Comments | envirobear: STOP THE HYPERVENTILATING!!

envirobear

STOP THE HYPERVENTILATING!!

Jun 13, 2009 08:32

Last night, furrbear steered me to a raging discussion flying around about President Obama and a Justice Department filing on DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)...mostly based on extremely poor reporting and intentional flaming by John Aravosis' "Americablog" (no, I'm not providing a link to something that would not have gotten a passing mark on content and ( Read more... )

Comments 22

holy13nation June 13 2009, 15:45:28 UTC

If I'm correct, I have watched this unfold. from the vantage point of being a foreigner, and was startled and saddened at the anger focussed inwards and how quickly a group of grown men with the same abiding desires and beliefs can be split so vehemently. It cannot be good. Though immensely pleasing to the bigoted maniacs responsible for all the hatred in the first place.

envirobear June 13 2009, 19:42:56 UTC

You are absolutely correct on your observations, my friend...on all counts. In the rush to pass judgement on the speed and verity of Obama's agenda, many in the GLBT community fail to recognize that actions on policies and legislation important to organized labor, to environmentalists, to small family farms, and to many other interest groups have also taken a back seat to more broadly critical and immediate needs like the economy, national security, and completion of staffing of the Administration. It's easy to find fault and easy to assume that a new president can snap his fingers to make things happen...patience and a desire for real competence seem to be in short supply in our brave new one-click world.

snousle June 13 2009, 15:55:30 UTC

I've been extremely busy lately and not following this closely so I don't have an opinion beyond noting that the brief did seem to contain unnecessarily inflammatory language that is hard to explain.

But I have to agree in being disappointed by the politics of the gay community of late - its reactionary nature and general lack of deep understanding. I've been subject to some abuse myself because I disapprove of the way the gay marriage issue is being framed and because I believe current tactics are demonstrably counterproductive.

However, I have come to the conclusion that in this context of overblown rhetoric and groupthink, my opinions are irrelevant, and that there is no hope of influencing the situation. So I have turned my attention to other things.

Nowadays I treat politics like the weather. I look at the forecast, but I don't bother with rain dances.

envirobear June 13 2009, 20:06:34 UTC

You have been busy...and very creative and productive lately, Tony (seeing your posts makes me salivate like Pavlov's dogs...*GRIN*). We seem to share the same perspective on the politics of the gay community...its reactionary nature and general lack of deep understanding...I'm reminded of a kid at a county fair who sees *PONIES* and wants one, too...and who won't let up, despite the problems of "Where will you keep it? Are you going to get up at 5:00 a.m. to feed and groom it? Give up vacations to stay home and take care of it? Will you use your allowance and get a real job to pay for feed and for vet bills? Will you shovel up the horse shit and keep it in your bedroom? Is there enough room for it to exercise in the back yard?" Our community seems to know that it WANTS, and wants NOW!!! but doesn't put much thought into the "how's" or the "why's", and is frequently an utter failure in connecting the dots for itself--let alone in doing so for those who we NEED to have on our side ( ... )

snousle June 13 2009, 20:20:13 UTC

I guess I am practical. It has occurred to me that my attitude towards gay marriage is sort of like the local attitude towards building permits - build it first and call the county inspector later!

Will you shovel up the horse shit and keep it in your bedroom?

Um... you make it sound like that's a bad thing? ;-)

envirobear June 13 2009, 21:50:19 UTC

LOL...I had a thought that you might appreciate the pony analogy... ;)

... dorisduke June 13 2009, 17:00:00 UTC

I agree with you ( ... )

Re: ... envirobear June 13 2009, 22:38:12 UTC

It's so good to have you among my friends, and equally good to see your comments--welcome ( ... )

Re: ... dorisduke June 14 2009, 06:55:00 UTC

Thanks for the Welcome.

bradferd23 June 13 2009, 19:00:13 UTC

You did much better summarizing my thoughts. Thanks!

envirobear June 13 2009, 21:54:05 UTC

I thought you said it very well in Ian's journal! :)

bradferd23 June 13 2009, 23:21:00 UTC

It all is quite amazing what one blog can do to rile people up.

envirobear June 13 2009, 23:32:49 UTC

Indeed it is! The right-wingers are rolling in the aisles laughing about this....I'm afraid that we have a LOT of people who never learned that one doesn't complain too much about what music the driver is playing when you're hitching a ride 20 miles from town on a lonely road in the middle of a snowstorm....

furr_a_bruin June 13 2009, 20:47:47 UTC

A meta remark - it appears that essentially all of bear_left's journal is friendslocked, including the post you attempt to link to.

envirobear June 13 2009, 21:51:59 UTC

He gave me a new link which I repaired in the post...it's http://bearleft.blogspot.com/2009/06/dont-moan-organize.html