It's ok to be Takei.
May 20, 2011 8:20 AM Subscribe
George Takei's response to Tennessee's "Don't say gay" bill George Takei gives gay folk an out in Tennessee. Don't say gay, say Takei. A humorous look at a crazy piece of legislation to make it illegal to talk about homosexuality in school.
That's Takei.
posted by Dodecadermaldenticles at 8:23 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Dodecadermaldenticles at 8:23 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's okay to be Takei
posted by The Whelk at 8:25 AM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 8:25 AM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Watching George Takei do, well, pretty much anything, makes me feel awesome. What a delightful man with an extraordinary life. Just so great.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:25 AM on May 20, 2011 [20 favorites]
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:25 AM on May 20, 2011 [20 favorites]
Wow, "it's OK to be Takei" is already all over the internet. And the rainbow Star Trek Federation symbol is great.
posted by DU at 8:25 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by DU at 8:25 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Why does his face get crazy red when ever he makes a joke. Is that a Takeiometer?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:27 AM on May 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:27 AM on May 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
George Takei has turned out so awesome. I wish he and Shatner would stop accidentally hurting each others feelings. The two should be friends, not frenemies.
That "It's okay to be Takei" theme at the end of the video is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:29 AM on May 20, 2011
That "It's okay to be Takei" theme at the end of the video is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:29 AM on May 20, 2011
Oh noes its "Teh Kei"
posted by chavenet at 8:29 AM on May 20, 2011 [18 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 8:29 AM on May 20, 2011 [18 favorites]
Dude grew up in a concentration camp, went to space and now fights for justice - you've got to respect that.
posted by Artw at 8:30 AM on May 20, 2011 [42 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:30 AM on May 20, 2011 [42 favorites]
Why does his face get crazy red when ever he makes a joke. Is that a Takeiometer?
It's his Takei-dar.
posted by phunniemee at 8:32 AM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's his Takei-dar.
posted by phunniemee at 8:32 AM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm Takei for Takei.
Total man-crush here.
posted by bonehead at 8:41 AM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
Total man-crush here.
posted by bonehead at 8:41 AM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
a crazy piece of legislation to make it illegal to talk about homosexuality in school.
Meanwhile, "crazy" is not word enough to describe what's going on here, given the battle on to eliminate certain words so as not to offend people based on the color of their skin, their gender, their sexuality, their beliefs etc. at the same time that there's a battle on to eliminate certain words in order to marginalize people based on the same things.
posted by chavenet at 8:45 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile, "crazy" is not word enough to describe what's going on here, given the battle on to eliminate certain words so as not to offend people based on the color of their skin, their gender, their sexuality, their beliefs etc. at the same time that there's a battle on to eliminate certain words in order to marginalize people based on the same things.
posted by chavenet at 8:45 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
George Takei takes on Tim Hardaway.
George Takei Calls Out Anti-Gay Arkansas School Board Member
I love George Takei! He is full of awesomeness.
posted by Craig at 8:48 AM on May 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
George Takei Calls Out Anti-Gay Arkansas School Board Member
I love George Takei! He is full of awesomeness.
posted by Craig at 8:48 AM on May 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
I think those two efforts are meant to be synergistic, chavenet. Republican types want to push gay people back into the closet and retain their second-class citizen status by systematically marginalizing and pathologizing them and their identity.
posted by clockzero at 8:48 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by clockzero at 8:48 AM on May 20, 2011
For some reason this whole episode reminds me of the song from the South Park Movie:
It's easy mmkay:
There are times when you are suckered in by drugs and alcohol
and sex with women, mmkay.
But it's when you do these things too much, that you become an addict
and must get back in touch.
You can do it, it's all up to you, mmkay.
With a little plan you can change your life today....
You don't have to spend your life addicted to smack,
Homeless on the street, givin' handjobs for crack.
Follow my plan and very soon you will say
It's easy mmkay.
Step one, instead of ass say buns, like kiss my buns or you're a bunshole
Step two, instead of shit say poo as in bull poo,
poo head and this poo is cold
Step three, with bitch drop the T cause "bich" is latin for generosity
Step four, don't say fuck anymore,
cause fuck is the worst word that you can say.
So Just use the word "mmmkay"
We can do it, it's all up to us, mmmkay.
