Mum's The Word

[nfotxn]

I always say the wrong thing the day after. I fudged 9/11 and I think the 2nd Bush term too. It's like I have some sort of Internet enabled disability. So I pour out the passion hoping old friends will notice what I have to say. And of course it comes out all white hot and people get totally angry. Which actually makes me sick to my stomach to think I did that. It feels like a bad performance because that's what this is to me. That's the attraction. Get up there and play.

People who call "comment whore" I guess sorta get it. I'm more of a discussion whore really. I've been saying this for like 8-years now and if this site were searchable I'd back that statement up.

But I'm starting to figure out that I don't really factor into this conversation. All I got is the Internet and cable news. I need to just shut up and cheer or be angry too. I want to participate but sometimes I got nothing. I need to realize that and know when to be mum.

What I respect most is our friendships and I feel horrible when what I say strains those. It hurts the most when I don't hear from people I really like for months until it's a square kick in the teeth when I say something dumb. That kinda negative attention is not what I'm looking for.

I never felt better about our neighbours to the mostly-south than I did last night. It was an inspiring and profound moment in my life and all of ours. When you read between my poorly written lines I swear you can see that intention.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Comments

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Oh so good to hear. I mean really I'm glad California is so progressive and really the disappointment has got to suck. But it's like 4% away from passing even in a public vote, which I maintain is wrong for minority rights. Things will shape up and we have to look at overall national unity not just ourselves. And America voted in that guy! The whole country.

People act like I'm just some Canadian kid given equal marriage rights. But really I come from a place that has had serious national unity issues in the past with Quebec separatism. We went through this as a nation and it made us the place we are now. Interestingly enough the solution was a heavy dose of federal socialism and a huge campaign to convince us that we were one diverse nation. I hold those values dearly to this day and am greatly hopeful that America seems so ready to come together more tightly now too.

[philbutrin.livejournal.com]

And America voted in that guy!

part of what's very frustrating in this case is that many of the people who voted in that guy, also voted to strip gay marriage rights in CA. according to exit polls, 75% of black women -- who presumably voted overwhelmingly for obama -- also voted for prop 8. obama himself has said that, because of his religious beliefs, he thinks gays and lesbians shouldn't have the right to marry.

so yeah, it's great that he won, but right off the bat it sounds like he doesn't consider us equal citizens in this democracy. we obey the laws, we pay our taxes... why shouldn't we have every right that everyone else has?

i'm glad i read this post first, because when i went back and read the post that inspired it, i thought it was really breathtakingly callous. obama's victory was amazing, but gay rights also got beaten down in CA, AZ, FL, and AR, and that makes it a little hard to fully participate in the jubilation going on all around us.

[bookbear.livejournal.com]

Well, but he also last week publicly expressed his disdain for Prop 8, and that it should not pass.

[philbutrin.livejournal.com]

but doesn't that sound a little hollow coming from someone who agrees with the basic message of the proposition -- that gays & lesbians shouldn't be allowed to get married?

[bookbear.livejournal.com]

Maybe, but I want to look at it like this. You can have someone who harbors some negative thoughts about gays, disdain, dislike, or mild annoyance at the idea. Then they see the likes of Prop 8, or a Fred Phelps protest, and think "Wow, that's fucked up. I may not be all into the gays, but that's not me." And they start to rethink their ideas because they don't want to be linked to that level of hatred. And maybe they start to connect how even their mild criticisms lead to the likes of a Prop 8 or Fred Phelps.

So while Obama maybe have some personal distaste regarding some things, he is public in his statements that a Prop 8 is divisive (his words) and wrong, that such views should not be written into a constitution. He has also stated his problems with DOMA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell. He also included gays in his speech Tue night. That's a pretty big deal. That's more than a shout out, that's inclusion into the fabric of America by a president elect. Is it the end all be all? Does it mean he won't pull a Bill Clinton and pull back from his supports? No. He might. But I gotta go with what I'm hearing and seeing, not with what I fear might happen.

[sluggobear.livejournal.com]

Aye!!!