Yes, as counter-intuitive as it may seem, bigoted rallies and hate-filled fliers are an improvement. They never used to have to do things like that. It's a losing battle. So even the things we are disappointed in (or angered by) are a sign of the changing times. :-)
I agree, ray. I remember the KKK marching in Skokie (a nearby surburb that has a significant Jewish population). A long time ago, but within my lifetime. It got lots of attention but changed absolutely nothing --- well, certainly not in the direction the KKK were hoping for. If anything, my guess is that it galvanized people on the other side.
When there was a protest at the...San Jose (?)...Idol concert the other night people I talk to were mad. But it was somewhere between 2 and 6 people who were actually protesting.
And it had a nice result, in a way. One of the finalists who's on the tour is sort of a good ol boy from Texas. (He was a roughneck on for an oil company until just before he auditioned.) He Tweeted his disappointment in the protest and his support for Adam several times that night. It was cute. He was like, "It's funny that people think they can mess with me and my friends...We are a strong family." :-)
Ray's got a definite point. They have to get loud, because they're simply not being heard like before. You know, over the din and roar of the Adam-love. ;-)
Of course, now I'm dying to know what the counselor's names are.
I would imagine these Westboro protests will be louder and better attended than the pathetic showing at the protest the other night...and yes, it does seem very desperate. And calculated for maximum offense, cause that's how they get press.
Of course, now I'm dying to know what the counselor's names are.
I'll email you. ;-)
As if they would actually be on my LJ! Ha. I guess it's just my instinct to change names to protect the...adorable.)
This is how it happened with racism, for women's rights, any with any other form of bigotry you can name. Each generation is just a bit more enlightened than the last.
As I said, I am almost disappointed that the WBC will not be spewing their silliness at our concert in September. I want to see them the way you want to see an elderly celebrity because who knows if you'll ever have the chance again?
I'm also tickled that a couple of young British men listen to Johnny Cash.
Here is the thing about Westboro and the attendance issue, there are, from what I remember, like maybe two dozen members of the church entirely, most of whom are blood relations who all live together in a subdivision. What kind of religious freaks don't even have a proper compound? Oh, and the two dozen includes kids and babies.
Anyway, the most of them that have ever shown up for a protest is about fifteen. And they don't even get along with other crazy extremist groups so they can't join up to make a proper showing. They manage to make a lot of noise and get a lot of attention by being so fucking on the edge they make even every day bigots feel uncomfortable. In that way I feel they are offering a valuable service.
Seriously, these people may be hurtful, but they are so pitiful too that I kind of enjoy them as bad American street theater.
Ha. Love that. You are especially funny today, Al.
Was it Westboro who protested that production in RF of The Laramie Project last year? Remember, where the students response was a silent demonstration in the form of a peace sign? (Such a nice picture I thought.)
Oh I love this story months later. Thank you for inviting me here.
Maybe you might be inspired as I was by these words from the Right Reverend Gene Robinson to my GLBT and Allies choir . He told us about visiting the civil rights museum in Memphis opposite the Lorraine motel where MLK, JR was assassinated. There is a statue there apparently which shows this spiral towards justice with civil rights leaders climbing upwards on the shoulders of those who came before. He told us we too were part of an historic struggle and then he said something like this (paraphrased by my far less eloquent memory): "We are going to win this struggle. That is not in question. It's not a matter of IF it's a matter of WHEN. Now we're just fighting about the date."
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When there was a protest at the...San Jose (?)...Idol concert the other night people I talk to were mad. But it was somewhere between 2 and 6 people who were actually protesting.
And it had a nice result, in a way. One of the finalists who's on the tour is sort of a good ol boy from Texas. (He was a roughneck on for an oil company until just before he auditioned.) He Tweeted his disappointment in the protest and his support for Adam several times that night. It was cute. He was like, "It's funny that people think they can mess with me and my friends...We are a strong family." :-)
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Of course, now I'm dying to know what the counselor's names are.
Reply
Of course, now I'm dying to know what the counselor's names are.
I'll email you. ;-)
As if they would actually be on my LJ! Ha. I guess it's just my instinct to change names to protect the...adorable.)
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As I said, I am almost disappointed that the WBC will not be spewing their silliness at our concert in September. I want to see them the way you want to see an elderly celebrity because who knows if you'll ever have the chance again?
I'm also tickled that a couple of young British men listen to Johnny Cash.
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You are warming my heart with this analogy. :-)
I'm also tickled that a couple of young British men listen to Johnny Cash.
IKR?
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Dude. He only gets a day when he wears more makeup than Carrie Underwood?
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Anyway, the most of them that have ever shown up for a protest is about fifteen. And they don't even get along with other crazy extremist groups so they can't join up to make a proper showing. They manage to make a lot of noise and get a lot of attention by being so fucking on the edge they make even every day bigots feel uncomfortable. In that way I feel they are offering a valuable service.
Seriously, these people may be hurtful, but they are so pitiful too that I kind of enjoy them as bad American street theater.
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Ha. Love that. You are especially funny today, Al.
Was it Westboro who protested that production in RF of The Laramie Project last year? Remember, where the students response was a silent demonstration in the form of a peace sign? (Such a nice picture I thought.)
Reply
Maybe you might be inspired as I was by these words from the Right Reverend Gene Robinson to my GLBT and Allies choir . He told us about visiting the civil rights museum in Memphis opposite the Lorraine motel where MLK, JR was assassinated. There is a statue there apparently which shows this spiral towards justice with civil rights leaders climbing upwards on the shoulders of those who came before. He told us we too were part of an historic struggle and then he said something like this (paraphrased by my far less eloquent memory): "We are going to win this struggle. That is not in question. It's not a matter of IF it's a matter of WHEN. Now we're just fighting about the date."
♥
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