McCain on Ellen

Tomorrow I have my final, final exam, in the morning I will be studying, and that is why I posted the other day that on Wednesday I will put my Western Tribune column on here, about John McCain not being fit for the presidency.

Today, I am going to post a video of McCain on the Ellen Degeneres show last week.

I don't like giving McCain that much blog time, but he is, after all, the candidate that keeps on giving.




Our Memorial Day was excellent, and I hope yours was as well. Later this week I hope to post some pictures of the fun. But for now, its study study.

Enjoy Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, enjoy your family and friends, enjoy the lake, the pool and the barbecue. Enjoy the alcohol (responsibly - don't drink and boat, don't drink and drive, don't drink and embarrass yourself), enjoy the sun. Cut a watermelon, make homemade ice cream or fish shaped cupcakes (that's what we are having).

If you are one of the lucky ones to be in Pensacola, you can celebrate on the beach. This is a scene from Pensacola Beach last year.

But also take a moment and remember the men and women who gave their lives for our country. So that we could sit over here and fight in other ways for liberty.

In particular, remember the 4,082 Americans who have been killed in Iraq, including 67 from Alabama (along with 514 wounded). They were doing what was required of them, and put in harm's way by our president. As we remember these individuals, we will also remember what must be done to end this war.

Electing a Democratic congress was not enough, obviously. We must elect a Democratic super-majority and a president who will commit to ending the war. A Democrat.

If that sounds partisan on a day that should not be, blame your president.

Enjoy the day, and be safe.

Pride Parade Update 2

From Central Alabama Pride (emphasis mine):

The Central Alabama Pride, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce that a permit WILL be issued for the 20th Gay Pride Parade in Birmingham.

Alabama State Representative Patricia Todd spoke with Mayor Langford on Saturday morning and the mayor assured Representative Todd that the parade permit WILL be issued with no issues from his officeThe Board of Directors thanks everyone for their quick response in this matter and hopes that this will be a learning experience for all those of our community, as well as an opportunity for education for others. Mayor Langford has also agreed to meet with leaders of our community to have an open forum about other concerns.

The 20th annual Pride Parade will take place on Saturday, June 7 through 5 Points South. The Board of Directors would like everyone to come out and take part in this parade and show Central Alabama the best parade turnout ever!Thanks again and HAPPY PRIDE!

Central Alabama Pride, Inc.
Board of Directors

Pride Parade Update

Kathy has posted that Rep. Patricia Todd says the mayor will allow a parade permit, or rather, leave it up to the police department. For real? How about banners? Let's wait and see.

Birmingham is Slipping Again

First, though, know that I have written a column for The Western Tribune about John McCain and the release of his medical records and why they disqualify him from being president. Read it Wednesday, in the paper, or on this site.


Birmingham fell on its face last year.

Then Birmingham took a giant step forward.

Now, under the leadership of Larry Langford, Birmingham is renewing its old, tired attitude of intolerance and bigotry. Langford is refusing to grant Central Alabama Pride a parade permit for their annual Gay Pride Parade, which has been a part of the festivities of Pride since 1989.

Langford said "I just don't condone the lifestyle". Mayor, we might not condone your lifestyle either (and apparently the SEC and the justice department also doesn't), but this is not about how one leads their life, it is about who one is, about one's very being.

"It's not a civil rights issue, its a personal choice issue." Ignore science. Ignore medicine. Ignore all current knowledge about the origins of sexuality and call it a choice.

No, I will tell you what is a choice, Larry. Making a conscious decision to discriminate, to be intolerant, that is a choice, your choice.

Fortunately, the parade is not the main event of Pride, it is a "fun" event. But it plays an important role in that it allows families, gay and straight, to come together and enjoy floats and beads and candy. It allows people who are questioning their own sexuality to see from a distance (of sort) others who are out and comfortable that have been through what they are going through.

There are other events of Pride...10 days of events, including an art show, Pridefest with music and vendors, bowling, faith events and more. Central Alabama Pride

My advice to the organizers of Pride? Hold the parade in another city. Homewood, perhaps, or Tuscaloosa or (gasp!) Bessemer. Not that we can be sure mayors of those cities believe in equality, but you know, we need to know who our friends are.

And march with or without a permit up to city hall and into the next council meeting in protest. As of May 15 2007 Birmingham is an inclusive city that believes in acceptance and rejects intolerance and bigotry, according to the resolution. Stand up, Birmingham.

Kathy has a good write up about this too at Birmingham Blues.

Western Tribune Column...New Graduates

This is my most recent column, published Wednesday May 21, 2008.

