OH my, my, my.
The evangelical Christians do seem to have had this obssession with homosexuals for an awfully long time - maybe this is why? They're all closet queers?
I have no problem with gays/lesbians/bi folks. I'm more than a little oogie on transvestites (due to some issues in the life of a RL friend) but I recognize that as being MY issue. It's always fascinated me how much the Christian community, however, is concerned about what EVERYONE ELSE does in the privacy of their own home/hotel room/Dr's office.
I can't help but laughing my butt off (again, how cool would that be if we really could???!!!) at the Holier Than Everyone right-wing Xtian crowd caught with it's trousers about their collective ankles in all the "WRONG" places - yet again.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Legislating from the Bench!!!
Oh, for shame, for shame! There is no Law in Georgia to forbid this - or there wasn't until last year. I mean - according to the Neocons - anything the courts decide that isn't in BLACK AND WHITE in the "Goddamn Piece of Paper" is "legislating from the bench" if it doesn't agree with their narrow-minded world-view, right?
How many other states still don't have a law against this? How many other young Moslem girls will be subjected to this horror because of that religion's sick, twisted, demented view about women? How many more courts will have to "Legislate from the bench" before this is outlawed country-wide?
Thank goodness the Georgia court did the right thing. I suppose the Religious Right will be screaming about Legislating From The Bench, however.
How many other states still don't have a law against this? How many other young Moslem girls will be subjected to this horror because of that religion's sick, twisted, demented view about women? How many more courts will have to "Legislate from the bench" before this is outlawed country-wide?
Thank goodness the Georgia court did the right thing. I suppose the Religious Right will be screaming about Legislating From The Bench, however.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Penta-Ganda
Seems that Rummy has decided that it's not just good enough to plant fake news stories in foreign publications, now he's going to attack the internet, the IM community and other sources of independent information by planting propaganda, although he SWEARS that it isn't like that at all....
And we believe you, Rummy, Dearest. Really we do! Honest Injun! We mean every word of it! Just like you do!! We would NEVER lie to you - because we KNOW YOU WOULD never LIE TO US.
Ok, I'm gagging at having just typed that...
I figure that Blognonymous, Left in Aboite, Peacechick Mary, Pissed off Patricia, Betmo and some of the rest of us politically rabid and opinionated bloggers will no doubt be visited by a LARGE number of Anonymous Viruses. And I'll laugh at their pathetic attempts to disprove what we all KNOW is truth - that Bushco wants to turn this country into a theocratic Dictatorship.
Only one more week. Pray, my friends. Pray, light candles, perform rituals - do whatever you do as a form of intercession and worship to the Deity - that the American People do what is right - not what is being manipulated, and that the country takes back it's government - By the people, Of the people, For the people.
And we believe you, Rummy, Dearest. Really we do! Honest Injun! We mean every word of it! Just like you do!! We would NEVER lie to you - because we KNOW YOU WOULD never LIE TO US.
Ok, I'm gagging at having just typed that...
I figure that Blognonymous, Left in Aboite, Peacechick Mary, Pissed off Patricia, Betmo and some of the rest of us politically rabid and opinionated bloggers will no doubt be visited by a LARGE number of Anonymous Viruses. And I'll laugh at their pathetic attempts to disprove what we all KNOW is truth - that Bushco wants to turn this country into a theocratic Dictatorship.
Only one more week. Pray, my friends. Pray, light candles, perform rituals - do whatever you do as a form of intercession and worship to the Deity - that the American People do what is right - not what is being manipulated, and that the country takes back it's government - By the people, Of the people, For the people.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Home again
.
AaHHH it feels so good to fall into MY bed.
The last 2 days on the road were not so great. Oh, nothing of major consequence, and the road construction going NORTH was less intrusive than that going south (although comfortingly, there was construction on 80/94 through the usual zone).
I told a car mechanic in Atlanta about that. Nothing was really wrong with my car, but GradeSchoolBud had her hubby take a look at my wheels while I was down there and he had a mechanic look at my AC, so we talked to him. He couldn't believe it when we told him that I started driving at 16, I'm now 50, and that same stretch of road has ALWAYS been under construction.
