Butch Femme Planet - View Single Post - The Rise of Anti-Government Bigots: Spitting, the N-Word, Anti-Gay/Lesbian Slurs

Jess · 03-23-2010, 07:36 AM

Perhaps it is just my simpleton way of viewing things, but I personally feel that it is time for a clear cut anti-discrimination/ pro human rights bill/ law in this country. When FDR said " we have nothing to fear...." and when LBJ said " until we are all color blind.." and when Clinton said.."don't ask don't tell".. they were all well meaning in their attempts for us to put aside our fears and bigotry. Even though years later, those very ideas may have become outdated and even in some cases failed miserably, these leaders tried to make a difference.

We are at a point in our brief history where once again the population is bubbling over with fear and discrimination and it is obvious every time we turn on the news or open our computers. The way I see it, Pres Obama has the perfect opportunity and in my opinion, obligation to help end all of that. Not because he is a POC, but because he is our leader. In much the same way that our little planet here is attempting to discuss and create an anti- discrimination statement, our country should be doing the same thing. It could end DADT, DOMA, and a great many of our healthcare issues, by simply stating "we are all equal" under they eyes of the law. Gays can marry and receive equal benefits. Differently abled or ( sick) people can get healthcare without risk of losing homes/ properties. POC cannot be denied jobs/ housing/ growth opportunities based on skin color or ethnicity.

We should have "hate laws" that reflect discrimination on it's many levels. I agree with dreadgeek in that we can't legislate "prejudice" or "thought". We can however legislate behavior. Senators/ Congressmen especially should be held to higher standards, as they represent larger groups. Sanction/ fine their asses when they show them. I like the statement Linus posted regarding CAN and how they view the "freedom of speech" notion.

For me, we elect officials to go in there and do a job. If they aren't doing it then we have been dubbed and hopefully we will replace them with someone else we think will do it. I don't know exactly what "the" answer is regarding our politicians and our ongoing discrimination in this country. I do however feel strongly that a human rights bill would go a great distance in ensuring a more level playing field. How do we do that without becoming "big brother" ? Do we need more government involvement in our personal lives? Where does thought end and action begin? How do we truly move from the "dark age" to an enlightened equal country?

I think it is very easy for us to see what is "wrong", but it is very difficult to create laws that truly do make things just for everyone. There will be resistance to any movement that takes away "privilege" as some folks see it, as they equate what they have come to know as their "rights" for "privilege". Someone mentioned car insurance and wondered if it was not the same as health insurance. Well, frankly, it's not. The "privilege" of driving a car on state and federally maintained and monitored highways, is just that , a "privilege". Having healthcare available for all human beings should be a "right".

Perhaps in all of our distraction with this healthcare reform ( which falls short of the goal) we should be more focused on human rights. It just feels an awful lot like we are doing ( as a nation) what modern medicine does. Fix the symptom and not the illness.

My 2 cents about the "dark age" of politics, that's all.

03-23-2010, 07:36 AM	#54
Jess Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: decidedly indifferent Preferred Pronoun?: other Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Patrick Springs, VA Posts: 2,812 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,247 Thanked 5,700 Times in 1,682 Posts Rep Power: 0	Perhaps it is just my simpleton way of viewing things, but I personally feel that it is time for a clear cut anti-discrimination/ pro human rights bill/ law in this country. When FDR said " we have nothing to fear...." and when LBJ said " until we are all color blind.." and when Clinton said.."don't ask don't tell".. they were all well meaning in their attempts for us to put aside our fears and bigotry. Even though years later, those very ideas may have become outdated and even in some cases failed miserably, these leaders tried to make a difference. We are at a point in our brief history where once again the population is bubbling over with fear and discrimination and it is obvious every time we turn on the news or open our computers. The way I see it, Pres Obama has the perfect opportunity and in my opinion, obligation to help end all of that. Not because he is a POC, but because he is our leader. In much the same way that our little planet here is attempting to discuss and create an anti- discrimination statement, our country should be doing the same thing. It could end DADT, DOMA, and a great many of our healthcare issues, by simply stating "we are all equal" under they eyes of the law. Gays can marry and receive equal benefits. Differently abled or ( sick) people can get healthcare without risk of losing homes/ properties. POC cannot be denied jobs/ housing/ growth opportunities based on skin color or ethnicity. We should have "hate laws" that reflect discrimination on it's many levels. I agree with dreadgeek in that we can't legislate "prejudice" or "thought". We can however legislate behavior. Senators/ Congressmen especially should be held to higher standards, as they represent larger groups. Sanction/ fine their asses when they show them. I like the statement Linus posted regarding CAN and how they view the "freedom of speech" notion. For me, we elect officials to go in there and do a job. If they aren't doing it then we have been dubbed and hopefully we will replace them with someone else we think will do it. I don't know exactly what "the" answer is regarding our politicians and our ongoing discrimination in this country. I do however feel strongly that a human rights bill would go a great distance in ensuring a more level playing field. How do we do that without becoming "big brother" ? Do we need more government involvement in our personal lives? Where does thought end and action begin? How do we truly move from the "dark age" to an enlightened equal country? I think it is very easy for us to see what is "wrong", but it is very difficult to create laws that truly do make things just for everyone. There will be resistance to any movement that takes away "privilege" as some folks see it, as they equate what they have come to know as their "rights" for "privilege". Someone mentioned car insurance and wondered if it was not the same as health insurance. Well, frankly, it's not. The "privilege" of driving a car on state and federally maintained and monitored highways, is just that , a "privilege". Having healthcare available for all human beings should be a "right". Perhaps in all of our distraction with this healthcare reform ( which falls short of the goal) we should be more focused on human rights. It just feels an awful lot like we are doing ( as a nation) what modern medicine does. Fix the symptom and not the illness. My 2 cents about the "dark age" of politics, that's all. Last edited by Jess; 03-23-2010 at 07:50 AM. Reason: eta: I placed this in this thread instead of dark ages thread as I see the entire discussion universal and not to be divided.