Abe Rosenthal’s Reign of Homophobia at The New York Times
As Rosenthal ascended to the top of the Times ladder, his prejudices defined the unspoken but nevertheless unmistakable rules for deciding what was fit to print. As journalist and writer Charles Kaiser, who worked at the Times under Rosenthal, put it, “Everyone below Rosenthal spent all of their time trying to figure out what to …
Revisiting Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’ at 50
Ginsberg, who had studied at Columbia University, sent a poem called “Dream Record, 1955” to poet and essayist Kenneth Rexroth. “It still sounds like you’re wearing Columbia University Brooks Brothers ties,” Rexroth told Ginsberg. “You know, it’s too formal.” So, Ginsberg says, “I sat down and just started writing what I thought about.” The resulting …
“Live Loudly and Fiercely … Apathy Is Not a Choice”
Getting an education is about gaining the tools we need to succeed in life. The greatest tool that I’ve gained from my time here is perspective, the desire to learn from people different from myself and to attempt to see the world through their eyes. The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that, in this democracy, …
Homelessness in Thurston County
Alec and I met at Everything for Everybody, an organization that was a shelter for homeless people in New York City as well as a ‘soup line’ and much more. We then moved to Mississippi and founded a similar organization in our home. Most of the people who needed shelter from us were battered women …
Is Bush a Lunatic? by Molly Ivins
Insane immigration policies, a new $70 billion tax cut for the rich, and increasing ineptitude in Iraq all indicate that this administration has lost its marbles. I hate to raise such an ugly possibility, but have you considered lunacy as an explanation? Craziness would make a certain amount of sense. Click here to read the …
Howard Zinn on Fixing What’s Wrong ~ an interview with Shelly R. Fredman
‘People think there must be some magical tactic, beyond the traditional ones — protests, demonstrations, vigils, civil disobedience — but there is no magical panacea, only persistence.’ Click here to read the whole article in Alternet on May 17, 2006.First published in the May/June 2006 issue of Tikkun.
Two excellent short videos online
Gay Adby OUtsidethenine4evaBeautiful clip of a gay teen boy doing ‘the unthinkable’… ThisNorwegian public service announcement for gay teens, translated says “You don’t need to be so tough.”Click here. Homophobia Is Gayby FrerardLivesThis video is why homophobia should be stopped, before more innocents are hurt.Click here.
Mother’s Day
Today is Mother’s Day and I nice phone call from Noel.Thanks Noel! 🙂 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * I can’t write any mushy poetry about my mom. I never felt I was able to live up to her expectations ~ from memorizing the multiplication tables (isn’t …