Fighting Hate with Ridicule
February 24, 2006 2:58 PM Subscribe
Ohio Senator: Bar adoptions by the GOP ---In response to Ohio Senator Hood's bill to bar adoption by gays and lesbians, one Senator uses humor to counter hate: ...To further lampoon Hood's bill, Hagan wrote in his mock proposal that ``credible research' shows that adopted children raised in Republican households are more at risk for developing ``emotional problems, social stigmas, inflated egos, and alarming lack of tolerance for others they deem different than themselves and an air of overconfidence to mask their insecurities.'
However, Hagan admitted that he has no scientific evidence to support the above claims.
Just as ``Hood had no scientific evidence' to back his assertion that having gay parents was detrimental to children, Hagan said. ...
I concur.
posted by Dean Keaton at 3:05 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by Dean Keaton at 3:05 PM on February 24, 2006
Now if we could just prevent them form mating.. Hmmmmmm
posted by Elim at 3:09 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by Elim at 3:09 PM on February 24, 2006
In other words, Andrew Sullivan shouldn't get his hopes up.
posted by billysumday at 3:11 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by billysumday at 3:11 PM on February 24, 2006
I'm not saying he isn't on the side of good here, but if (OK, when) Republican Senators make ad hominem attacks on those craaaazy Dems who oppose their common sense ideals, I hardly think that qualifies as 'good politics'.
Ridicule is no way to fight anything.
posted by Simon! at 3:45 PM on February 24, 2006
Ridicule is no way to fight anything.
posted by Simon! at 3:45 PM on February 24, 2006
Although, I mean, that said, it's still totally funny.
posted by Simon! at 3:47 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by Simon! at 3:47 PM on February 24, 2006
Good politics? Is that like Military Intelligence or Jumbo Shrimp?
posted by crunchyk9 at 4:02 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by crunchyk9 at 4:02 PM on February 24, 2006
Ridicule is no way to fight anything.
It makes me very sad, but politics is not a debate, and it's rarely reasoned.
Ridicule is an extremely effective political weapon, irrespective of whether you think it's right or not. It's a genuinely difficult issue to tackle, political tactics and strategy.
posted by teece at 4:05 PM on February 24, 2006
It makes me very sad, but politics is not a debate, and it's rarely reasoned.
Ridicule is an extremely effective political weapon, irrespective of whether you think it's right or not. It's a genuinely difficult issue to tackle, political tactics and strategy.
posted by teece at 4:05 PM on February 24, 2006
F'em if they can't take a joke. This kind of stuff needs to happen more often.
posted by CCK at 4:17 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by CCK at 4:17 PM on February 24, 2006
The thing that's important to remember about the use of humor in politics is that you're changing the framing. Instead of just sounding like the usual talking points that people instinctively tune out, you sneak by a few people's defenses and get them to think.
This is, I think, a Good Thing.
posted by macmac at 4:18 PM on February 24, 2006
This is, I think, a Good Thing.
posted by macmac at 4:18 PM on February 24, 2006
Ugh, we just talked about Hood's bill the other day in my Family Law class. I didn't know about Hagan's proposal though - good stuff.
I can't wait to get out of this state.
posted by amro at 4:20 PM on February 24, 2006
I can't wait to get out of this state.
posted by amro at 4:20 PM on February 24, 2006
"Now if we could just prevent them form mating"
That's easy, make them leave the light on.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:02 PM on February 24, 2006
That's easy, make them leave the light on.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:02 PM on February 24, 2006
I think that parody is a great idea to show how really stupid some ideas are. My favorite line:
Hagan admitted that he has no scientific evidence to support the above claims.
Just as ``Hood had no scientific evidence' to back his assertion that having gay parents was detrimental to children, Hagan said.
posted by leftcoastbob at 5:03 PM on February 24, 2006
Hagan admitted that he has no scientific evidence to support the above claims.
Just as ``Hood had no scientific evidence' to back his assertion that having gay parents was detrimental to children, Hagan said.
posted by leftcoastbob at 5:03 PM on February 24, 2006
I'm not saying he isn't on the side of good here, but if (OK, when) Republican Senators make ad hominem attacks on those craaaazy Dems who oppose their common sense ideals, I hardly think that qualifies as 'good politics'.
