In all of the furor over American Nick Berg's (videotaped) beheading, it is nearly comical that the talking heads and patriots who didn't want the world to condemn a few rogue American soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison now demand annihilation of anyone who is (or appears to be) Muslim ... or Iraqi ... or Arab ...
May 15, 2004
I would like for someone to please explain the phrase "That's so gay."
Once, while I was waiting to check in at a volleyball tournament, one guy walked over to another standing behind me. There was first the typical guy talk ("Hey, what's up," "Yo dude, how's it going," "Who won the game last night"), then one asked the other if they were planning to do some upcoming race. The other said, "no way, that's stupid ... that's gay." I let a couple moments pass, then turned and asked whether the race was gay because it was stupid, or the other way around. Actually, it was two-part question: the second part was, "And, am I stupid because I happen to be gay?" The dude didn't even have the balls to give me an answer, weaseling out of a confrontation by saying "I don't want to discuss it right now."
That happened a year ago. Well, tonight a similar thing happened -- at the same tournament -- only it was a different guy. The guy in front of me in the hitting line was talking shit with the setter, the content of which I didn't catch until I heard him say, "That's so gay." I assume the phrase is derogatory, because I've heard it uttered only within the context of something deemed distasteful (and bloggers use it in the same context). I guess a better person could blow off such an experience as nothing more than a close encounter with ignorance.
Nevertheless, I wish I could invent an equally derisive phrase to use with flippant disregard around and toward straight people.
Once, while I was waiting to check in at a volleyball tournament, one guy walked over to another standing behind me. There was first the typical guy talk ("Hey, what's up," "Yo dude, how's it going," "Who won the game last night"), then one asked the other if they were planning to do some upcoming race. The other said, "no way, that's stupid ... that's gay." I let a couple moments pass, then turned and asked whether the race was gay because it was stupid, or the other way around. Actually, it was two-part question: the second part was, "And, am I stupid because I happen to be gay?" The dude didn't even have the balls to give me an answer, weaseling out of a confrontation by saying "I don't want to discuss it right now."
That happened a year ago. Well, tonight a similar thing happened -- at the same tournament -- only it was a different guy. The guy in front of me in the hitting line was talking shit with the setter, the content of which I didn't catch until I heard him say, "That's so gay." I assume the phrase is derogatory, because I've heard it uttered only within the context of something deemed distasteful (and bloggers use it in the same context). I guess a better person could blow off such an experience as nothing more than a close encounter with ignorance.
Nevertheless, I wish I could invent an equally derisive phrase to use with flippant disregard around and toward straight people.
May 06, 2004
More information is being released about the abuses suffered by seven Abu Ghraib prisoners at the hands of US military personnel. The latest account is that of the hooded man who tells of being forced, with other prisoners, to masturbate and simulate oral sex. Most striking to me was the realization that our "ambassadors of peacekeeping" -- US soldiers -- proved themselves to be on par with grade-school bullies by subjecting their prisoners to perform acts (albeit simulated) of homosexual nature.
Even more intriguing is that two of the perpetrators are engaged to one another ... and the woman is pregnant. Yesiree, fine examples of America's brave young soldiers who are fighting for our "freedom," and will soon bring another loving, compassionate human being into this culture of American family values.
Note to the Log Cabin Republicans: Now might be a good time to reconsider your loyalty to a party and administration that permits such atrocities (claiming all the while that (i) they had no knowledge of what was happening (read: Gitmo), and (ii) those soldiers do not represent the character of most American people), and is willing to do whatever it takes to amend (read: limit) the Constitution to bar even you from marrying.
Even more intriguing is that two of the perpetrators are engaged to one another ... and the woman is pregnant. Yesiree, fine examples of America's brave young soldiers who are fighting for our "freedom," and will soon bring another loving, compassionate human being into this culture of American family values.
Note to the Log Cabin Republicans: Now might be a good time to reconsider your loyalty to a party and administration that permits such atrocities (claiming all the while that (i) they had no knowledge of what was happening (read: Gitmo), and (ii) those soldiers do not represent the character of most American people), and is willing to do whatever it takes to amend (read: limit) the Constitution to bar even you from marrying.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)