The Dignity of Bigotry

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Thursday May 09, 2013 · 3:59 AM PDT

2013/05/09 · 03:59

Exactly. It ain't got none. None at all. And yet this nation persists in dignifying bigotry with labels like Christianity, religious freedom, conservatism, traditionalism and First Amendment rights.

I would turn the gay rights war from a struggle for popular acceptance to a wholesale condemnation of those who daily insult and attack the United States Constitution and this nation's most "sacred" document.

As Americans there are the words that must guide us all, in all ways and under all circumstances.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Freedom and human rights should never be subject to popular whim, ignorance and fear.

How can we calmly accept those who fight equality, diversity, tolerance and freedom as freedom and democracy loving Americans? I say to the Cardinal Dolans, John Boehners and Pat Robertsons of the world: Live up to your civic responsibilities as American citizens and honor freedom and democracy.

I don't need your acceptance. I need you to step away from your un-American and bigoted ways and accept the laws and guiding principles of this potentially great nation.

American Idol: Liberty or death?

RichardR

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Saturday April 03, 2010 · 5:21 AM PDT

2010/04/03 · 05:21

Is the American celebration of mediocrity a symptom of the looming failure of democracy or an indication of its enduring health?

Is the emerging dominance of ordinary, humdrum and limited in American entertainment, politics, education, science and medicine a tribute to freedom of speech and the rights of the individual or a sign that American Democracy is fatally flawed?

AMERICAN IDOL is a case in point. Putting aside the umcomfortable implications of the painful fact that the nation's most popular and commercially successful entertainment product is produced by the English-speaking world's most powerful and influential far right wing extremist, AMERICAN IDOL has made mediocrity both astonishingly lucrative and universally popular.

Year after year and week after week, we are led to believe that at best moderately competent singers are potential super stars and brilliant talents. It truly does boggle the mind. Sure, one can argue that AMERICAN IDOL is not a talent contest but rather a popularity contest--and perhaps that is even the point. We have come to replace brilliance and excellence as standards for success with popularity.

RichardR

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Thursday February 18, 2010 · 12:16 PM PST

2010/02/18 · 12:16

This morning I read a remarkable and moving commentary on Patrick Kennedy. The piece reminded us that Mr. Kennedy is a man in legitmate pain and that our political system leaves no room for such things.

It also left me wondering just how many of our good and potentially valuable public servants are being driven from elected office by the two party culture war circus that seems to have replaced a credible democratic political process.

Are we devouring the humanity of the many men and women who have the potential to move our society in the direction of a healthier democracy? It's clearly no secret that money, dishonesty, showmanship and religious belief increasingly dictate winners and losers.

We know this and we do nothing about this; we just allow it to grow worse with each passing day.

RichardR

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Sunday February 07, 2010 · 5:01 AM PST

2010/02/07 · 05:01

As a gay American, I am profoundly shocked, exceedingly embarrassed and deeply humbled by this past weekend's Tea Party Convention. And this has nothing to do with what you think. I'm certain of this.

I am not shocked by the Tea Party movement's outrageous fundamentalist positions on social issues and relentless denial of the havoc George W. Bush wreaked on our economy, society and international reputation.

And I am not rocked by the obvious fascist undertones and overt bigotry of this movement.

I am however shocked by the lesson they are teaching gay America about our own gross incompetence and the complete and utter bankruptcy of the gay rights movement.

RichardR

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Thursday September 03, 2009 · 6:55 AM PDT

2009/09/03 · 06:55

I firmly believe that nothing before in the history of this remarkable democracy has posed such a profound and toxic threat to America's future as gay marriage referendums.

When a nation allows freedom, civil rights and human rights to be determined for specific groups of its citizens by the will of the voters rather than the rule of Constitutional law, it can only lead to the end of individual rights for all citizens and even democracy itself.

RichardR

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Saturday December 20, 2008 · 5:40 AM PST

2008/12/20 · 05:40

Having spent too much time this morning reading reactions from gay bloggers, gay pundits and gay "leaders" to the Rick Warren controversy, I am left stunned by how easily so many of my fellow queers rush to find compromise and acquiescence at the expense of our dignity, rights and responsibility to gay children and future generations of gay Americans.

