demonize poor people for wanting to terminate pregnancy they can’t afford
demonize poor mothers for applying for government assistance to raise the child they didn’t want because they couldn’t afford it by referring to them as “welfare queens”
I like this meme.
July 2012
151 posts
How Urban Outfitters Peddles Ironic Conservatism, Hipster Racism and Other Terrible Values | Alternet →
alternet.org
Every company uses consumers to sell products, but Urban Outfitters’ way of doing so feels especially slimy.
“When Bill Moyers, Keith Olbermann, Mayor Bloomberg, and Rupert Murdoch are all in favor of something—in this case, tougher gun laws—and there’s still no chance of it being enacted, you can rest assured that forces other than reason and partisan politics are involved.”
—John Cassidy gives ten reasons America might be crazy (via newyorker)
Exercises in Public Discourse: Chick-Fil-A Edition
In case you’ve been away from your favorite media consumption outlets of late, Chick-Fil-A has come under fire for its president’s successful campaign to sound like a homophobic jackass.
Since the President/CEO of Chick-Fil-A openly admitted to focusing Chick-Fil-A ‘ethics’ efforts on anti-gay causes and organizations, it seems a small PR firestorm of varying stripes has erupted. While a great deal of the dialogue has been directed at rightly condemning Chick-Fil-A for promoting a culture of homophobia, a growing trend is emerging of ‘conservatives’ telling ‘liberals’ to be respectful of Chick-Fil-A and their principles. And often enough, to my amusement, the word ‘tolerance’ is used to in this discourse.
And then, I came upon this gem: “We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.” This failed attempt in playing the persecuted, again, brought to you by none other than Dan Cathy.
Why do I find these grammatical hijinks amusing? Namely, because most of these people wouldn’t know honest-to-god intolerance or discrimination if it bitch-slapped them with a giant black strap-on. You see, in a country where LGBT-focused crimes make up an estimated 19.3% of reported hate crimes, including everything from curb-stomping to sexual assault, I’d say tolerance is VERY much needed - but not by those angry with Chick-Fil-A. Want to know who could actually use tolerance and compassion? To start with the obvious, how about the LGBT community, that is so rarely discussed with dignity or respect? While we’re at it, how about migrants, who are treated as sub-human by everyone from press outlets to Border Patrol agents? How about individuals from the groups most often bearing the brunt of abuse resulting from the War on Terror or the War on Drugs, often in the form of unchecked police brutality and imprisonment? How about women demonized for simply desiring improved birth control access? You see ladies and gentlemen, THESE good folks could use some of your outrage and compassion. Not some fast food chicken chain that happily sponsors groups as inglorious as NOM.
However, apart from “Fun Times with Manipulating Oppression Discourse,” newer forms of defending the indefensible have come about in the form of righteous indignation at the masses for boycotting economically over a ‘political’ issue. I put this word in quotes, because it’s not political to people on the receiving end of that discrimination. It’s pretty goddamn personal. And it isn’t for that reason alone that this argument falls short of garnering support in any significant numbers. Allow me to demystify this: average citizens don’t usually boycott an entire franchise because they’re butt hurt over someone disagreeing with them. They boycott because they understand that their individual purchases support something they find morally reprehensible. Sometimes, that something is a company’s history of donating millions to WinShape and ex-gay ministries; sometimes it’s a company’s exploitation of the impossible situations of Palestinians within Occupied Palestine; and sometimes, it’s the antics of a colossally idiotic Fox News host making a living by exploiting racist myths to elicit fear. And before you forget, please note that we do tote this approach as a prized diplomatic tool on a regular basis at the international level. We call them “sanctions”. However, unlike when applied indiscriminately at the international level, they are far more likely to work as intended on a localized, national one. So allow me to sum this up: those making this argument don’t usually do so based on the desire for tolerance of a differing opinion – at best, it’s an attempt to cover up bigotry. At worst, it’s an attempt to justify apathy.
At the end of the day, tolerance is being a big enough person to recognize the basic humanity in others, even if they are very different from you. Tolerance is refusing to discriminate against a class of people in the name of preserving the status quo. Tolerance is NOT the right to go without criticism or accountability for your actions. But please, do invoke your right to piss and moan about how no one’s kissing your privileged little ass anymore.
Photo of boy in public housing with an iPad prompts debate over what the poor should have →
nola.com
Our goal as a nation should be for every child in Public Housing to have an ereader or iPad or some form of portable screen with internet access. Our goal should be to insure that children growing up with the least advantages economically have more not less educational advantages.
An iPad is cheaper than most computers. It’s portability allows a child to use it outside rather than tethered inside an apartment that may not have working air conditioning. Aside from providing access to teachers, libraries and educational programs a device like this allows parents on assistance to shop grocery stores for the best deals and sales in order to make their food stamps go further, search for jobs and apply for unemployment more easily, and search for and apply for social services they may not have been aware of that can help their families.
As a nation we should be working tirelessly to prevent a digital poverty line by requiring companies to donate or provide affordable broadband, WiFi hot spots, ereaders and tablet in poor communities across the country.
