Category: Other

So, I read the Respect for Marriage Act. It’s very short, just a few paragraphs. And I was a bit perplexed. It never stated that same-sex marriages shall be legal in the U.S. Instead, it says, in summary, that a legal same-sex marriage shall be recognized in all states. Or, more precisely, that “[n]o person acting under color of State law may deny … full faith and credit to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals [emphasis added].” This bill basically says what’s recognized in one state must be recognized in another, as traditional marriage is now. On its face, it makes sense and is consistent with the idea that marriage is (always has been) regulated at the state level.

Then I read this Slate article, which confirmed my suspicions in its closing paragraph, “In short, this bill goes as far as today’s Supreme Court could conceivably allow. If it passes and Obergefell falls, states can resume denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples. They might even be able to nullify the same-sex marriage licenses it provided under Obergefell. But couples who face such discrimination can travel to another state, obtain a new license, and compel their home state to recognize it, along with the rights and privileges it provides. And their marriage will receive full protection under federal law. As far as backstops go, it doesn’t get much better than the RFMA.” Wow! Backstop? People have to “compel” a state to recognize them? Doesn’t get much better? This! From a liberal website. The author Mark Joseph Stern is an a**hole.

While good and necessary — to say the least — the bill still leaves a stigma of second-class citizenship and does not “enshrine” gay marriage as Democrats like to tout. Apparently, the gays can retain their rights through this “backstop” measure, and they cannot (should not) ask for more, as Sterns suggests. The more I ruminate on the article and the bill, the more irked I become because, as usual, the LGBTQ community has to settle for half-measures and the back door to get equal rights.

Let’s just be clear about something. When SCOTUS ends Obergefell  — and they will — states can return to denying same-sex couples a marriage license, also known as discrimination — hardly equality! Ironically, RFMA almost guarantees discrimination in a way. The Obergefell decision currently grants more equality to the LGBTQ community than RFMA because Obergefell demands that all states must legalize same-sex marriage, but don’t worry. With RFMA in place when Obergefell falls, the gays can always travel across state lines to get married in a state where same-sex marriage is legal. When they return home, then that state must recognize all the rights and responsibilities of marriage even though said home state made such marriage illegal. So, really the only hassle is a couple must seek equality in another state first. Hmmm. Why does this sound familiar? Where have I heard this before? If I could just place this rationale being used in another context. Where, oh, where have I heard this before? Oh, yes, of course. It’s the same argument used with abortion rights as women have been relegated to second-class status. Nothing smacks of second-class more than having to go out of one’s way (literally and figuratively) to achieve the same rights as the neighbors. Just another half-victory for the LGBTQ community if the bill passes. Which would you prefer: A right enshrined in the Constitution or codified by law? Hint: It’s the Constitution, stupid! Two steps forward, one step back. Welcome to stupid America!

RepubliKKKlans et al. want a moron to represent them. Full stop! It’s not that hard to apprehend, f***tards. This is a stupid country that wants other stupid RepubliKKKlan leaders — witness traitor trump and now Herschel Walker. Mark my words! How in the hell can the Georgia race be this close in any poll? How? The only viable reason is that voters like stupid, and it’s really no wonder, for stupid attracts stupid. I’m starting to think Democrats are going to lose the Senate. Oh, well. Welcome to stupid America. The stupid cannot be undone! The end is coming, folks. It’s just a matter of time.

Georgians — RepubliKKKlans that is — can’t wait to elect the dumb n***** as their Senator because it’s much better to have their ignorant house n***** in the Senate than the Dr. Reverened Warnock, who, in their estimation, is just too uppity for whitey Georgians. The average of polls basically has the Warnock-Walker race tied. Oh, sure, Warnock has technically pulled ahead, making up a larger deficit, but the race was always going to tighten. Given Walker’s campaigning over the last several weeks, the real question is how and why is the race effectively tied? As I’ve written in other posts, Georgia is just as racist as it ever was. It does not matter that two Black candidates are running for the same Senate seat. While whitey may claim to be “color-blind,” they understand it is better to have an idiot n***** in office that can be controlled by the white majority rather than a rogue, educated Black man who can challenge whitey and advance liberal policies that threaten racists! Welcome to stupid, racist American!

According to Rolling Stone, “The fallout from the ill-fated Mar-a-Lago dinner date between Donald Trump, the antisemite Ye, and the young white nationalist Nick Fuentes is exposing a schism between the MAGA faithful and even-further-right extremists who think the time may have come time to embrace a new Dear Leader. … Politically, Ye appears to hit a sweet spot for extremists, combining America First politics, Christian nationalism, and naked discrimination against Jewish people. … Andrew Torba, founder of the alt-right social media company Gab, wrote on Telegram that Ye’s candidacy is useful to his goal of shifting ‘the Overton Window further right.’ Torba added: ‘That won’t happen with 2022 Trump, but it could continue to happen with Ye.’ As a strategy, Torba proposed his followers shift ‘all of our memetic energy for the 24 primaries to Ye if he announces a run.’” This is fantastic. Black Ye is coming to the rescue of Christian white supremacists because traitor trump has gone soft.

