Arkansas Blog

You know in your heart if every US soldier in Iraq was a fired-up lesbian, the war would have been over 2 years ago. Lesbian Power! Don't you dare doubt it!

Like we can afford to turn down more carbomb fodder? I don't think we can afford to be picky.

Of all the news items today worldwide this one is truly representative of just how intolerant and hypocritical we, as Americans, can be...

While I am fairly sure that the potential applicants for our all-volunteer armed forces are treated with the same general dignity and respect equally...unless they are gay, of course...oh...wait...

Dignity? Respect?

You are going to deny anyone in this fair and free country...wait...oh...wait, I mean...this King George-dom...or...

So those two recruits were turned down because they would rather look at and be with nekkid women than men?

Heck that looks like nearly all the guys over there could declare themselves lesbians and get sent home.

I've been away from the blog for a couple days and this is what I read? It's the fodder at a canasta game among friends. Where are all the ay-holes?

If you'll allow me . . .

"The gays should be the first to go to Iraq. They're not fit for society. Second should be the Mexicans, and it wouldn't hurt my feelings any if they rounded up all the blacks in the prisons and gave them a gun and a helmet."

--Trish

I am saddened by today's actions. Quite honestly, I cannot and will not support this effort because the tactics were wrong.

Here we are in the middle of election season - and this energy and focus is wasted in an act of civil disobiedience. The way to change legislation is elect leadership that focuses on the values you consider important.

This action today does NOT represent the vast majority of the GLBT Community, regardless of the spin Randi Romo may say.

It was wrong. When a soldier, sailor, marine, or airmen puts on the uniform - they are the titles I mentioned. Race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political views all are sacrificed. Its an honor to earn the right to wear the uniform and we do not need a military segregating itself and indivualizing itself by standards of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or otherwise.

I am saddened by today's actions. Quite honestly, I cannot and will not support this effort because the tactics were wrong.

Here we are in the middle of election season - and this energy and focus is wasted in an act of civil disobiedience. The way to change legislation is elect leadership that focuses on the values you consider important.

More than once in our history (and for a variety of reasons) just 'electing leaders' has not been enough to bring about past-due change. Evidently the South's elected leaders weren't doing much to bring equality to all their citizens. And women certainly had to do a lot more than elect the right people to gain the vote and include themselves in the Civil Rights legislation.

Though I'm always thrilled when people exercise their Rights, I would have preferred they wait till after November 'cause the right-wingers love stirring up gay issues as smokescreens for all their really nasty crap....just like piranha. But nobody consulted me.

...It was wrong. When a soldier, sailor, marine, or airmen puts on the uniform - they are the titles I mentioned. Race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political views all are sacrificed. Its an honor to earn the right to wear the uniform and we do not need a military segregating itself and indivualizing itself by standards of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or otherwise.

This completely neutral military you're describing would be nice...if it were true. And I think that's what many are fighting to achieve. But the military is the 'prejudice' entity here; it's drawn its acceptable line short of non-heterosexuals and segregated itself from them...and that's just not right.

You're correct that service in the military is an honorable act that benefits both the soldier and our country. But there's nothing honorable about our military's prejudice against gays. Gay men/women shouldn't be denied the opportunities of a military career because of the twisted insecurities of some.

GO GIRLS!

Ya know, if gays and lesbians acted the way they're envisioned by rightwing nut cases, we wouldn't be able to walk thru the mall without a same sex genital being thrust in our faces. (I just scared myself)

There is far more examples of a pack of soldiers Tail-hooking women. There are far more examples of US troops gang raping a young girl in Iraq and then killing her and her family, than there are of homosexual attacks on a defenseless soldier.

More often than not, when a school teacher is caught boinking a student it is a heterosexual adult, not a homosexual adult. As ugly as I am I've had far more instances of unwanted hetero advances than homosexual. Now that I'm old I'm sorry I turned anyone down.

The Republican Party is pulling out their gay Halloween goblins just in time for the November elections, nothing more or less. Americans should be smart enough to ignore their crap by now.

