Last night's opening block was all about fighting back. We looked at examples in Arizona, Ohio, Tennessee, Maine and Colorado, all places where progressives have decided not to give up. Whether they're pushing back for voting rights or union rights or humane immigration policy, people across the U.S. are not giving up.
This morning my aunt Cathy posted this from our hometown in Mississippi, the story of what might be the first-ever pro-gay anything in Tupelo. It's a small town in the northeastern part of the state that happens to be home to the American Family Association -- they're the ones with Bryan Fischer for a mouthpiece, the ones who gay-baited SpongeBob SquarePants.
Tupelo is one of the places (one of so many in this country) where just being different, proudly, is its own way of fighting back. Yesterday the city's Link Centre screened a movie about being LGBT in small towns called "Out in the Silence" -- after they cleared a bomb threat. They just kept going. From a comment on the Out in the Silence blog:
This is Diva, the big haired drag queen from today's event; it was such a pleasure to meet you and Dean. Your documentary was such a pleasant and proud moment for me as a gay man. I am so moved by the work you guys are doing and I offer you my support now and throughout the rest of your journey. You inspire me. We made a little bit of history today, and thank you thank you thank you for being part of making this happen. Words can never be enough so I'll be passing it along through my work.
Life is better having met you guys;) Please stay safe and know there is a group in Tupelo that always has your back.
-Eric
While you're at it, check out the list of co-sponsors, 16 groups hanging in there together.
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"Bravo" doesn't cover this.
When the majority of the population consists of the "anawim"- the cast-out people who reside "outside of the box", then those who fancy themselves superior because they "fit in" might want to reconsider their position. The larger population might just take it into their heads to stop trying to "fit in", chuck the stupid box off of a cliff, and just settle for being happy instead.
Thanks to all the people who are standing up and fighting back against the liars. I have been waiting for this moment for decades.
Go, Team!
~Jen
There are other ways of fighting back in addition to marching & holding a sign. Ruth Glendinning & Susan Buhrman have bootstrapped Community Renaissance Market into existence. They've taken a 60,000-square-foot former Albertsons grocery store in South Austin and transformed it into the world's first SLOW Tech™ Incubator creating the space to incubate businesses which meet the criteria of 'Sustainable Local Organic Work', a concept in which businesses are positioned for sustainable success since they reflect the local community needs.
Even during this economic downturn, CRM is succeeding. We are revitalizing an old building, creating community, piloting a duplicable model, and, most importantly, positioning more people for a sustainable financial future. To learn more about Community Renaissance Market go to: www.communityrenaissancemarket.com. Please become our fan on facebook and receive daily updates http://www.facebook.com/CommunityRenaissanceMarket.
Thank you for telling us about this.
What we found in Tupelo as in small towns all over America is that there were LOTS of people eager for change and a more inclusive and welcoming community. It's just that they haven't had that many chances to connect, allowing the shrill voices on the other side to dominate. It's time for us all to come out of the silence! Dean Hamer - http://outinthesilence.com
What we found in Tupelo as in small towns across America is that there are LOTS of people eager for a more welcoming and inclusive community. They just haven't had that many chances to connect, letting the shrill voices on the other side dominate. It's time for us all to come out in the silence! Dean Hamer - http://outinthesilence.com
Why did last night's opening story about Russell Pearce get repeated verbatim later in last night's show? It was weird. I had to back up the video and watch again to be sure. The entire segment reran. Was there an interview scheduled who bailed at the last minute or something?
Edit: Or was it just the iTunes podcast that had the repeat? The streaming site has a segment that didn't appear in the podcast. The whole "Machine Against The Rage" segment did not appear in the podcast at all.
Uh oh... time for @Synergy3k to rescue the podcast!
This has been fixed, if you want to re-download the podcast. Apologies for the error. (Also, feel free to contact me any time you see a problem on twitter @Synergy3k)
Last night's opening segment was sweet! Thank you for doing it! Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we can fight back. Sometimes we can even win.
I'm reminded of Rosa Parks, the lady who sparked a national movement against segregation by law when she refused to give her bus seat to a white male. It took nine years, and she suffered during those years for her action, but she proved that sometimes just one person can make a difference and motivate the rest of us to take steps too.
Go 99%ers!
While I say bravo to all, to me it sounds less than; I find that it really is a tragedy that people can't be liked for being humans & "who they are" not because they fit into some nice little pigeon hole that society has carved for them!
Wow. So I finally got a chance to watch 8: The Mormon Proposition. In addition to the frontal lobotomies, shock therapy and forced vomiting while watching porn:
Don't be fooled by the "I'm A Mormon" whitewash campaign. Instead— "I Am An Ex Mormon" dot com:
iamanexmormon com /2011/01/my-name-is-emily-pearson-and-i-am-an-ex-mormon/
Wow, and then all these great links: Mormon Sexual Repression, post Mormon org, Mormon Think, Ex Mormon Scholars Testify, Mormon Expression Podcast, Ex Mormon Foundation, Ex Mormon REDDIT Community, Life After Mormonism, Mormon Alumni Association: Gone For Good, The Mormon Handbook
When I was in the church and heard it was a cult, I said no, no way. When I left—yes, absolutely, in the most ungodly, abusive, torturous, sick, murderous, raping way. You think they're kidding when they say they want to rule the world and convert everyone? Hint: They're not.
Oh, and I just heard from an association who has heard stories of clients in therapy of satanic ritual abuse that would make certain hairs curl. Given my experiences, I am not the least bit surprised.
Ever wonder why they act like such freaking robots?
A friend of mine has a T-shirt that says:
Excommunicated Mormon Drinking Team
The man makes the best beers and cordials I know.
Naturally, haha ... making up for lost time!
Oh, and I just came across this humdinger:
- Deseret News
**And should you, Mormon God forbid, think for yourself and the great big blue sky not actually fall upon your heathen head, Mormon elders will be sure to personally make that happen for you lest you prove them wrong and place egg on their saintly fascist faces.
Oh, and if I haven't driven home the point yet, haha, members 'taking out their endowments' (getting magic underwear) in the temple used to covenant to slit their throats and be disemboweled should they reveal any secrets. Um ? Women's garments used to be slit "very generously" in the crotch. Hrmm.
And to think I've got to scrub all this crazy *ss sh*t out of my DNA....
I'm looking at that picture and I can't help but to wonder why it scares conservatives so much. The picture above is America! It may not be all of America but its a pretty big part of America. And its not going away. Its only going to get bigger and bigger since DADT is gone. Thanks Obama!
Why does it scare them so? Why does it scare them to be inclusive?
It dilutes the hegemony of the Caucasian Christian Moneyed Male. PERIOD.
Lively discussion of this event on the Tupelo paper's website. Here is the link - <http://nems360.com/view/full_story/15996671/article-Rally-urges-support-for-LGBT-community?>
Not sure this is the correct site, but I wanted to point out a mistake made on tonite's show in respect to the Veteran Celebration in STL tomorrow. There is a military base close to STL. It is Scott Air Force Base in IL that is about 30 min from downtown STL.