Local Act 1/Prop 8 protest planned
It was a win-some-lose-some election year for Arkansas voters. The passing of all five ballot measures probably wasn’t music to anyone’s ears. It would be hard to argue it not odd that a statewide lottery was completely embraced while at the same time, a new initiative act was passed that makes it more difficult for children to find a home in Arkansas.
Two steps forward and one step back, we suppose.
Speaking of stepping, if you’re fired up enough about the passing of Arkansas’ Initiative Act 1 and/or California’s Proposition 8, then Saturday’s your day to be heard.
On Saturday, November 15, 2008 local residents will join protestors across the nation in what one local group is saying “could be the largest organized Protest / Movement since the Civil Rights Movement.”
NWAEquality has set up a website detailing the peaceful demonstration’s agenda. Anyone interested should meet at Fayetteville City Hall at 12:30 PM where groups will organize and eventually march from the University of Arkansas campus towards Dickson Street.
A nationwide march specifically protesting California’s Propostion 8 is planned for the same time.
[More at jointheimpact.com and nwaequality.wordpress.com]
Discussion
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By Total Bastard on November 13th, 2008
Fabulous!
Seriously, how are they going to march “towards Dickson Street”?
Like, down the Old Main lawn in the general direction of Dickson Street?
How about all the way to Tangerine you lazy bitches?
By Schleuss on November 13th, 2008
the map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&s=AARTsJpoBS2qQFLwJIeP5TUKXh2TLyo0_w&msa=0&msid=109734624543959828580.00045b64b16a36597f011&ll=36.072274,-94.166651&spn=0.034549,0.062571&z=14
By aquachong on November 13th, 2008
How does March toward Dickson not make sense…
Tangerine? Lazy Bitches?
Now THAT makes sense.
By Scott Stapp of Creed on November 13th, 2008
You tell ‘em Total Bastard!
By Angel Lust on November 13th, 2008
What exactly is this little temper tantrum supposed to accomplish? PAssage of IA1 was an abomination and the whole issue was a misguided attempt at legislating recidivistic morality. But this will do nothing other than make the proponents look like shrill demanding children. And that will get loads of support from the undecided.
I voted against Init 1. Its not a question of H8; its a question of relevance at this point.
By George on November 13th, 2008
Yeah AL, I hear ya. I voted again IA 1 as well and was very disappointed that it passed. Like it or not the people have spoken. That’s what democratic elections are for. I’m afraid these kinds of rallies only drive a deeper wedge between the two sides… further alienating “undecided” and/or “barely decided” voters.
There is still a lot of social conservatism out there. Not just in Arkansas, but in this country. The only thing that is going to change that is time.
That being said….who knows, I may walk with them or at least show my support from the sidelines. Such is the duality of man.
By Total Bastard on November 13th, 2008
It doesn’t make sense because Dickson bisects the U of A campus. If you are going to start on the U of A campus and march “towards” it, you aren’t going go very far until you actually get to it.
It should have been march “down” (or up, or up and down)Dickson. But there I go reading too much into something again.
My critical reading comprehension is approaching anal retentiveness. Forgive me. I can’t help myself.
By Schleuss on November 13th, 2008
@George
I feel like you’d benefit from listening to Nina Simone’s song “Mississippi Goddamn” http://songza.com/z/ef3yyu
Pay attention to the theme of time (“too slow”) that she professed in several works. And, it’s just a helluva fun song.
By Kaci on November 14th, 2008
SATURDAY MORNING 11/15/08–
11:45 am: Meet in front of the U of A Union, just west of the Mullins Library. March to city hall.
12:30 pm: Gather in front of Fayetteville City Hall (113 W Mountain). March to the intersection of Dickson and College
1:15 pm: Gather at intersection of Dickson and College
I’m sure this nationwide protest march will be just an ineffective and “childish” as the Kent State protests against the Vietnam War or the civil rights March to Birmingham. Unfortunately, there are just some people who are not content in leading apathetic, actionless lives when certain sacred rights are denied.
By George on November 14th, 2008
@Schleuss – Cool stuff. I dig some Nina Simone.
I’ll say this to both you and Kaci. I am not the enemy. I support gay rights legislation in all forms and encourage everyone I know (often in vain) to do the same. It is ridiculous to think that someone’s sexual orientation should have anything to do with their rights as US citizens.
I’m not apathetic. Activism is a great thing. I do my best to educate my daughter on all sides of different issues and get her involved in her world/community. I say only time will change this issue simply because all issues are not the same. There is a large group of social conservatives out there who are never going to change their minds on this. They don’t care how many people march or how much publicity the issue gets. This group is heavily skewed toward the older demographic. As they die, so dies the ignorant opposition. To quote Vince Vaughn in Old School, “Old people die. That’s what they do.”
@Self – George, you’re a dumbass. Look at the large support Prop 8 got from black voters. You can’t tell me they are all social conservatives. Certain groups need to be educated on this issue. The only way to do that is to bring it into the light and get public dialogue going.
@George – Self, you sound like a racist prick.
(okay…i’m done here. sorry about that.)
By sofresh-n-sogay on November 14th, 2008
never a better time to advocate for taxation of churches. Mormon’s donating millions to the Prop. 8 campaign, a Catholic church refusing to give communion to those who voted for Obama, then all of what can’t be tallied, i.e., the churches that every day throw politics into the pulpit, yeah I’m looking at you Ronnie Floyd.