With a little plan we can change our lives today
We don't have to spend our lives shooting up in the trash
homeless on the street, giving handjobs for cash
Follow this plan and very soon you will say
it's easy mmkay
Step one, instead ass say buns, like kiss my buns or you're a bunshole
Step two, instead of shit say poo as in bull poo,
poo head and this poo is cold
Step three, with bitch drop the T cause "bich" is latin for generosity
Step four, don't say fuck anymore,
cause fuck is the worst word that you can say.
Fuck is the worst word that you can say.
No we shouldn't say fuck, no we shouldn't say fuck
Fuck No.
You're cured you can go!
We don't have to spend our lives shooting up in the trash
homeless on the streeet giving handjobs for cash
Follow his plan and very soon you will say.
it's easy mmkay (repeat till end)
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:50 AM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
It's easy mmkay:
There are times when you are suckered in by drugs and alcohol
and sex with women, mmkay.
But it's when you do these things too much, that you become an addict
and must get back in touch.
You can do it, it's all up to you, mmkay.
With a little plan you can change your life today....
You don't have to spend your life addicted to smack,
Homeless on the street, givin' handjobs for crack.
Follow my plan and very soon you will say
It's easy mmkay.
Step one, instead of ass say buns, like kiss my buns or you're a bunshole
Step two, instead of shit say poo as in bull poo,
poo head and this poo is cold
Step three, with bitch drop the T cause "bich" is latin for generosity
Step four, don't say fuck anymore,
cause fuck is the worst word that you can say.
So Just use the word "mmmkay"
We can do it, it's all up to us, mmmkay.
With a little plan we can change our lives today
We don't have to spend our lives shooting up in the trash
homeless on the street, giving handjobs for cash
Follow this plan and very soon you will say
it's easy mmkay
Step one, instead ass say buns, like kiss my buns or you're a bunshole
Step two, instead of shit say poo as in bull poo,
poo head and this poo is cold
Step three, with bitch drop the T cause "bich" is latin for generosity
Step four, don't say fuck anymore,
cause fuck is the worst word that you can say.
Fuck is the worst word that you can say.
No we shouldn't say fuck, no we shouldn't say fuck
Fuck No.
You're cured you can go!
We don't have to spend our lives shooting up in the trash
homeless on the streeet giving handjobs for cash
Follow his plan and very soon you will say.
it's easy mmkay (repeat till end)
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:50 AM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
He and my husband swapped emails years ago, discussing some historical stuff re the internment camps. He's a nice guy.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:53 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 8:53 AM on May 20, 2011
It's OK to be Takei swag! (But how do you say it in Klingon?)
posted by steef at 8:56 AM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by steef at 8:56 AM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
That "It's okay to be Takei" theme at the end of the video is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.
I just kept wondering why Grover was singing to me. I guess it was some kind of sesame street joke?
posted by cashman at 9:08 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
I just kept wondering why Grover was singing to me. I guess it was some kind of sesame street joke?
posted by cashman at 9:08 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
That "It's okay to be Takei" theme at the end of the video is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.
It's much better when sung in the original Klingon.
posted by mhoye at 9:13 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's much better when sung in the original Klingon.
posted by mhoye at 9:13 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
That's an amusing video.
Could the people in the appropriate area now please MARCH? Maybe smash some shit up? Amusing videos only go so far.
posted by pompomtom at 9:14 AM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Could the people in the appropriate area now please MARCH? Maybe smash some shit up? Amusing videos only go so far.
posted by pompomtom at 9:14 AM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Or simply give the buttons to students in Memphis & wherever.
posted by jeffburdges at 9:17 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by jeffburdges at 9:17 AM on May 20, 2011
Don we now our Takei apparrel, fa la la, fa la la, la la la!
posted by dr_dank at 9:17 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dr_dank at 9:17 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
"I just kept wondering why Grover was singing to me."
I thought it was Seth Rogen.
posted by bleep at 9:19 AM on May 20, 2011
I thought it was Seth Rogen.
posted by bleep at 9:19 AM on May 20, 2011
I usually find George Takei vaguely annoying (as opposed to completely irritating Shatner) but I really like him for doing this.
posted by TooFewShoes at 9:23 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by TooFewShoes at 9:23 AM on May 20, 2011
Isn't this a violation of the First Amendment?
posted by grumblebee at 9:26 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by grumblebee at 9:26 AM on May 20, 2011
pompomtom: Could the people in the appropriate area now please MARCH? Maybe smash some shit up? Amusing videos only go so far.
