[Sources: LIS News and Queer Day.]
Not to beat a dead horse. But I will anyway.
On September 13, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 2208 into law. The law in California now requires insurers doing business in California to treat domestic partners the same as married partners for purposes of coverage on home, health, life, auto, and renters’ policies. The insurance code in California is now in consonance with the rest of state law. (Gray Davis signed AB 205, the most sweeping domestic partner benefit legislation in the country, into law in September 2003, shortly before he was forced out of office; AB 2208 basically makes sure that the insurance code harmonizes with the rest of California statutes affected by AB 205.)
Now, Schwarzenegger signed AB 2208 into law without a ceremony; it’s doubtful most people in California even know the law exists. Nevertheless, contrast that with Jennifer Granholm’s actions this week. Of course, it’s mostly about “political capital.” Schwarzenegger has nothing to lose. Granholm has everything to lose. But beyond “political capital,” there’s such a thing as political risk-taking for the purposes of principle, and Granholm seems allergic to it.
Thanks for checking back in with me; I’ve been sick for two weeks (I won’t bore you with the details). I hope to start gearing up the postings back to a more readable level soon.
Some fascinating reading is to be found in « The Assassination of Danilo Anderson »
‘I remember on September 21, 1976 the FBI vacuuming the broken glass on Embassy Row’s Sheridan Circle, after the bomb ripped through Letelier’s car. “These people are pros,” an FBI agent commented. The FBI arrested two of the Letelier-Moffitt killers, years after the murder. They pled guilty, got twelve years, served seven and got paroled. The INS then re-arrested them as undesirables, but in August 2001 George W. Bush insisted over strong objection from the INS and FBI — that these “Cuban patriots” deserved to return to civilian life in Florida. Good terrorists receive US hospitality. Bad terrorists, those with Arab names, feel the wrath of US bombers, troops and prison guards at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, whether or not they did anything criminal. Ironically, the prissy John Ashcroft ordered the arrest and confinement of thousands of innocent people. They did not know the nature of the charges against them, much less have access to an attorney. Yet, Ashcroft refused to sign the indictment of Pinochet, the initiator of the 1976 car bombing in Washington.’
Same old song and dance from completely amoral men.
« Molly Ivins is freaked out ». It’s a great column, but the ending is … a tad naive, I’m afraid.
‘In the name of Jesus Christ Almighty, why are people representing our government, paid by us, writing filth on the Korans of helpless prisoners? Is this American? Is it Christian? What are our moral values? Where are the clergymen on this? Speak out, speak up.’
You know I love you more than my luggage, Molly, but you’re just not fully aware of the new reality in the Empire today, even though you’re almost there: According to my own sister and other family members, knee-jerk supporters of the Emperor all, this IS American … this IS Christian … and this IS the way things should be … and to speak out and speak up is to be a much-hated and much-reviled evil liberal monster.
Like me.
‘Where one burns books, one will soon burn people.’
—Heinrich Heine
« Alabama Fascist calls for ‘gay’ book purge »
‘A bill by Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, would prohibit the use of public funds for “the purchase of textbooks or library materials that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.” Allen said he filed the bill to protect children from the “homosexual agenda.” … Allen said that if his bill passes, novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that suggest homosexuality is natural would have to be removed from library shelves and destroyed. “I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them,” he said. When asked about Tennessee Williams’ southern classic “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof,” Allen said the play probably couldn’t be performed by university theater groups. Allen said no state funds should be used to pay for materials that foster homosexuality. He said that would include nonfiction books that suggest homosexuality is acceptable and fiction novels with gay characters. While that would ban books like “Heather has Two Mommies,” it could also include classic and popular novels with gay characters such as “The Color Purple,” “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and “Brideshead Revisted.”’
Bill Moyers, « in a speech to People for the American Way »:
‘Of this, I am sure, you can be fearful or free, but you cannot be both. If you are fearful, you put yourself at the mercy of priests and princes and accept their conceits and usurpations as the health of the state and the means of salvation. But if you are free, no one and nothing, not even fear, can intimidate or subjugate or hijack your soul.’
We’ll miss Bill Moyers. His is « the one resignation that matters ».