RichardR

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Wednesday November 05, 2008 · 4:19 AM PST

2008/11/05 · 04:19

It is a joyous day and it is a sad day. I stand naked in my bedroom wondering if this is a day to stand by Melpomene, the ancient Greek Muse of Tragedy or Thalia, the ancient Greek Muse of Comedy.

America enters a new world on this day. But a golden age of gay rights has died a quick death after a very short life. And as a gay American I am once again faced with an almost daily decision: which mask do I don as I head out into the heterosexual world?

RichardR

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Thursday July 31, 2008 · 8:25 AM PDT

2008/07/31 · 08:25

The horrific tragedy of Lawrence King and Brandon McInerney is about to enter its second act; and the question stands as to whether or not the trial will be yet another painful horror costing the life of yet another young boy.

The challenge facing this nation and the California court as 14-year-old Brandon goes on trial for the nightmarish murder of Larry, is not Brandon's guilt or intent, but rather a series of profound and uncomfortablel questions about society that must be faced before kids killing gay kids becomes an epidemic.

RichardR

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Thursday November 01, 2007 · 3:40 PM PDT

2007/11/01 · 15:40

Are we the proverbial beggars settling for loose change and bread crumbs?

Is that what we've been reduced to?

By allowing gay activism to be hijacked by the polite and impotent blue-suited celebrity-obsessed boys and girls of groups like HRC and GLAAD, we find ourselves politically impotent, at best somewhat influential but always utterly powerless. The ongoing ENDA fiasco is a great example of this.

The majority of us are politically and socially apathetic and the rest of us throw good money after bad through continued support of several large gay advocacy organizations that have clearly failed in their mission and have pinned our hopes on a woman who has little to no track record of openly and aggressively supporting unqualified gay rights.

RichardR

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Thursday February 08, 2007 · 6:16 AM PST

2007/02/08 · 06:16

This morning's headline is clear: Iran Threatens the U.S. if Attacked. The Associated Press reports: " If the United States were to attack Iran, the country would respond by striking U.S. interests all over the world, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday."

Imagine that. What a horrible man and a horrible country. How dare they suggest that they have the right to retaliate if a foreign power challenges their sovereignty, security and territory!

RichardR

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Saturday January 20, 2007 · 1:33 PM PST

2007/01/20 · 13:33

Like many of you, I have a hobby. It's not an unusual avocation. I take photographs. I was born on Manhattan island and have lived my entire life in this astonishing feast of visual diversity and eccentricity. And as a native of this town rather than a tourist, I enjoy the luxury of time allowing me to see far beyond the skyline, the great buildings and the rich tapestry of glamorous tourist attractions. Since childhood I've carried a camera. I've always been fascinated with the minutia of this city, those details that few notice: shapes, colors, light, broken windows, architectural and design quirks and the strange visual synergy of so many cultures on one tiny river island.

RichardR

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Sunday January 07, 2007 · 7:03 AM PST

2007/01/07 · 07:03

By now you've likely heard of the controversy surrounding Oregon's gay sheep experiments. As scientists at Oregon State University endeavor to determine the biological origins of "male-oriented" rams, rams who love rams, a hue and cry has been raised by many gay activistis and leaders around the world. Of course, many evangelical leaders and neo-conservatives have heralded a major step in the search for a "cure."

Are the researchers seeking a genetic cure for homosexuality? Are they actually learning how to bio-engineer more gay rams? Or are they attempting to identify the gay gene so that they can test and weed, thereby improving the breeding stock? The fact is that eight percent of rams will only mate with other rams and eight percent of ewes will not allow rams to engage them in coitus--a statistic that is closely reflected in the human population. This translates into 16 percent of the flock that is good for nothing but dairy products, wool and chops.

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The Dignity of Bigotry

American Idol: Liberty or death?

Driving good leaders off the cliff

The Tea Party Has Stolen Our Gay Outrage

FROM WASHINGTON TO MAINE; FROM JEFFERSON TO OBAMA

Obama, Warren and Abused Wife Syndrome

Melpomene and Thalia

Brandon McInerney, A Life Worth Saving

Democrat-Loving Queers: Beggars Can't Be Choosers?

The Pot and The Kettle

Please Move On

Baa Baa Black Sheep and an Angry Navratilova