In the wake of recent news about the quickly emerging LGBT rights agenda, I have become increasingly troubled with the framing of the movement. As a young, Black woman, and not to speak for all Black women, I feel we have taken our eyes off what ultimately is vital for equality and empowerment of all LGBT citizens. My stance may make several people in the movement angry, but I feel it’s required to send a reality check.
Firstly, I would like to address the constant lashing of the Obama administration. While I agree that the president should be held accountable for his promises to the LGBT community, I think there are more pressing issues that he is lending his attention to. Frankly, I am elated that President Obama has come out in support for the LGBT community, both in his campaign and in his administration. I applaud him for the memorandum on domestic partner benefits, calling for a repeal of DOMA, DADT, and the passage of ENDA and DPBO and the hate crimes bill which passed in the Senate just yesterday. All of this, in just a few short months. If you “80s and before” babies will recall, it took Ronald Reagan until the seventh year of his presidency to even say the word AIDS. I think it’s safe to say Obama’s on our side. Criticizing him specifically is not helping us move forward.
The gay rights movement is unique because it encompasses all ages, genders, classes, and races like no other movement. This can be our greatest strength or our Achilles heel. We must consider all these social groups when deciding how to move forward and in numbering our priorities. By ignoring this fact we risk alienating our comrades and dissipating our solidarity.
This brings me to the topic of entitlement. As much as people want to disagree, the gay rights movement has been historically associated with white men, and lately, rich white men. Brace yourselves: The idea of a bunch of white men soap-boxing about how they’re being oppressed doesn’t look good. The badgering of the nation’s first Black president by a bunch of white men doesn’t look good either. If you hadn’t noticed, we live in the United States where there is a public and a counter-public, where race is embedded in our history, and where racism is still very prominent. We must be sensitive to that if we are to progress with all sectors united.
We cannot expect things to happen because we’re tired, or fed up. We cannot just throw money and complain that the president can’t snap his fingers and give us rights. The civil rights movement started almost fifty years ago; today there are still disparities in education, socio-economic classes, employment and wages. Congress just apologized for slavery last week, 150 years later. If we think for a second this fight will be won because of our huffiness, we deserve to lose the fight.
Marriage should not be our top priority; yes I said it, close your mouths. While it is very high up on our list of priorities it should not be the first. Say marriage is recognized federally tomorrow, great! That will directly and immediately benefit married couples. Out of the 30 million – I’m sure there’s more – reported LGBT citizens in this country, the percentage of married individuals is what, 20%? What does it do for LGBT youth who are homeless? What does it do to fight the AIDS epidemic among LGBT men & women? Does it stop someone from being fired from their job because they’re gay? Does it allow LGBT men and women to serve openly in the military? On a broader scale, does it provide an economy stable enough to allow a gay man or woman to start his/her own business? What does it do to open dialogue among LGBT people of color with their families? These are all questions the marriage issue will not answer.
Don’t think of me as anti-marriage, I want to be able to marry a partner of my choosing as much as anyone else; but right now, I think it’s more important that the children of today and my future children be able to go to school without the fear of being bullied; it’s more important that the future gay rights leaders have a home, and support and access to health care. It’s more important that we stop the Carl Walker-Hoovers of the world from contemplating/committing suicide. While fighting the good fight of marriage equality is a good thing and should be continued; I think we should spend less time badgering each other about an issue that will affect some of us and focus our strengths on issues that will immediately affect all of us.
We cannot expect one man, no matter what station he holds, to wave a magic wand and create utopia. The pressure we’re placing on President Obama should be redirected to congress; they are the lawmakers who represent us. Our voices should be released into the streets. We should be knocking on doors, engaging in dialogue with people who may not support us and winning them over. We must provide solidarity and unity among all groups that color our rainbow flag. We cannot risk ignoring, chastising or neglecting any of these groups, and we cannot afford to make enemies.
We must use the auspices of “Social Movement 2.0” to educate ourselves, to get the word out, and to empower each other. We must continue in the fight for marriage equality, but we must also recognize the bigger picture. We can learn a lot from past movements; it is important that we take advantage of the knowledge gathered from movements before us, and even more important that our work and vigilance leave a mark for our future.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
What The Prop 8 Decision Means for US
What the Prop 8 Ruling Means for US
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Yesterday was a big disappointment and setback for the state of California and the US. By upholding proposition 8, CA Supreme Court declared to the nation that if you have enough money, and can lie to/scare enough people, you can take away someone's rights by simple majority. The CA government stood behind bigots and fear-mongers in upholding a law that stripped rights from an entire group of people who, before Nov. 4th, had them. I have no doubts that there will be uproar in the gay community & in the communities of our allies. The anger, however, is only the beginning.
