OUTTA MY MIND ON A THURSDAY MOANIN'..!
Because I don't pay much attention to what is happening here in Virginia, I am late to the party when it comes to the Atty. General of Va's attempt to revoke Homosexuals from their 'protected class' status from discrimination. Ken Cuccinelli sent a letter to all the state's universities and colleges that the administration of those institutions did not have the power to include homosexuals as being protected by anti-discrimination polices.
What I think happened is that he got the same kind of tacit approval from Gov. Bob McDonnell and his administration to try this crap. Until the flare threatened to go supernova, the Governor and the AG played like it wasn't in the governor's authority and he did not have the power to do anything about the enforcement of the policy, saying it was a legal issue. The AG said it was a legislative issue and that he was only enforcing the law as he read it. Or some kind of crap.
The both of them are quite douchy. I have felt that the veneer that the intolerance that covers's the prejudice in Virginia came off in the most recent gubernatorial election. Incumbent Creigh Deeds kept the White House at arms length because of the intolerance that is in Virginia. I don't think he thought he could win being associated mainly with a black man, and this precludes the President's popularity waning or Obama's policies.
'Simple Bob' ran a 'tea baggish' kind of race and he won. He didn't have a good record as a legislator in Va., and from what I read about him, he wasn't above trying the kind of crap he tried to do in this instance. "Clink, clink"! And that is my two cents!!
AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A STORY ABOUT DETROIT
When Katie Couric teased a story about a city having to close 29 schools, I braced myself to hear more bad news about my hometown. Instead it was about Kansas City, Missouri. The reasons given for the closures were all too familiar as voiced by Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks. "The urban core has suffered white flight post-the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. the Board of Education, blockbusting by the real estate industry, redlining by banks and other financial institutions, retail and grocery store abandonment."
Though no one asked me, I'd say we are tracking for a 'social dark age'. Most big cities resemble husks, and the vital nutrients are being sucked out of them. I also think that the way technology works, I do think we are being pulled away from humanity. It isn't a problem for those who are 'balanced and rational', but for the future generations, life is going to be one where less and less emphasis is going to be placed on real human contact and authentic emotions.
But I am sure that is what was thought with each new advance in the sciences and engineering. I guess I can file those concerns with the discussion the first Cro-Magnon had with the last Neanderthal...
WELL, SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA HAVE A PLAN B
It wasn't all gloom I got from watching the news. This story about an Autoworker who was laid off back home, was one that I connected with on several levels.
Tom Smallwood was a cat who thought like so many people did, that he had a good job to care for his family and retire on. But when he was laid off by GM, he had to come up with some out of the box thinking.
There wasn't a lot of back story to what made him think he could do it, but Tom beat long odds to qualify for the Pro Bowlers Association (PBA) tour. His wife had her doubts, initially. That is the reason I wondered about what made him think he was a good enough bowler to make the tour. Why despite her reservations, when was it that she came around to thinking, maybe he IS going to be able pull this off...
Certainly after his first tournament victory, where he outlasted the field and beat the PBA's player of the year! But I couldn't help but think that his wife's doubts were among other people who were close to her and Tom regarding his ambitions. Now I am sure that he also killed at the Thunderbird or wherever it is that he does his bowling. So why would it be so farfetched for his wife to question where or not he could make the tour?
It reminded me of my ex and her lack of support for my boxing career. Then I thought, if I am ever going to write a new story for myself, I had better start getting ready for 'what's next' and leave what happened where it belongs. Oh, and to work on my 'Plan B'!!
6 comments:
I remember hearing about Tom, now I did not know that about his wife. Shame on her!! That is an amazing story of making your dreams come true. I am kind of sad that she had her 'doubts' no doubt put there by well meaning friends and family, but that she did not tell those people to step off. Congrats Tom from someone who does not know you and has no doubts about you!
Well, pending the day when LGBTs are specifically included in anti-discrimination laws, it seems like they could do the right thing and just not discriminate anyway.
Good plan!
The story of Tom is a pretty cool one. I'd definitely support my partners dreams of doing what he loved just like I'd hope to get the same support from him. That said, with a young family it'd be hard not to have a few doubts without a steady and solid source of income while those dreams were being realized. And I'd be willing to be that person for sure ... actually, I already have been while Colin went to school to do what he does (and loves) now. Next up, my turn!
It's a crying shame that homosexuals don't have all the rights afforded the "rest of us".
I'm with ya on the fighting carreer! I wanted to be a fighter, too. The only that stopped me is I truly am not that good. I'm slow, clumsy, and my reflexes are darned near non-existent. I can, however, take a beating ;-)
Seriously, I can. I wrestled in high school (mediocre, at best), goofed around with street fights for a while, then settled doiwn and taught TaeKwonDo in Florida for a few years. All of which means little, other than I know how to hit and be hit, and be hit, and be hit .
I totally agree with this comment of yours Mark:
I also think that the way technology works, I do think we are being pulled away from humanity. It isn't a problem for those who are 'balanced and rational', but for the future generations, life is going to be one where less and less emphasis is going to be placed on real human contact and authentic emotions.
I can see that happening in the next generations coming up. I can see us being like the people in Surrogates (did you see that movie??)
betty
How long is it going to be and what will it take for people to give up thier homophobia? do they have to die out. That bigotry has no long lasting future. There have always been gay people and there always will be. They can't legislate human nature.
It is not only technology that is dehumanizing people. I recently read a complaint from a mother who said tht her son was being taught that everything is subjective and therefore no real answers are known or required for anyone. Opinions rule, if they have any.
DB
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