Smashing shit up over whether it's okay to say the word "gay" don't happen in Tennessee. Not even in the libuhrrul urban cesspool that is Nashville. There have been some awesome and very noisy demonstrations at the normally staid and dull Capitol complex by local high school kids, though. I love those kids.
hermitosis: The bill passed the Senate.
Also, the bill passed the Senate but will not be considered in the House until next year's session. Doesn't mean it won't pass there, but the thing ain't law quite yet.
posted by blucevalo at 9:28 AM on May 20, 2011
Smashing shit up over whether it's okay to say the word "gay" don't happen in Tennessee. Not even in the libuhrrul urban cesspool that is Nashville. There have been some awesome and very noisy demonstrations at the normally staid and dull Capitol complex by local high school kids, though. I love those kids.
hermitosis: The bill passed the Senate.
Also, the bill passed the Senate but will not be considered in the House until next year's session. Doesn't mean it won't pass there, but the thing ain't law quite yet.
posted by blucevalo at 9:28 AM on May 20, 2011
I grew up in a small town in rural Nebraska in the 80s and early 90s. There was a casual, omnipresent homophobia that I just soaked up without even being aware of it, and it really took me until my freshman year of college to even be aware that homophobia was a bad thing (or even a thing), that gay jokes were horrible and demeaning, etc. I don't regret much from my youth, but I really, really hate the fact that it took me so long to open my fucking eyes.
Anyway, my point being: when I watched the It's OK to be Takei video this morning, and thought about how across-the-board rad Takei's been for the past year or so, it really made me wish that 12-year-old me could have been exposed to something like Takei's PSAs. I think it would have saved me years of jokes and statements that I regret pretty much every day, 20 years down the line.
posted by COBRA! at 9:41 AM on May 20, 2011 [5 favorites]
Anyway, my point being: when I watched the It's OK to be Takei video this morning, and thought about how across-the-board rad Takei's been for the past year or so, it really made me wish that 12-year-old me could have been exposed to something like Takei's PSAs. I think it would have saved me years of jokes and statements that I regret pretty much every day, 20 years down the line.
posted by COBRA! at 9:41 AM on May 20, 2011 [5 favorites]
George Takei takes on Tim Hardaway.
Heh.
Heh.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:51 AM on May 20, 2011 [6 favorites]
Heh.
Heh.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:51 AM on May 20, 2011 [6 favorites]
I petition Knoxville Mefites to modify and take pictures of the main street signs downtown.
If they change Gay street to Takei street (officially), I'm movin' back and working for the TVA.
(K-town was always pretty cool.)
posted by djrock3k at 10:09 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
If they change Gay street to Takei street (officially), I'm movin' back and working for the TVA.
(K-town was always pretty cool.)
posted by djrock3k at 10:09 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
There's also a Gay Street not three blocks from the state capitol building. I guess they'll have to rename it Stacey Street or something.
posted by blucevalo at 10:20 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by blucevalo at 10:20 AM on May 20, 2011
I usually find George Takei vaguely annoying (as opposed to completely irritating Shatner) but I really like him for doing this.
ಠ_ಠ
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 10:28 AM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
ಠ_ಠ
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 10:28 AM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
The bill doesn't say it's illegal to talk about homosexuality in school. It says it's illegal to talk about it before grade eight.
posted by FunkyStar at 10:30 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by FunkyStar at 10:30 AM on May 20, 2011
I usually find George Takei vaguely annoying (as opposed to completely irritating Shatner) but I really like him for doing this.
ಠ_ಠ
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 6:28 PM on May 20
Upvoted! Extra bacon for you!
posted by Decani at 10:31 AM on May 20, 2011
ಠ_ಠ
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 6:28 PM on May 20
Upvoted! Extra bacon for you!
posted by Decani at 10:31 AM on May 20, 2011
Takei Street!
posted by FunkyStar at 10:32 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by FunkyStar at 10:32 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Apparently iPhones sometimes autocorrect gay to hat. We should all say hat.
posted by madcaptenor at 10:33 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by madcaptenor at 10:33 AM on May 20, 2011
The bill doesn't say it's illegal to talk about homosexuality in school. It says it's illegal to talk about it before grade eight.
And that's okay, because ..... ?
And it's before grade 9, not grade 8.
Also, it's illegal not just to talk about homosexuality, but any sexual behavior other than heterosexuality.
posted by blucevalo at 10:51 AM on May 20, 2011
And that's okay, because ..... ?
And it's before grade 9, not grade 8.