This presents an opportunity for education, framing and organizing in solidarity. This is where DC, especially, comes in. Instead of spending the next few months waxing and brooding over yesterday’s decision, we should take this opportunity, this slap backwards, to mobilize; we must ask ourselves, "What can we learn?"
Social movements and struggles have historically, and for the most part, been fueled by an expressed indignation. People, who collectively decide to stand against oppression, have a unifying rallying call directly related to the principal fight. This indignation, however, is also the reason most social movements end up dissipating. The way a social movement is framed will determine whether it is one of lasting tenacity or is a short explosion where the flames quickly die out.
One of the protestors decreed last night, “We must stay angry”. It is the fuel which ignites our passions. This ruling has granted us an opportunity to ask ourselves some tough questions, re-evaluate our framing and move forward to a certain success.
Firstly, we must confront some of the flaws in the foundation of our movement. The gay rights movement has been historically associated as a “White Man’s Movement.” This needs to change first and foremost. Those minorities who are out and active in the community need to reach out to their peers, friends and families, share their stories and ask for their support. LGBT minorities need to come out! Of course with minorities, coming out is a sensitive and sometimes dangerous step. The responsibility falls on the LBGT community to provide support and safe space for those on the threshold.
We must also continue to be inclusive in other areas; we are not a separate entity of the transgender community so we must make their fight our own. The movement must be restructured to include people from all races, age groups, classes and genders. We are making some strides with that here in DC. Michael Crawford, president of DC for Marriage and a Black man, has gone to great lengths in the community and made great progress. I applaud Mr. Crawford on his hard work and look forward to the progress we, in the DC community, can make in the future.
We must educate ourselves in the process of educating others. There have been several, well-framed, social movements in the past. We must study them, modify them and adapt their strategies and tactics for our own. We must consult other seasoned social activists on how we can improve. We must also recognize that we can not be narcissistic in our approach. Marriage is just a small part of a much bigger struggle for equal rights; we must strive to be humanitarian first, activist second. The Black Panther Party, before it’s destruction by the Hoover era FBI, fed more children in ten weeks than the government did in ten months. They stood for equal rights for all, not just blacks. In fact, they have a specific clause which proclaims a zero-tolerance stance on discrimination against homosexuals. We could learn a lot from movements like this, we need only pick up a book.
This goes without saying, but we all must master the web 2.0 tools and resources. Yesterday, word about the DuPont protest lit up local “tweeter’s” homepages, Facebook/MySpace profiles and blogs; I believe it was a big reason why there were over 400 people present on a rainy night. We must utilize these tools to aid us in achieving the ultimate social guise, solidarity.
This practice of solidarity will promote unwavering success in the face of great adversity. The movement itself flourishes only because it involves the human condition. The right for our love to be equally acknowledged under the law is not just a talking point, it’s our American dream. We have to humble ourselves in the face of opposition; if we continue to polarize and separate ourselves from our enemies, we will be no more or less separatist than they are. Remember, although our journey will work out in history as a step forward in social progress, both sides hold firm the belief that they fight for righteousness sake. If we cannot agree with our opponents on the right to marry, perhaps we can join forces on something we do agree on.
For example, we can stand together with the Christian right to combat poverty, another pressing issue in the world, especially with the economic downturn. And although they are against “us” as a people, perhaps coming together with them to tackle a universal problem will allow them to see the true faces of the movement, to associate an actual life with what’s at stake, and perhaps change their minds. All this made possible while also doing a good deed.
We must continue to hold flame under our representatives. This country voted in a “left-of-center” congress and they deserve to reap the rewards. They are not in office to shore up their vote for a new term, cater to corporate lobbyists, or impress an interested “investor”. They sit in the halls of congress to make laws based on the will of the people and the people want serious democratic changes. It is not President Obama’s job to hold them accountable, it is our job.
In closing, let us take this set back as rather an opportunity to move forward. Equality will win in the end; it is up to us how soon that end will be. Let us be smarter, stronger, vigilant, and level headed, together. We have the power to shape our own destinies; we need only join enough hands to shape the mold.
In Solidarity,
Jamelle Thomas
P.S. Here is a list of all of my tweets from last night; enjoy!
INDC: Michael Crawford from DC for marriage & the president of EQ Maryland are here already.
