Iowa is kicking butt

"Same Love"

Same Love in an interesting music video I found on same-sex marriage by Macklemore. 

"Same Love" - Macklemore
(with Ryan Lewis)
(feat. Mary Lambert)

When I was in the third grade I thought I was gay
‘Cause I could draw, an’ my uncle was, and I kept my room straight
I told my mom tears rushing down my face
She’s like “Ben you've loved girls since before pre-k shrimp”
Yea I guess she had a point didn’t she?
Bunch of stereotypes all in my head.
I remember doing the math like, “yea I’m good at little league”
A preconceived idea of what it all meant
For those that liked the same sex
Had the characteristics
The right wing conservatives think it’s a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man made rewiring of a predisposition
Playing god, aw nah here we go
America the brave still fears what we don’t know
And god loves all his children, is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago
I don’t know

And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
I’m acting strange
Even if I try
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately
"Man, that’s gay" get dropped on the daily
We become so numb to what we’re saying
A culture founded from oppression
Yet we don’t have acceptance for ‘em
Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it
A gay is synonymous with the lesser
It’s the same hate that’s caused wars from religion
Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment
The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins
It’s human rights for everybody, there is no difference!
Live on and be yourself
When I was at church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service those words aren’t anointed
That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned
When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same, but that’s not important
No freedom till we’re equal, damn right I support it

And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

And press play, don’t press pause
Progress, march on
With the veil over our eyes
We turn the back on the cause
Till the day that my uncles can be united by law
When kids are walking ‘round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are
And a certificate on paper isn’t gonna solve it all
But it’s a damn good place to start
No law is gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god we believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it’s all the same love
About time we raised up

And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
I’m acting strange
Even if I try
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is patient
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
Love is kind

Pink Saris

When I walked into the documentary film, The Pink Saris, I really had no idea what to expect.  I had talked it over with my step-father that morning because he had asked me where I was going, and being brought up in a strict Muslim home in South Africa, he suggested that was going to be the premise of the movie.  He was correct.  While watching the movie I wasn’t surprised at anything that I saw, because I had seen it all before in other courses.  In my core 3 course, I took a Anthropology course that focused on men and women’s roles the Middle East and North Africa and for my core 4, a Sociology course on Where in the World in gender inequality.  But I was still really excited to see this film because it reminds me of how lucky I am that we live in a country that doesn't have to deal with this on a regular basis.  Women don't have to live in fear of things like:

• Arranged Marriages
• Dowry
• Bride Burning
• Taliban attack wounds teen activist blogger

Pink Saris is about:

“Documentarian Kim Longinotto relates the powerful story of Sampat Pal Devi, the tough-minded leader of the Gulabi Gang, a group devoted to obtaining equal rights for women in India and ending the violent discrimination that still plagues them. The Gulabi Gang, whose members wear bright pink saris, protest dowry deaths, the marrying off of very young girls, and India's strict caste system, even though their own violent methods raise questions.”

Video: Pink Saris Defy Traditions

Sampat Pal Devi, is defying traditions.  Living in India, where women are not equal to men on many levels, she has been able to fight against the odds.  She formed the Gulabi Gang in 2006, in response to overwhelming amounts of domestic abuse and other violence against women.  The group stands behind Sampat, as she goes to visit the abusive husbands and beats them with bamboo sticks or lathis, until they promise to stop abusing their wives.  The group has also worked very hard to stop child marriages (families marrying their daughters before the age of 18), protest dowry (the money or goods a woman brings to the marriage) and has taught women how to read and write.  The video had both positive and negative supporters.  Those who believe in tradition were obviously against Sampat and what she was trying to do; while others like the Indian Media were very much in agreement with Sampat.  The group was reported to have 20,000 members as of 2008, as well as a chapter in France.

One of the quotes that the movie opens with and that stuck out to me the most was:

“A girl’s life is cruel...A woman’s life is very cruel,”

It's a week after I posted this and I came across this picture that relates to the link I posted above of Malala Yousafzai

The institution of marriage.

I commented on a blog and it reminded me of this picture.  I don't understand how same-sex marriage is "destroying the institution of marriage".

Racism & Women's Studies (Talking Point 6)

Here are some important quotes that I highlighted from Racism and Women's Studies by Barbara Smith:

"I am sure that many women here are telling themselves they aren't racist because they are capable of being civil to Black women, having been raised by their parents to be anything but.  It's not about merely being polite: 'I'm not racist because I do not snarl and snap at Black people.' It's much more subtle than that.  It's not white women's fault that they have been raised, for the most part, not knowing how to talk to black women, not knowing how to look at us in the eye and laugh with us."

This paragraph really related to me.  Growing up I never considered myself racist, but I lived in a white community and didn't have any connections with black people.  Now-a-days, my step-father is a black man from South Africa, my best friend is Haitian, and my her father is my neurologist.

"A major roadblock for women involved in women's studies to changing their individual racism and challenging it institutionally is the pernicious ideology of professionalism.  That word "professionalism" covers such a multitude of sins.  I always cringe when I hear anyone describe herself as "professional," because what usually follows is an excuse for inaction, an excuse for ethical irresponsibility.  It's a word and concept we don't need, because it is ultimately a way of deviding ourselves from others and escaping from reality.  I think the way to be "successful" is to do work with integrity and work that is good."

I completely agree with the statement above.  Growing up, I was raised that I need to do a good job the first time, otherwise I need to do it over.

She is gender friendly/sensitive

Tuesday's class reminded me of a Social Work course I took last semester.  We did an entire unit on gays, lesbians, transgender, bisexuals, etc.  We even had guest speakers come in and talk to us.  Anyways I work as a hostess in a local restaurant and I have unusual people come through my door all day long so when a person came through the door who was definitely in the middle of some sort of sex change (I don't remember exactly since it was over a year ago but I think it was two men and one of which was in the process of being a female), I really couldn't care less.  Some of the other servers made comments but I remembered everything I was taught in class being careful not to be gender specific.  And this was the comment card they left at the end of the meal...

"Hostess was awesome because she is gender friendly/sensitive".  

The Election on Tumblr

LIVE-GIFFING THE 2012 DEBATES!

This Wednesday evening marks the first presidential debate for the 2012 American elections. Elevating the discourse as only Tumblr can, we’ll have a crack team of GIF artists cranking out instant animations of the best debate moments, from zingers to gaffes to awkward silences. Flooding the GIF zone will be our own Topherchris, as well as Bobby Finger, Lacey Micallef, and Mr. GIF. And joining us to further enhance our coverage will be the fine folks at the Guardian, whose liveblog will bring you the full stories behind the GIFs.

The place to take it all in will be the purpose-built Gifwich live-GIFfing blog. Fair warning: Follow Gifwich at your own risk! After all, once each debate begins, your Dashboard could be flooded with animations on a minute-to-minute basis. Your mileage may vary, but if you prefer to just sample the flow, perhaps check out Gifwich directly during the debate and reblog your favorites piecemeal. You can even sample curated real-time selections from the Guardian’s liveblog or Tumblr’s official Electionblog.

All debates (and our Gifwich GIF coverage) begin at 9pm Eastern Time:

• Wednesday, October 3 - Presidential debate on domestic policy
• Thursday, October 11 - Vice-presidential debate on foreign and domestic policy
• Tuesday, October 16 - Presidential town meeting on foreign and domestic policy
• Monday, October 22 - Presidential debate on foreign policy