I know we're all just playing around here a bit, but are you saying that the ban on gay people adopting children is a reference to "common sense ideals"?
posted by underdog at 6:22 PM on February 24, 2006
I know we're all just playing around here a bit, but are you saying that the ban on gay people adopting children is a reference to "common sense ideals"?
posted by underdog at 6:22 PM on February 24, 2006
Great post.
posted by Afroblanco at 6:27 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by Afroblanco at 6:27 PM on February 24, 2006
Grrrr..........
posted by troutfishing at 8:35 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by troutfishing at 8:35 PM on February 24, 2006
The whole gay adoption thing is just another attempt to put out ballot initiative to bring out the wingnut voters in 2006 the same as 2004. It's really sick though, much more so then the marriage thing, since it will mean kids will go unadopted.
posted by delmoi at 8:44 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by delmoi at 8:44 PM on February 24, 2006
A bit different in Europe. Yesterday, a French court ruled that a parent in a homosexual relationship can confer parental authority onto his /her partner. (sorry it is not in English - haven't found it yet). Homosexual couples can't be married in France, but they can be joined by a civil union: the PACS.
posted by pwedza at 11:53 PM on February 24, 2006
posted by pwedza at 11:53 PM on February 24, 2006
Translation of the relevant bit of the French court : the court noted that the children were "described as well-balanced, stable and happy, benefiting from the love, the respect for authority and the serenity necessary to their development". If the biological mother died, the court said, it would be "legally impossible for [her companion] to continue with the educational role she has always played" for the children.
posted by elgilito at 1:48 AM on February 25, 2006
posted by elgilito at 1:48 AM on February 25, 2006
crunchyk9 Good politics is not an oxymoron.
Politics is probably the single best thing we humans have ever invented. When its good its fantastic and when its bad its still pretty good. I say this not because I have any particular like for the political games people play, nor any politicians. I say that politics is our greatest invention because its the only one that lets us settle important issues without killing each other.
Next time you want to say "politics" like it was a cuss word, just remind yourself that the alternative is violence and murder.
posted by sotonohito at 2:54 AM on February 25, 2006
Politics is probably the single best thing we humans have ever invented. When its good its fantastic and when its bad its still pretty good. I say this not because I have any particular like for the political games people play, nor any politicians. I say that politics is our greatest invention because its the only one that lets us settle important issues without killing each other.
Next time you want to say "politics" like it was a cuss word, just remind yourself that the alternative is violence and murder.
posted by sotonohito at 2:54 AM on February 25, 2006
“I say that politics is our greatest invention because its the only one that lets us settle important issues without killing each other.”
True. But often the best (and only) way to make people of one mind is to smash their heads together.
I wish I could say I’m surprised at the depth of ignorance, hypocracy and callousness that banning homosexuals from adopting kids shows. But I ain’t.
Ridicule is a nice way to offset the bloodthirsty response some of us get.
...ok, me.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:19 AM on February 25, 2006
True. But often the best (and only) way to make people of one mind is to smash their heads together.
I wish I could say I’m surprised at the depth of ignorance, hypocracy and callousness that banning homosexuals from adopting kids shows. But I ain’t.
Ridicule is a nice way to offset the bloodthirsty response some of us get.
...ok, me.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:19 AM on February 25, 2006
more in the same vein: Ban GOP Marriage --... Over half of GOP marriages in the United States end in divorce. Half! That means that millions of marriages are destroyed by Republicans every year. (By contrast, the number of gay marriages that end in divorce in the United States is miniscule.)
Yes, the main threat to the institution of marriage comes from the political right because so many GOP men and women cheat on their partners and have diseases. They are also prone to alcoholism and often die young.
While GOP households are often unstable and cause a strain on the social fabric, fighting GOP marriage is first and foremost a moral issue. Adultery is the leading cause of divorce in mixed gender marriage...
posted by amberglow at 8:50 AM on March 2, 2006
Yes, the main threat to the institution of marriage comes from the political right because so many GOP men and women cheat on their partners and have diseases. They are also prone to alcoholism and often die young.
While GOP households are often unstable and cause a strain on the social fabric, fighting GOP marriage is first and foremost a moral issue. Adultery is the leading cause of divorce in mixed gender marriage...
posted by amberglow at 8:50 AM on March 2, 2006
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posted by The Jesse Helms at 3:04 PM on February 24, 2006