this is why I don't read political blogs anymore

[anotheranon]

About a year ago I swore off political and feminist blogs. It was getting to the point that the bad news triggered all manner of "siege mentality", and the good news - well, I couldn't add much, and I failed to see any point in wasting pixels adding an inarticulate "me too".

As such, I've not kept up as well as I used to, and I've blogged very little about social/political/national issues.

But even these couldn't pass under my radar:

VA governor declares April 2010 as Confederate history month - really? The guy is either being incredibly stupid or kissing the asses of good ol' boys everywhere - I suspect the latter. I can see a "Civil War History Month" or, better yet, a "History Month" (because those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it), but of course it's more important to pay lip service to the Lost Cause than taking a look at the actual history.

To avoid Constance McMillen bringing a female date to her prom, the teen was sent to a "fake prom" while the rest of her class partied at a secret location at an event organized by parents. This one in particular steams me because this is EXACTLY what might have happened at my high school....20 years ago. That teenagers are cruel and people are homophobic isn't news to me, but that adults in question AIDED AND ABETTED that cruelty sickens me. Jayzus Mary and Joseph, have people not EVOLVED - it's f(&$*ing 2010 and doGdammit, if I can't have my flying car in the 21st century I at least want an end to hateful shit like this!

I don't want to end on a sour note, so I did want to share a HAPPY political post I found in the midst of all the muck: The Top 12 things the progressive movement has given America. Trade 'em, share 'em with your friends, add yer own :)

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Tom Ricks had a good take on the Confederate History Month thing. He said sure, fine, let's have that, as long as Virginia also celebrates Nat Turner Month.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

:D I like that!

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

Bob McDonnell pisses me off. I wish he would find a better way to serve the public than keep Virginia in the freaking dark ages.

The only good thing is that Virginia's governors are done at the end of four years. They can't succeed themselves. If the pattern holds true, the next governor should be a Democrat. (Back before 1970 there was a long run of Democrats, then 3 republicans and 3 dems, then 2 repubs and 2 dems, and now they've got a repub. One can only hope for another long line of dems!)

[timcharmorbien.livejournal.com]

Virginia's governor has since publicly acknowledged that slavery was a dark part of the Confederacy and a reason for the Civil War, and "regrets" that this was not mentioned in the initial declaration. He has promised to revise the declaration to reflect this, but really - - wtf was he thinking? I agree that a "Civil War History Month" would have been a wiser choice, but then the usual Confederate apologists would have been whining about "pc thugs" and their precious "heritage".

The fake prom thing just completely threw me - - who DOES that?

At least it's nice to see some people who don't think progressive equals communist (or social justice equals communist, or fascist equals communist, or sooner-gnaw-through-my-own-leg-to-escape-a-bear-trap-than-vote-Republican equals - - well, you see the theme - - )

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Virginia's governor has since publicly acknowledged that slavery was a dark part of the Confederacy and a reason for the Civil War, and "regrets" that this was not mentioned in the initial declaration

I've seen this kind of furious backpedaling before. If he'd thought of this before blurting "Confederate History Month"... well, he wouldn't have blurted in the first place!

The fake prom thing just completely threw me - - who DOES that?

Asshole teenagers. I'm rather horrified that I'm NOT surprised that the kids misled their classmate, but IMHO the worst part is that the parents organized the fake prom. Responsible Adults(TM) are supposed to curb the snobby/bigoted excesses of them who are too young/stupid to know better, but I guess that's where the kids learned homophobia from....

Re: the progressive list - Crooks and Liars is a liberal/progressive blog, so of course they're not going to go for the Fox News buzzwords. I also think it was helpful that they pointed out achievements by Progressive Republicans (back when there was such an animal).

Fake prom

[timcharmorbien.livejournal.com]

What really bothered me about the fake prom is that they not only did this to the gay couple but also to the kids from the Special Ed classes. I'm betting there were others that would have been sent to the fake prom as well if they had inquired about the prom.
I thought Mississippi was more progressive but now I know better. People like this gives the impression that Southerners are backward thinking people.

Re: Fake prom

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I agree - the homophobia wasn't the only thing sick about the fake prom :( I do agree that when stuff like this happens I flinch because I fear that someone's going to launch into something about "all southerners" when it's simply not the case!