An interesting conversation has been taking place on a blog that Girlzoot turned me onto. I have posted a couple of comments and his original posts with my responses have set me to thinking.
The issue discussed has been whether or not the focus of the GLBTQQS (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Straight) rights movement focusing too much on same-sex marriage has actually cause the movement to be set back. While I agree that setbacks have occurred, I don’t agree at all with his response. Have we been given setbacks in the battle for same-sex marriage, yes. Does this mean that it has hurt the GLBTQQS, no. Does this mean we abandon the pursuit of same-sex marriage, absolutely not.
There are some in the GLBTQQS community that don’t support same-sex marriage at all. There are various reasons for this: marriage is an archaic institution, we shouldn’t marry and try to recreate an institution that doesn’t work for the straights, we shouldn’t marry at all, etc. Many otherwise advocates of the GLBTQQS community don’t support same-sex marriage either for the same reasoning. Some of these arguments are valid but they are not good enough to stand idly by as laws are passed that specifically single out same-sex couples for exclusion from the world. There are over 1,000 rights and laws that are integrated with marriage that we are denied access to.
And while it may seem like the battle for same-sex marriage is distracting from the current battles for other rights, it is a fallacy because marriage should have been included from day one and it wasn’t. What we should be fighting for is the full inclusion of members of the GLBTQQS community in all aspects of American life. Unfortunately too many of us became comfortable when we achieved a certain level of equality and our presence in popular culture masked the fact that in a majority of areas of our Nation we are completely without legally protections in employment, marriage, military service, health care, accommodation and the list goes on, but not enough people know it.
I know that the battle for equality is never easy. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his life for what he believed to be right. There were many African Americans that opposed King and his quest for freedom, and much like those in the GLBTQQS community that oppose these battles they were wrong. We should learn from King and continue to fight but there in lies the problem.
Too many members of the GLBTQQS community don’t want to fight. The political apathy that exists in the community at large is even greater in our community. It is really difficult to fight a battle when the troops won’t even show up.
We also need direct leadership in the community and someone to step forward to take the cause to the public and to our political officials and make them accountable for the Queer vote. We have far too many candidates and people in office that are not willing to come to our defense or fight for us in our government. If a candidate does not support our rights then they should not get a SINGLE QUEER VOTE PERIOD. This is a lesson that I have only recently begun to learn, and my writing to my elected officials has not proven to be an emotionally fulfilling task.
I am finally beginning to understand our place in history and realize that I too haven’t been vocal and active enough. I don’t know where to direct my anger and fight but I know that I have to. The dilemma I continue to face, stay and fight or leave and live. The decision is still not made, and I don’t know when or if it ever will.
Till then… read this. No really, if it is the only thing you do today read it. I am considerig commiting portions of it to memory.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
The Bill Arrives....
Lurking in my mailbox today was my tuition bill for school. The highest yet it weighs in a whopping $3,534.50 for the fall semester. Fortunately this semester I have actual federal aid since my loans were exhausted taking summer classes, two of which were in Italy. I can't believe that my tuition is this high for a state college, and a mediocre one at that. Fortunately I am almost done and can begin to pay the even higher tuition rates for graduate school.... why am I doing this again?
Today's Warm and Fuzzy Thought
A few weeks ago, Val and I sold our car. It was hard to depart with her, particularly because my dad had figured out what her major mechanical issues were and she was well on the road to recovery. So for the past few weeks, we've been either on our bikes or on foot, except when we have the fortune of catching rides with friends that are still with vehicle.
The reason we made the final leap to get rid of the car was mostly that we no longer wanted the expense of maintenance and insurance, not to mention the fact that diesel fuel hadn't been much below $3 a gallon in years. It used to be that diesel was cheaper than even the cheapest regular fuel and with our better gas mileage, it all worked out just fine for us. However, now that car companies are once again manufacturing diesel engines for their cars, the prices have gone up and not come down at all. While unleaded gas prices fluctuate a bit, diesel has continued to stay high.