INDC: Crowd is at 250 Thalia was just on fox B roll lol
INDC: DuPont is packed! & I'm short so the amount of ppl escapes me
INDC: Willow from Join the Impact speaking about Nov protests. Equal rights now!
INDC: Willow "Our community is strongest when we stand together"
INDC: it's great to see religious & clergy members here tonight!
INDC: Willow “There are over a hundred organized events across the country”
INDC: Dana Beyer, president of EQ MD speaking now.
INDC: Beyer: "it is now our responsibility to make pres. Obama & Dems (pass equal rights)!"
INDC: Lativa, pres of National Org Women, DC, "We have to be for ALL women"
INDC: Lativa "We are not going to be silent, and we are not going to be moderate"
INDC: Rev.Laurie McPherson speaking now.
INDC: McPherson "To my brothers & sisters in the cloth who are against [equal rights], you do not speak for me & you do not speak for God"
INDC: McPherson "If any clergy member tells you you're not a child of God, their collar isn't worth the twenty-five cents they paid for it"
INDC: Phil Mendelson, DC Council member, speaking now
INDC: Mendelson "we're going to keep the momentum going"
INDC: Rev. Cheeks speaking
INDC: Cheeks "Next Tuesday, there will be clergy members coming to dc in support of same-gender marriage"
INDC: Cheeks "They need to understand, we're not going away! If we cook the food, we're sitting @ the table"
INDC: Marta Every, straight ally, local leader of courage campaign, speaking now
INDC: Every "go to www.couragecampaign.org, watch the video Fidelity”.
INDC: Michael Crawford for DC for Marriage about to speak.
INDC: Crawford "National Organizations from every part of the country have come out in unprecedented numbers"
INDC: Crawford "When they come at us with lies, we will come at them with openness & honesty"
INDC: Leslie, no political affiliation, speaking now
INDC: Leslie "No matter how many names the Christian 'Wrong' call us, we have what they'll never have, social progress"
INDC: Leslie "we rally because we are here to say Equal Rights Now!"
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Yesterday was a big disappointment and setback for the state of California and the US. By upholding proposition 8, CA Supreme Court declared to the nation that if you have enough money, and can lie to/scare enough people, you can take away someone's rights by simple majority. The CA government stood behind bigots and fear-mongers in upholding a law that stripped rights from an entire group of people who, before Nov. 4th, had them. I have no doubts that there will be uproar in the gay community & in the communities of our allies. The anger, however, is only the beginning.
This presents an opportunity for education, framing and organizing in solidarity. This is where DC, especially, comes in. Instead of spending the next few months waxing and brooding over yesterday’s decision, we should take this opportunity, this slap backwards, to mobilize; we must ask ourselves, "What can we learn?"
Social movements and struggles have historically, and for the most part, been fueled by an expressed indignation. People, who collectively decide to stand against oppression, have a unifying rallying call directly related to the principal fight. This indignation, however, is also the reason most social movements end up dissipating. The way a social movement is framed will determine whether it is one of lasting tenacity or is a short explosion where the flames quickly die out.
One of the protestors decreed last night, “We must stay angry”. It is the fuel which ignites our passions. This ruling has granted us an opportunity to ask ourselves some tough questions, re-evaluate our framing and move forward to a certain success.
Firstly, we must confront some of the flaws in the foundation of our movement. The gay rights movement has been historically associated as a “White Man’s Movement.” This needs to change first and foremost. Those minorities who are out and active in the community need to reach out to their peers, friends and families, share their stories and ask for their support. LGBT minorities need to come out! Of course with minorities, coming out is a sensitive and sometimes dangerous step. The responsibility falls on the LBGT community to provide support and safe space for those on the threshold.
We must also continue to be inclusive in other areas; we are not a separate entity of the transgender community so we must make their fight our own. The movement must be restructured to include people from all races, age groups, classes and genders. We are making some strides with that here in DC. Michael Crawford, president of DC for Marriage and a Black man, has gone to great lengths in the community and made great progress. I applaud Mr. Crawford on his hard work and look forward to the progress we, in the DC community, can make in the future.
We must educate ourselves in the process of educating others. There have been several, well-framed, social movements in the past. We must study them, modify them and adapt their strategies and tactics for our own. We must consult other seasoned social activists on how we can improve. We must also recognize that we can not be narcissistic in our approach. Marriage is just a small part of a much bigger struggle for equal rights; we must strive to be humanitarian first, activist second. The Black Panther Party, before it’s destruction by the Hoover era FBI, fed more children in ten weeks than the government did in ten months. They stood for equal rights for all, not just blacks. In fact, they have a specific clause which proclaims a zero-tolerance stance on discrimination against homosexuals. We could learn a lot from movements like this, we need only pick up a book.
