PA State House goes blue (and other MLP)

[desh]

Carrie Budoff, a political reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, reports that Democrat Barbara Smith is leading the election for the 156th state House seat by 23 votes at the end of the official recount. This gives the Dems a 102-101 margin in the state House.

Other links I've had open for awhile:

Vietnam-era refuseniks didn't get in as much trouble as you'd think.

Woot-offs make about $1.5 million!

Language Log discusses overpossessiveness in one of their great posts ever. Other fun posts recently: continuations Let's meet at mine and A friend of mine's pet bear, and morphemedar.

In a Jewschool comment, BZ succinctly summarizes the counterargument toward, "I don't hate gay people, I just hate the idea of the Jerusalem pride parade because I hate all outward expressions of sexuality".

Comments

Re: PA State House goes blue (and other MLP)

[desh]

"I hate all outward expressions of sexuality" wasn't a direct quote. But the general viewpoint here is of a religious, observant person not liking their own image of a pride parade, which is a bunch of half-naked people parading around with big penis-shaped balloons or something. And I've never been to a pride parade, and if that's really what they're like, then I also am not a big fan.

The issue here is that the person using this strawparade as the argument against sugh parades in general probably sees little difference between the penis balloons and two men holding hands as they walk down the street. (And yeah, I know, who am I to talk about strawmen after a point like that. BZ does it better.)

Re: PA State House goes blue (and other MLP)

[jdcohen.livejournal.com]

If the Jerusalem Pride Parade is going to be like other (read: U.S.) Pride Parades, then it's not going to be a giant festival of penises or anything like that. It's an opportunity for a normally suppressed counter-culture to take to the streets - an excuse to take what normally is indoors, outdoors. In three words, it's drag queens, speedos, and rainbows on parade. It's not about shoving sexuality down anyone's throats so much as it is embracing the culture surrounding it. (You learn a few things living in Dupont Circle - particularly when this year's Pride Parade went right past my window.) That's not to say that there won't be overtones and innuendos - there always are - but it's not going to be penis floats and leather. Especially in Jerusalem, where I think they're going to take it down a notch or two out of respect and a desire not to get their asses beat.

That "general viewpoint" of hating on people who are dressed as the opposite sex or are half-naked isn't limited to the Pride Parade, mind you - the Orthodox/more observant Jews have been doing that to everyone (at least, in that respect, they are equal opportunity offenders). I think it's that they get offended when someone flaunts their own personal rules to them and they just can't leave well enough alone. Please, take a page out of the Amish's book, and turn the other cheek - it's not your job to "save" everyone's soul, so shut the fuck up and let these people "go to hell" or whatever you believe. It's their decision to make.

--Jeff

Re: PA State House goes blue (and other MLP)

[desh]

Please, take a page out of the Amish's book, and turn the other cheek...

Seriously...are the Amish the least offensive religious [sub]culture ever or what? I love them. (I love them so much that I'm not going to make a bad joke about loving any Amish people who see this comment.)

Re: PA State House goes blue (and other MLP)

[jdcohen.livejournal.com]

Quite possibly - I'm not a big fan of their whole anti-technology thing, but if that's what they like, then I'm not going to argue. But I AM a big fan of their "live and let live" philosophy - that, and rumspringa. What a great name for such a great idea!

--Jeff