Gary Hoover wrote:
Far be it from me to encourage anyone to move away -- especially our GLBT friends who may very well experience increasing and considerable pain and persecution now and in the coming days. I have lesbian friends and neighbors who have a lovely baby boy -- biological child of one mom, and recently adopted child of the other. One of them wondered aloud if the government will be able to take the child away someday as our laws begin to reflect the beliefs of so many Americans that being gay or lesbian is a terrible sin, and that gay and lesbians do not have a right to teach, preach, hold positions of leadership, or (especially) to be parents.
WM: When I came out, some 30 years ago, I was well aware that those who had been out and about in Germany pre-WWII, were those who went to the ovens first among GLBT persons. I did not want to believe that the US of A could or would do that. ("Wrong again, round eyes," she says to herself.) We are surely headed that way at the moment. Am I going to Canada? Not yet. It'll be tricky, since the whole household will have to go likewise, all of us being queer as a set of purple teeth. Are we in for misery? You betcha. Will it happen in Minnesota? You betcha. It's only been about 10 years (I think) since the last gay man was murdered in Loring Park or down on the river. Many churches are preaching hatred and, among those who are not, are some in great squabbles among themselves and threatening schism (Episcopalians). This mealy-mouthed statement, "love the sinner, hate the sin," is not operant in this Pandora's box, no matter how many christians or angels can dance on the head of a pin. We now have two groups of immigrants, at least, who will, in general, fall into the hate line, Catholic Latinos and Muslims.
What can we do locally to support our gay and lesbian friends? Can our local government leaders do anything? Will strong local statements of support simply inflame the culture war? Are we so deeply into this culture war that there is no way to avoid it? Is there a chance to create a local environment of safety and peace which could allow for careful, respectful dialogue among at least those willing to do so?
WM: Without jumping further into the morass of so-called "culture wars," you can address the hatefulness on a one-to-one basis. i.e.: 'We don't talk hate in this house,' or 'If all we're going to do is talk hate, then I think it's time to break up this party," or "we're here for an announced public meeting, not to talk hate." Or, Governor (representative/council member/director/mayor) if you're going to talk hate, don't do it here." You do have to make it real.
Each day now, I am reminded of the words of former Vice President Henry A. Wallace in his 1944 NYT article on American fascism: "The really dangerous American fascist is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did to Germany in a Prussian way. The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information. With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but how best to use the news to deceive the public into giving the fascist and his group more money or more power." And "always and everywhere they can be identified by their appeal to prejudice and by the desire to play upon the fears and vanities of different groups in order to gain power."
Wallace clearly stated that fascism would next rise in the world in the USA, and I believe that we see this today. Does Minneapolis already experience reprisals from those who wield statewide or national economic and political power who encourage ancient prejudice?
Has right-wing demagoguery has already created a hostile environment and displaced reasoned discussion with an appeal to fear and prejudice deeply implanted in many of us through countless generations of superstition?
WM: It's not only right-wing demagoguery, it's also christian extremists who are bound and determined to make this country "christian," and I use the term very, very loosely. Do you honestly think G.W. Bush actually gives a rat's patooty whether GLBTs marry or any of that other malarkey? Puleeze! The christian extremists are no different than muslim extremists, except that there are more of the christian extremists here in the states, so they are more likely to win the day. What, after all, were the Crusades, the Inquisition, the witch burnings, the Holocaust but christian extremism. Religionists of whatever stripe don't seem to know how to work and play well with others.
Do GLBT people on the list feel that politicized religious fundamentalism and pseudo- religious fascism (which mirrors the "Islamo-fascism" which many assert that we oppose overseas) becoming dangerous to themselves and to our diverse city? Can Minneapolis-specific political responses build bridges and positive connections and avoid creating too much backlash?
I am concerned that there are GILT people in Minneapolis who for the first time are truly frightened of losing jobs or even children, or of being persecuted with physical violence.
WM: I don't think I'm any more frightened now than I was 30 years ago; I may be more interested in what I'm here on earth to do than I am to my fears. I am aware that I may have to become a refugee in Canada. I'm already planning to liquefy my asset (1). I don't like the idea, at my age, of having to consider this. I was kinda hoping to spend some years in the Southwest a very few years down the road here. But if the Jews have taught us anything through their suffering, it's that no life is even minimally secure, particularly if the owner of the life is "different." And that unless you become the biggest, baddest, bullying, murderous jerkwater around, you will not be secure from those who honor their fears of people "not like them" instead of honoring the humans they and we are capable of being.
Here is a website with info about :Canada
http://www.canadianalternative.com/
I include this not to urge folks to move, but to encourage all of us to click on the link phrase "why Canada is the perfect alternative" and reflect on the list of advantages to living in Canada. Many of these items reflect very real progressive values held by many Americans as well. A kind of tolerance and respect for diversity is reflected, as well as a concern for the good of all, or "commonweal." How can we work toward expression of such values here in Minneapolis? Is it possible to build political bridges to create a tolerant environment?
We could also, as a state, secede, I think. Perhaps while Bush is still busy with Iraq.
WizardMarks, Central
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