8 Creative Ways To "Hang Out" With Far-Away Friends →
autostraddle.com
So, you are here and your friends / loved ones / cuddle buddies are elsewhere. Maybe they’re down the street, across town, in another state, on the other side of the world. Maybe they miss you. And maybe you miss them. And maybe you’re tired of the routine text or phone call or email — you want to connect differently, say different things, be involved in each others’ lives in ways that don’t necessarily involve “like”-ing a status.
“Fox is like the Nickelback of news. It’s garbage that all sounds the same.”
—noeticallysexy (via reallyfoxnews)
Fez: Fez Won't Be Fixed Because Microsoft Wants a Ton of Money(via @Kotaku) →
kotaku.com
Polytron, the developers of indie hit Fez, have issued a surprising statement regarding the potentially game-breaking patch they recently released, then recalled. The full statement: We’re bringing the first FEZ patch online.
How the Logic of "Friendzoning" Would Work If Applied in Other Instances:
- fr*Man walks into a store and finds employee*
- Man: Alright, I've had enough. Why haven't you guys hired me?!
- Employee: Uh...well sir, when did you put in your application?
- Man: I never filled out an application.
- Employee: Well sir, we can't consider you for employment if you've never filled out an application.
- Man: No, that's bullshit, because I've been coming here for years now, and every single time I tell you all how much I love this store and how much I appreciate your customer service, unlike some of your other customers might I add!
- Employee: Well, but that doesn't-
- Man: AND I even told you that I didn't have a job!
- Employee: But sir, that doesn't indicate to us that you would like a job at our store. And again, if you've never filled out an application, we can't consider you. Besides, we're not hiring.
- Man: OH! Not hiring, HA! What a laugh. I see your store go through seasonal workers all the time. They come and go like nothing, but you won't consider me as a part-time employee even though I KNOW you've been looking for workers to fill positions? That's insane!
- Employee: Sir, we've been looking to hire a few people for management positions. Do you have any management experience?
- Man: Well no, but what does that matter?
- Employee: ...Well sir, that's what we're looking for. You won't be suitable for the position without management experience.
- Man: Oh that's such a load of crap. You know, you'll be waiting around a long time for a manager if you don't lower your standards a little. Who cares if someone knows how to manage a store? I LOVE this store and I'm willing to work here, that's all that should matter to you.
- Employee: That...doesn't make any sense.
- Man: NO! I'm done. This is over. From now on, no more Mr. Nice Guy.
- Employee:
- Man:
- Employee:
- Man: Fuck you, slut.
“People associate mental disorder with violence. We found that crime and mental disorder are linked, but not in the way people think: Persons with severe mental disorders are terribly vulnerable to victimization.”
—
Linda Teplin, discussing her research paper ‘Crime victimization in adults with severe mental illness’ (This paper is under paid access, but free articles summarizing it can be read here and here)
Which is one of the ways ability informs rape culture - people with disabilities are far more likely to be victims than abled people. People with disabilities are dehumanized and infantalized in ways that make them easier to victimize by abusers and makes it harder for them to get taken seriously if/when they report their abuse (assuming that they’re even capable of reporting it at all which isn’t always the case).
(via rapeculturerealities)
Regarding Top Gun...
Can a movie really be considered badass when it has a Kenny Loggins-based soundtrack?
And why does Val Kilmer look like someone put a military uniform on Vanilla Ice?
Today, in Submissions... →
luls4.me
O_O I…I think I just died of American. Well played, sir.
Did you snag Terraria yet? It's on sale right now (:
Why, yes ma’am, I did! As of an hour ago, actually. :D Why am I not playing it now? Well, aside from the all-absorbing power of Tumblr, because Alice: Madness Returns is still downloading.
Why Women Aren't Crazy →
goodmenproject.com
just thought y’all might enjoy that article! i thought it was a good read.
my dream is to one day make enough money to remake the movie twilight so that everything is exactly the same except edward cullen is played by kanye west and kanye west doesnt have a script and isn’t even aware of what the plot of the movie is, he’s just kanye west reacting to twilight in real time
My ovaries may explode with awesome.
So, I have the following lined up for my Steam Summer Sale list:
- Portal 2
- Alice: Madness Returns
- Terraria
- Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
- Stacking
Am I missing anything vital? o.O
Keep in mind I’m broke and gots meds & stuff to pay for, so it’s gotta be under $20…
Taliban or Republican? →
talibanorrepublican.com
Take the quiz and find how out just how many terrible things our politicians have said!
Terrorism has no religion. →
danceswithfaeriesunderthemooon.tumblr.com
When America takes 1 million lives in Iraq for oil:
Not Terrorism.
When Serbs rape Muslim women in Kosovo/Bosnia:
Not Terrorism.
When Russians kill 200,000 Chechens in bombings:
Not Terrorism.
When Jews kick out Palestinians and take their land:
Not Terrorism.
When American drones kill entire family in Afghanistan/Pakistan:
Not Terrorism.
When Israel kills 10,000 Lebanese civilians due to 2 missing soldiers:
Not Terrorism.
When Muslims retaliate and show you how you treat us:
“Terrorism?”
It seems like the word “Terrorism” is only reserved for Muslims.
Spread this message and let the world know…
Muslims are not terrorists! Terrorism has no religion!