Back to work today. I have GOT to pick up cat food, the greedy gits ate the entire bag of food I left in the auto-feeder. Thank goodness I had some canned here for them for last night and this morning. Although I'm sure the kid I had looking after them would have brought some over if they'd been out for more than just yesterday.
Meh. Mindi is too fat anyhow. (Yes, that sounds heartless - but I know they wouldn't have been starving and there was someone looking after them)
I may have to stop at the Immediate Care, however. I think some flexeril and oxycodone is in order - this back still hurts.
My thoughts for today are of how the Bush Admin has decided to make Shrubby quit saying "Stay the Course" (hehe - Cheney tried to say that Shrubby only used it "8 times" - so one of the news guys got clips and found over 30...). Seems that it is "giving a wrong impression that we are being inflexible"
DUH!!!
What exactly is it that you're being flexible about, Chimpface? You're using the same stragerty you have been using since "Mission Accomplished" - if someone doesn't like the way you're running things and becomes "insurgent" - you just throw the lives of more of our American Soldiers at them.
Bloody-handed murderer.
AaHHH it feels so good to fall into MY bed.
The last 2 days on the road were not so great. Oh, nothing of major consequence, and the road construction going NORTH was less intrusive than that going south (although comfortingly, there was construction on 80/94 through the usual zone).
I told a car mechanic in Atlanta about that. Nothing was really wrong with my car, but GradeSchoolBud had her hubby take a look at my wheels while I was down there and he had a mechanic look at my AC, so we talked to him. He couldn't believe it when we told him that I started driving at 16, I'm now 50, and that same stretch of road has ALWAYS been under construction.
Back to work today. I have GOT to pick up cat food, the greedy gits ate the entire bag of food I left in the auto-feeder. Thank goodness I had some canned here for them for last night and this morning. Although I'm sure the kid I had looking after them would have brought some over if they'd been out for more than just yesterday.
Meh. Mindi is too fat anyhow. (Yes, that sounds heartless - but I know they wouldn't have been starving and there was someone looking after them)
I may have to stop at the Immediate Care, however. I think some flexeril and oxycodone is in order - this back still hurts.
My thoughts for today are of how the Bush Admin has decided to make Shrubby quit saying "Stay the Course" (hehe - Cheney tried to say that Shrubby only used it "8 times" - so one of the news guys got clips and found over 30...). Seems that it is "giving a wrong impression that we are being inflexible"
DUH!!!
What exactly is it that you're being flexible about, Chimpface? You're using the same stragerty you have been using since "Mission Accomplished" - if someone doesn't like the way you're running things and becomes "insurgent" - you just throw the lives of more of our American Soldiers at them.
Bloody-handed murderer.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
The way back home
.
Well, my visit with Dad down in Florida was good, and I enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunate it had to be so short. Although since Dad and I have rather serious political differences, it probably was a good idea not to have too much time to dwell on that.
Drove up to Atlanta yesterday - my back went out at Dad's and it was pretty rough sleeping the night before, but I made it to GradeSchoolBud's *house* without too much trouble. Georgia road construction isn't too bad, and the weather wasn't too bad either. THe heavy rain held off until I actually found their *house*.
*House*, because it's really a farking MANSION - at least to someone who lives in a tiny 2-bedroom condo like me. 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, gorgeous piece of property - lovely wide staircase to the upstairs... it's just lovely. Amazing and huge and very pretty. I'm happy for her.
We went to go see her mom - which was very nice. GradeSchoolBud tells me that she reads my blog to her Mom. So I have to be good..... *laughing*
So this morning, I'm drinking some hazelnut flavored coffee, and waiting for the handfull of OTC analgesics to kick in so I can climb back upstairs and take a hot shower and change clothes.
Dinner last nite was unbelievable - Fetuccini Alfredo with shrimp and scallops and then a LOT of wine and a bit of death-by-chocolate cake...
My bloodsugar is insane (Go away, Dr. Nick...)