Also, it's illegal not just to talk about homosexuality, but any sexual behavior other than heterosexuality.
posted by blucevalo at 10:51 AM on May 20, 2011
Amazingly, the word "Takeidar" had not yet appeared in this thread. Oh there it is.
posted by spock at 10:55 AM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by spock at 10:55 AM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
Jesus H Christ. Land of the free huh? Someone should run ad campaigns in these areas with tasteul ads declaring "its ok to be gay, or takei." Although they would probably just watershed them.
posted by marienbad at 10:56 AM on May 20, 2011
posted by marienbad at 10:56 AM on May 20, 2011
madcaptenor: what if I'm wearing my Gay Hat?
nevermind, I'm on android "gay hat hay gag fat tat"
posted by djrock3k at 10:59 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
nevermind, I'm on android "gay hat hay gag fat tat"
posted by djrock3k at 10:59 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Demand your rights! Be heard! TAKEI TO THE STREETS!
posted by The Whelk at 11:00 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 11:00 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Isn't this a violation of the First Amendment?
Doubtful under Garcetti v. Ceballos. Public employees have limited speech rights while on the job.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 11:11 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Doubtful under Garcetti v. Ceballos. Public employees have limited speech rights while on the job.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 11:11 AM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
The bill doesn't say it's illegal to talk about homosexuality in school. It says it's illegal to talk about it before grade eight.
Oh, well, I guess that just makes everything OK then!
Or, you know, not.
posted by MissySedai at 11:52 AM on May 20, 2011
Oh, well, I guess that just makes everything OK then!
Or, you know, not.
posted by MissySedai at 11:52 AM on May 20, 2011
Doubtful under Garcetti v. Ceballos. Public employees have limited speech rights while on the job.
Thanks. I didn't know about that ruling. How horrible.
Here, though, is an interesting quote from that Wikipedia Link:
"The Court also reserved for a future decision the issue of whether its analysis would apply in the same manner to a case involving speech related to scholarship or teaching."
posted by grumblebee at 12:13 PM on May 20, 2011
Thanks. I didn't know about that ruling. How horrible.
Here, though, is an interesting quote from that Wikipedia Link:
"The Court also reserved for a future decision the issue of whether its analysis would apply in the same manner to a case involving speech related to scholarship or teaching."
posted by grumblebee at 12:13 PM on May 20, 2011
bluecvalo
I stand corrected. :) I'm not really weighing in on the thing except to say where kids are concerned people usually go the more conservative (AND I DON'T MEAN REPUBLICAN) route. Tennessee has never particularly inspired me with their politics. I am pretty much of the opinion that 90% of what they do is stupid. To wit, TennCare.
MissySedai
Perhaps you misread my post, since I did not offer any opinion whatever on whether it makes everything OK or not. Or else you just assume an awful lot.
posted by FunkyStar at 12:32 PM on May 20, 2011
I stand corrected. :) I'm not really weighing in on the thing except to say where kids are concerned people usually go the more conservative (AND I DON'T MEAN REPUBLICAN) route. Tennessee has never particularly inspired me with their politics. I am pretty much of the opinion that 90% of what they do is stupid. To wit, TennCare.
MissySedai
Perhaps you misread my post, since I did not offer any opinion whatever on whether it makes everything OK or not. Or else you just assume an awful lot.
posted by FunkyStar at 12:32 PM on May 20, 2011
Toujours Takei, people. Toujours Takei.
posted by clvrmnky at 1:00 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by clvrmnky at 1:00 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
From the youtube comments,
"So... The G is for George, the T is for Takei. I am guessing that the L and B in GLBT stand for "laser beams." George Laser Beams Takei. Because he just rocks that damn hard."
posted by Blasdelb at 1:17 PM on May 20, 2011 [14 favorites]
"So... The G is for George, the T is for Takei. I am guessing that the L and B in GLBT stand for "laser beams." George Laser Beams Takei. Because he just rocks that damn hard."