Which brings me to Today's Warm and Fuzzy Thought.... Exxon posted its profits for the last quarter and yup, you guessed it... once again record profits for the oil giant. Other companies haven't posted their profits yet but I can't imagine that they aren't going to follow suit. So, when you fill up at the pump and curse the fact that your gas now costs twice as much as anything else in your life, remember that somewhere an oil executive is looking to buy his next toy.
The reason we made the final leap to get rid of the car was mostly that we no longer wanted the expense of maintenance and insurance, not to mention the fact that diesel fuel hadn't been much below $3 a gallon in years. It used to be that diesel was cheaper than even the cheapest regular fuel and with our better gas mileage, it all worked out just fine for us. However, now that car companies are once again manufacturing diesel engines for their cars, the prices have gone up and not come down at all. While unleaded gas prices fluctuate a bit, diesel has continued to stay high.
Which brings me to Today's Warm and Fuzzy Thought.... Exxon posted its profits for the last quarter and yup, you guessed it... once again record profits for the oil giant. Other companies haven't posted their profits yet but I can't imagine that they aren't going to follow suit. So, when you fill up at the pump and curse the fact that your gas now costs twice as much as anything else in your life, remember that somewhere an oil executive is looking to buy his next toy.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Today's Warm and Fuzzy Thought
The return of the classic "Today's Warm and Fuzzy Thought".
Today the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that the law banning same-sex marriage in the state does not violate the Constitution and marriage rights should only be given to male-female partners. Their reasoning, same-sex couples aren't capable of having children, so for the best interest of children, gay men and women should not be allowed to marry.
Apparently in the majority opinion, some justices even admitted that same-sex marriage will eventually come about, it just should be something for the legislature to handle not the courts. Thank God these justices didn't sit on the Supreme Court during Brown v. Board of Education. We will still be waiting for an end to segregation.
Earlier this month, the highest court in New York ruled similarly.
Here is my thought, if you want to make it about that then make it about that. I would like to see a same-sex partnership sue in the state of Washington that a mixed gender couple who cannot have children naturally should have their marriage nullified. If the legal basis for marriage is whether or not you CAN have children, then make it so. I hereby propose the following Constitutional Amendment (also a return of a favorite of mine):
Marriage shall consist of only a union between two persons that are capable of producing a child. Because children should only be raised in a two parent male/female household, no government support, credit or recognition shall be granted to persons having children that have not entered into a union. All unions sanctioned by the government shall be required to produce at least one child in eighteen months time or the union will be nullified. Divorce will no longer be granted to married persons that have children.
That my friends levels the playing field. Saying that same-sex couples can't marry because they can't have children is a cop out. If you don't want my husband and I to marry, then tell me it is because I am gay and not because I can't have a child.
Today the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that the law banning same-sex marriage in the state does not violate the Constitution and marriage rights should only be given to male-female partners. Their reasoning, same-sex couples aren't capable of having children, so for the best interest of children, gay men and women should not be allowed to marry.
Apparently in the majority opinion, some justices even admitted that same-sex marriage will eventually come about, it just should be something for the legislature to handle not the courts. Thank God these justices didn't sit on the Supreme Court during Brown v. Board of Education. We will still be waiting for an end to segregation.
Earlier this month, the highest court in New York ruled similarly.
Here is my thought, if you want to make it about that then make it about that. I would like to see a same-sex partnership sue in the state of Washington that a mixed gender couple who cannot have children naturally should have their marriage nullified. If the legal basis for marriage is whether or not you CAN have children, then make it so. I hereby propose the following Constitutional Amendment (also a return of a favorite of mine):
Marriage shall consist of only a union between two persons that are capable of producing a child. Because children should only be raised in a two parent male/female household, no government support, credit or recognition shall be granted to persons having children that have not entered into a union. All unions sanctioned by the government shall be required to produce at least one child in eighteen months time or the union will be nullified. Divorce will no longer be granted to married persons that have children.
That my friends levels the playing field. Saying that same-sex couples can't marry because they can't have children is a cop out. If you don't want my husband and I to marry, then tell me it is because I am gay and not because I can't have a child.
