I remember sixteen years ago nearly falling off the couch - in my decrepit apartment, living off student loans in Austin, Texas, still feeling like I was halfway in the closet - when President Bill Clinton said at the Democratic National Convention:

So look around here, look around here: Old or young,… Read full post »

Missing my old West Texas trips - and the heat in general - I dragged my partner out to Death Valley for a few days.  Here's what happened:

Stovepipe Wells MotelThree days before, the forecast was for highs in the 80's and cold nights.  By the time we set out for a…

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My grandmother and my grandfather back in the day.My grandmother's obituary from the Corpus Christi Caller Times:

Catalina Toscano, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother went home to her heavenly father on February 13, 2012.

She was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on April 29, 1920… Read full post »

Central to today's finding that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional are the peculiarities of California law involving propositions and this: "Fundamental rights, once recognized, cannot be denied to particular groups on the ground that these groups have historically been denied those rights." (Quoting…

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I had the privilege of speaking to about 200 people outside the 9th Circuit Court building in San Francisco yesterday as part of Occupy the Courts (this is despite the rain).  Up the street in the financial district thousands were marching about and closing down banks on a day of action…

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I'm no grinch! If other people enjoy the winter holidays – more power to them.  Especially kids.  That is the one redeeming part of the holiday season – kids love it.  I was really glad to see my niece and nephew and I hope they liked the gifts I got them. …

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The Troy Davis case got my attention more than any case since Shaka Sankofa.  I went to jail in Austin over Shaka's case; and my heart broke because although I never met him personally, I felt that I knew him and I was sure he was innocent.  At any rate, he…

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This past weekend the United States lost 30 troops in one incident in the war in Afghanistan. As much as I despise American imperialism and oppose our wars abroad, I still mourn for the loved ones of those who died. However, there is critical perspective we cannot forget: our/…

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This evening I decided to head out to the LGBT Film Festival in the Castro–not to see any films but to join a protest against the Israeli Consulate's sponsorship of the Festival.  The action was organized by the group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid.  Why?  Because the state of Isra/…

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I’m not sure the killing of Osama bin Laden was a good thing.  I find the acts he’s said to have masterminded to be horrific.  I also recognize that in some cases killing is necessary and even produces positive results, such as the necessary killing of someone… Read full post »

I don't think so, but I'm in the minority; 73% of Americans do. 

So which country is the greatest?  Paraguay of course.  No, but I do imagine that many Americans when asked whether the U.S. is the greatest might ponder, "If not the U.S., then what other country could be the greatest?…

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I want to "sincerely" thank you.  I understand that you are personally working hard to keep me ignorant about the actions of my government and to treat that website guy like the worst terrorist in the world - maybe not as bad as Osama Bin Laden, but still really bad. 

I know…

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Regarding your letter to Wikileaks.  You write:

As you know, if any of the materials you intend to publish were provided by any government officials, or any intermediary without proper authorization, they were provided in violation of U.S. law and without regard for the grave consequences of this… Read full post »

Another seemingly reasonable objection to the Park 51 Community Center in Lower Manhattan comes along.  Roger Cohen's Op-Ed comes down to this: the community center is simply not sensible in the face of so much anger.

His caricature of this anger in the U.S. does begin with 9-11, but includes the…

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Howard Dean explains on Salon.com why he thinks the Muslim Community Center in Lower Manhattan Should Move. Let's take his thesis apart. His words are in italics.

First of all, I am not going to back off.

That's a shame. You really should be mature enough to admit your mistakes.

The reaction did surpris… Read full post »

The "mainstream" (corporate media, beltway politician) discussion regarding the Muslim community center near the former site of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan (a.k.a. the giant mosque at Ground Zero) has been framed as follows: "they have the right to do it, but should they?"  My resp…

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A lot of folks I know respect and even idolize Van Jones.  Following his demonization by right-wing bigots and subsequent forced resignation as Green Jobs Czar in the Obama administration, there was a real need for progressives to call out the red-baiting and racism.  That's understandable.…

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Following the Mehserle verdict last Thursday, the local corporate media decided that the OPD acted with restraint and if it weren't for a handful of outsider, anarchists, there would have been no problems at the protests that reacted to that verdict.  But Attorney Walter Riley, who was arrested…

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I know this is old hat for some folks who've been to Latin America a million times, but besides border towns, this was a first for me. I was warned by some that Mexico was dangerous. My understanding is that the major violence right now is mostly in the/…

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I understand the Republicans are hypocrites and right-wingers are nuts about this healthcare thing. But I find it troubling that so many liberals are mocking the idea that mandating that every American purchase private health care is unconstitutional. I'll be honest. I haven't taken the time to re…

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Either way, I don't understand why this is seen as a "historic moment" except to those who simply want Democrats and/or our current President to have a victory against Republicans, right-wingers, and/or tea partiers, regardless of substance. Since Democrats tend to be to the left of Republicans (tho…

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J Street, the more moderate pro-Israeli group that serves as a bit of a counterweight to the right-wing AIPAC, is publicly opposing Israel Apartheid Week and connect it to the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, SAnctions) Movement. They argue as follows:

The BDS movement, whose dogmatic, counterproductive app… Read full post »

CNN has this ridiculous essay up on its site today about our response to terrorism. There is actually little substance to it, and oddly features a big picture of The Who in concert. Why? They sang their song "Won't Get Fooled Again" at a concert to benefit the…

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I'm worried. Texas has not had as challenging a schedule as Alabama, and has had some close games against teams they should have easily dominated.

Wyoming was the first team to raise doubts about Texas as a championship team. Texas had a tough time making much happen in the 1st…

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Howard Zinn's The People Speak aired last night on the History Channel and it was incredibly moving. I love how it is driving the right-wing crazy, but they can't really dispute the content. The best they can do is call Zinn a Marxist, which he is, and demonize the whole… Read full post »