|
|
Post by bridgeymah on Jun 26, 2012 8:11:58 GMT -5
I don't see any comments yet about the Towleroad article adamme posted about the young lesbian couple in Texas who were both shot in the head, with one already dead. Yes, this is very sad and sickening. Yes, gay people have made great strides, but in the last two years I think there has been a definite increase in hate crimes and hate speech against gay men and women. I think a lot of it has to do with the economy. Gays, like all minorities, become a target when times are bad. But I think a lot of the hate has risen out of the right wing politics. In North Carolina alone several evangelical leaders have proposed concentration camps and/or death sentences for gays. I honestly can't remember a time when there has been so much hatred shown against gay men and women. How does this affect Adam? I think it is clear that Adam has to somehow function in an America where the voices of hate have increased. An example of this is that Lyndsey Parker's Yahoo music column no longer allows for the posting of comments to anything she writes about Adam due to vicious, vile and violent remarks (calling for Adam's castration, etc) that began to appear in the last year. Remarks of this extreme nature, as far as I know, were not there during Idol, and during the launch of FYE. But they were there as the new era began. The closer to the tipping point things get the harder those who hate will fight. The war is most vicious right before surrender. I take the escalation of rhetoric as a sign that the very ground beneath our feet is changing and moving in a way demands people step out of their silence - and that will play out on both sides. For Adam, he is unfortunately on the front lines and for better or worse has to deal with that. It is both a burden and an opportunity and clearly from his Billboard interview he sees it as such. In the annals of history this time will, like other civil rights movements before be viewed as an inflection point in history - a point where the trajectory changed and on every timeline of this time, Adam will have a place. |
|
|
|
Post by 4EverAdam on Jun 26, 2012 8:20:30 GMT -5
Thank You danciegeorgia:
Shady
Trespassing & Kickin In
Broken English
Naked Love
NCOE
Cuckoo
|
|
|
|
Post by mmmgoodcracker on Jun 26, 2012 8:22:16 GMT -5
Bridgymah,
You said that so much better than me! Thank you.
My next question? What are we going to do about it now?
As a high school teacher, I promote and practice tolerance and acceptance everyday, but I want to do more. I know that what I do is important and that true change happens individually and those individuals coalesce into a bigger, more powerful entity.
But...what else can I actively do? Fighting prejudice, discrimination and hate is too important for me to do just behind the screen of my computer.
Suggestions?
|
|
|
|
Post by bridgeymah on Jun 26, 2012 8:33:51 GMT -5
Bridgymah, You said that so much better than me! Thank you. My next question? What are we going to do about it now? As a high school teacher, I promote and practice tolerance and acceptance everyday, but I want to do more. I know that what I do is important and that true change happens individually and those individuals coalesce into a bigger, more powerful entity. But...what else can I actively do? Fighting prejudice, discrimination and hate is too important for me to do just behind the screen of my computer. Suggestions? I think what you are doing is a great place to start. There is a wonderful book worth reading by Paul Hawkens called Blessed Unrest about the Impact of thousands upon thousands of small groups across communities and how they coalesce into that larger entity. But in the end all each of us can do is be in observance of own our thoughts and our actions - Ghandi had it about right when he said be the change you wish to see... |
|
|
|
Post by smokeyvera on Jun 26, 2012 9:04:35 GMT -5
I can tell you living in the south and the bible belt, there are some strong attitudes towards gays. The other day, a man who sets up sound systems, home theaters etc was present in my home to do some work. He had been in our home before, and felt he could speak. He explained how religious he was, and that his wife homeschooled their children, as he didn't want his children influenced by the world. He then began expounding on gays, and gay marriage. You can guess where that was going.
