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Kajsa's Journal
was legal in some states.
If a woman/man, child or animal was beaten
and you knew about it/ saw it,
you were advised to " mind your own business".
Polluting the air/water/land was a common occurrence
with little/no legal consequences.
Disabled people were openly ridiculed and hidden from society
for the most part.
We ate crap food full of preservatives that we didn't know
much about.
The list goes on and on.
Sure, a lot of things we dreamed and aspired to didn't happen.
But a number of changes took place.
You just have to notice them.
Posted by Kajsa in GLBT
Sat Apr 18th 2009, 10:05 AM had any mental illness, whatsoever. What he did have was the fear and extreme stress of facing these bullies everyday in school. I know what that feels like, yet my situation was not as threatening as Carl's. Do you know what it feels like to be afraid of going to school? I do. Add to that the fear of telling anyone about it and you have a kid on the breaking point of sanity. The schools are late out of the gate in helping these students. I've heard educators, even a Rabid Repub former member of the school board ( she's gone now but is a member of our city council-  ) say " it's a "normal" part of childhood" No, it isn't. This should not be a part of ANYONE'S childhood, ever! For some reason, "that's so gay" is not considered to be as offensive as racial epithets. I don't understand this at all. To me it's just as offensive as the 'N' word, along with "that's so retarded". This young man was quiet, studious and a humanitarian. He was the perfect target for cowardly bullies who prey on students like him. His death was beyond tragic. It reflects the apathy and ineptitude of the school administrators to take action against the bullies. They share a large amount of blame here.
of homeless people and mental illness now, but I do believe they are much lower than previously
thought.Links I checked ranged from 13% to 20%. That's still not a majority by any means.
I realize how many families with children are now homeless due to the housing meltdown.
Most of us who do have homes/apartments could lose them very easily. We are just one
calamity away.
So yes, I hear you Bobbolink!
In all truth and fairness, the vast majority of homeless people are NOT mentally ill.
I know those who are but they are in the minority.
Everyone needs help- with housing and medical help if they need it.
For someone to tell you not to "think about" the stigma of mental illness is arrogance and
worse at its height.
We as a society have stigmatized the homeless unmercifully.
That needs to stop now.
rational, intelligent, insightful and mature person!
I agree with everything you say here.
Constructive criticism is one thing,
Understanding people is another.
I have tried this example when I work with students
who are influenced to use the expression,
"that's so gay!"or anything even approaching gay bashing.
Imagine you, as a hetero live in a society where the
accepted norm is homosexual relationships.
You are not allowed to marry nor adopt children
together with a partner of the opposite sex.
You are targeted, harassed and had your life
threatened because of your heterosexuality.
Other heteros have been killed simply for being
who they were.
How would that make you feel?
It's the 'put yourself in their position'
that gets the students thinking, and usually turns
the tide.
Thanks so much for posting this, TA!
especially after 9-11.Never mind the fact
that there were Muslim victims of the attack
on the Twin Towers, who died there.
John McCain's campaign was rife with Islamaphobia,
especially coming from Sara Palin, the goodwill ambassador
from hell.
When Obama was labeled as a Muslim, it was uttered
with the contempt of an epithet.
Islamaphobia is very alive and well in our country.
Just as many Christians don't subscribe to every word in the
Bible, especially the OT where polygamy and slavery are condoned,
I don't believe every Muslim subscribes to every edict in the Koran, imho.
Personally, I've known many Muslims in the US who drink, smoke and gamble,
all sins according to the Koran.
We have enough hate and intolerance towards Islam and Muslims here to last us a lifetime.
We don't need to generate more.
Criticize those individuals who are propagating the anti- homosexuality message instead.
searching for statements from MLK on the subject. It includes statements from Mrs. Coretta Scott King, http://www.operationrebirth.com/archive/dl... Dr. Martin Luther King said…"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."? Does this not mean whatever affects me (a same gender loving man), affects YOU (a proclaimed ex-same gender loving man)? We are in this thing together whether you accept it or not. And GOD created it that way. Contrary to Pastor Foster's opinion, for anyone to take the words of Dr. King and use them to exclude or discriminate against anyone is assassinating the dream! Get it right! Furthermore, who would know Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. better than his wife? Who knew the dream before the world did because she was one with him in spirit and in body? You got it…. Mrs. Coretta Scott King. She can say, with more authority than ANYBODY can whether or not Dr. King would support the eradication of unjust laws that discriminate against same gender loving people. And you know what? SHE DID…
"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice," she said. "But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'" "I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people," she said. - Reuters, March 31, 1998.
Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood," King stated. "This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group." - Chicago Defender, April 1, 1998, front page.
Mrs. King said, days before the 30th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968, "the civil rights movement thrives on unity and inclusion, not division and exclusion." - Chicago Sun Times, April 1, 1998, p.18.
"For many years now, I have been an outspoken supporter of civil and human rights for gay and lesbian people…Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Ga. and St. Augustine, Fla., and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement," she said. "Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions." - Chicago Tribune, April 1, 1998, sec.2, p.4.
when I step out the door, I don't have to worry about being profiled or targeted for racism. The way all people should live is now considered a privilege-white privilege. Imagine being the male passenger on a domestic flight the first day flights were allowed after Sept.11th, 2001. This passenger is middle eastern and stood up to walk to the restrooms at the rear of the plane. When he did, several passengers began screaming, assuming he was a "terrorist". I can't even begin to imagine how he felt! Imagine for a moment being a Muslim,of middle eastern descent in this country,and what they have had to endure since 9/11! We have a long,long way to go.
