"i sed a bad wurd"

[Rebeccah Sharp]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003Dec2.html

[Pattybar]

I saw the mothers and the child on a morning TV show this week... The bio-mom said that the principle wouldn't discuss the word on the phone, as it was "too bad to say" --

This isn't as if the child had been using "gay" as a slur against another child, rather it was being used in the most loving way... how sad that schools have zero tolerance rules that can't understand context and intention.

Patty

[THE DING]

Yes, what is this Zero Tolerance monster.
Perhaps the problem was not with the child or what the child said perhaps there is a problem in how the principal perceives the word or the position of principal in the world?

I can't even say "I had a gay old time last night" without someone wanting an explanation of what was meant.

I have a pocket watch. It of course is on a pocket chain. There is a Colt Firearms logo on the front..you know the colt horsey and the stylized Colt name. Open it up and there is s picture of a specific colt model firearm. The keepers of the court building have tried to impound it at the door because it could be a potential weapon. Is true.
I give them as gifts. So do you think one of the kids is dumb enough to take them to school.
Nope they don't need the grief...chains, guns, weapon...come on it is a watch.

Not an Uzzi or tow chain or whatever.

Whatever happend to context, intention, the actions of a resonable and prudent person?

Excellent question.

I sincerely don't know.

If you find a source for mass quantities of rationality, courtesy, consideration and personal restraint I could use a recharge myself. You may wish to continue to point any and all in that direction through example.

[Pattybar]

At some point we stopped allowing people to be professionals and to use their own judgement as to how to do their jobs. Teachers and principles should be trained to determine whether a child's speech was hurtful and thus wrong.

Frankly it seems to me that so many parents challenged the judgement of teachers and principles that over the years it was decided that they should just make zero tolerance rules and let the students beware and bear the impacts of their refusal to use judgement. It sucks, a lot.

I also think that quite a bit of homophobia was playing into this decision. The teacher/principle didn't want the child to be able to speak openly about a good and functional gay family, as that would show that gays aren't all horrible child molesting sex-maniacs..

Patty

[THE DING]

Patty made an observation.

If edited to use "personal predjudice" or "bigotry" or "personal misunderstanding of circumstance" in lieu of homophobia and eliminated the word "gay" in one instance and substitute "parents" in the second she still would have made the same observation that something is askew.

Is her choice of words an invitiation to attack her observation.

Perhaps.

But in my humble opinion, only by those who would attack it even if worded as alluded to above.

After all a family is a family and if it works it needs all the support it can get in order to continue.

I have freinds who consider it their loss I am just who I am but they are my friends in spite of me or(I hope) because I am me. I am their freind because they are themselves and I wouldn't change them for the world for then they wouldn't be their special selves.

The good heart oft is laid to rest before its time when forced to kneel en masse by those who choose to turn a deaf ear and bring order by the muzzle.


For Patty, a heart felt: "Hear, Hear".

[Pattybar]

Ummm... Ding (as I don't recall your given name..) -- I'm curious as to what you think would be open to attack in my last paragraph above. Did I miss a post which actually did attack?

The terms "homophobia" and "gay" are terms used within the GLBTQ community frequently to describe those who love someone of the same gender (gays) and the people who hate those who love someone of the same gender, and as such don't leave me open to attack on that side. Also, most of the people here who are at all interested in these issues know where I stand in terms of same sex marriage due to a recent thread --- so I wasn't worried...

On the other side, I suppose the idea would be that same sex romantic relationships are something that should be hidden -- so it isn't some sort of negative thing (i.e. homophobia) but rather a desire to protect society from those unnatural (read, bad..) impluses and desires.... and my casting them in terms of homophobia was an unearned slur or insult... If that is the way in which I am open, fine --- as I'm pretty sure the root cause of the problem is one of the following: homophobia, ignorance, general hatred of the world, or sheer stupidity... among them, I suppose homophobia is the least of the charges, at least that can be fixed.

