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I grew up, in part, in Palo Alto and I have a great fondness for California. Needless to say, I was shocked and dismayed when Prop8 came up, and absolutely disgusted when it passed. This cannot be allowed. It is one thing to fail to grant equal protection to a group. That is bad enough. But to take away EXISTING rights? TAKE AWAY EXISTING RIGHTS? NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
Fortunately, there are a ton of people who are doing everything they can to fight back. Three lawsuits have already been filed. I’m a long way from California now, as are most of you. But I am still going to do whatever I can to support the pushback against Prop8. And, thanks to the tubes, you can, too.
This is a civil right issue, and this is a civil rights movement. What better place to look to for inspiration than the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King. Although it wasn’t the first boycott of the civil rights movement, the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 was the most successful.
It was also the first action led by Dr. King. Not only did it achieve the immediate goal of securing equal rights on the city buses, it led directly to the U.S. Supreme Court declaring that the Alabama system of segregation of public facilities was unconstitutional.
John Aravosis over at AMERICAblog talked about the lawsuits and the problems with the No on Prop8 campaign initially on Wednesday, and I’m sure he knows much more about that than I do. But by that afternoon, the discussion there had turned to a boycott. First, Mariott chain of hotels was targeted, then John wanted to know why the Sundance Film Festival was held in Utah. And one thing led to another. Today the Associated Press is reporting on his call to boycott Mormon-owned businesses.
It is well known that the LDS Church bankrolled Prop8, as they have other similar hatemongering initiatives around the United States. In addition to injecting millions of church dollars into the campaign, they encouraged large numbers of Mormons to work for Prop8. According to the AP
Thousands of Mormons worked as grassroots volunteers and gave tens of millions of dollars to the campaign.
It has been suggested that a target approach would be more useful, specifically to target those businesses who actually gave to the Prop8 campaign, rather than the state of Utah as a whole. That is for each person to decide. But thanks to the California Secretary of State, you can find out who gave to support Prop8, if you would prefer to target your boycott more directly. But be sure they know why they are being targeted.
I have always been a big believer in boycotts. Yes, I know they don’t always work. Yes, I know that they sometime adversely impact the (more or less) innocent. But I am reminded of the words of Bishop Tutu, when he spoke out against the Reagan administration’s policy of "friendly engagement" and in support of a boycott against South African holdings: "If my people are to suffer, at least let them suffer with a purpose." But there is something personally satisfying about knowing that, insofar as I can help it, my money isn’t going to support hate or evil. (And I don’t give up easily – I still haven’t spent a cent for an Exxon product since 1989.)
But if boycotts aren’t your style, there is still plenty you can do to help. You can start with hekebolos’ excellent Repeal Prop8 diary. And The Courage Campaign has a petition online that you can sign here. You can also donate to the Repeal Prop8 campaign there. And check out the Action tab on their website to find other things you can do to help.
In the end, although it is important to know how this happened, it is far more important to roll back Prop8. Whether it was the fearful electorate, the hatemongering by churches, an inept campaign by those opposed to Prop8, or a dozen other reasons, what matters is that it not be allowed to stand.
cfk calls our attention to this excellent diary by Lithium Cola: The Incomparable Conversation. I don’t think it made diary rescue, and I didn’t see it scroll by, but I was very glad it was called to my attention. Warning: it contains some of those dangerous, thought-provoking ideas.
And now for tonight’s comments....
From phonegery:
Relevant Rhino asks an important question, and downthread davidkc provides an answer.
From Crashing Vor:
I predict that this phrase
lifted by rockhound from Cantinflas' GBCW diary, will soon rival "Great Orange Satan" as this site's unofficial nickname.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Be sure to not miss the photo from cadejo4 downthread.
From Angry Mouse:
On the question of whether to allow Joe Lieberman to continue to caucus with the Democrats, check out BA BarackUS's brilliant answer.
kbman makes the best comment ever!: The Ballad of the Wasilla Hillbillies!
From Scotty Urb:
Bindle calls out Joe Trippi for neglecting an important element in any Daily Kos diary!
From nonnie9999:
enough already talks about the Rethug Convention and the bounce Captain Underpants got from it. majcmb1's response was funny, but palantir's retort was hilarious!
From sardonyx:
In JeffLieber's diary The Obama Effect, Timroff tells us what we need to be saying now.