This goes without saying, but we all must master the web 2.0 tools and resources. Yesterday, word about the DuPont protest lit up local “tweeter’s” homepages, Facebook/MySpace profiles and blogs; I believe it was a big reason why there were over 400 people present on a rainy night. We must utilize these tools to aid us in achieving the ultimate social guise, solidarity.
This practice of solidarity will promote unwavering success in the face of great adversity. The movement itself flourishes only because it involves the human condition. The right for our love to be equally acknowledged under the law is not just a talking point, it’s our American dream. We have to humble ourselves in the face of opposition; if we continue to polarize and separate ourselves from our enemies, we will be no more or less separatist than they are. Remember, although our journey will work out in history as a step forward in social progress, both sides hold firm the belief that they fight for righteousness sake. If we cannot agree with our opponents on the right to marry, perhaps we can join forces on something we do agree on.
For example, we can stand together with the Christian right to combat poverty, another pressing issue in the world, especially with the economic downturn. And although they are against “us” as a people, perhaps coming together with them to tackle a universal problem will allow them to see the true faces of the movement, to associate an actual life with what’s at stake, and perhaps change their minds. All this made possible while also doing a good deed.
We must continue to hold flame under our representatives. This country voted in a “left-of-center” congress and they deserve to reap the rewards. They are not in office to shore up their vote for a new term, cater to corporate lobbyists, or impress an interested “investor”. They sit in the halls of congress to make laws based on the will of the people and the people want serious democratic changes. It is not President Obama’s job to hold them accountable, it is our job.
In closing, let us take this set back as rather an opportunity to move forward. Equality will win in the end; it is up to us how soon that end will be. Let us be smarter, stronger, vigilant, and level headed, together. We have the power to shape our own destinies; we need only join enough hands to shape the mold.
In Solidarity,
Jamelle Thomas
P.S. Here is a list of all of my tweets from last night; enjoy!
INDC: Michael Crawford from DC for marriage & the president of EQ Maryland are here already.
INDC: Crowd is at 250 Thalia was just on fox B roll lol
INDC: DuPont is packed! & I'm short so the amount of ppl escapes me
INDC: Willow from Join the Impact speaking about Nov protests. Equal rights now!
INDC: Willow "Our community is strongest when we stand together"
INDC: it's great to see religious & clergy members here tonight!
INDC: Willow “There are over a hundred organized events across the country”
INDC: Dana Beyer, president of EQ MD speaking now.
INDC: Beyer: "it is now our responsibility to make pres. Obama & Dems (pass equal rights)!"
INDC: Lativa, pres of National Org Women, DC, "We have to be for ALL women"
INDC: Lativa "We are not going to be silent, and we are not going to be moderate"
INDC: Rev.Laurie McPherson speaking now.
INDC: McPherson "To my brothers & sisters in the cloth who are against [equal rights], you do not speak for me & you do not speak for God"
INDC: McPherson "If any clergy member tells you you're not a child of God, their collar isn't worth the twenty-five cents they paid for it"
INDC: Phil Mendelson, DC Council member, speaking now
INDC: Mendelson "we're going to keep the momentum going"
INDC: Rev. Cheeks speaking
INDC: Cheeks "Next Tuesday, there will be clergy members coming to dc in support of same-gender marriage"
INDC: Cheeks "They need to understand, we're not going away! If we cook the food, we're sitting @ the table"
INDC: Marta Every, straight ally, local leader of courage campaign, speaking now
INDC: Every "go to www.couragecampaign.org, watch the video Fidelity”.
INDC: Michael Crawford for DC for Marriage about to speak.
INDC: Crawford "National Organizations from every part of the country have come out in unprecedented numbers"
INDC: Crawford "When they come at us with lies, we will come at them with openness & honesty"
INDC: Leslie, no political affiliation, speaking now
INDC: Leslie "No matter how many names the Christian 'Wrong' call us, we have what they'll never have, social progress"
INDC: Leslie "we rally because we are here to say Equal Rights Now!"
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Equal Rights Through a Different Lens
One of the most fascinating aspects of society, I find, is the ability for people to act rationally. It seems that the most intellectual and intelligent people are capable of arguing any given topic rationally. Once religion or their belief system is introduced, however, they lose that ability. There are people walking around with doctorates who sound like they barely have a grade school education.
