The Early-21st Century Children's Cartoon Character Controversy
When we look back at the early-21st Century thirty years from now, what will we make of the "Great Homosexual Children's Cartoon Character" conspiracy promulgated by social conservatives. You know, their theories that some of the children's cartoon characters of the day were either gay or promoted the gay lifestyle. Headlines from 2005:
- Robin William's Sponge Bob Square Pants number cut from the 2005 Oscar telecast because ABC TV fears offending Christian conservative lobbying groups and in turn the FCC,
- United States Secretary of Education complains that Buster cartoon on tolerance promotes homosexual lifestyle.
I think we are going to ask ourselves, how did a few unchristian, Christian lobbying groups hold so much sway and keep so many American people hostage with their anti-tolerance views? And, why were these people so afraid of showing a modicum of tolerance to a harmless cartoon that promoted tolerance using real life, non-traditional families? A cartoon that have might actually detered some kid from growing up to be a gay-basher because in his developmental years, he'd been exposed to two loving mommies raising a family and he can see that it is as normal and beautiful as his own family.
It is heartbreaking how 290 million people are all held hostage to intolerant, anal-retentive, Chicken Little, conservative Christian lobbying groups. These groups are trying their damnedest to move the country backwards because they long for the "Father Knows Best" America of their youth. Well, intolerant groups: GET OVER IT! It ain't gonna happen. When your generation finally dies off, so will an enormous chunk of intolerance in America. And maybe if today you'd focus more on tolerance, you'd have to worry less about the family.
Exploratory This
Over the last few weeks I've read about all these Republican politicians traveling to New Hampshire or South Carolina making speeches or going to potlucks all in the name of 2008. Exploratory committees are being set up and our boys are out there speaking to the conservative masses. And what a pre-field it is: You've got the extremely homophobic Mormon Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, spewing his intolerance down South. Then you've got the extremely homophobic Doctor Senator from Tennessee, Bill Frist, spewing his intolerance in New England. But this is always the way with the Republican Presidential hopefuls. If it's not Steve Forbes, it's Dan Quail. Everybody has to get out there and cut their conservative teeth by preaching the gospel of intolerance. When will these guys ever learn. Yeah, Bush got in, but the country is evolving, slowly, but still evolving.
Look at how open-minded Barry Goldwater became in his later years, helped along by an openly gay family member. God bless how open-minded he became. Odds are that most of the homophobic Republican politicians have a gay in their immediate family. Happened with Newt, and most recently, with Alan Keyes (though, I don't imagine a Goldwater conversion with either). So my advice to the 2008 crop of Republican hopefuls, take a close accounting of your immediate family, because I sure will especially if you have cute sons and I'll make sure I have the video to prove it. ;-)
My Audience with the Dr.
I attended a reception for Dr. Dean this weekend during the DNC's Winter Meetings in DC. It was the third time that I had the privilege to listen to Howard Dean speak. The first time was at a fundraiser in DC in 2003 and the second time was at a Kerry fundraiser last year at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC. The Dr. likes to speak from the heart; it is something I very much admire. I hope this style doesn't get muted because of his new position as Chairman of the DNC. And regarding his new position, enough already with all the naysayers in the Democratic Party and elsewhere stating that it's not a good thing that the DNC Chair is from Northeastern US and that the position should go to someone from the Red States. I'm so tired of folks disregarding Democrats from the Northeast, like it's such a bad thing. The Northeastern US is the lifeblood of these United States and our politicians personify this. And when I hear people from other areas of the US talk about the Northeast with such disregard, I note the irony of this smug and condescending talk, because it's not emanating from the mouth of a Northeasterner. But I digress.
Anyway, the reception was hosted by the Stonewall Democrats and many luminaries were in attendance, including Congressman Barney Frank, Virginia State Delegate Adam Ebbin, Chrissy Gephardt, to name a few. Congressman Frank gave a reliable, thought-provoking speech; he is always a joy to listen to.
I also spotted the Reverend Al Sharpton, and Donna Brazil in the halls of the DNC Winter Meetings. It was a veritable cornucopia of Democratic movers and shakers.
So Dr. Dean, I wish you the best in your new position and I hope you are never made to feel bad or defensive about being a Northeasterner. I never do, there is no better place to hail from (said smugly, I mean proudly).
A Word Devoid of Any Meaning
One word that has lost all of its meaning over the past 10 to 15 years is the word conservative. I take that back, I mean, it is the word 'conservative' when paired with the word 'Republican' where the word has been watered down to a meaningless phrase. The favorite adjective of every politician proud to be Republican means absolutely nothing anymore. I guess originally, conservative Republican connoted fiscal responsibility, respect for privacy, et cetera, et cetera, but has been so watered down of late by the Santorum/Bush/Frist/nutty right-wing preacher gang, that we are left with something of the equivalent of the currently meaningless label, alternative music.
For years now it has been rote that every Republican must declare that they are a 'conservative' Republican. I can still hear lifelong, middle-of-the-roader Bob Dole saying, "I'm a conservative Republican" in response to many an interviewer's questions during his final campaign.
And since the religious right take-over of the Republican party, 'conservative' especially rings hollow: Yes, of course, Mr. Robertson, you want to forbid my relationships and obsessively monitor and regulate my bedroom activities, but you are a conservative. Oh yes, Mr Bush, you spend like FDR during the New Deal and want to amend the Constitution to take away freedoms, but you are a conservative. Of course, Log Cabin Republicans and Administration gay insiders, you joined the party of Lincoln because you believe in fiscal responsibility and you help fortify the coffers of Republicans, most of whom are hellbent on passing the freedom-limiting Federal Marriage Amendment, but you are all conservatives. We're all friggin' conservatives. One whole zany country full of conservatives. I voted for Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton, Gore and Kerry, and yes, even I'm a pepper...I mean, I'm a conservative and wouldn't you like to be a conservative, too? Be a conservative, drink Dr...oh, sorry, that jingle was around when conservative Republican had meaning.