Monday, July 24, 2006
The Violence Must End
I have been following the blog of a man in Lebanon who has been reporting on the violence in Lebanon from the inside. Yesterday, he had to flee his home and seek refuge in Jordan after a friend of his was killed in an attack and his postings will most likely cease. His site provides an interesting view on what his happening and the power of individual journalism. He had honestly hoped to not have to leave his home to the bombs but the violence finally became too much for him to bear.Regardless of who started what, when, where and why, the violence must end. The continued bombing of civilians will not solve anything. If there was ever a perfect example of how violence only begets other violence, this is it. Israel's attacks, much like the American occupation of Iraq, is giving the terrorist organizations the fodder they need to recruit new members. They fear that the West and Israel will not stop until the Arab population has been wiped off the land or is destroyed to the point of living only in poverty, and actions like this prove their point.
Nations must come together to find a solution to the Middle East conflict once and for all. If we don’t it will only continue to escalate and more innocent lives will be lost. Eventually the battle will outgrow the borders of these three Nations and violence will escalate worldwide.
We have to understand why the Arab world fights, and why it has the concerns that it does. As westerners, particularly Americans, we know very little about this region of the world other than extremist violence. We are not taught about why the Arab people fight and how the world is seen from their point of view. If Vietnam taught us nothing, then it should have taught us to understand why people fight, if we don’t bother to understand that, then the battle is already lost.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
Why Don't They Get It?
Dear President Bush,
Syria will not step into the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in an attempt to dismantle the organization that fights for the same thing Syria fights for because they see this current battle for the strength of the Arab world. How can you in the same breath say that Iran and Syria are supporting Hezbollah and then realistically expect them to stand on the side of Israel.
I only hope that you can stay your desire for World War until after the elections in November so the American people can have a fair chance at electing a government that might actually stand between you and world annihilation.
Oh, and I don't really give a shit that you said "shit." I only care that you have your finger on the button that will bring mass death and it sounds to me like you are more than willing to use it, that scares the hell out of me.
Signed,
More of Us than you think.
Syria will not step into the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in an attempt to dismantle the organization that fights for the same thing Syria fights for because they see this current battle for the strength of the Arab world. How can you in the same breath say that Iran and Syria are supporting Hezbollah and then realistically expect them to stand on the side of Israel.
I only hope that you can stay your desire for World War until after the elections in November so the American people can have a fair chance at electing a government that might actually stand between you and world annihilation.
Oh, and I don't really give a shit that you said "shit." I only care that you have your finger on the button that will bring mass death and it sounds to me like you are more than willing to use it, that scares the hell out of me.
Signed,
More of Us than you think.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Fear of the Future
I am fascinated by end time prophecies and religious writings that predict not only the second coming of Christ but the end of the world as we know it. The idea that the world is on the highway to the end isn’t exclusive to religious prophets. Many psychics and “sensitives” also agree that we are on the verge of something that will forever change our world with a likely massive loss of human life.
The Irish St. Malchy’s prophecies predicted that the current Pope would oversee an attempted unification of the Church and the worlds religions. His reign would be short but important. The next pope would oversee the fall of Rome and it is thought the collapse of the Catholic Church and the preparations for the second coming.
I used to think that these prophecies would kind of reflect real world scenarios but that they would in the end be incorrect, perhaps in my own attempt to invalidate religious theory. Then yesterday Val and I were talking about the current world climate and I realized that in fact, the prophecies may in fact be correct. It doesn’t have to be from a religious point of view either. Consider the following:
1. The current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalates and Syria and Iran enter the conflict on the side of Lebanon and Hezbollah. The Arab League of Nations sees this as the opportunity to make a final stand against Israel and the west, made even more important by the recent US led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
2. When Iran enters the war, the United States and some allies will enter Iran and Syria to attempt regime change and bring about a more Israeli friendly government, an attempt that will fail miserably.
