censorship/homophobia gone way too damn far

[BroomJockey]

That's because you can't catch "black",

I dunno. Some of the stuff I've heard over the years, you'd almost think it was possible. *rolleyes*

[daleduke17]

He's also famous for being the first openly gay elected official in California.

Because people can't shut the hell up and promote it as being a big deal, much like Obama being black.

Who really cares? Elect the person because they are the best for the job. Leave the sexuality/race/creed/whatever bullshit out of it.

[linguist]

Because people can't shut the hell up and promote it as being a big deal, much like Obama being black.

Who really cares? Elect the person because they are the best for the job. Leave the sexuality/race/creed/whatever bullshit out of it.

it is a big deal in many ways, especially to the respective communities they are a part of, because at a previous time in our nation's history, regardless of their qualifications, milk and obama would not have been elected to their respective offices solely based on their sexuality and race.

[anriana]

Because people can't shut the hell up and promote it as being a big deal, much like Obama being black.

Who really cares? Elect the person because they are the best for the job. Leave the sexuality/race/creed/whatever bullshit out of it.

And when people who are the best for the job can't get elected for years because of their sexuality/race/creed/"whatever"? They aren't allowed to celebrate when that prejudice is overcome?

[Flyndaran]

Because people can't shut the hell up and promote it as being a big deal, much like Obama being black.

Who really cares? Elect the person because they are the best for the job. Leave the sexuality/race/creed/whatever bullshit out of it.

Obama is mixed. We are still a ways from electing someone BLACK like Yaphet Kotto. We are still quite a ways from electing someone not stupidly rich.
You can't leave , sex, sexuality, ethnicity, etc. out of it. It is an important part of that person's history and upbringing.

[daleduke17]

And when people who are the best for the job can't get elected for years because of their sexuality/race/creed/"whatever"? They aren't allowed to celebrate when that prejudice is overcome?

What prejudice was overcome? African-Americans have had the advantage over Caucasians for quite a while thanks to blowhards like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. "Equal Opportunity" in EOE statements are just fluff really meaning "If you're white and male, fuck you". This whole nation is worried about offending any sort of minority, that minorities have the upper hand. Quite a few people were bullied into voting for Obama because of the thought of being labeled a racist.

IMO, there was no need for a celebration for overcoming prejudice, when no prejudice was overcome.

[Flyndaran]

..Quite a few people were bullied into voting for Obama because of the thought of being labeled a racist.

IMO, there was no need for a celebration for overcoming prejudice, when no prejudice was overcome.

Wow. I think you are seriously misinterpreting reality here.
People voted for Obama maybe because we all freaking hated Hilary, the other democratic front runner?
To say that nonwhites have an advantage over us in all of the U.S. is downright silly. To deny that racism exists, is almost racist in the degree of blind denial it requires.
Yes, I believe racism against whites, or anyone for that matter, is bad, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. The problem it was supposed to fight still exists.

[anriana]

What prejudice was overcome? African-Americans have had the advantage over Caucasians for quite a while thanks to blowhards like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. "Equal Opportunity" in EOE statements are just fluff really meaning "If you're white and male, fuck you". This whole nation is worried about offending any sort of minority, that minorities have the upper hand. Quite a few people were bullied into voting for Obama because of the thought of being labeled a racist.

IMO, there was no need for a celebration for overcoming prejudice, when no prejudice was overcome.

If minorites have the upper hand can you explain why white males outearn every other group?

Why would people be afraid of how people perceived them doing something that is secret? I could (sorta) see if you said people say they voted for Obama, but actually pulling the lever where no one could see them is a bit paranoid.

And I'm glad that as a white male, you can declare that there's no more prejudice! If you haven't experienced it, it clearly doesn't exist. I guess all those racial comments people made towards my partner were just in my pretty little head.

[daleduke17]

To say that nonwhites have an advantage over us in all of the U.S. is downright silly.

Look at the case that was just turned over in the Supreme Court about the firefighters who weren't or couldn't be promoted because there weren't enough minorities. Or the local police and fire departments who want to lower standards to make sure minorities can become officers (because having the best isn't good enough anymore), or the state agencies (schools, whatever) that are more worried about having the right demographics so they can get their state money.

These groups can't come right out and say "White folks need not apply, we have too many of you already" but they can say terms like "diversity" or "equal opportunity".

I want the best person for the job. Not the person who helps the agency get their money for being the most diverse.

[BroomJockey]

or "equal opportunity".

You keep using that incorrectly. The term you're looking for is "Affirmative action." That was the process of giving preferential treatment to under-represented demographics.

[daleduke17]

You keep using that incorrectly. The term you're looking for is "Affirmative action." That was the process of giving preferential treatment to under-represented demographics.

Ah, thanks for the correction.

But, do you agree that "equal opportunity" is all but equal?

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Equal opportunity is all good and well insofar as race having absolutely nothing to do with anything anymore. But one of the tools being used to seek equal opportunity is affirmative action, something quite grossly the opposite.

That said, schools have demonstrated a great aptitude for bullshittery (new word WOOT) so it's really not surprising in this case. Wrong, yes. Shocking? not really.

[wraiths_crono]

Censorship is a wonderful topic, my high school about... 5 years ago made big news because after they had the year books printed they went with black markers and removed all the senior quotes that dealt with sexuality (even vaguely) and religion, and this was AFTER those books were printed and paid for by the parents, this making a big ruckus about it they did reprint and not edit but they claimed it was for 'the protection of all included' hah! just one more bit of a society that wants to 'know whats best' for us all.

[protege]

Somewhat along those lines... back in 1994, my school district made the news. How, you ask? Well, for every year until then, they'd put up Christmas decorations in the high school lobby. Even though it was a public school, most students followed Christianity in one form or another.

...and that was a problem. Not *all* students did. So, in addition to the usual Christmas tree, there was a menorah.

But, a girl in my class (and who oddly enough didn't notice said decorations for the *previous* 3 years...) was Jewish. She decided, that during her senior year, that the decorations were suddenly offensive, and threatened to sue the district if they weren't removed After several months, the district finally caved, and removed them. Oddly enough, the 3 other Jewish students didn't give a shit--they actually *liked* the Christmas stuff

What pissed off most of us about that event...is that it was like *our* rights didn't matter! Why is it that one person is allowed to bully others simply because they have a loud voice? What ever happened to "equality?" I guess some are more "equal" than others.

[Flyndaran]

Somewhat along those lines... back in 1994, my school district made the news. How, you ask? Well, for every year until then, they'd put up Christmas decorations in the high school lobby. Even though it was a public school, most students followed Christianity in one form or another.

...and that was a problem. Not *all* students did. So, in addition to the usual Christmas tree, there was a menorah.

But, a girl in my class (and who oddly enough didn't notice said decorations for the *previous* 3 years...) was Jewish. She decided, that during her senior year, that the decorations were suddenly offensive, and threatened to sue the district if they weren't removed After several months, the district finally caved, and removed them. Oddly enough, the 3 other Jewish students didn't give a shit--they actually *liked* the Christmas stuff

What pissed off most of us about that event...is that it was like *our* rights didn't matter! Why is it that one person is allowed to bully others simply because they have a loud voice? What ever happened to "equality?" I guess some are more "equal" than others.

So it's against your rights to maintain separation of church and state? Please explain that one again.
Maybe some slaves liked being slaves. That wouldn't stop slavery from being a grotesque abomination of human rights.
If I had a child there, I would raise hell so to speak. I'm a born atheist and having religion shoved down our throats is stomping on our rights and is illegal.