I stopped reading after the claim that Reagan is "largely responsible for the spread of AIDS" because he didn't do anything to stop it. I can't abide that much stupid.
All right, I let anger get the better of me. I allow that rarely. Of course he didn't give anyone AIDS or spread it, nor would he or could he have found a cure. What he could have done was speak publicly sooner. Much of the strong sentiment against Reagan comes from playwright Larry Kramer ("The Normal Heart"), whom I've met, and who picketed the NY Times alone desperate to bring national attention to the crisis.
Unfounded or not, a community in America feels betrayed by the Reagan Administration. They have that right. Much debate has circulated during the last 25+ years over his supposed responsibility. His relative silence and inaction fueled considerable fear and hatred toward the LGBT community. Here's a brief article discussing that debate: http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/26671.html
The point of my blog is that Prop 8 has reinforced, and indeed, forged new rifts in our society. New racial tensions have emerged. You might try giving it another go.
If you meet me, I think you'll find I'm far from stupid. It takes a lot of chutzpa to say that behind the safety of the keyboard.
The only face you present to strangers reading your prose is what you write. Your claim that Reagan was largely responsible for the spread of AIDS was not merely stupid, it was moronic.
Who was responsible for the spread of aids is a large and complicated public health question -- the responsibility is shared by a great many individuals and medical and health organizations -- but it's a completely different question from what might have been done to slow the spread of AIDS, speed research for treating, preventing, or curing the disease, stop demonizing homosexuality and homosexuals, and promote the dignity and human rights for all LGBTs. Yes, Reagan was a complete failure at the latter, and a lot of other stuff, and it is fine by me if anyone wants to feel betrayed by him. He was a pretty lousy President. But. None. of. That. Makes. Reagan. Responsible. for. the. Spread. of. AIDS. Saying Reagan is largely responsible for the spread of AIDS is wacky, lunatic, foil hat territory.
And I don't know you from a platypus, so all I have to go on is what you say. Well, what you said was so dumb that I stopped giving you credit for being worth my time. If you don't want that to happen, don't write stupid shit.
And frankly, I'd be perfectly happy to tell you to your face that it was a stupid thing to say. So don't come all "you've got a lot of nerve" for responding in print to what you said in print. If you want me to read what you write, write better.
Oh well. I'm not trying to perpetuate a confrontation. I certainly don't want to take my feelings out on you, which I began to do with my first response. This anger and frustration is different from what I've felt previously. We don't have to like what we read and it's fine that you don't like my blog. My point may be clear to others, it doesn't have to be clear to you. I'm sure we're like-minded in other respects.
and sadly those who voted for it probably don't give a rats ass how anyone hurt by this feels - they answer to a high power dontcha know - I've asked her permission to re post - I've had yet another 'discussion' w/ one who actually thought there were still laws on the books prohibiting sex between same genderd folks of consenting age - can we euthanize them now??
i read the comments and the storm over meaning... i find it is more of an argument between one person who speaks in generalities and another that is arguing in legalese specifics.. "responsible for the spread" and "failure to slow the spread of AIDS, speed research for treating, preventing, or curing the disease, stop demonizing homosexuality and homosexuals, and promote the dignity and human rights for all LGBTs" is such a fine minute point... both sides see a negativity in the Reagan administration over the specific issue...
i don't know either of them, but while the 2 of them argue vehemently and passionately about how exacting their position is, the ISSUE about the feelings in America about religious statues becoming legal laws that 47% of the public allegedly supports is still with us...
and until we can QUIT bitching between ourselves over the fine points, and find a way to come together with as much cohesion as the millions who go to a church and get their marching orders every Sunday, we are gonna be fighting an uphill battle.
They are blind-- they believe in getting government out of business-- but throwing it right into the private lives of anyone that isn't "godly enough'.
In the last 8 years i went from being a sincere non-practicing Christian to a flat out atheist. i cannot believe how much of that bullshit seeps into every aspect of how we think. i don't need a magical daddy to save me when i mess up or to pardon me for my mistakes, and i sure don't need a self appointed voice of big daddy that will preach to me each week about what is the right thing to do for my fellow man.
