It may be after midnight but I don't care. My blog, my rules right? And besides after a bad day of insurance companies and leaking ceilings and generally slobbing about I have been cheered up.
First of all, I watched 10 Things I Hate About You which I concluded is just the best film of all time. Every scene is a moment unto itself, every joke hits the nail on the head, every performance the right blend of subtle and commanding. It even manages to tam that elusive beast: the teen movie soundtrack. It's not trying to be cool and failing because it's not trying at all. Just timeless guitar riffs and lyrics which fit the moment without cliché.
But then the really great news, the new that warrants happy dancing across the world and pride-flag waving in the streets. Proposition 8, which I have blogged about here before, has been ruled to be unconstitutional with some brilliant lines from the presiding judge:
"Proposition 8 places the force of law behind stigmas against gays and lesbians, including: gays and lesbians do not have intimate relationships similar to heterosexual couples; gays and lesbians are not as good as heterosexuals; and gay and lesbian relationships do not deserve the full recognition of society. Plaintiffs do not seek recognition of a new right. To characterize plaintiffs' objective as "the right to same-sex marriage" would suggest that plaintiffs seek something different from what opposite-sex couples across the state enjoy -- namely, marriage. Rather, plaintiffs ask California to recognize their relationships for what they are: marriages."
Of course, this is not the end of the fight by a long shot. But what it has proven is that the sometimes the facts speak for themselves. Equality has won despite the many things (namely rich Christians) fighting against it and this ruling has the potential to make a massive impact on the similar rows taking place across the country.
Showing posts with label prop 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prop 8. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Monday, 5 January 2009
My 2009 Wish-List
So, I'm not doing resolutions this year: mainly because I'd rather decide things I want to do as and when them come to me rather than struggle to come up with some now, and also because I never meet them!
So, instead, I'm going to write a wish-list. Not just for my year but for media, politics and 2009 in general.
- I'd like the Supreme Court judgments on the same-sex marriages which took place in California before Prop 8 passed to again rule the ban unconstitutional, and over-rule Prop 8. If not, by the end of the year, I would like it to have been revoked in some other way, in any shape or form necessary.
- I'd like Luke and Noah to have sex. This may seem trivial, and shallow, but in reality I honestly think a teen gay couple having sex on daytime American television is a step which we should all support if the country is going to catch up with Europe in terms of tolerance in society and the law.
- I'd like Barack Obama to have a successful first year. Not only because it is an important year politically for the States, but because with all the pressure on him to make radical change, it would be a shame for him to loss that momentum before he has really had the chance to begin.
- I'd like David Tennant's final Doctor Who episode's to be entertaining and memorable. I really hope that the last, not only David Tennant but Russell T Davies episodes, will stand out in my mind as some of the best. I would feel better about saying goodbye if they went out in style.
- I would like to complete ScriptFrenzy and NaNoWriMo for a second year. I found NaNoWriMo, whatever the product, a very rewarding experience and it certainly made me question what I most enjoy in terms of what to do with my life. Before I become merchanary about writing, I would like to have two more months of pure, unadulterated creativity.
- I would like to see some of the bands we have been enjoying for nearly two years to enjoy to success they are predicted. Here, I am talking about White Lies, Nick Harrison, Mumford and Sons, Florence and the Machine etc. who are pipped as this years big bands (while we've known about them for ages!) They deserve all the success coming their way.
- I would like to get the grades in my AS exams I need to have the widest possible choice of Universities and would like to make sensible choices about them. My greatest fear is going somewhere and not enjoying it, so it's a summer of research I think. And some vague career idea (not plan, just idea) would be helpful with that...
- I would like to see some serious progress in countries who have faced the hardest 2008's: for example, Palestine and Zimbabwe.
- I would like to have a fruitful time in New York - of course, I'm going to enjoy it, but I feel like wasting the spare hours in the city (like I'm going to sleep!) would be a missed opportunity and would like a project. More writing maybe? But what?
- I would like to read newspapers on a more regular basis than I do. I read them on a very random basis, and am very selective on what I read, and feel it is becoming increasingly necessary for me to understand. If everything goes according to plan, we should be voting in the next election and I would hate to be mis-informed.
- I would like to have a summer of working to earn money, and reading. I feel I have not read enough novels in 2008, and would really like to get some solid reading down in 2009.
- I would like a film which everyone agrees is the Best Picture of the year to win the Oscar. There is no need to go for an outsider Academy - sometimes the best film is the one we all love too!
