Write what you know. The old, time-honored recommendation to those writing something others might read … I know it so well, and agree with it so unreservedly. Am I doing that tonight? You will have to be the judge.
I came across a comment on Daily Kos a couple of days ago ... (you know, I will continue it, below!)
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I came across a comment on Daily Kos a couple of days ago, from the person who claimed to have written the ‘reparative therapy’ plank for the Texas Republican party platform. (Commenter since bojo’ed, which I agree with and was happy to see.) The comment angered me, and though I did not engage with the person, and do not plan to, I do have thoughts about this, as I am sure, will you.
And the story was continued and further discussed in this short CNN article, also from a couple of days ago.
From the comment linked above ...
Reparative Therapy is based on the premise that reducing shame, building self-esteem, and self acceptance and healing the underlying emotional wounds that drive homosexual behavior will make such behavior less compelling. Thereby, it enables us to live much more fulfilling lives in accordance with our own beliefs.What ‘shame’ do they think gays would have to deal with if not for the hatreds, discriminations, biases and bigotry promoted in our society by Republicans, conservatives and Christian fundamentalists? What good is ‘self-acceptance’ if its fundamental condition is that a person has to repudiate and try to expunge her or his NATURE? One would have to totally abandon any hope of self-acceptance to pursue THIS PERSON’S warped idea of ‘self-acceptance. It isn’t about self-acceptance, it is about acceptance by Republicans, by conservatives, by hate-filled Christians. It is totally about perpetuating the idea that homosexuality is a CHOICE, a meme they have to promote to justify culpability for it.
This party platform plank is about providing cover for those invested in on-going discrimination and hatred. It is not about understanding, and it is certainly not about helping anyone, except those running for office, or donating to legal efforts to try to deny civil rights to others.
I know, I could write for months on this and not begin to exhaustively document all that is wrong with so-called ‘reparative therapy’ and its proponents. They are in damage-control mode for the growing series of setbacks they have received on the marriage equality front, trying to make it seem they have a constructive attitude about the coming changes, when nothing could be further from the truth.
The final straw man (and ABSOLUTELY I know there are others in that stinking comment!!!): ‘underlying emotional wounds that drive homosexual behavior …’
Crazy. It isn’t behavior. It is identity. It isn’t chosen. It’s fundamental to one’s identity. It isn’t ‘driven by emotional wounds.’ A gazillion people have those, without it influencing their sexual identity in ANY way. If the person who wrote that dishonest, propagandistic, bigoted plank really cares about emotional wounds, the person will take the fight to those who callously and cavalierly INFLICT emotional wounds by way of exercising their judgmentalism and their bigotry. Fight THOSE problems, if you really care. Because the potential payoff is world-wide, no question.
Hint: If you are willing to open-mindedly evaluate planks like this one for their real emphasis, change the name of the group affected to a group you are currently less worried about, and toward which you feel more favorable, whether that is appropriate or not. To wit:
Reparative Therapy is based on the premise that reducing shame, building self-esteem, and self acceptance and healing the underlying emotional wounds that drive Republican behavior will make such behavior less compelling. Thereby, it enables us to live much more fulfilling lives in accordance with our own beliefs, without indulging in Republican behavior ever again.Or … (from Cathie Adams’s defensive statement in the CNN story cited above)
If a person chooses counseling, then it should be made available. Two states we don’t wish to stigmatize by naming them have passed bills OUTLAWING therapy which can change them into non-Republicans altogether, which is under litigation. It's a freedom issue.And (again, Adams):
I do not think Republicans are born as Republicans," Adams said.::shaking head:: I know, they feign understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and it’s about as real as the plating on a plug nickel.To say this is an unchangeable thing, there are too many people who've changed their mind about Republicanism. No one can change the color of their skin or change the place they're born, but they can definitely choose their lifestyles," she added. “They don’t have to choose or be locked into a Republican lifestyle."
On writing what I know - I do not know what it is like to be gay, but I know what it is like to have the sexual identity I was born with, and I know how I deserve neither credit NOR blame for it. It doesn't reflect on me positively or negatively, it is just what it is, as it is for EVERY human being. I do know what discrimination is like, I do know what bigotry is like, I do know what hatred is like. And I know what fairness and tolerance and equality and acceptance and love are like. That isn't what I read about in that comment and in that article. I know you didn't read it, either. None of those were there.
On to tonight’s comments! Formatted by brillig!
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From brillig:agnostic hits the metaphorical nail on the head with this comment, in Joan McCarter's Wisconsin judge declines to halt marriages, for now.
Some comment flags for tonight:
Flagged by keepemhonest, this top mojo-destined comment by Bob Johnson makes some great, albeit sad points about the pizzeria ambush.Flagged by belinda ridgewood, this comment by saustin3333 is a first comment, short, generous and compassionate. What our movement is all about.Flagged by shmuelman, this comment by bewildered2 focuses on the ... questionable nature of some reporting? ::wink::(Please rec shmuelman's flagging comment, too?)
From BeninSC:
I liked this comment from liberalpragmatist for illuminating how Nikki Haley skewered herself with a tweet!
Top Mojo for yesterday, June 8th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary FAQing Top Mojo.
1) Yes, Nevada permits open carry. by Bob Johnson — 189
2) Thank you for this. It needed to be said by virginwoolf — 129
3) This is one of the finest statements by Miniaussiefan — 123
4) I had a mastectomy by weezilgirl — 118
5) Another one got probation and then never by entlord — 105
6) I appreciate that. Thank you. by BoiseBlue — 104
7) In response to your first question... by quiet in NC — 100
8) No. by BoiseBlue — 98
9) Why are worried about terrorists over there by a2nite — 98
10) Democrat Or Not, Puckett Made A Big Mistake Here by snapples — 90
11) The more I learn about this guy, by CwV — 89
12) I did. They did. by weezilgirl — 87
13) and the more I abhore by Youffraita — 86
14) These latest cases are not where this started by reflectionsv37 — 84
15) Nice catch on the Clark County/Bundy... by quiet in NC — 84
16) Rules for comments. by cai — 84
17) Direct source on this issue by tmservo433 — 81
18) For all the people who were telling me I by cai — 80
19) Without guns by indycam — 78
20) This is such an important thing by a gilas girl — 78
21) My story fits the model nicely by VeloDramatic — 78
22) I understand that some people by citizenx — 76
23) Real pain by SilverWillow — 76
24) Sekrit doldrums by arizonablue — 72
25) Slimeball McCain has always had a lot to by gffish — 71
26) Typical Xtians by nosleep4u — 71
27) Commenting at news sites by tmservo433 — 69
28) They are empowered by the NRA/gun industry false by JJustin — 68
29) 2008 by susanala — 65
30) Any carry concealed or open is a menace by a2nite — 64
Top Pictures for yesterday, June 8th. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you jotter for the image magic!
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