Right in the midde of the job, I told him to leave my home, and that he better not bill me for work performed. He was dumbfounded. I told him, you spew hate in my home, you pay the consequences. I told him for future business practice do not combine business with religion. I also told him, he was doing his children a disservice, not exposing them to the world, because all he was creating was an atmosphere of hate. What I found interesting, that this was not solicitated, but people feel the need to let their feelings be known, and they're not shy. He never apologized.....the bastard.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Location:
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2012 9:12:53 GMT -5
I don't see any comments yet about the Towleroad article adamme posted about the young lesbian couple in Texas who were both shot in the head, with one already dead. Yes, this is very sad and sickening. Yes, gay people have made great strides, but in the last two years I think there has been a definite increase in hate crimes and hate speech against gay men and women. I think a lot of it has to do with the economy. Gays, like all minorities, become a target when times are bad. But I think a lot of the hate has risen out of the right wing politics. In North Carolina alone several evangelical leaders have proposed concentration camps and/or death sentences for gays. I honestly can't remember a time when there has been so much hatred shown against gay men and women. How does this affect Adam? I think it is clear that Adam has to somehow function in an America where the voices of hate have increased. An example of this is that Lyndsey Parker's Yahoo music column no longer allows for the posting of comments to anything she writes about Adam due to vicious, vile and violent remarks (calling for Adam's castration, etc) that began to appear in the last year. Remarks of this extreme nature, as far as I know, were not there during Idol, and during the launch of FYE. But they were there as the new era began. The closer to the tipping point things get the harder those who hate will fight. The war is most vicious right before surrender. I take the escalation of rhetoric as a sign that the very ground beneath our feet is changing and moving in a way demands people step out of their silence - and that will play out on both sides. For Adam, he is unfortunately on the front lines and for better or worse has to deal with that. It is both a burden and an opportunity and clearly from his Billboard interview he sees it as such. In the annals of history this time will, like other civil rights movements before be viewed as an inflection point in history - a point where the trajectory changed and on every timeline of this time, Adam will have a place. I didn't comment earlier because I would like to read about the incident in a fuller report first. I don't know yet whether the horrible person who did this was motivated by hate against lesbians in general, which would provoke one kind of soul-searching, or some personal vendetta against the girls, which would provoke another. It's awful no matter what. I really agree with what bridgeymah posted earlier. We are at a turning/tipping point with gay rights. This is history in the making. I can't tell you how many time my dad has told me about the terrible 1963 bombing in Birmingham that killed the four little girls going to Sunday school. Before that time, my dad said he wasn't that enthused about the civil rights movement ... he wondered why the activists had to push so hard. After the bombing ... any decent person in America had a broken heart. How many times have we seen folks insist that homophobia really isn't that bad out there? It is as if decent, regular people need to see the hate, naked and raw, before they really understand that we are all in this together.  |
|
abriton
Member
Posts: 720
Location:
|
Post by abriton on Jun 26, 2012 9:13:21 GMT -5
I can tell you living in the south and the bible belt, there are some strong attitudes towards gays. The other day, a man who sets up sound systems, home theaters etc was present in my home to do some work. He had been in our home before, and felt he could speak. He explained how religious he was, and that his wife homeschooled their children, as he didn't want his children influenced by the world. He then began expounding on gays, and gay marriage. You can guess where that was going. Right in the midde of the job, I told him to leave my home, and that he better not bill me for work performed. He was dumbfounded. I told him, you spew hate in my home, you pay the consequences. I told him for future business practice do not combine business with religion. I also told him, he was doing his children a disservice, not exposing them to the world, because all he was creating was an atmosphere of hate. What I found interesting, that this was not solicitated, but people feel the need to let their feelings be known, and they're not shy. He never apologized.....the bastard. GO SMOKEYVERA !! What's amazing is that he assumed you would agree with him ! |
|
|
|
Post by rihannsu on Jun 26, 2012 9:14:07 GMT -5
Bridgymah, You said that so much better than me! Thank you. My next question? What are we going to do about it now? As a high school teacher, I promote and practice tolerance and acceptance everyday, but I want to do more. I know that what I do is important and that true change happens individually and those individuals coalesce into a bigger, more powerful entity. But...what else can I actively do? Fighting prejudice, discrimination and hate is too important for me to do just behind the screen of my computer. Suggestions? The MOST important impact you can have is on the people around you day in and day out. It sounds like that is what you are doing so keep it up. Beyond that just lending your voice wherever you see a need. Also encouraging those you come in contact with to be a positive voice as well. Many people who may personally not have a problem with gays or any other minority will still let things slide around them in order to not make waves. Encourage those around you to speak out when insults are tossed around. The more people are called out for their insensitive remarks the more the climate will change. It's not just homophobia either because tolerating denigrating remarks about ANY minority (women included) makes things uncomfortable for all. I really think RESPECT is something that is all too often left by the wayside. It is important that we all practice respect for others even when we disagree. I remember Adam once commenting that getting to know the "Christians" on Idol his season especially Sarver and Gokey made him realize that he was also guilty of being judgemental with regards to others and that was something he had to work on. ETA: There you go Smokey, that's the way to truly stand up for people. Many people in that situation would just ignore it so as not to inconvenience themselves. |
|
lynne
Member
Posts: 2,277
Location:
|
Post by lynne on Jun 26, 2012 9:14:57 GMT -5
Sue Thanks for the pics! I am excited for Momtomany and all others about to leave on their Adam/Queen experiences. I can't wait to live vicariously through all of you.  I did my texting yesterday and did receive a text back from KTU that they were playing NCOE soon. However, it was at 4:00 in the morning NY time. Texting is so easy!
|
|
|
|
Post by tinafea on Jun 26, 2012 9:16:12 GMT -5
I finally got around to figuring out how to upload vidoes to YouTube. In honor of the 1 month aniversity of Adam's concert at Six Flags on May 26, 2012 I've uploaded this set to: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA5898FED24510D89&feature=edit_okThese videos were taken with my new Q3HD video camera which has 2 external microphones. This gives much better sound quality, i.e., no distortions, than the usual video cameras. However, the sound level is lower so you will need to turn the sound up, or even better, wear headphone. I think it automatically turns the recording level down to avoid some of the distortions from loud booming sounds. P.S. Cuckoo is still processing, so please check back in a while to view. Thanks!!! The Q3 is what I used to record FS #1. It really makes a difference with distortion |
|