I know that I’m probably going to piss off tens and tens of my wandering readers with this post, but then again, any of my tens and tens of followers will already know that I don’t give a f*** what people think. So, I will just say it plainly: The world has gone to sh*t since the dismantling of modern-day Western imperialism. Dear my, where is this coming from, one may ask? PBS. I recently watched “Taken Hostage” on American Experience. Part I and Part II. And I could not help but compare Iran now under Islamic dictatorship and then under the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. To be sure, I will readily concede King Pahlavi was a paranoid, greedy, and ruthless ruler who led with an iron fist. Still, he was also exceedingly progressive compared to Iran today. And it did not help that British and American interests in Iran’s oil caused Western governments to turn a blind eye to the Shah’s excesses. Nonetheless, King Pahlavi modernized Iran. Then came the Iranian Revolution and the dictatorship of the Islamic State, turning Iran, once an ally of the West, into an enemy, in particular America. And with it went all of Iran’s progress. Look at the upheaval in Iran today, where apparently, after 45 years of oppression, people seem to want their freedoms back, such as women who were remarkably free under the Shah.

That is but one example of a country throwing off the “yoke” of Western imperialism only to be transformed into a dictatorship. Let’s not pretend that imperialism in modern times — post World War I — was not at least more civilizing and democratic than what such provinces and states are experiencing today. Here’s another example: Hong Kong. Clearly, the modern state of Hong Kong was created entirely through British imperialism. Even though no one would have predicted the state of the world when Britain’s 99-year lease expired, I don’t think many would argue that ceding the colony back to China was a benefit to the world. Too bad China in 1997 was a full-on dictatorship. The “one country, two systems” was always going to be a farce. I promise you that most Hong Kong citizens would welcome back that “oppressive” “imperial” British rule in a heartbeat if they had the chance now that “one country, two systems” is “one county, one system” — a dictatorship.

Yet, even going back to 1997 is ancient history. I have an even more recent example, though admittedly not quite on the same par as true “imperial” ambitions. Afghanistan. Agree or disagree with the righteousness of America invading and staying, one thing is undeniable: We brought freedom and modernization to the country — or at least tried. But I guess as much as we wished or hoped, one can drag a third-world country into modernity, but you can’t take the third-world out of the country. So, after 20 years of resistance from within, the “evil” American “imperialists” returned Afghanistan to its Taliban roots. Consequently, the harshest form of Islamic dictatorship now rules, and I don’t have to go into the details of what that is like.

In the end, I’d say Western imperialism has been rather good to the world, but I guess there are those who think this recent rise in authoritarianism is somehow unrelated to Western powers shirking their responsibility to spread democracy and freedom around the globe, which cannot be achieved from a distance. But, hey, at least nations are now free to revert to their baser origins and spread dictatorial rule in the world just so the West doesn’t have to feel guilty about “forcing” its morals on others. Because I promise you that dictators have no scruples about forcing their form of government on other nations — Russia! But whatever! Taking the high road always saves the day. Welcome to stupid America.

Allow myself to quote myself from an April 2022 post: “What a f***ing mess! I have no idea how or why this globally connected ‘superpower’ believes it can isolate itself from a highly contagious respiratory disease that repeatedly boomerangs around the world. How many lockdown cycles can China endure if it has no intention to immunize its population — naturally or medically? How many years can this go on? COVID is here to stay forever.”

And now, from The New York Times, “In an iPhone factory in central China, thousands of workers clashed with riot police and tore down barricades. In the southern city of Guangzhou, protesters broke out of locked-down buildings to confront health workers and ransack food provisions. In some ways, China’s struggles are of Mr. Xi’s own making. China has clung to harsh ‘zero-Covid’ policies aimed at eradicating Covid infections, even as its vaccination efforts have lagged. For three years, Beijing pumped out propaganda in support of tough controls, arguing they were the only way to protect lives. It also described the terrifying consequences of the uncontrolled spread of the virus in much of the rest of the world. … In the locked-down district of Haizhu, home to roughly 1.8 million people, the workers, many of whom toil for long hours and low pay in Guangzhou’s textile industry, rushed into the street to protest food shortages. They tore down fences and barricades, and videos circulating online showed another confrontation between residents and police.”

