Pinkboard Graffiti Wall - Equality Graffiti Wall 8

A must read on how long we've got to go in achieving equal rights for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender and Intersex People:

http://www.pinkboard.com.au/graffiti/equality/ch8

So why is the nuclear family so important to them? Well it serves the purpose of putting more burden upon the family unit and of government and big business. You see by making the family (and this is how sexism ties in too and it is usually the mother) looks after, feds, clothes and displinces the children who the big bossess need as labor in the future. Otherwise the state would have to take a more active role in doing this, costing them millions of dollars.

Hmm...thoughts?

This however doesnt mean that we cant win the right to same-sex marriage as we have seen in califorina and other places in the states and overseas it can be won. But only if it is fought for! And lobbying groups shouldn't be the primary way to do this. The early union movement had a saying 'if you dont fight, you can only lose and it is from the unions that we should be looking for support.

So very true...I get sick of people saying, "lobbying is enough! Why do you bother fighting for rights?" Fighting for equal rights personally , whether it's for GLBTIQ people, those from diverse cultural backgounds, people in poverty etc can speed up progress. It can break down walls preventing people from getting access to rights others take for granted - such as living a life free of violence and fear, and having equal access to education, work, being allowed to vote, seeing your partner in hospital or being allowed to adopt.

Something that made my day:

The Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) today welcomed the passage of the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – General Law Reform) Bill 2008 (Cth) through the Australian Senate. Following on the heels of the superannuation and family law changes already passed, the General Law Reform Bill consolidates the omnibus same-sex reforms granting same-sex de facto couples and their children equality in all significant federal laws.

“Today is an historic day. The Australian Senate has finally and firmly given its nod to equality for our relationships and families. Our partners and our children can look forward to equality in almost all areas of federal law, from taxation to health and aged care, from immigration to family law”, said GLRL spokesperson, Peter Johnson.

“Same-sex couples and families are witnessing the tearing up and rewriting of almost all Commonwealth law to finally recognise the truth that all love is equal and nurturing all relationships, regardless of the gender of partners, is important.”

The Bill rewrites legal definitions of ‘couple’, ‘partner’, ‘parent’, ‘child’ and ‘family’ to include all couples and their children. The changes will grant equal access to entitlements and benefits in federal laws relating to taxation, superannuation, Medicare and health entitlements, social security, veterans’ and defence benefits, migration and workers’ compensation.

Musings on racist overtones in Vorkosigan saga books

To anyone who has read the Vorkosigan Saga:

Was anyone bothered by the racist portrayal of Indian characters? I notice that all of the Indian characters in the Vorkosigan saga books I've read so far are unlikeable, pathetic or cruel. In 'Cordelia's Honour', Dr Mehta drugs Cordelia against her will and treats Cordelia like an interesting experiment (she offers no sympathy, emapthy or compassion for all the horrors Cordelia has been through while she is talking to her).

See here for yourself:

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=1fys98YnuGMC&pg=PT126&lpg=PT126&dq=dr+mehta+cordelia&source=bl&ots=4aBq5oPxIf&sig=4tKpqB-uO7zhyxCifOx-3viO_zI&hl=en&ei=oxAGS7rCDsuSkAXg9fneCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=dr%20mehta%20cordelia&f=false

Plus Gupta from "Diplomatic Immunity" is surly and has no good redeeming traits whatsoever. And Miles calls him "Guppy", so I get the impression from that rude nickname that the readers aren't supposed to take him seriously. I know Miles shows him some caompassion, but the fact that Gupta still remains ungrateful to Miles (and still has no redeeming traits) gives me the impression that Bujold regards Indian people negatively. I've never seen a positive or neutral portrayal of an Indian character in her stories before.

Plus for a saga set in the future, the Vorkosigan saga world is overwhelmingly white. There are few or no characters who are Asian (Middle Eastern or far east Asian characters. I know there's Commodore Tung, but he's the only positive Asian character in the VS I've encountered), black, first nations people, Aboriginal people etc (although to be fair, there are a few Spanish characters).

Now, some may say that the racist overtones are unintentional. However, that doesn't make them any less damaging, and it doesn't undo the hurt it causes.

sexism and suffering results for one's actions in the Seven Sins books

This post was edited to make the third paragraph clearer.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHOY FOR ROBIN WASSERMAN'S SEVEN SINS SERIES.

Also! You may not enjoy reading the following if you enjoyed Wasserman's books.

Now. To be fair to Wasserman's Seven Sins series, it *is* genuinely well written and witty. It's entertaining. All the characters have flaws and good points. However, there were things about the series that ticked me off:

I found it really annoying how the two girls who have a life and interests outside of a man are both horrible (Kaia is the cruellest and manipulative, and Beth kills Kaia). Whereas the less horrible ones (Harper and Miranda) are the ones whose lives revolve around *snagging* a guy. At least Miranda has interests outside of snagging a guy (like Dostoevsky), but the Seven Sins series barely focuses on that.

And it disappointed me that the girls tend to be more backstabbing, and gossipy than the guys in general. Ugh. Miranda and Harper gossip about other students a lot (there is a quote from one the book that state they bitch about 99.99 percent of the student body - can't remember which book it was. I think it was Pride or Envy.)

The main female characters are much more unsympathetic than the male characters too. All of the main female characters are extremely unpleasant (whereas out of the guys, only Kane comes close to being anything as nasty as the girls, seeing how he spreads nasty rumours about Miranda and Beth. Adam and Reed are very likeable in general.)

( Read more... )

Apologies and the definition of true strength

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR SEVEN SINS SERIES BY ROBIN WASSERMAN

Hey there all,

I was wondering what your definition of true strength is.

I have come across books other people saying that apologising is a sign of weakness. For instance, in the Seven Sins series, Harper views Beth as being weak when Beth apologises for not telling her earlier that she was the person responsible for Kaia's death. Harper actually thinks that Beth would have been stronger if she'd acted defensive and refused to apologise.

And that's what gets my goat. Apologising for something wrong you did is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength and maturity.

Apologising would mean owning up to something bad or hurtful you did. And that can be scary. Terrifying. But if something is the right thing to do, you're scared of doing it, but you do it anyway? That's bravery.
Putting on a brave face isn't brave wither, it's bravado. Not possessing any fear isn't bravery either, because there's no fear to overcome. Bravery involves being afraid and overcoming your fear by doing what's right anyway.

go_back_chief sums it up perfectly in her marvellous post here:

http://go-back-chief.livejournal.com/8871.html

Thoughts?