I don't know if I'll make it home tonite or not. I may end up in a motel in Indiana, depending on how the back and the trip go. It's been raining a lot here in Georgia, and I may meet a net-friend on the way home too, so that could delay things a bit.
Either way, it's been a nice vacation from work, and I feel less stressed out, so that's all good. I've reconnected with some people I dearly love - and hopefully will be able to stay connected now.
In fact, I'm using GSB's Wifi to post this this morning - I guess that really counts as "connected"
*grin*
Be well, all.
Well, my visit with Dad down in Florida was good, and I enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunate it had to be so short. Although since Dad and I have rather serious political differences, it probably was a good idea not to have too much time to dwell on that.
Drove up to Atlanta yesterday - my back went out at Dad's and it was pretty rough sleeping the night before, but I made it to GradeSchoolBud's *house* without too much trouble. Georgia road construction isn't too bad, and the weather wasn't too bad either. THe heavy rain held off until I actually found their *house*.
*House*, because it's really a farking MANSION - at least to someone who lives in a tiny 2-bedroom condo like me. 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, gorgeous piece of property - lovely wide staircase to the upstairs... it's just lovely. Amazing and huge and very pretty. I'm happy for her.
We went to go see her mom - which was very nice. GradeSchoolBud tells me that she reads my blog to her Mom. So I have to be good..... *laughing*
So this morning, I'm drinking some hazelnut flavored coffee, and waiting for the handfull of OTC analgesics to kick in so I can climb back upstairs and take a hot shower and change clothes.
Dinner last nite was unbelievable - Fetuccini Alfredo with shrimp and scallops and then a LOT of wine and a bit of death-by-chocolate cake...
My bloodsugar is insane (Go away, Dr. Nick...)
I don't know if I'll make it home tonite or not. I may end up in a motel in Indiana, depending on how the back and the trip go. It's been raining a lot here in Georgia, and I may meet a net-friend on the way home too, so that could delay things a bit.
Either way, it's been a nice vacation from work, and I feel less stressed out, so that's all good. I've reconnected with some people I dearly love - and hopefully will be able to stay connected now.
In fact, I'm using GSB's Wifi to post this this morning - I guess that really counts as "connected"
*grin*
Be well, all.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Travelogue - The Journey Down
Left later than I wanted to on Saturday morn. I slept like a rock (unusual for me) and didn't wake up until 5 a.m. My alarm clock had issues, so I didn't get "woken" up.
All in all, it wasn't too bad of a drive down to Nashville. The obligatory I-294-80/94 construction was limited to a small stretch on the "normal" side of the border, and once in Hoovier-Land (Indiana - Not Hoosier, Hoovier - because it SUCKS THAT MUCH!), In fact, I was all set to cancel my usual letter to Jim Nabors telling him that he gets the words to the Indiana State Song wrong before every Indy500 race - (it SHOULD be "We drive like JERKS...In InDIana.....) because it was clear-sailing all the way to I-65. 65 South wasn't too bad either... Until right before Louisville. I'm a yankee, but I know that it's SUPPOSED to be LOUIE-vlle, But for the rest of this trip, it shall be LOUIS..vile
There, with typical Indiana Efficiency, there was a detour to go around Louisville.... and it was so poorly marked that unless you had lived your entire life within a 5-mile radius, you wouldn't know where to go. Being a life-long Illini, and all, Naturally I got lost, turned around, lost again, and finally even had to *gasp* ASK DIRECTIONS!!
IMNSHO, Kentucky needs to be moved. I think they could put it out on the other side of West Virginia, or on top of South Carolina (which really doesn't exist anyhow) and then move Tennessee, Georgia and Florida up.
Saw a dead Bambi off the side of the road, and a bit further along, a dead headlight and a chunk of white bumper.
Made it safe to Susan's place in Tennessee about 5pm and we went out for dinner to a really nice mexican restaurant where the waiter made her youngest son - M - order in Spanish (it's because the boy started trying to get the waiter to talk to him in Spanish one time, so now - with mom's blessing - he is teaching M some new Spanish words every time they go there)
Then we went out to a Play - a theater adaptation of Dracula. Susan played a maid and her son Jonathon (already Married!! Gah, time flies) was the crazy person who eats flies. He stole the show. Afterwards, we went to the cast party, then home for bed. Quite a long day.