3. With our already strained military concentrated in the Middle East, other battles and conflicts will escalate into full war. China will invade Taiwan in an attempt to reclaim the territory, the fragile peace between India and Kashmir will crumble, Japan will preemptively strike against North Korea and Russia will begin to flex it’s power again and not on our side.
4. Then WW III ensues and it will be different from any other war we have ever seen on earth. There will be massive battles between militaries and individuals acting on behalf of a belief in more underground terrorist battles. Our attempt to “take the fight to the enemy” will be realized as a failure when the dormant terrorist organizations in our country are activated to join in the war. The end of the war will be marked by large scale nuclear attacks (clean and dirty) and perhaps the collapse of the American infrastructure. There will be massive loss of civilian life and the power balance of the world will change significantly.
5. Unlike the previous World Wars, the European Union will likely come out on top. They already have the combined largest GDP in the world and if they can manage to keep their infrastructure during the War, they will hold a great deal of wealth and power. Out of the EU, a leader will emerge with the ideas of a new world order realizing the history and reasons that brought on the war, will try and balance power between East and West and North and South.
6. I also imagine that the world’s religions will be seen as largely to blame for the destruction of humanity; something that will not be helped by the religious fanatics that come out during the war touting it as the end times and the just cause of Christianity over the world. While religion itself will not be destroyed the major power concentrated churches will be seen as dangerous and dismantled, including Rome and The Church.
7. From there, who knows.
It could all be speculation but it is strange how a string of logic can produce almost the exact same result as religious theory reinforcing my idea that religious history and prophecy gets it close but they come at it from the wrong angle. It isn’t G-d that will destroy the Earth, it’s its inhabitants.
Oh and don’t get me started on Global warming and the natural disasters that will soon come about…. that is a whole other post.
The Irish St. Malchy’s prophecies predicted that the current Pope would oversee an attempted unification of the Church and the worlds religions. His reign would be short but important. The next pope would oversee the fall of Rome and it is thought the collapse of the Catholic Church and the preparations for the second coming.
I used to think that these prophecies would kind of reflect real world scenarios but that they would in the end be incorrect, perhaps in my own attempt to invalidate religious theory. Then yesterday Val and I were talking about the current world climate and I realized that in fact, the prophecies may in fact be correct. It doesn’t have to be from a religious point of view either. Consider the following:
1. The current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalates and Syria and Iran enter the conflict on the side of Lebanon and Hezbollah. The Arab League of Nations sees this as the opportunity to make a final stand against Israel and the west, made even more important by the recent US led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
2. When Iran enters the war, the United States and some allies will enter Iran and Syria to attempt regime change and bring about a more Israeli friendly government, an attempt that will fail miserably.
3. With our already strained military concentrated in the Middle East, other battles and conflicts will escalate into full war. China will invade Taiwan in an attempt to reclaim the territory, the fragile peace between India and Kashmir will crumble, Japan will preemptively strike against North Korea and Russia will begin to flex it’s power again and not on our side.
4. Then WW III ensues and it will be different from any other war we have ever seen on earth. There will be massive battles between militaries and individuals acting on behalf of a belief in more underground terrorist battles. Our attempt to “take the fight to the enemy” will be realized as a failure when the dormant terrorist organizations in our country are activated to join in the war. The end of the war will be marked by large scale nuclear attacks (clean and dirty) and perhaps the collapse of the American infrastructure. There will be massive loss of civilian life and the power balance of the world will change significantly.
5. Unlike the previous World Wars, the European Union will likely come out on top. They already have the combined largest GDP in the world and if they can manage to keep their infrastructure during the War, they will hold a great deal of wealth and power. Out of the EU, a leader will emerge with the ideas of a new world order realizing the history and reasons that brought on the war, will try and balance power between East and West and North and South.
6. I also imagine that the world’s religions will be seen as largely to blame for the destruction of humanity; something that will not be helped by the religious fanatics that come out during the war touting it as the end times and the just cause of Christianity over the world. While religion itself will not be destroyed the major power concentrated churches will be seen as dangerous and dismantled, including Rome and The Church.
