Some may think this is more suitable for the Banter forum, but I want to create a thread for things like...
WTF Department
Sun, 2011-09-11 14:20
#1
bagkitty
WTF Department
Sun, 2011-09-11 14:22
#2
bagkitty
... this blog entry.
Today we decided to go to the park. We live near a nice park that is safe, clean and quiet. Two of my daughters were in the sandbox, one on the slide, the other on the swings, and as I lifted the baby out of his stroller I looked up to see four women laughing at a baby boy as he was swinging in one of those bucket baby swings. That seems harmless enough, but I'm so sensitized to the strangeness in my community that I've developed this ever-present jumpiness whenever I'm in public. Sure enough, two of the women, so happy to see a baby boy laughing, embraced and remained standing there rubbing each other's back in a way that was clearly not just friendly affection.This is my community. I find myself unable to even leave the house anymore without worrying about what in tarnation we are going to encounter. We are responsible citizens. We live by the rules, we pay our taxes, we take care of our things. I'm supposed to be able to influence what goes on in my community, and as a voter I do exercise that right. But I'm outnumbered. I can't even go to normal places without having to sit silently and tolerate immorality. We all know what would happen if I asked two men or two women to stop displaying, right in front of me and my children, that they live in sodomy.
Although my favourite paragraph is actually:
When there were two men relaxing at the side of the pool unnaturally close to each other, effeminately rubbing elbows and exchanging doe-eyes, I was again anxiously watching my children hoping they wouldn't ask questions. They don't see Daddy do that with anyone but Mommy. We haven't been back to the pool for a couple of weeks, except once but it rained. The truth is, now I don't really want to go back.
It does leave me wondering, though, why is she describing the elbow rubbing as effeminate? Is there a butch way of doing it?
Mon, 2011-09-12 08:58
#3
WTF indeed.
Mon, 2011-09-12 09:40
#4
Ugh. Catholics. Seven kids. No brain.
Mon, 2011-09-12 13:17
#5
Northern Shoveler
From hugs to lesbians "living in sodomy?" WTF indeed.
Mon, 2011-09-12 13:33
#6
Clearly the blogger hasn't paid enough attention to her kids to see that they don't care about or even think about discrimination unless they get indoctrinated by boneheaded adults.
It is refreshing at least to see THEM avoiding the park. It's regrettable, but I'd rather they go off and sulk in the closet until they wise up than starting a holy crusade, like some people do.
Mon, 2011-09-12 13:45
#7
The blogger is advertising her own ignorance, but her kids have to grow up in that environment. I hope they can get past the narrow and distorted view of what constitutes love and companionship as they mature into adults.
Mon, 2011-09-12 13:52
#8
There is hope in the fact that kids learn from bad examples as well as good, and aren't just carbon copies of their parents. It is unfortunate that they have to, though.
Plus, if that parent thinks she can hide her kids from the real world, good luck. She might as well try and hide them from the golden arches.
Mon, 2011-09-12 14:29
#9
Ugh. Catholics. Seven kids. No brain.
It's not Catholics. It's one Catholic.
If a gay poster says something offensive, would it be appropriate for someone to say "Ugh. Gays." Obviously not.
Incidentally, Catholics are the only major religion in the US more likely to support gay marriage than be against it, and were the only major religion in the US to vote Democrat more than Republican.
Mon, 2011-09-12 15:03
#10
bagkitty
@Keystone:
I think you are quite right in calling Merowe's comment out -- it was inappropriate.
I would also like to observe, though, that your polling date about American Catholics, while accurate, is not particularly relevant. If the Catholic church were democratically structured (or even susceptible to popular pressure from its adherents) it might be relevant, but it is an organization where the official position comes from "on high" -- and the writer of the blog isn't very far off from the official position -- her language just isn't quite so obtuse.
What I did find interesting was some of the reaction elsewhere, like this example from over at Towleroad:
Reminds me of when I was a kid. As African American's moved into our area, my grandmother was very concerned about the effect it would have on me. She thought my parents were irresponsible for dropping me off at the pool with my friends. In retrospect, I can see that her biggest fear was that I might actually grow up and accept these people as equal to me. And what if, God forbid, I should actually marry one or something?
ETA: Is also to fun to read the "advice" being offered at the end of the original Towleroad posting:
But if you really can't overcome your fear of being mobbed by gay people the moment you step out of your house, might I suggest one of these: The Genesis Pre-fabricated Steel Shelter System. You'll find that there is no better customizable "living pod" on the market:
While each risk situation is unique and requires a methodical threat assessment tailored to the client's needs, Hardened Structures' experience across the spectrum of threats has enabled us to design a modular, configurable system that enables survivability in even the most demanding scenarious. Called the Genesis Series, this underground shelter system provides protection against a wide range of disasters including 2012 scenarios. For protecting your family or family group, the Genesis Series is unmatched in the industry.
Mon, 2011-09-12 16:28
#11
this woman is a major bigot and religious fanatic, but sadly this shouldn't be a WTF moment because there are lots of people who think/act this way.
it's the "i'm not a bigot, just not in front of me!" thing, and it's 100% BS. If seeing two men or women touch elbows poolside or look at each other in the eyes (oh my!) offends you, you have big problems and really need to relax and stop thinking the world should cater to you and your fanatical cult.
she would be the first to complain if someone came up to her and said "can you take off that cross and put away that bible because i really don't think it's up to you to decide when i have to tell my eight year old about religions."
Mon, 2011-09-12 18:08
#12
this woman is a major bigot and religious fanatic, but sadly this shouldn't be a WTF moment because there are lots of people who think/act this way.
Understood, but I strongly believe it is wrong to dismiss this as "lots of people who think/act this way." It's outrageous and offensive and deeply, morally wrong. You dismiss it as the way things are, and you stop fighting against oppression.
Tue, 2011-09-13 17:25
#13
i agree rebecca, the idea that something shouldn't be directly confronted simply because it's popular is a good way of defeating ourselves before we even try!
but another way to look at it could be: by realizing that this view is quite common it enrages us progressives enough to confront it and fight it! I think all too often because we surround ourselves with like minded people we get shocked and run at the first sign of hatred and just "let it be", like it's some kind of anomaly. To me a WTF moment is like "WTF, there are still people who think that way?"
when you realize it is "the way things are" to me it provides impetus to challenge it on the spot and call people out--directly--on their hatred, as opposed to talking about it later on a blog or something. By directly calling people out and embarrasing them on the spot i think it reinforces that the reason they get embarrased is because their ideas are so obviously full of beans.
Although it could be that i just like seeing people with close minded views squirm in their own skin when they get confronted to their face...