I offer them a scenario, listen up DC Black People - who according to Marion Barry are all straight, bible-thumping, anti-gay activists. You say that it is your moral duty to prevent equal rights? That, by your standards/belief system, homosexuality is an abomination and thus by preventing equal protection under the law you are doing God's work? May I offer some points of logic?
1. Do you agree that there are other people in the world who either believe something different than you or believe nothing at all?
2. If yes, then is it your assertion that they should be governed by your beliefs? And if so, does that then give them unequivocal opportunity to govern you?
3. If extreme environmentalism was the predominate perception shared by a majority and they wanted to enact a law to stop the use of automobiles, would you support that bill? They would still allow you to drive your cars, but only when no one was looking, perhaps just in the woods. Any other use or visibility would be severely sanctioned.
4. Assuming the former hypothetical scenario sounded absurd, do you agree that such a law would affect your ability to prosper, that it would hinder your livelihood, your ability to secure the "American Dream?"
5. If you can concur with the above four items, then why is it so difficult for you to even remotely qualify the argument for equal rights? Why are you, as thinking individuals, unable to rationalize the supposed "LGBT Agenda" as nothing more than a pejorative label intent solely on marginalizing a community? Why can't you see that LGBT families are only looking to secure their right to prosper, maintain their livelihood, their ability to secure the "American Dream?" Is it your assertion that it will somehow deprive you of your rights?
6. You can read, can't you? Has it ever occurred to you to look up HR 1913 and see that it protects against violent acts and does not infringe on your right to free speech or religion or any other guarantor of the first amendment?
7. Is your view of the world so jaded that the idea of your child learning about different families makes you associate tolerance practices with LGBT recruiting? Really, you would go that far? You have every right to teach your child that you don't agree with Heather having two mommies, but that doesn't mean that your child has license to taunt Heather everyday, thus depriving her of her equal right to an education.
8. Do you not agree that equal protection legislation might have helped fund stricter anti-bullying programs in schools; that it may have prevented two 11-year-old boys from taking their life? Does the idea that a child feeling like he had no other option, not sadden you?
9. Statistically, countries, and even states, who have enacted equal protection laws see a drop in hate crimes. People are being educated.
10. Equal rights and equal protection are as vital to the livelihood of LGBT people as yours are to you. Regardless of your personal beliefs, it is illogical to assert your ideals should govern the rights of others. The first amendment protects our choice of religion and also protects us from religion. Your moral debate should go on in your homes, and not in the halls of congress.
Just another look at your glorious equal rights debate, that shouldn't be a debate at all.
I offer them a scenario, listen up DC Black People - who according to Marion Barry are all straight, bible-thumping, anti-gay activists. You say that it is your moral duty to prevent equal rights? That, by your standards/belief system, homosexuality is an abomination and thus by preventing equal protection under the law you are doing God's work? May I offer some points of logic?
1. Do you agree that there are other people in the world who either believe something different than you or believe nothing at all?
2. If yes, then is it your assertion that they should be governed by your beliefs? And if so, does that then give them unequivocal opportunity to govern you?
3. If extreme environmentalism was the predominate perception shared by a majority and they wanted to enact a law to stop the use of automobiles, would you support that bill? They would still allow you to drive your cars, but only when no one was looking, perhaps just in the woods. Any other use or visibility would be severely sanctioned.
4. Assuming the former hypothetical scenario sounded absurd, do you agree that such a law would affect your ability to prosper, that it would hinder your livelihood, your ability to secure the "American Dream?"
5. If you can concur with the above four items, then why is it so difficult for you to even remotely qualify the argument for equal rights? Why are you, as thinking individuals, unable to rationalize the supposed "LGBT Agenda" as nothing more than a pejorative label intent solely on marginalizing a community? Why can't you see that LGBT families are only looking to secure their right to prosper, maintain their livelihood, their ability to secure the "American Dream?" Is it your assertion that it will somehow deprive you of your rights?
6. You can read, can't you? Has it ever occurred to you to look up HR 1913 and see that it protects against violent acts and does not infringe on your right to free speech or religion or any other guarantor of the first amendment?
7. Is your view of the world so jaded that the idea of your child learning about different families makes you associate tolerance practices with LGBT recruiting? Really, you would go that far? You have every right to teach your child that you don't agree with Heather having two mommies, but that doesn't mean that your child has license to taunt Heather everyday, thus depriving her of her equal right to an education.
8. Do you not agree that equal protection legislation might have helped fund stricter anti-bullying programs in schools; that it may have prevented two 11-year-old boys from taking their life? Does the idea that a child feeling like he had no other option, not sadden you?