Got up with first light and back on the road. Georgia was wonderful until I hit the last 50 miles, then it made up for the rest of the state having no road construction. *shrug*
Dad took me out to dinner at his favorite restaurant. He used to go there a LOT with Mom, apparently, and he says he just can't bring himself to go there alone anymore. The food is freaking awesome, but its' not really a "Dad" sort of place - its' a small restaurant that is built onto a neighborhood bar.
Got some nice chicken in wine sauce over fresh spinach... it was great.
Today we went out shopping for wallpaper and came up empty handed. Then I fixed a couple of things on his computer and I'm gonna have to run in a minute to go do some dinner-making.
So far, the vacation has been good.
Toodles!
All in all, it wasn't too bad of a drive down to Nashville. The obligatory I-294-80/94 construction was limited to a small stretch on the "normal" side of the border, and once in Hoovier-Land (Indiana - Not Hoosier, Hoovier - because it SUCKS THAT MUCH!), In fact, I was all set to cancel my usual letter to Jim Nabors telling him that he gets the words to the Indiana State Song wrong before every Indy500 race - (it SHOULD be "We drive like JERKS...In InDIana.....) because it was clear-sailing all the way to I-65. 65 South wasn't too bad either... Until right before Louisville. I'm a yankee, but I know that it's SUPPOSED to be LOUIE-vlle, But for the rest of this trip, it shall be LOUIS..vile
There, with typical Indiana Efficiency, there was a detour to go around Louisville.... and it was so poorly marked that unless you had lived your entire life within a 5-mile radius, you wouldn't know where to go. Being a life-long Illini, and all, Naturally I got lost, turned around, lost again, and finally even had to *gasp* ASK DIRECTIONS!!
IMNSHO, Kentucky needs to be moved. I think they could put it out on the other side of West Virginia, or on top of South Carolina (which really doesn't exist anyhow) and then move Tennessee, Georgia and Florida up.
Saw a dead Bambi off the side of the road, and a bit further along, a dead headlight and a chunk of white bumper.
Made it safe to Susan's place in Tennessee about 5pm and we went out for dinner to a really nice mexican restaurant where the waiter made her youngest son - M - order in Spanish (it's because the boy started trying to get the waiter to talk to him in Spanish one time, so now - with mom's blessing - he is teaching M some new Spanish words every time they go there)
Then we went out to a Play - a theater adaptation of Dracula. Susan played a maid and her son Jonathon (already Married!! Gah, time flies) was the crazy person who eats flies. He stole the show. Afterwards, we went to the cast party, then home for bed. Quite a long day.
Got up with first light and back on the road. Georgia was wonderful until I hit the last 50 miles, then it made up for the rest of the state having no road construction. *shrug*
Dad took me out to dinner at his favorite restaurant. He used to go there a LOT with Mom, apparently, and he says he just can't bring himself to go there alone anymore. The food is freaking awesome, but its' not really a "Dad" sort of place - its' a small restaurant that is built onto a neighborhood bar.
Got some nice chicken in wine sauce over fresh spinach... it was great.
Today we went out shopping for wallpaper and came up empty handed. Then I fixed a couple of things on his computer and I'm gonna have to run in a minute to go do some dinner-making.
So far, the vacation has been good.
Toodles!
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Offline for a week or so
Well, in about 20 minutes time, I'm getting in my car and heading out for sunny FLA. Hopefully sunny, that is. It's been dismal damp and overcast here. I can use some sun.
My internet access will probably be sketchy at best, and while I'm bringing the laptop and lots of cords and stuff - I can't guarantee how long I will be online for any given session (if at all)
So I leave you with this - our "Illustrious Leader", the Deciderer, has decided that he's not going to do anything to change an already proven failure of a "stragerty".
