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She'll get your head on the sidewalk while the neighbors cry for more
Well, those three links in a row were appalling.
1. "The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the practice of public prayer before local-government meetings, rejecting arguments that overwhelmingly Christian invocations violate the constitutional bar on the establishment of an official religion." To everyone who wants to know why in the name of church and state it's not unconstitutional, Justice Kennedy writes, "The town of Greece does not violate the First Amendment by opening its meetings with prayer that comports with our tradition and does not coerce participation by nonadherents." Which is disingenuous garbage. It's our tradition only if you are a practicing Christian. Claiming there's no coercion involved is an equally privileged dismissal of social pressure. Non-Christians who want to participate in local government may not have their arms physically twisted to join in, but they're certainly going to be marginalized by their refusal. Claiming additionally that it's all right because government is an opt-in job rather than a compulsory environment like school—well, if you don't want to feel unwelcome, how about you just don't run for office? Nobody's making you. To pretend that this ruling will result in anything other than an active enforcement of the religious mainstream—and an excuse to screen out those who differ from it—is nauseating. And this is the Supreme Court. I'm cool with four of those people, but I want the other five gone as fast as their health can take them.
2. Chiefs Man Soap. "Get an amazing lather that will become so addictive you'll teach your son to use this soap." Plus bonus dubious Native American mascot! Aaagh. (I strongly recommend The Checkout as an antidote.)
3. Everything about the Cecily McMillan case.
I'm off to a doctor's appointment.
1. "The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the practice of public prayer before local-government meetings, rejecting arguments that overwhelmingly Christian invocations violate the constitutional bar on the establishment of an official religion." To everyone who wants to know why in the name of church and state it's not unconstitutional, Justice Kennedy writes, "The town of Greece does not violate the First Amendment by opening its meetings with prayer that comports with our tradition and does not coerce participation by nonadherents." Which is disingenuous garbage. It's our tradition only if you are a practicing Christian. Claiming there's no coercion involved is an equally privileged dismissal of social pressure. Non-Christians who want to participate in local government may not have their arms physically twisted to join in, but they're certainly going to be marginalized by their refusal. Claiming additionally that it's all right because government is an opt-in job rather than a compulsory environment like school—well, if you don't want to feel unwelcome, how about you just don't run for office? Nobody's making you. To pretend that this ruling will result in anything other than an active enforcement of the religious mainstream—and an excuse to screen out those who differ from it—is nauseating. And this is the Supreme Court. I'm cool with four of those people, but I want the other five gone as fast as their health can take them.
2. Chiefs Man Soap. "Get an amazing lather that will become so addictive you'll teach your son to use this soap." Plus bonus dubious Native American mascot! Aaagh. (I strongly recommend The Checkout as an antidote.)
3. Everything about the Cecily McMillan case.
I'm off to a doctor's appointment.
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I know our society is broken in some significant ways, but I like to think it's improving: I know people who are working very hard on it. Then I read something like the above and it is very hard to feel we're not actually regressing instead. And I don't want to be one of the people who shrugs and says, oh, well, welcome to life in a dystopia, but I don't know how to react constructively, either, except perhaps to write a lot of letters and vote and not be complacent; be angry and change things, I guess. But damn it.
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It's very sobering to know that whatever good things we institute and bad things we abolish, time can turn and our hard work can be undone. But the hope in that is that the bad things that come along can be undone, too--and so we keep on working and struggling. --And remembering the good moments and victories, not as consolation prizes, but to take heart and strength from them.