9. Statistically, countries, and even states, who have enacted equal protection laws see a drop in hate crimes. People are being educated.
10. Equal rights and equal protection are as vital to the livelihood of LGBT people as yours are to you. Regardless of your personal beliefs, it is illogical to assert your ideals should govern the rights of others. The first amendment protects our choice of religion and also protects us from religion. Your moral debate should go on in your homes, and not in the halls of congress.
Just another look at your glorious equal rights debate, that shouldn't be a debate at all.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
How Many More? A Republican Disgust
On any given day, I can typically argue a policy point on logic alone without inserting any personal feelings. Today, however, I feel compelled to share my feelings on the actions taken by a select group of republican congressmen on the Matthew Shepard Act. It sickens and disgusts me that anyone would possess the audacity to seek to limit or make a mockery of a bill that could very well help prevent violent, bias-motivated crime. Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Congressman Steve King (R-IA) sought to stall hate crime legislation in congress by proposing asinine amendments and changes in nomenclature. Gohmert & King, who have been quoted as against all hate crimes legislation, introduced specious amendments to protect “immutable characteristics” such as eye color, hair color - or lack thereof - to the classes covered by the bill in order to make a mockery of the legislation’s purpose to protect actual targeted minorities from hate violence. – HRC Backstory.
In the wake of not one, but two recent suicides of children because of bullying, how can you not take this bill seriously? How can you possibly make a mockery of hate crimes legislation when people are being brutally murdered with fire extinguishers or shot in the head, or robbed, tortured and left to die alone in a field? How many more kids need to commit suicide before you realize that your government bid is not equal to a human life? It is baffling to me that people think their “moral values” somehow give them license to leave minority groups unprotected. You may not agree with homosexuality, but does that mean people should be able to beat LGBT people to a pulp? Is it okay to kill a “perceived” LGBT citizen because they’re immoral in your eyes? What about black people? A little over 40 years ago, racism was a social norm, was it okay, then, for a group of white men to rape and kill a little black girl on the way home from school? What will future generations, those who will most likely see a more equal world, think of your ideals, Congressmen? Why is it so hard for you to get past all the religious, bible-thumping smut and see that whether you like it or not, LGBT people exist and they deserve to be protected like every other American citizen?
The minute an LGBT issue arises, people play the child card. “My children will have to learn that homosexuality is okay”. The fact that this argument is recycled from when schools were desegregated doesn’t change the counter-argument. Adults let their cynical minds get in the way of rationality. Firstly, there are very few schools that actually teach about “marriage” itself. It’s not something kids need to know about at age 3. What they do teach is tolerance; it helps children to interpret the world around them. The idea of right and wrong has no bearing on actuality, and frankly, if children are taught that some families have one dad and some have two, it can only stand to help them become tolerant of people who are different from them. People hear this and think, “I don’t want my kid learning about that.” But what’s so wrong with teaching a child that not everybody is the same, and that we should respect each other’s differences even when we do not agree. Maybe a review of the different types of American families can potentially stop a child from torturing someone who happens to have two moms, or two dads. After all, children learn to poke fun and ridicule differences from none other than their parents. So, Congressmen, can children be tortured, relentlessly, to the point of suicide, all while teachers and administrators turn a blind eye? What needs to happen for you to realize that this is not a joke? People are dying over ignorance and it has nothing to do with anyone’s “agenda”. The Hate Crimes Legislation Bill is ten years overdue; all the while tens of thousands of people have been targeted and brutalized because someone thought it was cool or funny, or their duty under “God’s Will.” It is disgusting that people let their ideology blind them into refusing simple humanity for others. It especially baffles me that people stand behind Christianity-the alleged religion of love-to justify the endorsement of hate and discrimination. How dare you tell someone that they are less of a human being because they don’t believe what you believe? How can you close your eyes to the violence that impacts LGBT families every day? You, Congressmen, and those who support your opinions, are vile, loathsome, detestable human beings and I am absolutely comfortable generalizing all of you with regards to this topic. Wake up!
In the wake of not one, but two recent suicides of children because of bullying, how can you not take this bill seriously? How can you possibly make a mockery of hate crimes legislation when people are being brutally murdered with fire extinguishers or shot in the head, or robbed, tortured and left to die alone in a field? How many more kids need to commit suicide before you realize that your government bid is not equal to a human life? It is baffling to me that people think their “moral values” somehow give them license to leave minority groups unprotected. You may not agree with homosexuality, but does that mean people should be able to beat LGBT people to a pulp? Is it okay to kill a “perceived” LGBT citizen because they’re immoral in your eyes? What about black people? A little over 40 years ago, racism was a social norm, was it okay, then, for a group of white men to rape and kill a little black girl on the way home from school? What will future generations, those who will most likely see a more equal world, think of your ideals, Congressmen? Why is it so hard for you to get past all the religious, bible-thumping smut and see that whether you like it or not, LGBT people exist and they deserve to be protected like every other American citizen?
