. Hell, I may even donate to his campaign. Even on the issue of same-sex marriage he is a far far cry from Bush. Kerry supports a state amendment and only if it includes civil unions which would grant rights to same sex couples. Bush is considering no such caveat. And he wants to do it on a Federal level. On all other issues, Kerry is a good choice. This will not be an election of the lesser of two evils. Kerry is a good man and a good senator and will help repair the damage caused by the Bush administration. He was not my first choice. He was not even my second choice. But now that he is the nominee, he is clearly the right choice. It's not even a close call.
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
An Open Letter About Emergency Contraception
As Bush and cronies attempt to erode a woman's right to choose, I thought this was a timely and important message. Though an FDA advisory committee has recommended making emergency contraception available over the counter, the FDA itself is delaying approval once again. Emergency Contraception over the counter is necessary so that women who've had unprotected sex would have ready access to a postcoital method that prevents pregnancy 89 percent of the time. What surprises me, but shouldn't, is that though emergency contraception prevents about 51,000 abortions a year (because it prevents the pregnancies themselves), the Right and the anti-choice groups are against it. Therefore, this isn't about the right to choose any more, really. It's about women's rights to control their bodies and their destinies. Oh, wait, that is what the right to choose is all about. It's clear that we must continue to speak out about our rights. Because first it's abortion, then it's emergency contraception... who knows, The Pill may be under attack next. No, I'm not trying to instill fear. But this president and his appointees are consistently being sneaking and underhanded in eroding all of our rights. We need to pay attention and continue to speak out.
Note: the facts/info I cite above are from this article by Katha Pollitt in The Nation.
Note: the facts/info I cite above are from this article by Katha Pollitt in The Nation.
Go Vote!
If you live in any of the following states, GO VOTE! I don't care if Kerry is leading in the polls, it's not over 'till it's over. And here's what's at stake:
Super States
States voting March 2 and the delegates at stake in each:
California: 370
Connecticut: 49
Georgia: 86
Maryland: 69
Massachusetts: 93
Minnesota: 72
New York: 236
Ohio: 140
Rhode Island: 21
Vermont: 15
Super States
States voting March 2 and the delegates at stake in each:
California: 370
Connecticut: 49
Georgia: 86
Maryland: 69
Massachusetts: 93
Minnesota: 72
New York: 236
Ohio: 140
Rhode Island: 21
Vermont: 15
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)