Looks like the Chinese are getting fed up. Who could have predicted the efficacy of a zero-COVID policy? Who could have foreseen such a worthless approach to a highly contagious disease? Who? Answer: Me! Too bad the Chinese live under an authoritarian regime. They’ll have to learn to live with the misery and incompetence of the government they desire and deserve. I found this especially gratifying from The Times, “At the same time, many others have questioned the need for lockdowns at all. This week, as millions of Chinese tuned in to watch the World Cup in Qatar, they saw unmasked crowds rooting for their favorite teams. Chinese social media users posted messages expressing sarcasm and envy, as they contrasted their cloistered lives with the raucous celebrations on TV.” Oh, well. Suck to be Chinese!

Perhaps the most significant benefit for the rest of the world of China’s ridiculous zero-COVID policy, in the long run, is the realization that other countries cannot (should never have been allowed to) rely on China as the global “manufacturing floor.” Not sure how and why world economies — America in particular — would permit themselves to be held hostage by a dictatorship government all in the name of profits. Whatever!

Where is the LGBTQ army? We must protect ourselves in force. We cannot rely on the government and our straight allies. They speak support, but their actions are weak. We must be strong and meet force with force. We must not shirk or shrink like violets, as our enemies would have us be labeled, from our duty to protect. Where is the gay version of the Black Panthers to protect our brethren? Wake up, LGBTQ community! Arise and fight! Take it no more. Meet violence with violence in the name of protecting all of ourselves. The time for love is over! The time for turning the other cheek is over! The time for actions and counteractions is upon us. This is an existential fight! Arise! Arise! Arise! Do not be weak, for they prey on our weakness.

According to Denver Gazette, “The Denver Gazette has learned from a relative, who wished to remain anonymous, that the suspect is the grandson of Randy Voepel, a representative for California’s 71st Assembly District, based in San Diego and Riverside counties. Voepel serves as the vice chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs, Aging and Long-Term Care, and Public Employment and Retirement committees. He lost this year when he ran for election in a newly drawn legislative district.”

The time for forgiveness is over. The time for understanding is over. The time for “love and light” is over. The time for vengeance has begun! Rise up, LGBTQ community! I have said it repeatedly. We are at war with RepubliKKKlans, MAGA morons, evil evangelicals, and QAnon kooks. It is time to strike back, for they are slaughtering us, and we do nothing. We just take it and die. I say an eye for an eye, and right now, the bullseye should be on Randy Voebel. He will not be missed!

Ya know, one aspect of the story that is being overlooked — by myself included — is the bravery of the gay patrons. The New York Times reports, “A man shrouded in body armor and wielding an AR-15 style rifle attacked an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs on Saturday night, in a rampage that killed at least five people and injured at least 25 others. At least one person inside the nightclub, Club Q, tackled and subdued the gunman, the authorities said, helping to prevent further bloodshed. Mayor John Suthers of Colorado Springs said that a man had grabbed a handgun from the gunman and then hit him with it, subduing him. When the police burst into the club, the man was still on top of gunman, pinning him down, Mr. Suthers said [emphasis added].”

Is it just me, or does this sound like the description of a movie? It is the classic scene where the hero uses the villain’s own weapon to knock said villain to the ground. Of course, this is real life, and not only is it real, but it evinces that gay people are braver than their straight counterparts. Full stop! I am really struggling to remember a recent incident where an unarmed potential victim in the heat of battle, so to speak, had the fortitude to approach a man with a rifle who is killing people around him to subdue the perpetrator. I can easily recall an instance where “hardened” police stood around scared sh*tless while children were being slaughtered in a classroom — Uvalde. Sh*thole Texas!

I also quote CNN, “At least two people inside the club confronted and fought the gunman and prevented further violence, [Colorado Springs Police Chief] Vasquez said. ‘We owe them a great debt of thanks,’ he said.” You’re welcome! Dammit! The hero was straight!

It would appear the domestic terrorist, 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, who killed at least five people in a Colorado gay bar — Club Q — was arrested on a previous domestic terrorist event, but nothing ever came of it. As CNN reports, “Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report by the man’s mother that he was ‘threatening to cause harm to her with a homemade bomb, multiple weapons, and ammunition,’ according to the release. Deputies called the suspect, and he ‘refused to comply with orders to surrender,’ the release said, leading them to evacuate nearby homes. Several hours after the initial police call, the sheriff’s crisis negotiations unit was able to get Aldrich to leave the house, and he was arrested after walking out the front door. Authorities did not find any explosives in the home. It is not immediately clear how the bomb threat case was resolved, but the Colorado Springs Gazette reported that the district attorney’s office said no formal charges were pursued in the case.”

Imagine that! A domestic terrorist who previously exhibited domestic terrorist proclivities is allowed to own a gun and kill a minority group because authorities declined to prosecute the original crime. Un-f***ing-believable! It never f***ing fails. Red flag laws are useless. The police and prosecutors are useless. As long as the suspect is whitey, then he’ll get away with criming until he becomes a mass murderer. Only in stupid America!