Last week I had the privilege of attending my youngest child’s graduation from public high school. Young is a relative term as he is about to turn eighteen, but then again, old is relative as well but I won’t reveal my age here.

Anyway, as we sit through graduation ceremonies we hear speeches meant to encourage the new graduates but regardless of our age we can always learn (or be entertained) from others. Thursday was no exception.

The bright young man who was honored as valedictorian managed to garner the participation of the entire senior class as he discussed Pooh (that’s Winnie) and the sound of racing car engines while encouraging his classmates to set their own goals and establish their own limitations as they pursue what they feel in their hearts is their calling. Included in this, he pointed out, was protesting the war in Iraq, if one felt so moved, thus indicating that he might make a wise decision as he casts his first vote for president in the fall, as well as increasing my confidence in public education.

Young people today are more progressive than many of their parent’s generation, but oddly enough, most of us were much more progressive than our own parents as we protested another war and fought for the rights of others.

According to a recent MTV/CBS poll two thirds of today’s young voters want a president who will end the war in Iraq within 2 years. And a flurry of polls shows that about 75 % of young people are in favor of either same-sex marriage or civil unions. We can almost rejoice in realizing that every day thousands of kids in this country turn eighteen and if they vote, most will cast a progressive vote.

When I was young people my age protested by marching and at times through civil disobedience. Today this age group is more educated and is more likely to exert influence through the education of others and (I am still hopeful) voting.

New graduates are also here in Bessemer, of course, and they should all be congratulated. Finishing high school is indeed an accomplishment, but it is not an end. College, trade school or gainful employment are all future steps that will be taken by this year’s graduates. Assuming the responsibility of becoming a registered voter is as well.

Graduates: continue to educate yourselves and vote. An educated person at the ballot box is a good thing.

Catching Up on Issues

The voters had their way and (drumroll) the winner is ....David Cook. Good choice. In this song he "still hasn't found what he is looking for," but now he has. Let's see what he can do with it.




Secrets
Victoria has decided that her secret counts and Victor's secret doesn't, in Kentucky. Even though the owner of the adult novelty store is named Victor (Mosely) a federal judge ruled he can not use his name in promoting his stores. Story He will just have to keep his little secret. Apparently Victor's wife Cathy now has a secret, as the store is named "Cathy's Little Secret." Do you think these T shirts have just increased in value?

Syphilis

And I am glad to see so many letters in the Birmingham News about Larry Langford's ill-conceived opposition to the syphilis ads on buses. The letter writers all make good points. Realistically, how many high risk people are going to go to a church or town hall style meeting to learn about syphilis? Yes the ads were certainly "in your face" and that is whole point about reaching people.

What strikes me in this morality play being staged by Langford and Bettye Fine Collins is that Collins is one of the six voting members of the health department board, but she didn't attend the meeting when the syphilis program was discussed. She said "They have known the 5 o'clock time was a difficult time for me because many times I'm out in my district."

Is that an excuse? "In her district" could just mean she is at home sitting on the veranda with a toddy at 5 o'clock. This board meets once a month, and has to do with the health of our community. Oh yeah, I forgot, Bettye Fine Collins doesn't care about the health of the community and especially of the less fortunate. Remember, she wants to close Cooper Green Hospital. It's kind of reminds me of former FEMA chief Mike Brown in his interview with Jim Lehrer on September 1, 2005 soon after Katrina.

The second part of my answer, Jim, which, I think, again, the American people understand how fascinating and unusual this is -- is that we're seeing people that we didn't know exist that suddenly are showing up on bridges or showing up on overpasses or parts of the interstate that aren't inundated, and that now we're trying to get to them by Coast Guard helicopter to at least get them some immediate relief so we can start airlifting them out.

"Fascinating" that "we" didn't know that poor black people existed in New Orleans. And Collins and Langford want to just ignore the needs of the underprivileged in our city and county. What quality leaders we have!!! They rank right up there with Brownie.

Conservatives

And while I am thinking about conservatives and republicans, watch this video of Kevin James, conservative radio talk show screamer, make a fool of himself with Chris Matthews on Hardball. It's about 9 minutes long, but worth it to James get pummelled.

This is so typical of righties when they learn a new word (in this case "appeasement") and make into the buzz word of the day without even knowing what the word means.

Appeasement! Appeasement!

Please.

I was accused by a reader of The Western Tribune of being "kin" to Neville Chamberlain a while back ( I wrote about it here ) and I wonder if the letter writer knows any more than Kevin James about the history in the 1930's. Birds of a feather...