We will implode under four more years of Repug rule, not to mention what your children and grandchildren will have to deal with. The time to come together is RIGHT NOW! There's too much at stake not to.
And I happen to agree with you that these are very pertinent issues that must be addressed.
I look at it differently however, and find that there are a number of Democrats, here at DU also
who agree with us- these are the things we are fighting for.
A stronger majority in the House and Senate will make a difference too.
One of my Senators, Barbara Boxer replies to my e-mails ( as does Senator Feinstein)
mentioning the roadblocks of the 2/3 majority.
It's hard to get anything done with one hand tied behind your back.
Yet again, we need to stand up and FIGHT for our goals and take our country back.
The wicked witch has landed and her name is Sara Palin- she will stop at nothing
but the best planned efforts to derail her deceptive, false front campaign.
What you see is not what you get with her.
What comes out of her mouth?- Forget about it- it's all window dressing.
Imagine the opposite of what she says and you have her true positions on the issues.
I'm one ticked off mom of a disabled child who is HIGHLY offended by her false remarks
that she is my "friend". Pardon?- not after cutting Alaska's budget for Spec. Ed. services
by 62%, lady! Don't get me started on national security( does she know what THAT is?)
oil and our wildlife!
Thanks for letting me vent,TBear.
That's just my humble opinion, but yes, I do agree with you that we need to reach out
more and YES- LISTEN to people. Listening is a skill many people don't have.
Take care, TBear.
Your quote,
" The potential to perform so called "heroic" deeds exists within all of us which essentially relegates it to the mundane."
I disagree that it can be relegated to the mundane,
when only a percentage act on the ability
to perform " heroic deeds".
Sadly, the measure of this attribute changes with time.
What was once considered common sense and helping ones fellow
human beings (and animals), is often considered heroic if measured against
the indifference and fear of involvement that many have.
My big concern now with Hillary and Obama going after each other
is-
they are doing all the research for the Repubs!
By attacking each other's record and credibility, they are mapping out a game plan
for McCain's staff to fine tune in the GE.
Let's not give them the ammo!
Instead, our candidates should be focusing on their qualifications, their accomplishments,
their goals and their ability to counter Republican roadblocks to those goals.
A lot a problems would be solved if undocumented workers were given a path to citizenship. And not just bestow this on our fallen servicemen who are undocumented!! But there is so much opposition to this, it would make your head spin. My city is now besieged by a city council that consists of three ( of five) members who are staunchly anti-immigrant. The two who were voted in last November, our ( gag) mayor, a child of immigrants himself!, and the biggest redneck yahoo dame this side of the Rockies, ran their ENTIRE campaign on their " get the illegal immigrants out of our city" battle cry. Hello! Most of these families have lived, worked and paid taxes in our city for decades! I teach many of their children, both in ESL and English classes. They ARE our city. That's what most people who rant the anti-immigrant BS don't get. It was one of the saddest days for Costa Mesa. Everyone who was vocal wanted these (*&*s out of office. But the stealth force of extreme RW neocons came out in force on election day. It was horrible. Oh, did I tell you the woman who was elected in was once kicked off the Board of Education here for being too offensive and disruptive? It's beyond depressing and enraging. But we keep fighting the ignorance. Hej då! 
Say what you will about professional sports, but what do you think
gets many kids motivated to get off their video gaming butts and
get some exercise.
It's watching their favorite players in professional sports.
And here's a real news flash.
Many of these young people love concerts, art and sports
all that the same time.
Man( woman) is capable of many interests.
--signed a former art major now English teacher who became
a sports fan.
Sideline; Sports is not the enemy.
When the Angels won the World Series in '02, it was the first event
that united me with the entity of OC in the 20 years I had lived here.
it was locked while I wrote this. Damn! I find a like=minded DUer like you, William who's threads/posts I really enjoy reading and now it's Sayonara? Damn, damn, damn! I know the feeling of being the odd one out. After posting a thread on GD a few weeks back I was blown away by the reactions of many, here. The sad part was, they had missed the forest for the trees and were arguing points that really didn't have a friggin thing to do with the main point. They had left that behind in the dust, to be ignored and never missed. A few got the point but they were flamed along with me like shish-kebobs on a BBQ. I was sad,angry and disillusioned. We are not talking about differences of opinion,( that's what democracy entails) but stonewalling the main point, the whole fucking point of my thread. It was beyond sad. Please don't get the granite cookie, take a break and think about it. I hope you will come back. You will be missed. 
What a wonderful tribute to a lady who was misunderstood by many, including myself. I had an auto-response loathing for televangelists, who I believed were besmirching the name of Jesus and his work. I just knew that karma would come full circle to even out their transgressions. Tammy Faye was not one of them. She was a true Christian is the purest form of the word. Yes, she had "sinned" and repented, but most importantly, she lead by example and embraced the gay community. IMHO, this is something her teacher would have done. This also set her apart from her contemporaries as someone who practiced what she preached. Rest in Peace, dear lady. You were one in a million. Thanks Nance, for sharing this. 
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