Reminds me of the "Palistinian Suicide Bombers"
Leader: "Achmed! Here, strap this explosive to your chest, then we will get our own country!"
Achmed: "Allahu Akbar!!! " KABLOOOIEEEE
*Israel ups their defense*
Leader: "Ok, that didn't quite go as planned. Fahjool! Here is more dynamite! Go blow yourself up in the marketplace - Then they will give us our own country!!"
Fahjool: "For the Prophet (PBUH)!!!! " KABOOM!!
*Israel begins shelling harder*
Leader: "Rashid!!! Here! Strap this dynamite on yourself......"
The Militant Extremist Moslems already know everything about "Stay the Course".
My internet access will probably be sketchy at best, and while I'm bringing the laptop and lots of cords and stuff - I can't guarantee how long I will be online for any given session (if at all)
So I leave you with this - our "Illustrious Leader", the Deciderer, has decided that he's not going to do anything to change an already proven failure of a "stragerty".
Reminds me of the "Palistinian Suicide Bombers"
Leader: "Achmed! Here, strap this explosive to your chest, then we will get our own country!"
Achmed: "Allahu Akbar!!! " KABLOOOIEEEE
*Israel ups their defense*
Leader: "Ok, that didn't quite go as planned. Fahjool! Here is more dynamite! Go blow yourself up in the marketplace - Then they will give us our own country!!"
Fahjool: "For the Prophet (PBUH)!!!! " KABOOM!!
*Israel begins shelling harder*
Leader: "Rashid!!! Here! Strap this dynamite on yourself......"
The Militant Extremist Moslems already know everything about "Stay the Course".
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Dammit Jules - I'm having trouble keeping up!!
