Nick's Place

April 02, 2004

Civil Limbo

I've been wandering around Barnes&Noble.

I'm currently sitting in limbo about equidistant between the Gay and Lesbian section and the Religious Fiction section. (Yes I realize the latter title is redundant, but I didn't make it up)

Between the dichotomy of these two sections and the scattering of political hack jobs masquerading as books, I'm disturbed by the divisiveness in today's culture.

There was a prevailing theme of unity after 2001. "Lets be united, lets be strong, stand together in solidarity." (Why does this sound slightly like communism?)

Instead its as if we got together and took a good look at our brothers from the north and from the south and ran, disturbed with what we saw. We've taken to hacking at each other, attempting to win a silent battle.

Unfortunately this is not the most disturbing thing I've seen recently.

On the day George Bush stated he would support a constitutional amendment to enshrine the religious standard of marriage as being between one man and one woman, I got a telephone call from my older sister, Randi, upset and frustrated by his hateful stance. I had simply labeled it as the words of a bigot and felt secure that history would run its course and GWB would look like the ignorant prick that he is.

What is disturbing to me is I went to my Dad's house the other day and he had "signed" pictures from GWB's campaign. (Its possible these were for donating to the RNC, as I'ven't found his donation on GWB's website.)

My dad was the parent who took my coming out the best. So I'm frustrated when my dad supports a man who has placed himself directly blocking the path of his son's future happiness.

I'm in limbo as to what to do. I want to scold my Dad for his position. But, at the same time he has been kicked enough as is.

So, walking around Barnes&Noble seeing this war unfold around me has crystalized the limbic middle ground on which I'm standing on.

My father is unexplainably with the south and I'm with the north.

I don't want to see this battle...

I am writing to just let you know that I have a signed photo of GWB as well. You see, GWB has collected so much campaign money that he has mailed out these things with him and his wife to registered republican voters. Not everyone mind you, and seeing that I have not voted republican since 1992, I was very surprised. So your dad may not have the same views as he once did, just as I do not. So do not think it a sign of support to Georgey. I kept mine on display for a couple of weeks because I was amused by the irony. Well, I just thought I would let you know this. Talk top you again soon.

While I know that you and I have had a short dicussion on our views of same-sex marriage, I have to tell you I think we agree on something. The proposed constitutional ammendment stinks!

I am a good republican - even though I know many people don't believe that such a person can exist - but I don't agree with everything or even most of what GW does. I think that protecting individual freedoms should be of paramount importance.

I don't agree with gay marriage, but that's my own personal decision. I respect and will fight so that others can believe and live in a way they choose. Our constitution should protect everyone, whether we agree with them or not.

p.s. Thanks for reading my website and leaving comments. I will try and do so more often on yours.

Because my attention span is rather short, I will list my comments as they pop into my head.

1. As a person from the South, I resent your statement of "My father is unexplainably with the south and I'm with the north." Of course I understand that it was more a figure of speech than anything, but it still frustrates me. With the view points of so many, the South always stands for all ass-backward ways of doing things, while the North symbolizes all that's right in the world. That is total bullshit. Perhaps those stereotypes were more effective and true prior to the 1970s, but they hold less meaning in today's world.

Sadly, I don't remember where I was going with this, and am way too tired to figure it out. Therefore, I am moving on.

2. As I walk around Borders/B&N, I'm most amused by the multitudes of "_____ for Dummies" and "The Idiot's Guide to ______" books. My personal favorite is entitled "Prayer for Dummies."
   

-Alisha

As a person from the South, I resent your statement of "My father is unexplainably with the south and I'm with the north." Of course I understand that it was more a figure of speech than anything, but it still frustrates me. With the view points of so many, the South always stands for all ass-backward ways of doing things, while the North symbolizes all that's right in the world. That is total bullshit. Perhaps those stereotypes were more effective and true prior to the 1970s, but they hold less meaning in today's world.

I was making an allusion to the Civil War, nothing else. Areas of the north as well as areas of the South have ass-backward ways of doing lots of things, hands down.

In other news, I checked GWB's site. My father has not made a donation to his campaign. So I was a little over dramatic. My dad is a registered Republican, I've known that for a while, and quite frankly I don't have any issue with that. I would have an issue with him supporting GWB.