Critteria

I just went out front to give the street's mockingbird the stinkeye, and I ended up giving the stinkeye to a raccoon.

DOJ brief

DOJ brief
Originally uploaded by fuzzygruf

Denying benefits "...cannot be taken as an infringement on plaintiffs' rights, even if same-sex marriage were accepted as a fundamental right under the Constitution."
--Barack Obama

The violets in the mountain have broken the rocks

This beautiful speech by Patricia Clarkson includes gems such as: "How can I believe your theology when I can't believe your hair?"

(Speech was for yet another HRC "gala." At least we got the text/video of this speech out of it.)

The HRC

I'm not a fan of the Human Rights Campaign. I'm especially not a fan of HRC's president, Joe Solmonese. His letter to the president today about the DOJ did hit some key points.

Will this milquetoast organization's letter make a difference? I dunno. It might.

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Booker T. Washington was despised by many blacks. He did raise lots of money for African-American causes. He did raise the conscience of some white Americans. He did do some good. BUT, he caved in to blacks being subservient to whites. He thought blacks should "take their proper place" in society and not cause waves.

Other black pioneers, like Ida B. Wells and W.E.B. DuBois (who both helped form the NAACP) thought Washington to be too passive. They were more action-oriented and did lots to expand the rights of African-Americans. DuBois was one of the most influential men of the 20th century.

Today, Booker T. Washington's name is more recognizable. Why? Because he mingled with those in power. Kinda like the HRC. They raise lots of money and schmooze. Do they get much done? I don't think so. Will Obama listen to them? Maybe. More than he would listen to me.

I'm still not a fan of the HRC. But I do think there is a need for different types of organizations to get things done. Even milquetoast ones.