posted by Blasdelb at 1:17 PM on May 20, 2011 [14 favorites]
I'm tired of defending my state to outsiders when shit like this happens, so I won't. The assholes who did this are ruining Tennessee. They are on a crusade to plunge the state into a theocratic dark age. Right now, Tennessee is split between an increasingly poor rural population whose rabidly fundamentalism is being exploited by the monied elites in order to creat a permanent underclass of workers willing to vote against their economic self interest and an urban population who moved to the cities to get away from the hateful ignorance of the rest of their families. The Republicans own all three branches of the government outright, with no effective Democratic resistance possible. The Republicans haven't done jack shit to rectify the 9.7% unemployment in this state, because they think that poverty and misery will help them in 2012, and they know they have a captive audience every Sunday morning for their propaganda. I have been here all my life, but smart, educated people are leaving. I am going to a going-away party tonight for someone who is returning to Los Angeles. She is an entrepreneur who had some success, but she's also black and wants to live somewhere the racist homophobe rheostats can't touch her. And at this point, I can't blame her one bit. I can't find a decent job, and I'm starting to regret buying this house that I know I can't sell. Seriously, fuck these people.
posted by vibrotronica at 1:31 PM on May 20, 2011 [11 favorites]
posted by vibrotronica at 1:31 PM on May 20, 2011 [11 favorites]
Ha! Homophobe THEOCRATS, not RHEOSTATS.
posted by vibrotronica at 1:32 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by vibrotronica at 1:32 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
MetaFilter: racist homophobe rheostats
posted by hippybear at 1:36 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 1:36 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
racist homophobe rheostats
"You turnin' me up, boy? Only queers keep it above 68 in the summer. You a queer, boy?"
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:04 PM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
"You turnin' me up, boy? Only queers keep it above 68 in the summer. You a queer, boy?"
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:04 PM on May 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
And now I realize I've confused rheostats with thermostats. That makes me LGBT...Lazy Guy Besmirching Thermostats.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:08 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:08 PM on May 20, 2011
And you live up to your user name, you bad example you! :D
posted by hippybear at 2:11 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 2:11 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
I got no truck with rheostats, either! ON OR OFF, DIMMER-BOY!
posted by vibrotronica at 3:00 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by vibrotronica at 3:00 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
liked the film, don't get why a muppet was singing "it's okay to beat a gay" at the end tho. mixed messages....
posted by rebent at 4:11 PM on May 20, 2011
posted by rebent at 4:11 PM on May 20, 2011
Lots of new entendre possibilities for song lyrics and titles. Two syllables instead of one puts a little hop in there.
Takei a walk on the wild side...
Takei A Chance On Me
Takei a message to Michael...
Takei It To The Limit
Takei it away!
posted by Twang at 4:18 PM on May 20, 2011
Takei a walk on the wild side...
Takei A Chance On Me
Takei a message to Michael...
Takei It To The Limit
Takei it away!
posted by Twang at 4:18 PM on May 20, 2011
Apparently iPhones sometimes autocorrect gay to hat. We should all say hat.
I will totally adopt this if it means that Hatten är din can be the next major gay anthem.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 4:59 PM on May 20, 2011
I will totally adopt this if it means that Hatten är din can be the next major gay anthem.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 4:59 PM on May 20, 2011
Takei should be Toyota's next big-name vehicle.
"What do you drive?"
"A Toyota Takei!"
posted by bwg at 5:20 PM on May 20, 2011
"What do you drive?"
"A Toyota Takei!"
posted by bwg at 5:20 PM on May 20, 2011
The ad writes itself
"THE TAKEI"
"SMALL...BUT ROOMY INSIDE"
"OOOH MY"
posted by The Whelk at 5:28 PM on May 20, 2011 [6 favorites]
"THE TAKEI"
"SMALL...BUT ROOMY INSIDE"
"OOOH MY"
posted by The Whelk at 5:28 PM on May 20, 2011 [6 favorites]
Potomac Avenue: "Why does his face get crazy red when ever he makes a joke. Is that a Takeiometer"
Maybe it's his shellfish allergy.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:12 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Maybe it's his shellfish allergy.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:12 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Whelk: reminds me of that Jimmy Fallon appearance of Matt Smith...
"But he's bigger on the inside!"
posted by hippybear at 6:56 PM on May 20, 2011
"But he's bigger on the inside!"
posted by hippybear at 6:56 PM on May 20, 2011
And now I realize I've confused rheostats with thermostats.
You're in good company (1:42).
posted by amery at 6:59 PM on May 20, 2011
You're in good company (1:42).
posted by amery at 6:59 PM on May 20, 2011
You guys, I will be going right past Gay Street tomorrow on my way to march for Planned Parenthood. If there is not a cop standing RIGHT UNDER that sign, I will change it to Takei Street, just for all of you, I promise. Pix forthcoming, I hope.