And as for casting a same sex partnership and a child as a family, what else should it be called? A coven, a flock -- no matter what, it seems to be functioning like a family, so why not call it so? If a solo mom and child can be a "family" why not two women raising a son? Just FYI, a good friend of mine refers to her very long term same sex partner as her "family"... it seems the term is appropriate.

Patty

[THE DING]

Oooopppsss.

No,didn't "miss an attack thread". Just me observing that telling it "like it is" was good thing but no matter the wording it could "freak" someone.

Somehow I managed to jackass myself in public again.

There are those in the world however who will tell you the sky is blue and get beat-up by those who prove it is naught but an optical illusion. (I know why it is blue. I like calling it blue)

Some can't see it as blue and leave it at that. (yeah..a family is a male and female parent and two and one-half children..Huh...where is the rest of the kid..boy don't that get your goat)

Have been called an "F'n faggot" just for giving a guy a hug in public that I had not seen since "forever".

I do not get it.

People who love are people who love. People who have the appearance of being givers of hate sure seem to be missing the boat.

By the way. Where is the community you mentioned. Don't tell me all good people everywhere are going to get lumped together just because they are not good in the correct manner and then are going to be loaded up in cattle cars and taken off somewhere?

Could be unacceptible behavior if some couple was "giving tongue"
while on the cellphone, nursing a child while in a car at the same time? (maybe as it could put an innocent at risk....but... not if the car is parked and the ignition is off){don't even start with...legally parked...in the driveway..etc..etc..this could go on forever...this line is NOT directed at Patty but the other nut (if any) who may wish to drive down that road)

Thanks for the question about my headspace and what you may have missed. You didn't miss a thing.

On a distantly related topic...fairy tales..beauty v ugly...I was under the impression the "ugly" was the actual character of the character in those stories based on the action(s)involved and that beauty (good?) overcame ugly (evil?). (not based on help from "Max Factor") Things appear to be Grimm again(?)
still(?).
(I guess I'll just go soak my head in the toilet again. Time to warsh (sic.) my braincell.)

p.s. I am nuts....not crazy...so you may call me anything you want except nuts or late for a meal. Hope you had an enjoyable weekend. GrampuhDing and Mum-Mums were not invaded by kith and kin so the two of us had a gay old time.

[Pattybar]

The "GLBTQ Community" is not a physical place, but rather a term used to refer to those concerned with GLBTQ issues, as well as those who are some variation of GLBTQ ---

Although, I have so many pals in "the lesbian ghetto" in Minneapolis, I've been considering moving . In many cities there are areas where gay men or lesbians tend to live -- and I suppose there are areas where they feel less comfortable also --

Patty

[THE DING]

Originally posted by Pattybar
The "GLBTQ Community" is not a physical place, but rather a term used to refer to those concerned with GLBTQ issues, as well as those who are some variation of GLBTQ ---

Although, I have so many pals in "the lesbian ghetto" in Minneapolis, I've been considering moving . In many cities there are areas where gay men or lesbians tend to live -- and I suppose there are areas where they feel less comfortable also --

Patty

I now what "GLBTQ Community" means and based on your definition I feel honored by those times when some...some...person has mistaken me for a member.
(gee...is there an opening for a "token-straight")

I live in a very interesting ghetto. It is made up of some really great people who are financially challenged or just suffering from circumstances that somehow got out of control.

The point is all in the ghetto are thrown together as being "trash" by the affluent. Funny...we get preyed upon by strangers from what are considered affluent neighborhoods.

I could move out of town to the property but then I wouldn't have anyone within yelling distance to keep an eye out for the wandering B. and E. artist. Also there is the armed incursion of people unlawfully entering my current state of residence which does cause some rather unpleasant incidents.

I like my ghetto it is more fun and awesome than a security blanket.

Ya can'ts judge a book by da cover and you can'ts label everyone in a certain group or area based on da action of one individual or location of da crib. (is so simple is why is so hard? maybe..could be....sorta kinda...{rubba dub dub the braincell I scrub)

Love-ya, bye-bye..biplanes..buy-bonds..by George

p.s. Creds are hiding in my....nom (NO MORE FRENCH)..pen name.