- And, possibly the most out-there, I would really like to film whatever I write in ScriptFrenzy this year. I have a couple of ideas, and I think they would not be that difficult to film, and I think it would be something lovely to look back on and work on with my friends.
So, this is what I would like to see. How many will happen? I don't know. I'm not going to go out of my way to see these things happen above my own sanity, but they are things I hope we would all love to see!
xXx
So, instead, I'm going to write a wish-list. Not just for my year but for media, politics and 2009 in general.
- I'd like the Supreme Court judgments on the same-sex marriages which took place in California before Prop 8 passed to again rule the ban unconstitutional, and over-rule Prop 8. If not, by the end of the year, I would like it to have been revoked in some other way, in any shape or form necessary.
- I'd like Luke and Noah to have sex. This may seem trivial, and shallow, but in reality I honestly think a teen gay couple having sex on daytime American television is a step which we should all support if the country is going to catch up with Europe in terms of tolerance in society and the law.
- I'd like Barack Obama to have a successful first year. Not only because it is an important year politically for the States, but because with all the pressure on him to make radical change, it would be a shame for him to loss that momentum before he has really had the chance to begin.
- I'd like David Tennant's final Doctor Who episode's to be entertaining and memorable. I really hope that the last, not only David Tennant but Russell T Davies episodes, will stand out in my mind as some of the best. I would feel better about saying goodbye if they went out in style.
- I would like to complete ScriptFrenzy and NaNoWriMo for a second year. I found NaNoWriMo, whatever the product, a very rewarding experience and it certainly made me question what I most enjoy in terms of what to do with my life. Before I become merchanary about writing, I would like to have two more months of pure, unadulterated creativity.
- I would like to see some of the bands we have been enjoying for nearly two years to enjoy to success they are predicted. Here, I am talking about White Lies, Nick Harrison, Mumford and Sons, Florence and the Machine etc. who are pipped as this years big bands (while we've known about them for ages!) They deserve all the success coming their way.
- I would like to get the grades in my AS exams I need to have the widest possible choice of Universities and would like to make sensible choices about them. My greatest fear is going somewhere and not enjoying it, so it's a summer of research I think. And some vague career idea (not plan, just idea) would be helpful with that...
- I would like to see some serious progress in countries who have faced the hardest 2008's: for example, Palestine and Zimbabwe.
- I would like to have a fruitful time in New York - of course, I'm going to enjoy it, but I feel like wasting the spare hours in the city (like I'm going to sleep!) would be a missed opportunity and would like a project. More writing maybe? But what?
- I would like to read newspapers on a more regular basis than I do. I read them on a very random basis, and am very selective on what I read, and feel it is becoming increasingly necessary for me to understand. If everything goes according to plan, we should be voting in the next election and I would hate to be mis-informed.
- I would like to have a summer of working to earn money, and reading. I feel I have not read enough novels in 2008, and would really like to get some solid reading down in 2009.
- I would like a film which everyone agrees is the Best Picture of the year to win the Oscar. There is no need to go for an outsider Academy - sometimes the best film is the one we all love too!
- And, possibly the most out-there, I would really like to film whatever I write in ScriptFrenzy this year. I have a couple of ideas, and I think they would not be that difficult to film, and I think it would be something lovely to look back on and work on with my friends.
So, this is what I would like to see. How many will happen? I don't know. I'm not going to go out of my way to see these things happen above my own sanity, but they are things I hope we would all love to see!
xXx
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
I'm sorry.
Sorry to put a downer on what is normally a mainly happy blog but there is something that I have to get off my chest. I was YouTubing (as you do at 1.37 in the morning) and came across some 'Yes On Prop 8' trails that aired before the vote in November. For those of you just passing through who do not know what Prop 8 is, it was on the ballot in California and voting Yes meant taking away the right for same-sex couples to get married which had been granted by the Supreme Court not even a year before.
Of course, both sides of the campaign went at it: with endorsements and donations coming from all over the place. And despite this years election been historical and tolerant in so many ways, it is sad to know this passed at the same beautiful moment in history. I find it sad that for so many the victory was tarnished.
So, back to these trails. They honestly have to be seen to be believed. Let's take the first one:
Now normally I would not even want to link to this, but it really has to be seen to be believed.
Let's take this point by point:
'And because the Supreme Court has made same-sex marriage a fundamental right...' No mate, it was always a right. Simply one people were not granted.
'... legal defenses based on religious freedoms are less likely to succeed.' If your religion is your only defense, that is no defense. And not one the Supreme Court would have ever looked kindly upon.