I would also like to point out that TNeans are marching for justice. I was there, in front of the capitol building, not two weeks ago. We are pissed off and we are not taking this sitting down. It remains to be seen if it will make a difference. The thing about Tennessee is, really, that we have a lot of very intelligent people, and even a decent number of fairly liberal people in the urban areas, but Republicans have run this show for so long they are no longer even vaguely responsive to their constituents, and when something awesome happens in one part of the state, the rest of the state moves to stop it.
posted by WidgetAlley at 7:23 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
I would also like to point out that TNeans are marching for justice. I was there, in front of the capitol building, not two weeks ago. We are pissed off and we are not taking this sitting down. It remains to be seen if it will make a difference. The thing about Tennessee is, really, that we have a lot of very intelligent people, and even a decent number of fairly liberal people in the urban areas, but Republicans have run this show for so long they are no longer even vaguely responsive to their constituents, and when something awesome happens in one part of the state, the rest of the state moves to stop it.
posted by WidgetAlley at 7:23 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
I would also like to point out that TNeans
It took me three times of reading this before I realized it wasn't some kind of 13-18 year old family friendly version of Up With People.
posted by hippybear at 7:32 PM on May 20, 2011
It took me three times of reading this before I realized it wasn't some kind of 13-18 year old family friendly version of Up With People.
posted by hippybear at 7:32 PM on May 20, 2011
In response to an ordinance banning LGBT discrimination in Nashville, the Tennessee legislature has passed a bill that bans all cities and counties from enacting non-discrimination ordinances.
The bill prohibits localities from adopting all anti-discrimination laws, including those based on race, religion, sex, and age. The Human Rights Campaign says the Tennessee legislature took action on the bill after Nashville's gay-inclusive law was recently enacted.
Well now WidgetAlley, that was my wtf moment of the day. An FPP in and of itself, IMO.
posted by jaduncan at 2:34 AM on May 21, 2011
The bill prohibits localities from adopting all anti-discrimination laws, including those based on race, religion, sex, and age. The Human Rights Campaign says the Tennessee legislature took action on the bill after Nashville's gay-inclusive law was recently enacted.
Well now WidgetAlley, that was my wtf moment of the day. An FPP in and of itself, IMO.
posted by jaduncan at 2:34 AM on May 21, 2011
Oh, and the real punchline to this asinine bill? It's sponsor went on record in the paper this morning declaring that an anti-sharia-boogeyman bill just went too far in stifling opinions and ideas, and he just couldn't get behind that.
Campfield voted against the Material Support bill in the House Judiciary Committee. He said that there are already federal laws in place to deal with terrorists.
“I consider this the Patriot Act 2 for Tennessee,” he said of an earlier version of the bill. “It may focus on Muslims today, but it could focus on the tea party or Democrats tomorrow.”
Campfield said the Material Support act was a flawed piece of legislation that gave too much power to state officials and would put citizens who are critical of the government at risk. The changes made to the bill late last week satisfied most of his concerns.
Fuck you, Campfield. Fuck you, you dissimulating, worthless, double-thinking toad. You wouldn't know a Founding Father if he kicked you square in the crotch.
You don't get to decide if you're for or against civil liberties based on how they square with your own damned agenda. What balls. I publicly declare a 100% severance of any and all ties I have, had or ever will have with the GOP or any of the rest of that three-ringed circus.
NOW I'M ALL PISSED OFF AGAIN AND IT'S SUNDAY AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE RELAXING.
posted by jquinby at 10:47 AM on May 22, 2011
Campfield voted against the Material Support bill in the House Judiciary Committee. He said that there are already federal laws in place to deal with terrorists.
“I consider this the Patriot Act 2 for Tennessee,” he said of an earlier version of the bill. “It may focus on Muslims today, but it could focus on the tea party or Democrats tomorrow.”
Campfield said the Material Support act was a flawed piece of legislation that gave too much power to state officials and would put citizens who are critical of the government at risk. The changes made to the bill late last week satisfied most of his concerns.
Fuck you, Campfield. Fuck you, you dissimulating, worthless, double-thinking toad. You wouldn't know a Founding Father if he kicked you square in the crotch.
You don't get to decide if you're for or against civil liberties based on how they square with your own damned agenda. What balls. I publicly declare a 100% severance of any and all ties I have, had or ever will have with the GOP or any of the rest of that three-ringed circus.
NOW I'M ALL PISSED OFF AGAIN AND IT'S SUNDAY AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE RELAXING.
posted by jquinby at 10:47 AM on May 22, 2011
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posted by phunniemee at 8:22 AM on May 20, 2011