I haven't really stayed in the loop on this honestly. I knew there was some movement to repeal the Washington Domestic Partner law, but I didn't follow the details. Until today.I just read that two gay rights groups have partnered together to publish the names of those who sign Referendum 71. Why? The article stated that these groups have done this in other states so that members of the groups can contact signers to "discuss" the issue.
What does "discussing" entail, I wonder. Are they going to wear rainbow hoods and burn triangles on my lawn.
I will go on record here as saying that I support traditional marriage, one man, one woman. Why? Because I believe that the institution of marriage was created by God, not by men and therefore cannot be changed. Regardless of what it is called, I don't believe God recognizes a same-sex "marriage." (Bring on the hate mail) BUT, I am concerned for civil rights of everyone in our country. I think people should be able to designate anyone they want to make medical decisions for them or receive their assets when they die. I oppose all forms of bashing, gay or otherwise. I can disagree with someone, even on fundamental issues about which I am passionate, and still show respect and seek justice for everyone.
I have alot of friends, who disagree with me on this issue. I can handle being friends with people I don't agree with. True discussions of conflicting viewpoints have been tremendously beneficial in my life. I have been challenged, educated and moved when I come to understand another's perspective. I think most of the people I'm friends with can handle diversity in relationships as well.
I may never have signed Ref. 71, mostly out of laziness. But just now I looked up the sponsoring organization and sent an email requesting a petition. Not out of hatred, but in defiance of the attempt to intimidate voters into silence. And I would be just as outraged if this were coming from the other side of the issue. If I learned that any cause I supported was treating the opposition this way, they would lose my support.
"Discussing" is one thing and you all know I never shy away from any "discussion" on any matter. I am curious, once my name lands on the list, however, what form this discussion will actually take. If I'm wrong and all I receive is respectful letters asking me to consider another viewpoint, then I'll eat my 10pt. Times New Roman words.
I have a feeling that this may actually backfire for these groups. I suspect there are alot of people like me who will not surrender our guaranteed right to express our opinions or to vote our consciences. I think publicizing the names will make their job alot harder, because I suspect this fear tactic will cause the list to grow, not shrink.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Hollywood Hypocrisy
If you have watched any movie in the theater or on DVD in the past year, you have surely seen the new public service ads for honesty. They show hardworking dolly grips and gaffers (at least we know what they do now) doing their jobs and imploring views not to pirate movies on the internet. The appeal to conscience is clear, the message even clearer, "Downloading Pirated Movies is Stealing!"
I applaud appeal to conscience and the ads are entirely true, so no complaint from me there. My problem is the inconsistency of logic. This is an industry that is almost entirely based on selling immorality in all its forms. The actors appearing in these ads are the same ones who go on talk shows and scream about the "Christian Right" trying to force their morality on everyone else. So here is my PSA to the entertainment industry on what they can do to reduce movie pirating:
1. Recognize that movies do impact culture. Your moral code shouldn't begin when someone's ripping you off, but when you create, produce and profit from filth that impacts viewers. You want to change the way people think about right and wrong, start in the editing room.
2. Be logically consistent. Either there is an absolute morality, based on the laws of God, or there isn't. The prohibition to steal (movies, anyway) is the only one of the Ten Commandments you want to accept. If there is no God, then there is no absolute morality. Everyone can do whatever they feel like doing and it doesn't matter who it hurts, because, life is meaningless.
3. The shield of legality won't work either. Arguing that stealing is wrong because it's illegal is weaker than a Lindsey Lohan movie. Your industry should know better than any that laws change constantly, that's why you contribute so much money to politicians. So what if stealing pirated movies is illegal? Doing drugs, driving drunk, contributing to the moral decay of minors is illegal too, but that's everyday life in the movie business.
I confess here on my blog, that I have watched pirated movies. I can honestly say I've never downloaded them because I; a) don't know how b) my husband won't give me admin rights to the computer and c) my moral code (based on those antiquated stone tablets given to Moses) says its wrong. I am challenged though, that I don't want to be a hypocrite, so I won't watch pirated movies any more. I won't lecture others who do (I learned from Hollywood to live and let live, after all), but I'll set my standards a little higher. If it means I watch fewer movies, that's OK, because even though I'll miss those hard hitting PSA's I'll still know right from wrong.
Author's Note: In reference to the above letter b) (my husband won't give me admin rights to the computer), that is not technically true since I have admin rights on my computer, just not on the computer that stores our pertinent financial information, etc. I, in no way meant to imply that my husband is some sort of ogre for denying me these rights on the main computer. In fact, I have never actually asked for them and don't even want the responsibilty of knowing the admin password as one day I might be tempted to use it to install some fabulous free-ware which would open up some back door, trojan horse, spyware, hard-drive deleting monster into our midsts. And for all of you who don't know this already, you should always create user accounts even for yourself and only use those accounts (without admin rights) to surf the internet. That's my PSA .
I applaud appeal to conscience and the ads are entirely true, so no complaint from me there. My problem is the inconsistency of logic. This is an industry that is almost entirely based on selling immorality in all its forms. The actors appearing in these ads are the same ones who go on talk shows and scream about the "Christian Right" trying to force their morality on everyone else. So here is my PSA to the entertainment industry on what they can do to reduce movie pirating:
1. Recognize that movies do impact culture. Your moral code shouldn't begin when someone's ripping you off, but when you create, produce and profit from filth that impacts viewers. You want to change the way people think about right and wrong, start in the editing room.
2. Be logically consistent. Either there is an absolute morality, based on the laws of God, or there isn't. The prohibition to steal (movies, anyway) is the only one of the Ten Commandments you want to accept. If there is no God, then there is no absolute morality. Everyone can do whatever they feel like doing and it doesn't matter who it hurts, because, life is meaningless.
3. The shield of legality won't work either. Arguing that stealing is wrong because it's illegal is weaker than a Lindsey Lohan movie. Your industry should know better than any that laws change constantly, that's why you contribute so much money to politicians. So what if stealing pirated movies is illegal? Doing drugs, driving drunk, contributing to the moral decay of minors is illegal too, but that's everyday life in the movie business.
I confess here on my blog, that I have watched pirated movies. I can honestly say I've never downloaded them because I; a) don't know how b) my husband won't give me admin rights to the computer and c) my moral code (based on those antiquated stone tablets given to Moses) says its wrong. I am challenged though, that I don't want to be a hypocrite, so I won't watch pirated movies any more. I won't lecture others who do (I learned from Hollywood to live and let live, after all), but I'll set my standards a little higher. If it means I watch fewer movies, that's OK, because even though I'll miss those hard hitting PSA's I'll still know right from wrong.
Author's Note: In reference to the above letter b) (my husband won't give me admin rights to the computer), that is not technically true since I have admin rights on my computer, just not on the computer that stores our pertinent financial information, etc. I, in no way meant to imply that my husband is some sort of ogre for denying me these rights on the main computer. In fact, I have never actually asked for them and don't even want the responsibilty of knowing the admin password as one day I might be tempted to use it to install some fabulous free-ware which would open up some back door, trojan horse, spyware, hard-drive deleting monster into our midsts. And for all of you who don't know this already, you should always create user accounts even for yourself and only use those accounts (without admin rights) to surf the internet. That's my PSA .
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