'Those who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds will be increasingly labelled as intolerant...' As opposed to tolerant? I am not sure of your definition but in my mind, you are intolerant if you deny someone a basic human right based upon who they fall in love with.
'Children will be taught that same-sex marriages are the equal of same-sex marriages' And that is bad why? Oh, right. You don't want your kids to grow up thinking it's normal and acceptable. But your not intolerant. No, you are protecting your rights to pass on rubbish to your children...
'Could narrow personal liberties... like photographers who would prefer not to photograph gay weddings...' Well, we would not want to narrow personal liberties. God, people who have had their rights suppressed for centuries just do not understand not being given basic rights (!)
The last point about America being based upon religious freedoms. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't America built on a barrier between church and state? No-one is telling you not to practise your religion, but just that the laws within your religion should not be imposed upon an entire country.
Apparently, those who voted No On Prop 8 were intolerant of people's religious freedoms. If only these people could understand intolerance, if only they had had fundamental rights taken away.
The things I didn't mention? The church marriage services? The adoption agencies? The teaching in schools? I'm not mentioning those because they are right? There is no moral argument? No, I am not mentioning them because they are not covered by Proposition 8.
Prop 8 had no bearing on the rights of private businesses to refuse work or the Church to practice by it's own laws: it's only change would have been to allow anyone in a committed relationship to marry by the law of the country.
Now, the ballot has passed (based on far more lies than I could show you in one post, take a look through the related videos and see for yourself) but the battle is not over. No On Prop 8 is a campaign that lives on, and many of those whose marriages were denied by their state in November are taking the decision back to the Supreme Court. There is hope: and while I am not of the age of the geography to make the difference I would like, I hope my small rant has at least shown that there are people everywhere outraged by Prop 8, and who are supporting those who fight against in every way they can.
Now, something to cheer you up:
Ah, there is hope!
xXx
Of course, both sides of the campaign went at it: with endorsements and donations coming from all over the place. And despite this years election been historical and tolerant in so many ways, it is sad to know this passed at the same beautiful moment in history. I find it sad that for so many the victory was tarnished.
So, back to these trails. They honestly have to be seen to be believed. Let's take the first one:
Now normally I would not even want to link to this, but it really has to be seen to be believed.
Let's take this point by point:
'And because the Supreme Court has made same-sex marriage a fundamental right...' No mate, it was always a right. Simply one people were not granted.
'... legal defenses based on religious freedoms are less likely to succeed.' If your religion is your only defense, that is no defense. And not one the Supreme Court would have ever looked kindly upon.
'Those who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds will be increasingly labelled as intolerant...' As opposed to tolerant? I am not sure of your definition but in my mind, you are intolerant if you deny someone a basic human right based upon who they fall in love with.
'Children will be taught that same-sex marriages are the equal of same-sex marriages' And that is bad why? Oh, right. You don't want your kids to grow up thinking it's normal and acceptable. But your not intolerant. No, you are protecting your rights to pass on rubbish to your children...
'Could narrow personal liberties... like photographers who would prefer not to photograph gay weddings...' Well, we would not want to narrow personal liberties. God, people who have had their rights suppressed for centuries just do not understand not being given basic rights (!)
The last point about America being based upon religious freedoms. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't America built on a barrier between church and state? No-one is telling you not to practise your religion, but just that the laws within your religion should not be imposed upon an entire country.
Apparently, those who voted No On Prop 8 were intolerant of people's religious freedoms. If only these people could understand intolerance, if only they had had fundamental rights taken away.
The things I didn't mention? The church marriage services? The adoption agencies? The teaching in schools? I'm not mentioning those because they are right? There is no moral argument? No, I am not mentioning them because they are not covered by Proposition 8.
Prop 8 had no bearing on the rights of private businesses to refuse work or the Church to practice by it's own laws: it's only change would have been to allow anyone in a committed relationship to marry by the law of the country.
Now, the ballot has passed (based on far more lies than I could show you in one post, take a look through the related videos and see for yourself) but the battle is not over. No On Prop 8 is a campaign that lives on, and many of those whose marriages were denied by their state in November are taking the decision back to the Supreme Court. There is hope: and while I am not of the age of the geography to make the difference I would like, I hope my small rant has at least shown that there are people everywhere outraged by Prop 8, and who are supporting those who fight against in every way they can.
Now, something to cheer you up:
Ah, there is hope!
xXx
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