1. Dated outside your race? No.
2. Singing in the shower? Yeah, but even *I* can't stand it!
3. Spit in someone’s drink? No.
4. Played with Barbies? Yes.
5. Made someone cry? Yes.
6. Opened your Christmas presents early? Once... *sobs*
7. Lied to a friend? Yes.
8. Watched and cried while watching a soap opera? Nah. Soaps are too silly to cry over.
9. Played a computer game for more than 5 hours? Oh. Hell. YES.
10. Ran through the sprinklers naked? Probably as a kid, but I don't remember.
11. Ate food that fell on the floor? 5 second rule...
12. Went outside naked? Yes.
13. Been on stage? Yes.
14. Been on stage naked or close to it? No.
15. Been in a parade? Yes.
16. Been in a school play? Yes.
17. Drank beer? Yes. Took me a while to learn to like it, tho.
18. Gotten detention? Yes.
19. Been on a cruise? Not yet.
20. Broken into a house? No.
21. Gotten a tattoo? No.
22. Gotten piercings? Ears. One per side
23. Gotten into a fist fight? Sorta.
24. Gotten into a shouting match? I'm divorced. What do YOU think?
25. Swallowed sea/pool water? Yes.
26. Spun yourself in circles to get dizzy on purpose? Yes.
27. Laughed so hard it hurt? Yep.
28. Tripped on your own feet? Frequently
29. Cried yourself to sleep? Yes.
30. Cried in public? Yes.
31. Thrown up in public? Nope. I'll do almost ANYTHING to not puke.
32. Lied to your parents? Oh! NO! Never! (/sarcasm)
33. Skipped class? No
34. Cried so hard you threw up? No
35. Had a one night stand? Yes.
36. Left restaurant without paying tab? No.
37. Been fired from a job? yes.
38. Wanted to make out with your massage therapist, therapist or hairdresser? Nope
39. Had a drink "sent" to a stranger at a bar? No.
40. Been winked at and loved it? Yeah, but not by anyone I ever thought MEANT it. It was just FUN.
2. Singing in the shower? Yeah, but even *I* can't stand it!
3. Spit in someone’s drink? No.
4. Played with Barbies? Yes.
5. Made someone cry? Yes.
6. Opened your Christmas presents early? Once... *sobs*
7. Lied to a friend? Yes.
8. Watched and cried while watching a soap opera? Nah. Soaps are too silly to cry over.
9. Played a computer game for more than 5 hours? Oh. Hell. YES.
10. Ran through the sprinklers naked? Probably as a kid, but I don't remember.
11. Ate food that fell on the floor? 5 second rule...
12. Went outside naked? Yes.
13. Been on stage? Yes.
14. Been on stage naked or close to it? No.
15. Been in a parade? Yes.
16. Been in a school play? Yes.
17. Drank beer? Yes. Took me a while to learn to like it, tho.
18. Gotten detention? Yes.
19. Been on a cruise? Not yet.
20. Broken into a house? No.
21. Gotten a tattoo? No.
22. Gotten piercings? Ears. One per side
23. Gotten into a fist fight? Sorta.
24. Gotten into a shouting match? I'm divorced. What do YOU think?
25. Swallowed sea/pool water? Yes.
26. Spun yourself in circles to get dizzy on purpose? Yes.
27. Laughed so hard it hurt? Yep.
28. Tripped on your own feet? Frequently
29. Cried yourself to sleep? Yes.
30. Cried in public? Yes.
31. Thrown up in public? Nope. I'll do almost ANYTHING to not puke.
32. Lied to your parents? Oh! NO! Never! (/sarcasm)
33. Skipped class? No
34. Cried so hard you threw up? No
35. Had a one night stand? Yes.
36. Left restaurant without paying tab? No.
37. Been fired from a job? yes.
38. Wanted to make out with your massage therapist, therapist or hairdresser? Nope
39. Had a drink "sent" to a stranger at a bar? No.
40. Been winked at and loved it? Yeah, but not by anyone I ever thought MEANT it. It was just FUN.
Racism, Part II
When Martin Luther King was alive and working to fight for civil rights for ALL people, not just the priviliged white majority, the word "Racism" had teeth and meaning. The concept of "Separate but Equal" was never a reality, and anyone who lived through those times knows this damn well. "Whites Only" bathrooms, drinking fountains, movie theaters and other facilites were wrong, and the abolishment of them was a GOOD thing.
Unfortunately Martin Luther King was cut down in his prime by an idiot redneck who couldn't accept change. In exchange, what we got was Jesse Jackson, a sing-songy, manipulative parody of Dr. King, who has done more to KEEP true Racism alive in this country than almost any other individual - with the possible exception of Louis Fahrakan. We can all thank James Earl Ray (take your conspiracy theories elsewhere - the man was convicted.)for "Political Correctness". Had Dr. King survived and Jesse been relegated to a well-deserved background role, such silliness as "reparations" and the insistance on revising the State flag of Georgia would likely never have occurred.
Jesse Jackson began the "victimization" of the black community (oops! Did I say black? What IS the euphenism for Negro this week? African American? Person of Colour?)and continues to brand his own people as weak, helpless and unable to stand up for themselves and overcome adversity. Therefore, they "NEED" affirmative action, and anything ANYONE does or says to make them feel bad is "Racist".
Bite me. We all come into this world the same way - naked and screaming. We all leave this world the same way - stiff and silent. It is what we each CHOOSE to do with the time we are allotted that governs our worth as human beings. Nobody ever promised any of us that we would NEVER be offended, that we would NEVER feel bad, that we would NEVER be uncomfortable. Welcome to Schoolhouse Earth.
Racial profiling has come under attack by many groups over the last 10 years. While I am entirely aware of the potential for abuse, I think that refusing to allow law-enforcement officials to utilize a perfectly valid investigative tool, simply to avoid making someone "feel bad" for a short while is ludicrous.
Unfortunately Martin Luther King was cut down in his prime by an idiot redneck who couldn't accept change. In exchange, what we got was Jesse Jackson, a sing-songy, manipulative parody of Dr. King, who has done more to KEEP true Racism alive in this country than almost any other individual - with the possible exception of Louis Fahrakan. We can all thank James Earl Ray (take your conspiracy theories elsewhere - the man was convicted.)for "Political Correctness". Had Dr. King survived and Jesse been relegated to a well-deserved background role, such silliness as "reparations" and the insistance on revising the State flag of Georgia would likely never have occurred.