7. From there, who knows.
It could all be speculation but it is strange how a string of logic can produce almost the exact same result as religious theory reinforcing my idea that religious history and prophecy gets it close but they come at it from the wrong angle. It isn’t G-d that will destroy the Earth, it’s its inhabitants.
Oh and don’t get me started on Global warming and the natural disasters that will soon come about…. that is a whole other post.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
World War III
When we enter WW III, will we even admit to it? I have read some different predictions including an escalation in the Middle East including Afghanistan and Iran, new battles between North and South Korea and China invading Taiwan. At that point we would enter into a WW III situation. We continue to be at odds with the European Union so I don't know who we will even be able to count as our allies. What a strange world it would be.
Dr. Obvious
We took our little sue to the vet today to have a checkup and make sure that there weren't any injuries. We discovered that Sue is about a year old and does have problems in the back knees that may eventually have to be fixed. We also discovered that Sue is in overall great shape and hates the food that the vet insists has only been turned down by three creatures in her 25 years of practice. Oh, and Sue is in fact a girl... what do you want I'm not a doctor.
The Billion Dollar Machine
According to The Numbers website, Spiderman 3 has a production budget of $250 million which means the film will spend (given a runtime of 120 minutes): $2.8 million a minute, $34,000 a second and $1,446 an frame. It holds the record for largest budget ever in a film, beating the second highest film (the second Spiderman) by $41 million. Given the box office success of the previous films, I am sure it will easily make it’s money back within two weeks at the theatre. Considering the first film set the box office record for the biggest weekend at $115 million in three days and the second brought in $152 in five days, and the hype surrounding the third release is bigger than the previous two, it won’t have a problem.
Also think about Pirates of the Caribbean which had a budget of a paltry $150 million and grossed $135 million domestically in its first three days in theatres, averaging $32,817 per theatre, not theatre complex but per theatre. The UA Denver Pavilions has the film screening on four screens at a total (based on the average) of $131,268.
Consider as well, Superman Returns 3D Imax drew in an average of $89,000 a screen and the UA Colorado Center theatre has Pirates on three screens and Superman so, they probably took in $250,000 this weekend.
The top ten box office films account for $10.26 billion dollars in world wide ticket grosses. All of which are major Hollywood productions and most of which are franchises including: The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, Spiderman, Star Wars and Shrek.
So why do I share all this? Mostly because I am constantly intrigued by the money associated with Hollywood cinema. There is just an obscene amount of money being spent and made in our theatres…. most of which will never be made by the films that actually deserve it.
Also think about Pirates of the Caribbean which had a budget of a paltry $150 million and grossed $135 million domestically in its first three days in theatres, averaging $32,817 per theatre, not theatre complex but per theatre. The UA Denver Pavilions has the film screening on four screens at a total (based on the average) of $131,268.
Consider as well, Superman Returns 3D Imax drew in an average of $89,000 a screen and the UA Colorado Center theatre has Pirates on three screens and Superman so, they probably took in $250,000 this weekend.
The top ten box office films account for $10.26 billion dollars in world wide ticket grosses. All of which are major Hollywood productions and most of which are franchises including: The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, Spiderman, Star Wars and Shrek.
So why do I share all this? Mostly because I am constantly intrigued by the money associated with Hollywood cinema. There is just an obscene amount of money being spent and made in our theatres…. most of which will never be made by the films that actually deserve it.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
A Boy Named Sue
Yesterday as Val and I were on our way home from a movie, we witnessed one of the most horrific scenes. A little dog was crossing Lincoln at 16th and was nicked by a car. Several of us stood by helpless as we watched this little creature weave in and out of traffic as it finished crossing the street after being rolled a few times by it's almost near miss. He immediately hid under another car and we rushed to tell the driver not to move. I picked him up and carried him to the sidewalk where we examined him to see if he had any serious injuries.
Given his overall happy disposition and the fact that he didn't wince when we touched any of his limbs, we figured that he had escaped tragedy and seemed to be just fine. His coat was full of knots and dirt, you could tell he had been living on the streets for quite some time. The group began to talk about taking the puppy to the shelter and have him checked out and to find a home.
