Tag: civil rights

Owning the past

The whole mess with Paula Deen has me thinking about a lot of people I knew when I lived in the South.  Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia were all places I spent a lot of time.  And the more I think about it, the more I think the image problem the South has in regards to much of the rest of the country (and even the world, to some extent) is this:

The South (as a region) still hasn’t come to grips with slavery, even now, some 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation.  Collectively, the South thinks that it has, but really it hasn’t.  I am saying this as someone who was born there and lived there for decades who also happens to be a specialist in the area of 19th century American history.

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Marriage Equality- Waiting for Godot The Supremes

HRC summarizes reasonably well what we’re waiting for when Godot The Supreme Court comes down with their ruling on Prop 8 and on DOMA.  Check it out and share it (below the cut).  Everyone needs to understand that this is about Civil Rights, not The Homosexual Agenda.

How today’s announcement by NBA player Jason Collins will affect the general atmosphere around the ruling is unclear.  He came out and admitted that he is gay.  He’s the first pro sports player in one of the four major sports (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) to do this while still playing.

Continue reading “Marriage Equality- Waiting for Godot The Supremes”

Happy Valentine’s Day

Most of you know that I’m not a big Valentine’s Day fan.  Despite the fact that I’m married I’m still not a big fan.  I think today is mostly about Hallmark and chocolate companies making money and about making people feel guilty about having to buy some over-hyped and over-expensive gift for someone else.  It’s also death for a relationship that’s beginning or in trouble.

That being said, there’s nothing like cute animals and Grumpy Cat to make me smile.  So, I bring you our Valentine.  This year I didn’t even put it together in the spirit of the Valentine’s Day Massacre!  Progress?

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I voted, and so should you

Today is election day here in America.  If you have not yet voted the polls are open until 8:00pm local time.  I was heartened to see that my polls were not only busy, they were busy with people of every age, every color, and that the poll attendants had already run out of the “I Voted” stickers.  (I love those stickers.)

If you are voting in a swing state or a place where funny things sometimes happen at the polls (Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania come to mind) here is what you need to know about finding your polling place, necessary ID, reporting voting fraud, etc.

It is your duty as a citizen of this country to get out there and vote.  It is also, for some of us, a hard fought right.  Women got the right to vote in 1920, the year my grandmother was born.  For those of you paying attention, we’ll celebrate the centenary anniversary of that achievement 8 years from now.

Don’t sit this one out, get out there and make the most of that right.  VOTE.

The following was provided by Ultraviolet.org

What You Need to Know for Election Day, November 6, 2012

 How to find your polling place: 

Questions or problem at the polls?

  • Election Protection is a nonpartisan coalition of 150 organizations dedicated to making sure everyone can exercise their right to vote. If you have a problem at the polls on Election Day, or if you just need to find your polling place or have a question, you can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE, or download their smart phone app at the links above. 

What to bring to the polls:

Some states require specific forms a voter ID; some don’t. Here are a few resources to find out what you need to bring:

What’s on my ballot? 

  • Check out November6th.org to find out what’s on your ballot. Just enter your address, and you will be able to see what’s on your ballot, from ballot measures and local races to the national level. 

The resources above should answer most questions for most people. If you can’t find an answer online or with the apps provided, your best bet is to call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or your state election official.

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If you’re going to vote near closing time, bring a book and a bottle of water.  If you’re on the premises before they shut the doors then they have to let you vote.  Similarly, your employer has to allow you unpaid time to vote today.  Make time to do this.  It really is important, the future of our country is at stake.

Thank you in advance.

~Kelly

Surprise ending even surprised me

Well, I have heard the sorts of arguments made by this guy all too often, but I had heard that this video was worth watching because of the twist ending.  So I watched it, and I have to admit, I was absolutely surprised.  Pleasantly surprised.

-Geoff

How cool is this?

JCPenney has issued a new Father’s Day ad campaign that really makes me smile.  It features a family with two dads.  And it turns out this is an actual family, not just actors portraying a gay couple with children.

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North Carolina, Hate, and how you can help

For those of you who missed the North Carolina vote on Marriage Equality and all of the hate and vitriol that it splashed across the internet and airwaves, there is some unfortunate blow back happening now that you can do something about.

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This is just precious, precious I tell you.

Those of you who know us know that Geoff and I HATE to fly.  I’m generally not a fan of traveling, but I specifically hate to fly.  It isn’t that I dislike planes or have a problem with a fear of flying or anything like that.  It’s the TSA.  I hate the TSA with the fiery passion of a 1,000 suns.

Continue reading “This is just precious, precious I tell you.”

Oh, and speaking of dumb

A restaurant here in Massachusetts decided to turn away a group of diners because some of them had service dogs.  At a restaurant called Bamboo in Dedham, staff decided that a group that included several people with service dogs could be refused service.  The police were called in, and unfortunately, the police sided with the restaurant.  How this is remotely compliant with the ADA is beyond me, but these days, businesses seem to be getting the benefit of the doubt when it comes to a lot of things.  It will be interesting to see where something like this will go in the courts.

At any rate, this little local chain, like Upper Crust, will be one that Kelly and I avoid and encourage others to avoid.

-Geoff