Jesse Jackson began the "victimization" of the black community (oops! Did I say black? What IS the euphenism for Negro this week? African American? Person of Colour?)and continues to brand his own people as weak, helpless and unable to stand up for themselves and overcome adversity. Therefore, they "NEED" affirmative action, and anything ANYONE does or says to make them feel bad is "Racist".
Bite me. We all come into this world the same way - naked and screaming. We all leave this world the same way - stiff and silent. It is what we each CHOOSE to do with the time we are allotted that governs our worth as human beings. Nobody ever promised any of us that we would NEVER be offended, that we would NEVER feel bad, that we would NEVER be uncomfortable. Welcome to Schoolhouse Earth.
Racial profiling has come under attack by many groups over the last 10 years. While I am entirely aware of the potential for abuse, I think that refusing to allow law-enforcement officials to utilize a perfectly valid investigative tool, simply to avoid making someone "feel bad" for a short while is ludicrous.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Racism
OH dearie, dearie me... I've been called "RACIST" (yes, in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS!!) by Ubergirl87. Since the topic was "profiling" - I thought it was an interesting topic to explore.
I do not deny that something called "Racism" exists. But the definition of "Racism" does not include simply categorizing someone. Let's be honest here - we can't describe someone without making SOME distinction between that individual and other individuals. Calling someone "Blonde" doesn't mean that anyone who is NOT blonde is lesser or greater of a person - they just have a different hair color.
Imagine the conversations if we were NEVER allowed to identify anyone without giving offense:
"Hey Sally - see that ... um... individual over there? Give them this envelope"
"Ken? Which individual?"
"Sally, I'm not a racist!! I would NEVER stoop to mentioning someone's PHYSICAL description!"
"Ken, just tell me - is this person tall or short?"
"That's HEIGHTIST Racism, Sally! For shame!"
"Ok, just - does the person have dark or light hair?"
"Sally! That's STYLEism Racism! Let us just say that it is the individual approximately 2 meters SSW of the doorknob of the door leading to the anti-racist envelope delivery depot"
There are now, and always have been, people who will judge the moral/intellectual/financial worth of other people based solely upon physical characteristics. This is what Racism means. This is what is bad - measuring the HUMAN WORTH of an individual based only on their color/height/weight/eyes/hair or other purely PHYSICAL characteristics.
Now, we all make some judgements of folks based on looks. In fact, we do this every day, consciously or sub-consciously. What constitutes a "Hottie" or a "Hot Babe"? What male, given the choice, would choose a date with Rosie O'Donnel over the "A" squad of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? Personal dating preferences are inbred - whether someone looks "hot" or not is in the eyes of the beholder, and I do believe that SOME of it is "nurture" - we are conditioned by our environment to prefer certain physical "types" - but some just seems to be "nature" as well. I know that thin, pale, blonde men just never appeal to me. *shrug*
Primarily what Ubergirl87 was complaining about, however, was being asked to remove her shoes before being allowed to board an aircraft in Austria. She seems to indicate that she was singled out for this indignity because she is a Saudi, which would not have been the case here in the US. Here we ALL have to take off our shoes, our jackets, and make sure we have no metal on us, and aren't carrying such deadly weapons as a small pair of nail clippers, a tube of toothpaste, or *gasp* a bottle of Evian.
Now, it is possible that in Austria, the only people being asked to submit to this are in fact, those of Arab nationalities or appearance, and considering that the so-called "terrorist groups" are now said to be attempting to recruit disenfranchised "Prep School" looking white kids to do their suicide bombing thing, this may backfire in their faces.
So how is it that *I* - Sewmouse - She Who Doesn't Give A Damn What ANYBODY Looks Like - was called a "racist"? Well, I had the audacity to remind her that while a very, very tiny minority of Saudis have committed terrorist acts in or against America, the mastermind of 9/11/01 was, in fact, Saudi. She can thank him for the indignities that she endures as a result of HIS decisions.
