Radio Gaga

[hellison]

Driving into work this morning, a tad on the late side (since I finally got some sleep and couldn't actually wake up again), turned off Johnny Cash to hear the news. Some bitter amusement, and some total jaw-dropping WTF followed

Terrorist Amnesty Bill - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4460834.stm
Going for it's 2nd reading, up til now the only ones pushing for this at all have been Sinn Fein. BUT teh HORRORS, Blair has decided to include members of security forces along with the terrorists and listening to Adams frantically denounce the concept that Soliders who shot people can be given the same amnesty as terrorist who did gave me a kind of grim amusement. Again I am left wondering how does that man not choke on his own hypocrisy every time he opens his mouth?

Then the news that Lisburn Council (my council) has done a u-turn on allowing the civil partnership unions in the council buildings. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4458814.stm
I was about to go 'yay, sense!', got as far as 'ya...' when on comes the Alliance councillor (who, to my now utter shame, I voted for) to say how HORRIFIED and DISGUSTED he is that this could even be considered, we are destroying the fabric of society, the whole concept of marriage and family and if we let THIS happen, WORSE will come and there'll be GAY ADOPTIONS and society will come crumbling down round our ears -
"Where do we go from there, if we allow young people to believe or to think that having two mummies or two daddies is the norm in our society?"

I think, Seamus, we go to a society with a lot less bigotry, repression, hatred and fear of TEH GAY.

It's not like we don't have enough bigotry and division here, and you have to be "horrified" (direct quote) about this? Wouldn't you be better tackling the sectarianism, the poverty, the crime, the deficits in local school and hospital budgets or any one of a number of things that SHOULD horrify you, rather than attacking a decision to let people formalise a commitment to each other?

Horrified? I'm sickened. If he was talking about mixed race or mixed religion couples, he wouldn't have been given a second of airtime to spout this diseased crap. I... damnit I am furious and wondering who the hell I write to to express the fact that I do not want this man as any kind of representative of mine.

Gnah. On a lighter (maybe ;p) note, being thoroughly fed up of the constant George Best coverage, this from Miv this morning (via, I suspect, Dogbolter) made me laugh a lot -

I think George Best may be dead, I saw I sign outside the butchers today, Best Liver for Sale

Aye, but which one?

Comments

[thesme-01.livejournal.com]

RE: Terrorist Amnesty Bill.
You said
'Again I am left wondering how does that man not choke on his own hypocrisy every time he opens his mouth?'
His Beard has a secret anti-choke device. That's why he strokes it every time he lies.

[kelemvor.livejournal.com]

The concept of marriage was destroyed by the legality of divorce. If they're that concerned about the Sanctity of the Family ^TM, make it that much harder to get out of marriage, rather than denying it to people who want to get in to it.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

But think of the CHILDREN!! If they get adopted by teh GAYS they'll turn out all weird and gay, because hetro couples only turn out normal hetro chi... oh wait.

I'd expect - tho not accept - this kind of blind ranting rhetoric from Paisley's crowd (free p.s), becuase they hate pretty much everyone who isn't them, but hearing someone I'd seen as a sane and rational local politician (if such a thing exists) blithely spouting this crap on the radio totally threw me.

[thesme-01.livejournal.com]

BTW was this Seamus Close or who?
Cos if it is, I'm shocked!

If only one could nominate who stays and who goes in the forthcoming re-structuring whatsit..

[hellison.livejournal.com]

It was indeed Seamus. Which is what had me going WTF? Honestly, the things he was saying could have been written for him by Big Ian. Utterly disgraceful.

I'm hoping they have re-elections or something, tho that really only leaves me with The Lewsely Woman to vote for.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

The biggest difficulty I have with much of the anti-gay parenting thing is that a lot of it boils down to "Children should be brought up with their mum and dad and everything else is inferior." Not everyone, I know, but if you dig around a lot, that's at the heart of a lot of people's objections.

Which is all well and good, but leaving aside the evil homosexuals, it leaves out people who aren't in a mum and dad relationship entirely by accident. If the father is killed in an accident, say, I don't want a society which denegrates the efforts of a single mother. Or if a father is left holding the baby, that the kid is raised by father and grandparents is completely sensible. Or a woman who leaves a violent husband and moves in with her sister - OMG TWO WOMEN TEH LESBINANISMISM! And I think that anyone in a situation like one of those who raises their children to be healthy, happy and such deserves our full support.

Bah.

society today

[thesme-01.livejournal.com]

I dunno, though I reckon the 'Children should be brought up with their mum and dad and everything else is inferior' can often be a cloak for 'Arrgh the Gayyys the Gayyys are comming arrrgh and everyone will be Gayyy arrgh arrgh'.

Well, in Seamus' case anyway.

PS What the HELL is Badger smurfing?

Funnily enough I was brought up by a varying number of parental types at different stages in my life but apparently society thought it was ok because we lived in a nice posh part of Dublin and the Mater came from a reshpectobiggle family which meant we could vote Green, campaign for contraception and divorce, never cut our hedges, be seen consorting with Travellers and have alternative 12th parties (ask Helen) and STILL be invited round for Christmas drinks. Makes you a) wonder b) cynical...

Re: society today

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it happens both ways, but I've come across quite a few people who go for the anti-gay thing but would really like to go for the anti-single parent thing, except that they'd get smacked about for it because that's so well established now.

As to badger smurfing, I was once having a conversation with a Discworld MUDder and it came up, somehow. I forget how now. But it ended up on my LJ interests list.

Re: society today

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Yes but none of them were GAY.

There was a long winded train of thought followed this, but I have rambled enough today, so I will leave it at the thought that The Gay DeValeras is possibly the best name for a band EVER.

Re: society today

[thesme-01.livejournal.com]

And I insist that The CubanCommieBlackGayDeValeras is better.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

You could very easily destroy pretty much every argument (if you can call them that) for why he was so HORRIFIED, with only the slightest application of logic, or even common sense.

It's the standard blinkered, bigoted, knee-jerk reaction and given that in the council area he represents the 'norm' is closer to be teenage single mothers with children by various teenage fathers, before you even get to families split by divorce, separation or death, adoptive families, foster families, step families... his stance is so out of whack with reality it would be almost be laughable if it wasn't for the fact that he is in a position of power.

As you say, anyone prepared to raise healthy, happy, loved children deserves recognition and support and the chance to do just that.

[malvino.livejournal.com]

lummy :/

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Indeed ;p

The best part? From his party's website -

Alliance is helping to build a fair, peaceful and prosperous society that cherishes diversity, and is committed to human rights, equality of citizenship and social justice.

Unless of course the 'unless you're gay' part is in the small print somewhere...

...will prevail without fail.

[kearsley.livejournal.com]

Horrified? I'm sickened. If he was talking about mixed race or mixed religion couples, he wouldn't have been given a second of airtime to spout this diseased crap. I... damnit I am furious and wondering who the hell I write to to express the fact that I do not want this man as any kind of representative of mine.

See, what you need to do is introduce him to a mixed-race catholic-protestant gay couple. Then when a vein in his head explodes, leaving him unable to speak or dead, you can argue that, in his own view, he died of a natural reaction to SIN.

(Trans: Every country needs a Rick Mercer or a 22 Minutes)

Re: ...will prevail without fail.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Heh, I like the way you think :p Now, to find them!