Where do we go from here

Let’s Set Our Own Agenda

How did the GLBT community allow Karl Rove & Company to hijack our issues for the last election and force us to spend all of our time, money, resources & energy
fighting for their chosen issue?
If you’re wondering what I’m talking about—it’s gay marriage. Let’s face it, of all of the issues currently facing our community; marriage or civil unions really belong at the bottom of the list.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m appalled that eleven states opted to write blatant discrimination into their constitutions. It’s anti-ethical to the concept so brilliantly outlined by the framers of the Constitution. Honestly, I was shocked by the feelings of desolation & disenfranchisement I felt the morning after the election because of those states. But, I am a pragmatist. I know, legally & constitutionally these should never stand up in court, if the justices are truly objective. It boils down to discrimination and we don’t legislate that in this country; contrary to any individual’s actions or belief system.
I’ve been asked by acquaintances & excoriated by friends for not giving what they deemed the proper amount of time to the Don’t Amend Alliance here in Utah. My immediate gut reaction was I wasn’t thrilled by the message of Don’t Amend. That’s the short answer. I believe the focus we should have placed on this issue was that it is discrimination and we don’t sanction that in this country. I felt there was too much emphasis on the fact that straight couples would also be affected. It seemed for a while there the message was this can hurt straight folks so you can’t do it. The biggest piece missing for me was I never heard anyone come out and say that by not passing this amendment gay marriage or civil union would still not be legal in this state. Those are some of my biggest objections to the way the campaign was handled.
My larger reasons for only donating funds and not my time are more complex. We need to focus our energies and resources on larger issues facing this community.
It is now over six years since the brutal torture and murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyo. and by and large there is still no comprehensive hate crimes legislation in this country. Not on the local, state or national levels. Personally, I think this issue affects more members of the community than concern over marriage. There are no comprehensive equal opportunity employment protections nor is there comprehensive fair housing legislation to protect us.
Again, I think we need to put these basic, albeit, important civil rights well ahead of civil union or marriage.
By focusing our attention on the marriage initiatives around the country this election season; the Republican House Leadership was able to avoid being called to task for removing legislative language strengthening hate crime prosecution from the 2005 defense authorization bill. The media didn’t cover this, where were the ACLU & HRC? Most people I don’t even know that the defense authorization bill is designed for or that important items previously agreed upon by both houses of Congress were removed. Current federal hate crimes legislation only covers crimes based on race, color, religion or national origin.
That should have been a huge issue toward the end of this election cycle, maybe then we wouldn’t have lost so many seats.
Moving forward, the GLBT community and its leaders need to garner the political savvy and backbone to set their own agenda and not allow the “hot-button” fear tactics of Karl Rove and those who emulate him to set our political battles for us. Else we will forever be distracted by the “shiny” object twirled by the homophobic minority on the right.
We are so fortunate here in Utah to have friends of our community like Dave Litvak, who continues year after year to introduce hate crimes legislation to the State Legislature; who year after year defeat it due to the inclusion of the words “sexual orientation.”
If that doesn’t prove we need a hate crimes bill, I don’t know what does.
Deborah A. Pavek
Murray

Gonzales as New AG

I think we all need to be very afraid with Bush's nomination of Alberto Gonzales as the next US Attorney General. I'm still researching this guy and will have much more to say in a bit.

Rebuttal to Blue States who think they can survive w/out red states

To the Blue States who make much of Themselves

So you think the red states would have a difficult time surviving without you. That’s high possible, but, you too, would be hard pressed to survive without the red states.

Think about it, those lovely gas-guzzling SUV’s all of you suburbanites are so fond of: manufactured in red states: Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana & Michigan. The gas you need to feed those beasts, Texas. Even if the gas isn’t from Texas proper the majority of oil companies are based out of Texas. Let’s not forget the heating oil or natural gas you need to heat your homes in the winter. Thinking of using coal, think again, that’s West Virginia.

Now on to shopping, get rid of that e-bay account, Utah company; as a matter of fact dump that Dell computer, Utah again. Buy nothing from Overstock.com another Utah company. Forget about buying your books, movies & music from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.com (those of you in Manhattan can order from b-n.com). All items are warehoused and shipped from red states, Kentucky, Nevada.

Am I really supposed to feel bad about not being able to use a Windows Operating system? You’re kidding me right? It’s garbage anyway. I like my Unix system; okay so my geek friends are jumping up and down shouting Unix was developed @ UC-Berkley. Does anyone really want to claim California? Look who they elected governor: a misogynist, homophobic, bad actor. You can keep CA, I’m keeping my Unix O/S only seems fair.

I certainly hope you never have to straighten out a credit card bill again. The 800 number we all have for inquiries are answered in a red state unless, of course those jobs have been outsourced to Bangalore. Forget using any Proctor & Gamble product to clean your laundry, dirty dishes, shower etc. Hand in your Prozac; Eli Lilly is the patent holder, based in Indianapolis. You can take Pfizer, Roche, & Merck drugs; based in NY, Palo Alto, & NJ.

As for skiing, are you kidding? Ski Vermont? Our cities are at higher elevations than most of your peaks. East Coast snow is heavy & wet , packs down and ices by noon, Utah, Colorado & Nevada snow is light, & fluffy power, and our climate is drier and more comfortable. If you prefer to freeze for one good ski run instead of really enjoying a day on the slopes, by all means stick to the hills of Vermont, & New Hampshire.

This one is big: good luck trying to find a Democrat to beat the republicans in the next national election. The last Democrat elected President from a blue state was John F. Kennedy.

I could continue, but believe I have made my point. Those of you who know me, know am I as far from conservative as one can get, I do happen to live in a red state, much to my chagrin. My point is, that if any of us think we could continue to live in the manner to which we have become accustomed without the others is a fallacy. Contrary to what Fox News would have you believe there are good liberals, progressives & moderates in the red states, we need to open the conversation.

Our job is to talk about real values: clean air, clean water, jobs, poverty, comprehensive health care, equal opportunity employment, fair housing, reproductive rights (including comprehensive sex education), multi-trillion dollar deficits, hate crimes legislation, the list is endless. We need to discuss these things calmly & rationally and help those on the other side of the aisle understand that moral character doesn’t mean you talk about your relationship with God while deceiving the public. It means enacting legislation that helps more people than it hurts and isn’t corporate welfare. We have work to do and we need all the help we can get and that means working with the red state people.