the world is your acorn

Flickr set of election night with the Obamas.

“Obama Releases Election Night Flickr Set” [via Lifehacker]

I guess this was almost a month ago, but that’s how behind I am. I don’t know about the last couple years, but when I used to watch Ellen Degeneres’s talk show she was always pretty avoidy when it came to gay issues. Apparently, at least on this day, she took it head on. Good one, Ellen!

“The Older She Gets, the Gayer She Gets…” [via Your Daily Lesbian Moment!]

Well, I got up ass-early (for me, anyway) this morning to do my part for the Vote No on 1 campaign, arriving just after 7am at Hillsboro High to stand in front of the 100 ft boundary with my Vote NO on 1 yard sign and hand out “I Voted NO” stickers to anyone who wanted them.

I’ve never done such a thing, and wasn’t really eager to, but felt that this was the last thing that I could do for the campaign. So, I stood there, smiling and saying “Good Morning” to people. Being non-confrontational but wanting to be friendly, I decided I would approach my task with the understanding that everyone is there to make democracy work, so even if people disagree on political issues with me, we all are joined at the very least in that common cause. And plus it’s ridiculous to walk by people and avoid eye contact if you’ve been standing there staring at them since they drove in the lot. Anyway, most people seemed to agree, returning my greeting with a smile. Some people became suddenly fascinated with their shoelaces or their cellphones as they walked by, but being a shy girl myself I understand that.

One lady, however, was suspicious and angry:
Me: Good Morning! ((smile smile))
Lady: No! I don’t want any! ((frown frown stomp stomp))
Me: I’m sorry, I was just saying hi.
Lady: No! Not from you! ((frown frown stomp stomp run away))

There was just hatred and anger radiating all over from this lady. I couldn’t believe it. What did I do to her? Even if she suspected I was going to try and campaign or something her response was totally unnecessary. And if she is planning to vote “yes”, what right does she have to be angry with me? I haven’t done anything to her, and advocating voting “no” doesn’t do anything to her. In fact, voting “no” doesn’t change a thing. Gay marriage will still be illegal. The constitution will stay the same. If anything, I should be angry with her for trying to shut the door on any hopes I might have of getting marriage rights in this state. Ok, I might have understood it if she was going to be smug, or disgusted, or irritated. Angry and mean I just don’t get. I also noticed that she snuck out a side door on her way out, and circled the long way around the parking lot to get to her car. I think that her heart might be 3 sizes too small.

The youth coordinator at the Vote No on 1 campaign organized a demonstration downtown yesterday. People were out there from 11am-6pm holding signs, chanting, and talking to people. It was really cool to see a lot of young people involved and volunteering their time. There were even people who saw us and just joined in on the spot, and called their friends to come by.

Also, Val from Avalon Farmcast came by to do some interviews and then join the demonstration for a while.

Here is a bit of video that I took from the afternoon:

This Saturday, September 16th is statewide Wear your Vote No On 1 Button day! There’s no easier way to help the cause than just wear the button. You can get one at the office at 1709 Church St. in Nashville. There are tons of people who just don’t know what is going on. If you’re one of those people, here is my quick take on it:

• There is a proposed amendment defining marriage as strictly between a man and a woman for the state constitution of TN. The amendment will be on the ballot this September.
• Gay marriage is already illegal in the state of TN. This amendment simply makes it a constitutional issue, which is inappropriate. Really, gay marriage is being treated as a political toy.
• Without even debating the issue of gay marriage, we have to consider whether we want the first amendment ever to the state constitution of Tennessee to reflect discrimination and a restriction of rights. Whether we want the first amendment ever to the state constitution of Tennessee to be one that targets a certain group of people, to be one that dictates morality, to be one that defines a largely religious, economic, and cultural institution.

Obviously there is more. You can learn more about it at the Vote No on 1 website. You can also join the MySpace group, or search Groups for “Vote No on 1 TN” on Facebook.

Everything Guy and I went down to Vote No On 1 headquarters this afternoon to get involved in volunteering. Randy, whose title I can’t remember, chatted with us for a while about what’s going on and what they’re trying to do. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.

An article in Saturday’s New York Times details a report from the Government Accountability Office which found that the administrations has been spending money to analyze news for hints of approval and to disseminate “covert propaganda”.

Lawyers from the accountability office, an independent nonpartisan arm of Congress, found that the administration systematically analyzed news articles to see if they carried the message, “The Bush administration/the G.O.P. is committed to education.”

The auditors declared: “We see no use for such information except for partisan political purposes. Engaging in a purely political activity such as this is not a proper use of appropriated funds.”

The report also sharply criticized the Education Department for telling Ketchum Inc., a public relations company, to pay Mr. Williams for newspaper columns and television appearances praising Mr. Bush’s education initiative, the No Child Left Behind Act.

No, Mr. Bush, it’s not suspicious at all that you have to pay people to fake news reports about the success of your education program. Why don’t you just skip the middleman and pay teachers to tell kids whatever you want? Oh right, you’re already trying to do that

My favorite part:

In March, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel said that federal agencies did not have to acknowledge their role in producing television news segments if they were factual. The inspector general of the Education Department recently reiterated that position.

The administration has a clear history of misunderstanding the meaning of the word “factual”. At the very least current events mentioned above make this clear. Perhaps some government funding might be set aside for vocabulary lessons? It would be like a retroactive No Child Left Behind act.

Buying of News by Bush’s Aides Is Ruled Illegal [New York Times]
In Pennsylvania, It Was Religion vs. Science, Pastor vs. Ph.D., Evolution vs. the Half-Fish [New York Times]

Twisty Faster over at I Blame the Patriarchy has a hilarious (yet insightful) post on those ubiquitous (and meaningless) “Support Our Troops” ribbons on everyone’s cars these days. The Little Red-Haired Girl and I nearly peed on the Giant Leather Couch laughing over it earlier this evening. Go check it out, and if you’re too lazy to read the comments, note that if you click on the image you link to a site where you can buy custom ribbons.

UK Doesn’t Support Our Troops [I Blame the Patriarchy]