By Angel Lust on November 14th, 2008
Sofresh: agree whole heartedly. Will never see it happen in my life time – unless there is a major change in the supreme court judges and they actually consider that violating church and state. We might get a law banning direct contributions and campaigning. But no one is ever going to touch those Catholic and Baptist tithes.
KAci: I was considering attending your march.
But equating the injustice of not being able to get married with injsutice of tens of thousands dying in an unjust war or the effects of slavery in which people were owned like furniture and tools is offfensive.
Just keep driving that wedge in there and the slow (inevitable) march to equality will grind to a crawl.
Adn while you are patting each other on the back and taking pride in your commitment, remeber that people DIED at Kent State for what they believed. Your march doesn’t even reach the level of civil disobedience.
By halfdeserted on November 14th, 2008
Angel Lust, it’s not about dying for what you believe in. I don’t think anyone going to the march is looking for some dramatic martyrdom. We’re just getting out there to show support, start a dialogue, and bring awareness to these issues. And I don’t see anything wrong with that. If you don’t agree with us, don’t attend. It’s as simple as that.
By karl on November 15th, 2008
It’s about awareness, not about driving a wedge. Just like any other protest, we are voicing our opinion. Complacency equals condolence. I refuse to condone the denial of basic rights to a segment of society because of their sexual orientation. I refuse to agree that civil rights should be put up to vote.
Also, the Selma/birmingham march wasn’t about slavery, it was about civil rights for blacks (they weren’t slaves anymore). The analogy certainly fits.
By angel lust on November 15th, 2008
I agree with your cause. I just think you need better PR. You are marching in a city in which every precinct but one voted in your favor. You are preaching to the converted, not raising awareness.
The analogy may fit, karl, but blacks in the 60’s endured a bit more hardship and deprivation than what your struggle is about.
By sofresh-n-sogay on November 16th, 2008
The gays in the 60’s didn’t have it great either, Angel Lust. The difference now is that black folk have made it further in attaining rights, and gays have only in the last few decades began to be out there. Gays have been rats, hiding from religious persecution, violence, and criminal prosecution. There are still plenty of gay people hiding because they live in a microcosm that doesn’t accept them. On a grander scale, it’s not socially acceptable to be racist, but it is perfectly fine to legislate hate against gay folk. In the larger part of the world, it is still a criminal offense to be gay, in some places punishable by death. Gay people are still being lynched.
I don’t like that a lot of black folk can’t sympathize with this civil rights issue and choose to draw a wedge by distinguishing their plight from the gay plight. It doesn’t matter how many people died, what matters is standing up to support each other, like the Martin Niemoller poem. I don’t believe the gays are driving a wedge so much as pointing out the hypocrisy; unfortunately that criticism usually hits at churches. Yet, that is where a lot of the problem resides, church teachings and influence. Churches no longer preach that slavery is ok, but being gay is unforgiveable. Of course, Christians drink Jesus blood and sing songs about how great it is to have someone nailed up on a cross because that redeems them for all their wrongs. The Bible has talking snakes too. These are the people who shouldn’t be raising kids or least of all criticizing others for the way they live their lives.
By Total Bastard on November 16th, 2008
The big difference, so fresh et al is that there is still debate ongoing as to whether gay people are born or made.
I am not one of those people who believe that gay people “choose” their orientation, but I will admit that I am not positive that science has proven that homosexuality is genetic.
Someone described their beliefs about homosexuality to me once by making a comparison between a person who is born with a propensity towards alcoholism. That person isn’t absolutely destined to be an alcoholic, but one could say that they are genetically predisposed.
I think until there is hard scientific evidence providing a concrete genetic basis for homosexuality, there will always been resistance to the extension of these rights to gays.
I don’t view gays as harmful or evil or sinful. I am not completely sure how I view gays. I do view them with compassion for their plight and the obvious difficulties they encounter in our society.
Did they make it all the way to Dickson Street yesterday? Was there a big salacious nude fiesta on the square? If so, did anybody get pictures?
Dan Skoff didn’t mention anything about hellfire and brimstone last night on the weather so I assume maybe God was busy with some other more pressing issues.
By sofresh-n-sogay on November 16th, 2008
Being gay is no more genetic or no more of a choice than being straight. Funny thing is, straight people would never admit they chose to be straight. One sexuality can’t be genetic and the other a choice against genetics.
All things equal.
By Tommy on November 16th, 2008
Since when was being able to adopt, or foster parent, a constitutional right. Some one show where it says you have the right to adopt children in the constitution
By The Verdict is Still Out on November 17th, 2008
Frankly, there is no support that being gay or straight is genetic or a product of upbringing/culture…It is dangerous to legislate either way at this point. I am hard pressed to find evidence that in ancient societies it was looked upon as an inbred orientation rather than a behavior or preference. That being said, I do not think gays or lesbians should be persecuted, but I would be hesitant to afford them the same tax breaks etc. as male/female marriages at this point. Looking for evidence either way.
By sofresh-n-sogay on November 17th, 2008
Verdict, if you can’t make any distinction, then why in your mind do male/female marriages get tax breaks but male/male or female/female marriages don’t? Your legitimizing one type of relationship as appropriate, that the choice and/or genetics of male/female relationships is right, and the gay relationships are wrong.
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