Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Talk is nice, but….
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has always been an interesting study. Makes a business empire, decides he wants to be a politician, joins the GOP, gets the nomination and after winning an election (some would say bought but that is for another time) follows Rudy Giuliani as the keeper of the Big Apple. Like any politician, he is marked by faults (he has the language of a technocrat), but has governed in such a way that it seems as if voters are going to give him a third term.
This week Bloomberg announced he was ready to ask the New York Legislature to pass a marriage rights law. This is the third year in a row that the mayor has made that pledge and like the good pol that he is, Bloomberg can blame the Republicans (they ran the state Senate until this year) for never having hearings. Democrats are in charge of the Senate now, but same sex marriage isn’t coming anytime soon. So Bloomberg gets good press for saying he loves him some gay marriage, but he doesn’t lose any political capital for actually fighting for it.
Same with New York’s senior senator Chuck Schumer. At a private gathering with local politicians and leaders of Empire State Pride Agenda, Schumer announced he was for gay marriage. That’s nice and all, but that does that mean his vote for DOMA now is null and void? And I’m willing to bet a donut the senator didn’t offer any actual plans to make same sex marriage more than a talking point.
Bloomberg and Schumer have essentially thrown out the language for inclusion. While we all love rhetoric, it takes grunt work to make it a reality. Both men can mouth the words, but I’m much more concerned about deeds. Saying you are for gay marriage is not that complicated. Doing something for it is a different matter.
“..but do you really feel it’s your prerogative to tell James what to write about or how to view his role in the gay community?”
People are just too complacent with what they’ve been given.
I asked James a question; he answered it. Nobody told anybody what to write or how to write it.
That said, I still find it unfathomable that an African-American gay man who is a Contributing Editor to the most-read gay news service in the Western Hemisphere does NOT feel qualified/obligated to comment on a major news story about the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP appointing the homophobe who wrote Cincinnati’s anti-gay charter amendment (now repealed after millions in lost convention revenues) to their Board of Directors.
James, I guess we just have to disagree on this issue.
Cheers,
Bud
“..but do you really feel it’s your prerogative to tell James what to write about or how to view his role in the gay community?”
Just pointing out some issues.
Wow, looks like I’ve stumbled into a Jump on James Day celebration. Pardon my gate-crashing, Bud and Todd, but do you really feel it’s your prerogative to tell James what to write about or how to view his role in the gay community? He isn’t responsible for what someone else may have said about white folks commenting on the NAACP. If you’re going to criticize, at least make it relevant to the article.
Todd,
“I doesn’t matter whether you agree with it or not, it’s the truth. ”
There’s an interesting rhetorical trick. I would say we disagree again (your whole idea about leadership is short-sighted), but no need to be smacked down with the truth hammer.
Enjoy your week-end.
Sincerely,
James
I doesn’t matter whether you agree with it or not, it’s the truth. You aren’t just some random guy with a blog on the internet that people happen to chance upon or link to through friends. You are at 365gay.com. The same thing goes with all of the other contributors to 365gay.
Maybe you people do not realize this or what this place represents to many gay people out there. Don’t waste it or take it for granted, and especially don’t treat it like it’s just some place you were given a free account to blog at like blogspot.com for just some random personal musings that are of no real significance!
You don’t have to be given the title to be a leader, it’s by virtue of what you do!
Todd,
We are going to have to disagree on this. You are right. I do have a platform to ruminate, but the (in)ability to pound a keyboard does not make a leader. Sure I can speak my mind, but I have no illusions about my vision being a stand in for gays or blacks. And if I did, everyone here reading would have the right to clamor for a writer who suffered less hubris.
Sincerely,
James
“My opinion, if it counts for anything (and it really doesn’t)..”
Don’t be stupid, you are a contributing editor at 365gay.com and your writings are featured on the site!
Wake up and realize the position you have been afforded and voice you have been given..
This is like in a previous post when you mentioned you are not a leader in the gay community. Sorry Withers, you are by having the ability to speak your mind in regard to issues that affect gay people on a gay news site no less..
Bud,
I’m glad for your academic achievements. As for an honest opinion from an African-American gay man, I don’t play the diversity game. My opinion, if it counts for anything (and it really doesn’t), isn’t related to what minority box I can check. I’ve said many time here where I stand on homophobia, no matter who espouses it.
That probably doesn’t answer your question, but there you go.
Sincerely,
James
James:
I have a major in pipe organ and a minor in English from Oberlin College. I think my comprehension of the language is adequate, after two strokes.
I never said YOU said white people had no business commenting about African-American homophobia; but it HAS been said, and by African-Americans, both gay and non-gay, in these pages and elsewhere.
I was looking for an honest opinion from an African-American gay man; not a snark-fest.
Sincerely,
Bud
Bud,
I suggest you learn to read. Or your memory is shot because I’ve not made an argument that “white folks aren’t competent to comment” on homophobia in the black community.
Sincerely,
James
James:
Um, because of the inevitable charges of black homophobia, perhaps?
I seem to recall something to the effect that us white folks aren’t competent to comment on it, so …
Sincerely,
Bud
Bud,
And you want my comment on that news item for what reason?
Sincerely,
James
The Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP isn’t even paying LIP-SERVICE to equality.
James? Your comments on THAT?
Sincerely,
Bud
Good point, now let’s see if they will actually put their @sses on the line for us (while I hope so, I won’t hold my breath)