Yeah DBI, I know exactly what ya mean...there's something excruciatingly ironic about hetero guys opposing gays in the military 'cause they might get waylaid by one of em...like it's gay men who are the ones out to screw anyone who'll have em. If we're going to start banning people who can't keep their penis under control...it's not gay men who would be first in that line.

And from personal experience...it's not the lesbians who can't take no for an answer...or who drool over every woman walking by...or who haven't managed to connect their brain to all parts of their body.

Got a picture, zelda? What RU wearing? Hubby leaving town any time soon?

I used to be a straight man with a large sexual appetite, I know who is the most likely offender of all. Now, about that picture.......

Ahh, zelda...I love you...

See. It's that penis talk.

Love y'all.

Drew Pritt (hugh mann):

You are not a friend to Queers, and especially not a friend to Queer Youth.

We denounce you, Drew. Your actions (though given NO credit by the media) are direct attacks on the hard work Queers and Queer Youth are doing everywhere.

Your idealized view of democracy and the military needs a serious rethinking. Prejudice exists in both, and elected officials won't do a damn thing until their constituencies demand it.

Our action yesterday prompted dialogue within our communities concerning Don't Ask, Don't Tell. They were forced to think about how they feel about this issue and perhaps even tell their legislators how they feel. THIS IS GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM AT ITS BEST.

Civil disobedience has been and will forever be an effective tool for mobilizing communities and influencing legislators in our country.

I truly am one of the most accepting people I know. However, mark my words Drew Pritt, you will have no alliance or respect with Queer Youth of Arkansas because of your arrogant, self-centered motives.

You continually slap your face on anything "Gay" in Arkansas, and we won't stand for it any longer.

Sincerely,

Amanda Harris
Conway Organizer for the Right to Serve Campaign
amanda.harris@righttoserve.org

Pssstttt Ms Harris! hugh mann is not Drew Pitt and the above post was sarcasm, that you took for a real post. The missing in action Trish was always typing the true words of the neo-con Republican rightwing nut case faction on this blog.

So hugh was sticking it to Trish, because his fake post is right along the lines of what Trish would post if she was still around.

hugh and I and many other open-minded people in Arkansas are on your side. Good luck

Amanda Harris you may count me alongside of hugh and DBI...

hugh has this memory thing with previous posts and comments...and he can leap tall buildings in a single...wait...

Sorry...hugh ain't Drew...

Oops, sorry for the confusion. Yes, my post was sarcasm that some of the regulars were nice enough to recognize and point out. (Thanks, guys, for watching my back. Pun intended.)

I am indeed on the side of equality for all American citizens, especially straight, white, middle-aged Christian males (just kidding!).

I really am sorry you mistook my post, but...jeepers...was the DP comparison/"confusion" really necessary?

Dear Ms. Harris :

I am a friend to all and do not define fellow individuals by the cookie cutter classism you subscribe towards. Where you see "Queers", I see individuals, each to be judged on his or her own merit.

Ms. Harris, I take chiding well, but for you to "denounce" me as it were --- is like Al-Queda denouncing followers of Islam. We may share a common community, a common bond, a common struggle, but we are two different people.

Where you see idealism, I see reality. Where you see a fact that people must walk in lockstep with your view, I encourage and welcome dissent.

Its funny that you treat me in the same manner you march and create civil disobiediences against.

In short, what did you achieve? Your group allowed eight people to be arrested, DADT is still enforced, and we are continuing to waste time and energy that could have been used to elect true progressives to office.

I have spoken out just as you have. You are nether the voice of the GLBT Community, nor am I. I am however, one of many negatively affected by your strident radicalism.

If you truly cared for the GLBT Community you would not attack those who exercise their right to dissent, as I have done.

SIncerely,

Drew Pritt
drew@drewpritt.com

Drew Pritt:

I've been around lots of things in my day. And I honestly say I have never met anyone more self-serving, self-righteous, ignorant, and completly out of touch with those you "represent" in my life.

I was at the coming out day parade when you showed up unannounced, brought the "media" with you, and basically attempted to steal the spotlight from the kids that actually did the work and put the effort into it. I'm sure they all appreciated that.