The minute an LGBT issue arises, people play the child card. “My children will have to learn that homosexuality is okay”. The fact that this argument is recycled from when schools were desegregated doesn’t change the counter-argument. Adults let their cynical minds get in the way of rationality. Firstly, there are very few schools that actually teach about “marriage” itself. It’s not something kids need to know about at age 3. What they do teach is tolerance; it helps children to interpret the world around them. The idea of right and wrong has no bearing on actuality, and frankly, if children are taught that some families have one dad and some have two, it can only stand to help them become tolerant of people who are different from them. People hear this and think, “I don’t want my kid learning about that.” But what’s so wrong with teaching a child that not everybody is the same, and that we should respect each other’s differences even when we do not agree. Maybe a review of the different types of American families can potentially stop a child from torturing someone who happens to have two moms, or two dads. After all, children learn to poke fun and ridicule differences from none other than their parents. So, Congressmen, can children be tortured, relentlessly, to the point of suicide, all while teachers and administrators turn a blind eye? What needs to happen for you to realize that this is not a joke? People are dying over ignorance and it has nothing to do with anyone’s “agenda”. The Hate Crimes Legislation Bill is ten years overdue; all the while tens of thousands of people have been targeted and brutalized because someone thought it was cool or funny, or their duty under “God’s Will.” It is disgusting that people let their ideology blind them into refusing simple humanity for others. It especially baffles me that people stand behind Christianity-the alleged religion of love-to justify the endorsement of hate and discrimination. How dare you tell someone that they are less of a human being because they don’t believe what you believe? How can you close your eyes to the violence that impacts LGBT families every day? You, Congressmen, and those who support your opinions, are vile, loathsome, detestable human beings and I am absolutely comfortable generalizing all of you with regards to this topic. Wake up!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Why Our Children Need to Know
It seems odd that someone like myself, a generation X twenty-something, would discuss a topic such as this. I assure you that this blog, in no way, attempts to profess my mastery in child-rearing; rather, it will address significance in youth education in both foresight and retrospect.
With the fast-moving 21st century cycle of news and information, people have infinite sources from which to draw. If you’ll recall, my previous blog on education discussed the lack of literary prowess in school curriculum. In this blog, I feel it necessary to discuss the lack of historical significance in the public school curriculum.
Yesterday, America inaugurated the first African-American president in front of an estimated 1.5 million people, I being one of them. Walking back with the masses toward the subways, I pondered several different theories. For the past eight years, we have been in a slump; our education has dwindled, our morale has taken a nose dive and our reputation around the world has been greatly tarnished. Yesterday marked both a turning point and a huge opportunity to help our newly elected president and representatives restore America to its rightful place. One place that should begin is in our schools.
America, with all its faults, has one of the greatest historical accounts in the history of civilization. Unfortunately, this has been watered down and proselytized before delivered to our public schools. Accounts from the different cultures that make up America have all been relegated to one-month-out-of-the-year mini-lessons instead of integrated into standard curriculum. Theories on why these have been left out, or rather have been included “affirmative-action style” can stem all the way back to the early 17th century.
Regardless of the reason for the oversight, the reality is crippling. My point being, if children were educated like other countries, with a rich history of their nation and others – including the good and the bad, we would have adults who are less complacent and more active in their government. Yes, America’s history is very short compared to several other countries, but our achievements and accomplishments saturate the small end of the timeline where we reside.
Perhaps omitting certain historical accounts served as a vehicle for those in power to hold steady the hand of marginalization over those it shadowed. I’ve heard so many people talking about how President Obama’s administration will do so much for the African-American youth by setting an example of the potential all of us possess. But what if the cultural legacies of all who inhabited the United States since its birth, were included in the rich history lessons of grade school? What if the lives of the Little Rock Nine were included in the everyday lessons of middle school children? What if the accomplishments of 19 year-old Mexican-American activist Carlos Montes were taught to high school students, or memoirs from Bobby Seale or Huey Newton were addressed on a history final? In fact, if the adolescent history of the country were juxtaposed with the stories of all its youthful pioneers, would the idea of an African American president be so far-fetched? If American children were immersed in the rich history of where we have been and how far we have come, would the glass ceilings be so thick?