We that are against 8 (and i am married vanilla het moving to bi poly kink) are disgusted that the far right spewed so many lies and that so many are so IGNORANT that they believed them. THEY are better organized than us, better funded, and the have a religious FERVOR to their arguments that empowers them.... we better get that too or just call us all Hester.
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no subject
Date: 2008-11-07 05:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-07 07:07 pm (UTC)Unfounded or not, a community in America feels betrayed by the Reagan Administration. They have that right. Much debate has circulated during the last 25+ years over his supposed responsibility. His relative silence and inaction fueled considerable fear and hatred toward the LGBT community. Here's a brief article discussing that debate: http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/26671.html
The point of my blog is that Prop 8 has reinforced, and indeed, forged new rifts in our society. New racial tensions have emerged. You might try giving it another go.
If you meet me, I think you'll find I'm far from stupid. It takes a lot of chutzpa to say that behind the safety of the keyboard.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-07 08:03 pm (UTC)Who was responsible for the spread of aids is a large and complicated public health question -- the responsibility is shared by a great many individuals and medical and health organizations -- but it's a completely different question from what might have been done to slow the spread of AIDS, speed research for treating, preventing, or curing the disease, stop demonizing homosexuality and homosexuals, and promote the dignity and human rights for all LGBTs. Yes, Reagan was a complete failure at the latter, and a lot of other stuff, and it is fine by me if anyone wants to feel betrayed by him. He was a pretty lousy President. But. None. of. That. Makes. Reagan. Responsible. for. the. Spread. of. AIDS. Saying Reagan is largely responsible for the spread of AIDS is wacky, lunatic, foil hat territory.
And I don't know you from a platypus, so all I have to go on is what you say. Well, what you said was so dumb that I stopped giving you credit for being worth my time. If you don't want that to happen, don't write stupid shit.
And frankly, I'd be perfectly happy to tell you to your face that it was a stupid thing to say. So don't come all "you've got a lot of nerve" for responding in print to what you said in print. If you want me to read what you write, write better.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-07 08:40 pm (UTC)Oh well. I'm not trying to perpetuate a confrontation. I certainly don't want to take my feelings out on you, which I began to do with my first response. This anger and frustration is different from what I've felt previously. We don't have to like what we read and it's fine that you don't like my blog. My point may be clear to others, it doesn't have to be clear to you. I'm sure we're like-minded in other respects.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-08 12:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-11 09:59 pm (UTC)i find it is more of an argument between one person who speaks in generalities and another that is arguing in legalese specifics..
"responsible for the spread" and "failure to slow the spread of AIDS, speed research for treating, preventing, or curing the disease, stop demonizing homosexuality and homosexuals, and promote the dignity and human rights for all LGBTs" is such a fine minute point... both sides see a negativity in the Reagan administration over the specific issue...
i don't know either of them, but while the 2 of them argue vehemently and passionately about how exacting their position is, the ISSUE about the feelings in America about religious statues becoming legal laws that 47% of the public allegedly supports is still with us...
and until we can QUIT bitching between ourselves over the fine points, and find a way to come together with as much cohesion as the millions who go to a church and get their marching orders every Sunday, we are gonna be fighting an uphill battle.
They are blind-- they believe in getting government out of business-- but throwing it right into the private lives of anyone that isn't "godly enough'.
In the last 8 years i went from being a sincere non-practicing Christian to a flat out atheist. i cannot believe how much of that bullshit seeps into every aspect of how we think.
i don't need a magical daddy to save me when i mess up or to pardon me for my mistakes, and i sure don't need a self appointed voice of big daddy that will preach to me each week about what is the right thing to do for my fellow man.
We that are against 8 (and i am married vanilla het moving to bi poly kink) are disgusted that the far right spewed so many lies and that so many are so IGNORANT that they believed them.
THEY are better organized than us, better funded, and the have a religious FERVOR to their arguments that empowers them....
we better get that too or just call us all Hester.