While it is true that not 100% of all Saudi's are mindless terrorists, it is also true that almost 100% of all mindless terrorists who have flown commercial airliners into high-rise buildings were, in fact, SAUDIS, and absolutely 100% considered themselves Muslims.
If someone robs my house, and I catch a glimpse of him leaving, and I tell the police "He was about 6'5" tall, 320 lbs., white male with dark hair wearing a green shirt, black pants, boots and with a tattoo of a gorilla on his left hand..."
Do you really think it is likely that they will get their best possible results by pulling in short black women with dyed-blonde hair wearing spandex muu-muus and 12 inch platform wedgies?
[italicized parts are edited.]
I do not deny that something called "Racism" exists. But the definition of "Racism" does not include simply categorizing someone. Let's be honest here - we can't describe someone without making SOME distinction between that individual and other individuals. Calling someone "Blonde" doesn't mean that anyone who is NOT blonde is lesser or greater of a person - they just have a different hair color.
Imagine the conversations if we were NEVER allowed to identify anyone without giving offense:
"Hey Sally - see that ... um... individual over there? Give them this envelope"
"Ken? Which individual?"
"Sally, I'm not a racist!! I would NEVER stoop to mentioning someone's PHYSICAL description!"
"Ken, just tell me - is this person tall or short?"
"That's HEIGHTIST Racism, Sally! For shame!"
"Ok, just - does the person have dark or light hair?"
"Sally! That's STYLEism Racism! Let us just say that it is the individual approximately 2 meters SSW of the doorknob of the door leading to the anti-racist envelope delivery depot"
There are now, and always have been, people who will judge the moral/intellectual/financial worth of other people based solely upon physical characteristics. This is what Racism means. This is what is bad - measuring the HUMAN WORTH of an individual based only on their color/height/weight/eyes/hair or other purely PHYSICAL characteristics.
Now, we all make some judgements of folks based on looks. In fact, we do this every day, consciously or sub-consciously. What constitutes a "Hottie" or a "Hot Babe"? What male, given the choice, would choose a date with Rosie O'Donnel over the "A" squad of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? Personal dating preferences are inbred - whether someone looks "hot" or not is in the eyes of the beholder, and I do believe that SOME of it is "nurture" - we are conditioned by our environment to prefer certain physical "types" - but some just seems to be "nature" as well. I know that thin, pale, blonde men just never appeal to me. *shrug*
Primarily what Ubergirl87 was complaining about, however, was being asked to remove her shoes before being allowed to board an aircraft in Austria. She seems to indicate that she was singled out for this indignity because she is a Saudi, which would not have been the case here in the US. Here we ALL have to take off our shoes, our jackets, and make sure we have no metal on us, and aren't carrying such deadly weapons as a small pair of nail clippers, a tube of toothpaste, or *gasp* a bottle of Evian.
Now, it is possible that in Austria, the only people being asked to submit to this are in fact, those of Arab nationalities or appearance, and considering that the so-called "terrorist groups" are now said to be attempting to recruit disenfranchised "Prep School" looking white kids to do their suicide bombing thing, this may backfire in their faces.
So how is it that *I* - Sewmouse - She Who Doesn't Give A Damn What ANYBODY Looks Like - was called a "racist"? Well, I had the audacity to remind her that while a very, very tiny minority of Saudis have committed terrorist acts in or against America, the mastermind of 9/11/01 was, in fact, Saudi. She can thank him for the indignities that she endures as a result of HIS decisions.
While it is true that not 100% of all Saudi's are mindless terrorists, it is also true that almost 100% of all mindless terrorists who have flown commercial airliners into high-rise buildings were, in fact, SAUDIS, and absolutely 100% considered themselves Muslims.
If someone robs my house, and I catch a glimpse of him leaving, and I tell the police "He was about 6'5" tall, 320 lbs., white male with dark hair wearing a green shirt, black pants, boots and with a tattoo of a gorilla on his left hand..."
Do you really think it is likely that they will get their best possible results by pulling in short black women with dyed-blonde hair wearing spandex muu-muus and 12 inch platform wedgies?
[italicized parts are edited.]
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