At the beginning of the year, Val and I had adopted a very energetic dog from DDFL. We had hoped to find another companion for our cat Java and a new member of our family. Sadly he didn't work out for us, for many reasons and we had given up on finding a puppy. So, when we decided to bring the puppy home and take him ourselves to a vet and have him checked out, we weren't certain that he would end up with us.
We brought the little creature home and immediately gave him a bath, which he wasn't too happy about. After, we tried to cut some of his knots out that really ended up with us cutting most of his hair down and the scruffy looking nerf herder started looking like an adorable little puppy and he found his way into our heart. The cat is actually still out and about, a significant improvement over the last addition, and hasn't really swatted, hissed or growled at the new puppy. They have even touched noses a few times and seem to be getting along perfectly well.
Given his overall happy disposition and the fact that he didn't wince when we touched any of his limbs, we figured that he had escaped tragedy and seemed to be just fine. His coat was full of knots and dirt, you could tell he had been living on the streets for quite some time. The group began to talk about taking the puppy to the shelter and have him checked out and to find a home.
At the beginning of the year, Val and I had adopted a very energetic dog from DDFL. We had hoped to find another companion for our cat Java and a new member of our family. Sadly he didn't work out for us, for many reasons and we had given up on finding a puppy. So, when we decided to bring the puppy home and take him ourselves to a vet and have him checked out, we weren't certain that he would end up with us.
We brought the little creature home and immediately gave him a bath, which he wasn't too happy about. After, we tried to cut some of his knots out that really ended up with us cutting most of his hair down and the scruffy looking nerf herder started looking like an adorable little puppy and he found his way into our heart. The cat is actually still out and about, a significant improvement over the last addition, and hasn't really swatted, hissed or growled at the new puppy. They have even touched noses a few times and seem to be getting along perfectly well.
Now to the name. When we brought him home, he was so matted we weren't sure if he was a boy or a girl. I tired to look for evidence (an odd thing) but couldn't see for sure and he responded very well to the name Suzie. So, we figured what the hell, Susie it is (in my gay mind it was short for Suzanne Sugarbaker). However, as we continued to trim and after a second bath, we realized that she was in fact he but the name Suzie had already stuck so, we now have a boy, named Sue. 
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Today's Lesson
A self cleaning oven IS a feature for a new home or apartment. Doing it the old way sucks.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Football... the real sport.
I have never been much of a sports person. It all dates back to High School where the activities I participated in, drama and debate, had to compete with all the sports teams for resources. A battle we generally lost. Since then I realized that I don't care to be around a lot of sports fans. They tend to drink too much and just be generally agro. That is until we discovered the World Cup.I have been following the World Cup closer than any other sporting event in history, even the Olympics. Today Italy faces France in the final match that will decide which is the best football team in the world (literally, unlike the world series which only features teams from North America, the World Cup features teams from each inhabitable continent).
I can't decide who to root for, either way I am quite happy about the teams in the final. We have joked that the winner gets, well us moving there so, I really do hope it is France. However, spending eterninty in the Tuscan sun isn't so bad either.
Go team!
Salut,
Shaych
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Coming soon to a parking lot near you.
When the Smart Car arrives in the United States, it will be the first car in a really long time that I will want to rush out and buy. The smart cars are not only great on gas mileage they are the perfect in city car. We actually watched a woman park one in Florence perpendicular to the curb and her car didn't stick out beyond those around it. They are built for two and some groceries or perhaps some light Target shopping. Oh, and even better, it comes in a convertible. If you would like to learn more about Smart cars, click on the photo and explore the UK site.I can't wait.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Just call me Hermione
So, I am finally fully registered for my fall classes. I had a bit of a panic attack when I thought that I may be a couple of classes short of graduating in the spring but, I met with my advisor today and all is well. I just have to take 19 credit hours this fall and that should free me up to have a lighter course load in the spring, give me plenty of time to write my honors thesis and, hopefully graduate summa cum laude.
