[Content note: racism] In news that should surprise absolutely no one, conservatives have once again embarrassed themselves by attempting to “prove” with “science” that people of color are stupider than white people. Yup, again. You’ve probably read this story elsewhere so I’ll make my recap brief: It has come to light that Jason Richwine (I’m …
Tag Archive: news
Mar 17 2013
More About Justice and Less About Revenge: On Reading the Steubenville Coverage Too Early in the Goddamn Day
[Content note: sexual assault] I don’t want to hear anything more about the “ruined futures” of Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond. The verdict did not ruin their futures. They ruined their futures, when they made the decision to rape someone. I don’t want to hear anything more about how you shouldn’t drink if you don’t want …
Jan 14 2013
LGBT Celebrities Do Not Owe Coming Out To Anyone
Everyone’s got an opinion on Jodie Foster’s speech at the Golden Globes last night. If you haven’t seen it, here’s a video with a transcript. In the speech, Foster spoke affectionately of her ex-partner, with whom she raised children, and explained that she “already did [her] coming out about a thousand years ago back in …
Dec 23 2012
A Handy List of Everything Wrong with Creating a Database of People with Mental Illnesses
It’s not like anyone expected the NRA to say anything intelligent during its long-awaited press conference on Friday, so I’m not exactly disappointed by what they said. I am, however, completely appalled at the NRA’s ignorance of mental illness and insensitivity to those affected by it. Along with a few other laughable suggestions, like putting …
Dec 16 2012
Stop Comparing the United States to Israel
Among the many insensitive, uninformed, or simply ridiculous responses to Friday’s tragedy that I’ve heard, one that continues to befuddle me is the suggestion, made mostly by Libertarians, that everything would’ve been okay if only the teachers had had guns too–if, in fact, carrying concealed weapons were a standard practice among American citizenry. Leaving aside …
Dec 14 2012
If Not Now, When? On Politicizing Tragedy
I’m sure you’ve heard by now about the tragedy that happened in Connecticut this morning. If not, go read this and be ready to shed some tears. I definitely did. Every time a preventable tragedy happens, we are implored not to “politicize” it. It’s disrespectful, we’re told, to talk politics when people are grieving. I …
Aug 23 2012
Why Do We Keep Talking About Akin and Not About Other Stuff?
I’ve noticed that every time a high-profile conservative says or does something stupid and it blows up in the media, some rank-and-file conservatives–in my Facebook newsfeed, elsewhere on the internet–have a very interesting response. They say something to the effect of this: “Why are people talking about [insert stupid conservative here] so much more than …
Jun 25 2012
"Vagina" is Not a Four-letter Word
You would be forgiven for assuming that our elected politicians are mature adults who can handle using words that designate genitalia. You would especially be forgiven for assuming that given that many of these politicians are very eager to legislate what can and cannot be done with genitalia. However, you’d be wrong. This is old …
Mar 09 2012
Not All Activism is Good Activism
I’ll be honest with you: whenever I see a social media campaign going viral, I get suspicious. It’s not because I think people are evil or stupid, or because I dislike popular things (although that is often the case). It’s because for anything to become popular, it must be simple, easy-to-understand, without nuance. The violence …







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