I don't remember once ever seeing an ad for you running for Lt. Governor...yet you constantly bring it up like you actually DID something.

I hear that you couldn't even get some miniscule amount of signatures to simply get your name on a ballot for Wisconsin Senate?

Is this true, sir? Are you really this out to lunch that a guy that has absolutely NO support from anyone can sit here and lambast kids who actually are out doing something in their communities?

If you didn't notice, what these kids did was the lead story on channel 4, had very good coverage on 7 and 11, front page of the Log Cabin Democrat here in Conway, and a decent write-up in the ArDemGaz. So...what good did they do was your question, right? Well, allow me to answer.

They got media coverage for a topic and a Senate bill that the vast majority of Arkansans otherwise wouldn't know existed were it not for them. This creates dialouge, this kind of pushes the envelope and makes people stop and think about inequality. Unlike anything you've ever done where you put your faith in a legislative process that doesn't represent us and thusly WON'T represent us when it comes time to vote. These brave kids went out on a limb, risked themselves to actually get something accomplished, and hopefully opened people's eyes to what's going on in this country.

Yeah, I guess you can break it down and say that ultimately they got 8 people arrested...but you'd be an absolute moron for that. What they did was actually take a stand that was more than just lip service. What they did was actually show a little spine and try to get something done. And ultimately what they did was get ALOT more media coverage for something that's not completely centered around themselves than you have ever done in your pathetic "attempts" at public office.

So, nice try, Jerky. Why don't you keep trying to run for office so that I can keep laughing.

sincerely,

David Dobbs

Wow. I think David hit the nail on the head.

However, there are a few points of confusion I'd like to clear up, and then I'm really not going to take part on e-wars. Sometimes they are worth it. In this case, it's not.

First, dissent is a powerful thing for one to engage in. I respect dissent, not ignorance, and I believe you posess the latter. Dissent should seek to challenge power structures, dominant ideologies, and above all else--flat out stupidity. From your comments, your dissent does not reflect these notions.

Secondly, you claimed I was classist? I'm not sure if you're aware of what classism means, but it does not mean compartmentalization. Instead, I would target you as the classist individual, Drew, because you put your faith in the hands of wealthy, middle-age, white men to stand up for equality of marginalized groups.

There's a reason that a vast majority have NOT in the past. This time is no different.

Civil disobedience, again, is effective in challenging the power structure and pressuring those in power to vote baesd on the demands of their constiuencies.

What we did Wednesday dramatized the reality of DADT and brought light to the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. So far, I have received support from everyone in the gay community, but you.

Every other form of criticism has come from ignorant, fundamental religious folks.

What does this say about you?

What it tells me, Pinkypunky and David, is that both of you are more concerned with attacking those who disagree with you, then trying to find a way to find a common solution. You both should be ashamed for attacking me in such a vicious, inappropriate, and shameless manner.

I know that it is difficult to read strong comments that are directed toward your arguments that are perceived to be faulty. I think, however and unfortunately, that you (Pritt) are focusing so much on your hurt feelings that you are missing the point entirely.

Recently, someone sent me a transcript of a discussion that he had had with a friend. His friend had some of the same points as you have expressed here. The guy responded to his friend with this:

"They must raise their heads and get attention. Black folks didn't get attention in congress UNTIL they started rioting and doing sit ins. And, they have written, thousands of letters. There is a new letter writing session every week. But, they don't get heard, they don't get a voice. They are relegated to second class citizen. ...but the average person, doesn't read [newspapers], they watch TV, and if they get seen on TV, that takes the issue to peoples living rooms. It's supposed to upset you. When you're faced with something new, a new idea, a new way fo doing things, and you're uncomfortable, then it's good. It means you're seeing another side of things, and your beliefs are being questioned. It means your thinking differently already. admittedly it's a long fight. how long was it before black folks got their rights? How many people were pissed off before they got the right to vote, or the right to managed health care, or the right to lunch breaks and such? It took forever, and it bred more hate until it finally broke."

Peacefully,
Esther Mead

you should never feed the animals "TRG".

he is an idiot and a perfectly good argument for forced sterilization of the retarded.