Kaity reminds us of some important wisdom in trying to persuade people to your political position.
From me:
Robespierrette tells one of my favorite Rahm Emanuel stories in Relevant Rhino's hilarious I Quit diary.
In that same diary Mxwll warn of the slippery slope that leads from the spiked rubber chicken to the cream pie of doom.
Waterlaw99 makes an excellent point about essential reform in tax laws and follows with a great clarification.
occams hatchet has an excellent response to racist jokes -- both satisfying and effective.
Top Mojo
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, and C&J comments:
1 - Thank You.....shanikka.....445
2 - It's time for the GOP to rally around Rush........Mannabass.....261
3 - Rush Limbaugh talks into a gold plated.....psilocynic.....184
4 - Excellent........StuHunter.....171
5 - call the waaaaaambulance......bubbanomics.....168
6 - And I didn't get my diary on the rec list.....FishOutofWater.....163
7 - Joe's Inn's open for biz. morning Joe?.....Patch Adam.....152
8 - There's a Sign On a Restaurant Near Us.....karateexplosions.....135
9 - I think Obama had NOTHING to do with this.....staypositive.....130
10 - it is a travesty.....grasshopper.....118
11 - I fully endorse that idea.....Interceptor7.....99
12 - Yes, this diary should see the rec list.....atheistben.....93
13 - If we want Obama to be FDR.....Vivian Eponymous.....92
14 - I'd like to add a photo I took in PA last spring.....Eileen B.....92
15 - Subjects and verbs will once again agree!.....phrogge prince.....89
16 - Actualy Lawrence was very upset.....Kitty.....88
17 - Here's the YouTube of Sarah calling them jerks.....NCDem Amy.....84
18 - Poor Joe Scarborough!.....mjd in florida.....83
19 - I didn't say I was leaving, I said I was quitting.....Relevant Rhino.....81
20 - And.....swampsparrow.....80
21 - Run for your lives! It's Wazilla!.....Horsefeathers.....80
22 - I thought her RNC speech was MEAN-SPIRITED.....RobertInWisconsin.....77
23 - I approve that appointment.....koopa troopa.....76
24 - dialectical materialism.....theloniously.....76
25 - Bill Kristol for head of the RNC.....milkbone.....75
26 - According to Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter--.....nape.....73
27 - I am an Okie. So were my parents and their.....Kiamichi.....72
28 - Yes......Mannabass.....72
29 - Shhhhhh!.....TimeZoned.....70
30 - Sarah Palin's ride.....FishOutofWater.....69
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1 - Tips for accuracy and Senator Franken.....WellstoneDem.....962
2 - Quit Jar.....Relevant Rhino.....764
3 - Tips for unity......inclusiveheart.....605
4 - Work quickly President-Elect Obama........JeffLieber.....475
5 - Thank You.....shanikka.....445
6 - Tips for turning every state blue.....droogie6655321.....407
7 - Thank you.....Magnifico.....397
8 - tip jar n/t.....Kula2316.....385
9 - tips.....hekebolos.....325
10 - It's time for the GOP to rally around Rush........Mannabass.....260
11 - Tips for.....RobertInWisconsin.....227
12 - Tips/Recs -- Thank guys.....Joe Trippi.....210
13 - First time diary tipjar.....staypositive.....203
14 - Rush Limbaugh talks into a gold plated.....psilocynic.....184
15 - Thanks Joe......Bindle.....178
16 - Mojo Mug.....TexDem.....174
17 - Excellent........StuHunter.....171
18 - call the waaaaaambulance......bubbanomics.....168
19 - And I didn't get my diary on the rec list.....FishOutofWater.....163
20 - Joe's Inn's open for biz. morning Joe?.....Patch Adam.....152
21 - The Lounge is Open.....TexDem.....146
22 - Great diary.....Fairy Tale.....144
23 - President Elect Barack Obama.....Zain.....144
24 - We have a bit of post-e;lection depression......blue jersey mom.....142
25 - Friday Tip Jar.....Bill in Portland Maine.....142
26 - Thanks for stopping by.....TexDem.....141
27 - What now?.....TexDem.....139
28 - But mojo to all anyway.....blue jersey mom.....138
29 - Thanks Mom!.....Hedwig.....136
30 - There's a Sign On a Restaurant Near Us.....karateexplosions.....135