Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: What do with anger over Prop 8?
Out of all the verbiage yesterday about the California Supreme Court’s decision, Dan Savage struck the best note.
“But we have to remember that this is a long game and, despite this setback, we are winning. We’re going to hear a lot about Prop 8 today, and the fight to overturn it, but let’s not forget about Prop 22.”
A mere 9 years ago when California voters gave their opinion on marriage between same sex couples, they answered with a resounding no. With the Proposition 8 vote, the nays were not as loud. Yes a loss is still a loss (and spare us any quips about how being close only counts in horse shoes), but we are winning this argument. Right now Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Iowa are states where same sex marriage is a reality, and anyone who says they could have predicted that nine years ago is a lying liar. The polls all point in our favor. As Savage noted, even our enemies know their time is up. All of this needs to be held on to as we handle yesterday’s decision. Is it right that the struggle for rights is such an laborious process? Nope, but we live in the real world. Not some made for TV movie where stuff is figured out in two hours.
Now for those who left notes here and at other places, talking weak noise about how the revolution won’t be televised, it’s war time now, let’s go burn down a few churches, etc., etc.: please do me a favor? Keep quiet while adults are talking. You keyboard revolutionaries are punks or plants from the other side (which makes you something else but I can’t use that word). Always ready to quote something from the movie X, but never willing to follow your own advice about murder and mayhem. Grow a pair you sham revolutionaries. If you are sooooooo convinced it’s war time, stop leaving notes here and do what you say needs to be done. I promise to write you letters as you serve time with other prison fools.
For the rest: anyone got a protest story from yesterday to share? Go at it.
To cb_melgarejo aka Veronica Onassis: Your threat has been reported to the New York City Police.
Yhitzak,
“We should all enter into this battle with caution and prudence lest we run the risk of becoming like our enemy.”
This should be the cornerstone of everything we do. Well put.
Thanks for the kind words.
Sincerely,
James
For whatever it’s worth, Withers, I like your blog. You strike me as someone who’s equally realistic and idealistic (everything has its proper time and place and all of that), and those are things we really *need* in this battle. Heh. “Sham revolutionaries.” What a great term! So applicable in the cyberworld…
In answer to the question of what do we do with the post-Prop8 anger… we fight. Seriously, no armchair revolutionary BS here. But by ‘fight’ I don’t mean wielding a weapon and bringing violence upon any perceived enemy’s head. By ‘fight’ I mean what another poster said in quoting Barney Frank: we stand up and admit to what we are and we don’t back down in the face of making someone else uncomfortable or potentially invoking violence simply by existing. There are people out there who do not need an excuse to commit violence upon others and claiming fear of victimization is another type of victimization entirely. So what are we, the members of the gay community? Are we victims of modern society or are we the movers and doers within it? This battle is not waged only in the courtrooms or on the streets full of protesters; this battle is fought during family dinners, school assemblies, and everyday conversations. This call to arms is not a call to take to the streets, it is a call to answer questions honestly, to not back down in the face of discomfort, to simply say, “Yes, I am, and I’m also a lot of other things, too.”
And I wonder what actions “beyond talking” you people would consider acceptable. At this juncture, our voices are the best weapon we’ve got. We can’t physically take over churches or courthouses, and even if we could, do you think that that would solve the problem or exacerbate it?
We should all enter into this battle with caution and prudence lest we run the risk of becoming like our enemy.
Yes I know withers,, trying to explain anything to you, is akin to Albert Einstein trying to explain advanced quantum physics to a housecat. The very definition of waste of time.
Rodney,
“James gangstalicious on the downlow Withers”
Oh, look at you. Playing the race card. That mess is tired and soft.
And by the way Mr. Fake Revolutionary. We all know you are NOT going to do any type of of so called “dirty work.” You will only yelp on your keyboard.
James
John,
“You’re the one who believes that there is no acceptable action beyond talking.”
Having a difficult time reading, huh? Never said that. Be well John Radical.
Sincerely,
James
Very well said John. James gangstalicious on the downlow Withers wants us to be cowardly fagg*ts just like him.
The gay and lesbian movement has used pacifism to its natural end. It’s time to escalate the struggle. If people feel squeemish about using violence, then do something constructive and stay the hell out of the way of those of us who have no moral qualms. Dirty work has to be done, and the last thing we need is for back stabbing traitors telling us how wrong we are for doing the dirty work and moving the movement forward.
Withers:
“When you grow up or have something coherent to say, please let me know. Then we can have a conversation.”
The field that I submitted the previous post on appears in my browser marked as “Comments.”
Thus there should be no misunderstanding in the site’s design, nor did I express any wish to have a conversation with you.
You’re the one who believes that there is no acceptable action beyond talking.
That’s why you blog.
It’s also why theres nothing left to discuss.
So keep blogging. It suits you.