Of course I couldn't do this without Val who has agreed to support me in the coming year so I don't have to work full time, or maybe even part time. I am entering the final streatch and it will be nice to be finished with my undergraduate work when I can return the favor and support Val during his last bit of school.
For now, I rest, because come August, there won't be time.
Salut,
Shaych
Of course I couldn't do this without Val who has agreed to support me in the coming year so I don't have to work full time, or maybe even part time. I am entering the final streatch and it will be nice to be finished with my undergraduate work when I can return the favor and support Val during his last bit of school.
For now, I rest, because come August, there won't be time.
Salut,
Shaych
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Monday, July 03, 2006
MPAA and Censorship
Apparently a new film called Facing the Giants (2006) has landed the MPAA before the United States House of Representatives. The film received a PG rating (instead of G) for what the house accuses the MPAA of religious discrimination. Apparently the fact that the film has a strong religious message was supposed to be the reason behind the rate increase. Of course the MPAA has been quick to deny it and what has come out of it is a desire by the House to review the MPAA standards for ratings.
Now, I am the last person to defend the MPAA and its ratings standards. However, the religious community has no room to complain when the MPAA, in my humble opinion, looked the other way when it rated Gibson’s Passion of the Christ (2004) R not the NC-17 it deserved for violence. I say this considering a film like The Cooler (2003) was originally given an NC-17 rating because of its violence and a single shot that showed the pubic hair of a woman, not actual nudity but pubic hair. The director fought the rating and successfully had it lowered to R. It is long known that the MPAA is softer on violence than it is sex, and sexuality. Often films that have male nudity or male-male sexual content will carry a heavier rating than similar films that have male-female sexual content and female nudity.
Remember the last time Congress was involved with Hollywood, we ended up with the Hays production code that severely limited the content of films. They decided that self-imposed censorship was better than a government intervention and moved forward with the code (see here for more info on the code). When the code was lifted we were left with the MPAA, which has used the rating system we are all aware of.
I truly hope that the United States Congress decides to move on to more pressing issues and allow the MPAA to correct itself. I don’t believe that there should ever be government censorship, education is one thing, but censorship is another. If we allow the government to begin to censor or force the MPAA to declare items more offensive because of religious or any other political reason, then art and our society will suffer. Let us not forget the days of the HUAC / McCarthy trials of the 1950s and how that changed our Nation. If we are to have a free society, we should be willing to take the good with the bad and do so without government intervention.
I also can’t wait to see This Film is net Yet Rated.
Now, I am the last person to defend the MPAA and its ratings standards. However, the religious community has no room to complain when the MPAA, in my humble opinion, looked the other way when it rated Gibson’s Passion of the Christ (2004) R not the NC-17 it deserved for violence. I say this considering a film like The Cooler (2003) was originally given an NC-17 rating because of its violence and a single shot that showed the pubic hair of a woman, not actual nudity but pubic hair. The director fought the rating and successfully had it lowered to R. It is long known that the MPAA is softer on violence than it is sex, and sexuality. Often films that have male nudity or male-male sexual content will carry a heavier rating than similar films that have male-female sexual content and female nudity.
Remember the last time Congress was involved with Hollywood, we ended up with the Hays production code that severely limited the content of films. They decided that self-imposed censorship was better than a government intervention and moved forward with the code (see here for more info on the code). When the code was lifted we were left with the MPAA, which has used the rating system we are all aware of.
I truly hope that the United States Congress decides to move on to more pressing issues and allow the MPAA to correct itself. I don’t believe that there should ever be government censorship, education is one thing, but censorship is another. If we allow the government to begin to censor or force the MPAA to declare items more offensive because of religious or any other political reason, then art and our society will suffer. Let us not forget the days of the HUAC / McCarthy trials of the 1950s and how that changed our Nation. If we are to have a free society, we should be willing to take the good with the bad and do so without government intervention.
I also can’t wait to see This Film is net Yet Rated.
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