It is said that Obama’s victory cemented him as a role model for African-American youth and there is no doubt about that. But what we should look at, while taking a step forward, is revitalizing education so that the students who graduate tomorrow will have a solid pride in their country and their culture. Frankly, the idea that there has to be a Black history and a Mexican history and an Asian history, is and should be found, ridiculous. These stories, milestones, defeats and achievements are an integral part of American history. They serve as the spine and foundation of our country; regardless of the transgressions they make up American DNA. Yes, the American story may be a sobering one, but its fabric binds us together.
In the days ahead, what we face is a long journey up a steep hill. But we have been here before. Ordinary people, often young in age, have faced these kinds of mountains and they have reached the summit over and over again. By bestowing upon our youth the history of American ingenuity, we give them both a hammer and a leg up toward the glass ceiling. By canvassing both America’s tribulations and achievements, we can sustain them with the idea that we are and have always been greater than our lesser ideals. By highlighting the impact of ordinary people to endeavor upon extraordinary things we instill in our youth a lingering responsibility to live up to their predecessors, to take interest in our government and to feel entitled to their rights, their liberty and their prosperity.
With the fast-moving 21st century cycle of news and information, people have infinite sources from which to draw. If you’ll recall, my previous blog on education discussed the lack of literary prowess in school curriculum. In this blog, I feel it necessary to discuss the lack of historical significance in the public school curriculum.
Yesterday, America inaugurated the first African-American president in front of an estimated 1.5 million people, I being one of them. Walking back with the masses toward the subways, I pondered several different theories. For the past eight years, we have been in a slump; our education has dwindled, our morale has taken a nose dive and our reputation around the world has been greatly tarnished. Yesterday marked both a turning point and a huge opportunity to help our newly elected president and representatives restore America to its rightful place. One place that should begin is in our schools.
America, with all its faults, has one of the greatest historical accounts in the history of civilization. Unfortunately, this has been watered down and proselytized before delivered to our public schools. Accounts from the different cultures that make up America have all been relegated to one-month-out-of-the-year mini-lessons instead of integrated into standard curriculum. Theories on why these have been left out, or rather have been included “affirmative-action style” can stem all the way back to the early 17th century.
Regardless of the reason for the oversight, the reality is crippling. My point being, if children were educated like other countries, with a rich history of their nation and others – including the good and the bad, we would have adults who are less complacent and more active in their government. Yes, America’s history is very short compared to several other countries, but our achievements and accomplishments saturate the small end of the timeline where we reside.
Perhaps omitting certain historical accounts served as a vehicle for those in power to hold steady the hand of marginalization over those it shadowed. I’ve heard so many people talking about how President Obama’s administration will do so much for the African-American youth by setting an example of the potential all of us possess. But what if the cultural legacies of all who inhabited the United States since its birth, were included in the rich history lessons of grade school? What if the lives of the Little Rock Nine were included in the everyday lessons of middle school children? What if the accomplishments of 19 year-old Mexican-American activist Carlos Montes were taught to high school students, or memoirs from Bobby Seale or Huey Newton were addressed on a history final? In fact, if the adolescent history of the country were juxtaposed with the stories of all its youthful pioneers, would the idea of an African American president be so far-fetched? If American children were immersed in the rich history of where we have been and how far we have come, would the glass ceilings be so thick?
It is said that Obama’s victory cemented him as a role model for African-American youth and there is no doubt about that. But what we should look at, while taking a step forward, is revitalizing education so that the students who graduate tomorrow will have a solid pride in their country and their culture. Frankly, the idea that there has to be a Black history and a Mexican history and an Asian history, is and should be found, ridiculous. These stories, milestones, defeats and achievements are an integral part of American history. They serve as the spine and foundation of our country; regardless of the transgressions they make up American DNA. Yes, the American story may be a sobering one, but its fabric binds us together.
In the days ahead, what we face is a long journey up a steep hill. But we have been here before. Ordinary people, often young in age, have faced these kinds of mountains and they have reached the summit over and over again. By bestowing upon our youth the history of American ingenuity, we give them both a hammer and a leg up toward the glass ceiling. By canvassing both America’s tribulations and achievements, we can sustain them with the idea that we are and have always been greater than our lesser ideals. By highlighting the impact of ordinary people to endeavor upon extraordinary things we instill in our youth a lingering responsibility to live up to their predecessors, to take interest in our government and to feel entitled to their rights, their liberty and their prosperity.
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