One last massive commentary before the election

Is there a difference between racism, thinking blacks are inferior, and racialism, thinking that blacks are different? A blogger who calls himself Radical Russ thinks so. You're choosing sides for a pickup game of basketball and the two guys left appear the same in height, strength, and ability though one is white and the other black. Which to choose? Probably black because you figure his street basketball games were tougher. What about two Harvard Law School valedictorians, one white another black? Probably black because you know he had to overcome a lot more and thus worked harder to make it on top. Now consider Obama, who not only aced Harvard Law, but has managed to campaign for president without a credible scandal dogging his heels. If preferring a guy like that is racism, I'll gladly wear the title.


The Los Angeles Times urges a no vote on Proposition 8, the Calif. marriage protection amendment:

Clever magicians practice the art of misdirection -- distracting the eyes of the audience to something attention-grabbing but irrelevant so that no one notices what the magician is really doing. Look over at that fuchsia scarf, up this sleeve, at anything besides the actual trick.

The campaign promoting Proposition 8, which proposes to amend the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriages, has masterfully misdirected its audience, California voters. Look at the first-graders in San Francisco, attending their lesbian teacher's wedding! Look at Catholic Charities, halting its adoption services in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is legal! Look at the church that lost its tax exemption over gay marriage! Look at anything except what Proposition 8 is actually about: a group of people who are trying to impose on the state their belief that homosexuality is immoral and that gays and lesbians are not entitled to be treated equally under the law.

That truth would never sell in tolerant, live-and-let-live California, and so it has been hidden behind a series of misleading half-truths. Once the sleight of hand is revealed, though, the campaign's illusions fall away.

The article proceeds to list the illusions:
Catholic Charities in Mass. halted adoption because of a gay-friendly law passed many years earlier that included the charities because they took state money. Those kids attending their teacher's lesbian wedding had their parent's permission and that permission could have been given for a domestic partner ceremony. The case about forcing churches to marry gays was about a NJ Methodist resort that got a tax exemption on the grounds that it is open to the public and therefore must be open to the entire public but doesn't affect what is done on private church property. The "traditional" definition of marriage has already changed radically over the years.



Here's a new blog that I've enjoyed reading for a couple days now. Most of the posts are by Helen, who is 82, lives in Texas, and is quite feisty and eloquent. She started blogging after her grandson set things up to help her keep in contact with her best friend Margaret, who is of similar age and lives in Maine. And, no, it isn't that kind of best friend -- both have husbands. I love the banner photo of the two friends on scooters on the deck of some military ship.

Helen was asked by an undecided voter how to help make a decision. Here's a summary of what she said (though she says it with much humor).

McCain blew his first big decision in choosing Palin. She is way out of her league. He is scaring people on taxes -- most won't make enough money to be affected. This is an ongoing GOP hoax. McCain has flipped on many issues and no longer has a spine and is no longer a maverick.

Which party has been screaming about bogeymen coming to get you and which has talked about hope? Which has been talking about Real America and which about the United States of America. Which thinks war is a good solution and which prefers diplomacy? Which has been a documented liar?

Are you still undecided because the terrorists are going to get us? Let's try hope instead of fear.

Thanks, Helen, for saying it so well.

So vote.



There has been a lot of news about long lines and multi-hour waits to vote in early voting states and predicted for many places tomorrow. Some are beginning to wonder if that wait amounts to a poll tax, something banned by the 24th amendment to the Constitution. Why is it so hard to have enough voting stations?


The remaining classical music station around here has decided that Sunday at 7:00 is the right time for the Gospel Hour. That's the time for me to wake up and this isn't my style of music. Sigh. So after my shower yesterday I caught the last half of Speaking of Faith, on NPR. The topic of discussion was what is the right amount of religion in political life? Yes, religion influences our morals and that is important when debating candidates and policies. Journalist Steven Waldman of Beliefnet put it this way. When a religion ties itself closely to a political cause or party they run a big risk. As people sour on the cause or party they also sour on the religion. This activity of the Religious Right over the last 25 years has turned an entire generation away from Christianity. The Evangelicals at the time of the presidency of Thomas Jefferson thanked him for his strong support of the separation of Church and State. They were pleased to be free of political control of religion. The whole program is 53 minutes.

In this past weekend's Prairie Home Companion Garrison Keillor started with a heartfelt song about Studs Terkel, who died the day before, then did a fun song for Todd Palin, describing how much he, an Alaskan outdoorsman, will hate living in Washington.
You can listen to segments of the show (all the above in the 1st 17 minutes) or read the scripts and lyrics.