Comments on: Withers: There is more to freedom than marching

By: Mr. Coffee

Mr. Coffee — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:12:24 +0000

The single most powerful thing that we as Gay people can do to create change is to COME OUT.

As long as our national and state level leaders think “blending” is the way to gain our civil rights, we will be defeated in Prop-8 type elections every time.

So, whether we are chanting, writing letters, ululating “We Shall Overcome” or just inviting the neighbors over to have dinner with Chuck and Bob (and, of course their Shitzu, Dorothy) – it’s the VISIBILITY that’s the thing.

A debate about WHICH method of visibility is best obscures the essential truth.

Let them know us, and they will love us. And F–K the ones that don’t.

By: shawn

shawn — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:47:40 +0000

Hmmm…..

By: KaninZ

KaninZ — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:17:25 +0000

Water nephew retrieval-My folks lived on a lake and when the nephews were over, those who couldn’t swim had to wear a life jacket and stay close to shore. When they started getting too far from shore my Mom would tell the dog which kid to “retrieve” and he’d swim out, get ‘em by the life jacket and pull them (usually protesting loudly) up on the sand.
The dog thought it was the Best Game Ever!

By: shawn

shawn — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:51:51 +0000

Water nephew retrieval? WTF?!?

By: KaninZ

KaninZ — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:20:36 +0000

John in Cali said:
“The ruling class doesn’t care about protests because they know it’ll blow over in a few days. Politicians only act when there’s a “clear and present danger” of losing an election and/or a whole lot of money.”

This is exactly why we need to let the current administration know up front that we refuse to fall for what has happened so many times before, the whole “vote for me and I’ll pander to you as long as I need you” bullshit.
Too many times in local and Federal elections we’ve had politicians cozy up to use with promises of protecting our rights only to see them try to shove us back in the closet after election day.

A amn who ran on a patform of hope can’t yank it away once he’s in office. CALL him on it!
Write, call, e-mail, post…raise a voice!

By: KaninZ

KaninZ — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:05:10 +0000

Shawn, so far in your military-phobic rants against me you’ve assumed that I’m from Florida (wrong), I’m a Baptist(WAY wrong), I’m a hunter (I went hunting once since I left the Infantry and found I’d lost my taste for it…my Mom retrained my hunting dog for water nephew retrieval) and somehow put my age at 36 (I wish).

Shawn, how could you BE more wrong? Try familiarizing yourself with some facts and leave the personal attacks to the homophobes. You REALLY suck at them.

By: shawn

shawn — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:20:01 +0000

Oh yes mr. kanin, here we go again with this typical right wing yahoo retort about freedom not being free. Blah,blah,blah. Heard it all before at Nuremburg pal. Just following orders, blah,blah,blah. Yah, your right kanin, I’ve never “served” or whored myself out to the U.S. Military and shure as shit don’t foresee it happening in the future. patriotism is the last refuge to which a coward clings, Kanin. There’s prolly a good reason why you don’t attend Pride marches or protests Kanin. You’re afraid of being spotted and outed! I don’t attend to many either because sadly, as far as I’m concerned, about 75% of the attendees are nothing but breeder tourist strolling around. When I can’t go into one of our own bars without seeing a f*ckin’ hetero couple in there going at it, it’s time to STOP attending these “marches” and let the greedy ass “gay” bar owners know that it’s time for a little bit less “diversity” when it comes to OUR gathering spaces. Same thing at the supposedly gay gyms, man! all the breeder chicks hang out there with their dumbass little brain enslaved boyfriends in tow, coming in to gawk, point and stare! it’s your type of naivete Kanin that I find most laughable. One would expect a bit more intellectual reflection from a 36 year old. Peace out.

By: John in CA

John in CA — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 08:32:05 +0000

Peaceful marches and rallies are generally worthless politically. I’m not saying we shouldn’t have them. They’re a nice way to blow off some steam. And there are other logical reasons to have them (networking, fundraising, etc.)

But as a catalyst for direct action, they have a very poor track record indeed. Millions protested the lraq War in the Spring of 2003. But as the war dragged on, year after bloody year, the weekend crowds got smaller and smaller. Nowadays, with the focus squarely on the economy, an Iraq rally will typically attract only a few dozen diehards. You see the same “fizzle” affect with police shootings, Dafur, Tibet, and any number of causes. The ruling class doesn’t care about protests because they know it’ll blow over in a few days. Politicians only act when there’s a “clear and present danger” of losing an election and/or a whole lot of money.

By: KaninZ

KaninZ — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:31:59 +0000

“Perhaps you can be a bit more “in depth” with that statement. ”
Sadly, it’s not always safe for gays to be open about themselves and their relationships with non-gays. It can also be inappropriate to be open with someone who you know will take offense.
Shawn, your baseless assumptions regarding me personally and your total lack of understanding about what it means to serve in the military have shown you to be a shallow, selfish and prejudiced individual. Get a grasp, develop some depth and maybe one day you will be worthy of the equality others sacrifice to guarantee and safeguard for you.

It is inherent due to equal human worth, but never for one second think that freedom is free.

By: shawn

shawn — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 04:34:08 +0000

Hmmm…interesting words there Mr. “cowboy” kanin. “Be open and honest where appropriate”??? Perhaps you can be a bit more “in depth” with that statement. Is there ever a time when it’s not “appropriate” to be honest with yourself Mr. kanin? Oh, of course, I forgot! One shouldn’t be “open or honest” to one’s employer, like, ummmm…..say….the grand fabulous U.S. Military, eh kanin. must be nice towing the policy line and trying to “blend” in with the rest of the M-16 toting mob. Personally speaking I couldn’t tell ya. I’d be quite shocked anyway Mr. kanin to ever see the likes of a fake like you marching in a (GASP) pro-homo parade! what would all your god fearing fellow baptist cowboy buddies think of you then, eh?