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tigerbright was worth making an exception. This meme is inspired by this post. If you think that anyone can be guilty of making a racist comment or performing a racist act, including you, and that you are willing to take ownership of your statements and actions, resist blaming the person who was offended, figure out why they were taken as racist, apologize, and not do it again, post this exact sentence in your journal.
So if you want to know why many people, especially women, need to have their wishes for keeping their real life and their online life separate, read on. If you don't want to hear the truth, then begone. I really have no more use for willful stupidity.
Let’s begin shall we?
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“Getting it wrong gracefully”
I want to not only talk about the logistics of writing about folks unlike yourself, especially when coming from a place of privilege compared to the characters you’re telling the story about, but I think it’s also important to talk about how a writer handles the inevitable moment when what you’ve written offends someone else who has lived their life far closer than you to the character you’ve written about. What to say and what not to say, and in the case where you stumble over your brain and get defensive, how to pull yourself back to recover with a sincere apology. I want to say all of these things, but I have no idea how to word it.
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Update: It's been reworded and sent.
“Getting it Wrong Gracefully”
There’s an antiquated idea among the age old writing tips that an author should only write what they know. Stepping outside what is familiar is not impossible, not if you really want to make a difference. In the world of spec fic, authors have the freedom to go beyond what they know to create endless possibilities within their fiction.
The purpose of this discussion is to not only talk about the logistics of writing about folks unlike yourself, but to talk about how a writer handles the inevitable moment when what you’ve written offends someone. What to say and what not to say, and in the case where you stumble over your brain and get defensive, something we all are guilty of at one time or another, how to pull yourself back to recover with a sincere apology.
Thanks to
haddayr for this tear jerkingly beautiful video. "Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.
The California Courage Campain reports that Ken Starr (of Clinton-Whitewater-Monica-Lewinsky infamy) & the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund will present their case to the California Supreme Court starting on March 5, 2009 demanding that the Court void 18,000 marriages of same-sex couples that were legally performed...
( rant ahead )
browngirl has some great info on her blog.This whole situation is maddening. A man tried to defend himself and he is getting the "book" thrown at him. This is what I want to point folks to, folks like Jason Vassell and what is being done to him are proof that as much as we wish it were so, racism is nowhere near extinct. The battle against this kind of stupidity is ongoing, and we must be willing to put ourselves out there, to take action where needed, or things will never get better.
I know one thing I will be doing tomorrow...how about you?
I chose to speak on this now, and ask for folks to forgive me if I ramble. My ADD brain has been chewing on this all for days and days and there’s a lot of info out there to get out. That and two kids home from school are a huge distraction. I will do my best to follow some semblance of order in my thoughts. It’s long, you have been warned.
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From the NY Times...
President Obama moved swiftly on Wednesday to impose new rules on government transparency and ethics, using his first full day in office to freeze the salaries of his senior aides, mandate new limits on lobbyists and demand that the government disclose more information.
Mr. Obama called the moves, which overturned two policies of his predecessor, “a clean break from business as usual.” Coupled with Tuesday’s Inaugural Address, which repudiated the Bush administration’s decisions on everything from science policy to fighting terrorism, the actions were another sign of the new president’s effort to emphasize an across-the-board shift in priorities, values and tone.
chrome_kitten for the wonderous linkage. This man knows how to work the verbage and speak from his heart.( Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States )And thanks to
skywardprodigal for the nifty new icon!
Do you support the right of any human being to marry the person they love? The right to say 'I Do' to a life of commitment and sharing with that one special person? Through sickness and health, for better or worse, till death do them part? We do.
That's why the following authors have donated stories to this anthology in the hope of making the dream of marriage a reality that everyone can share:
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Printing and distribution costs have been kindly donated by MLR Press. All proceeds of this antholgy will go to Lambda Legal Fund to help them continue thier fight in defense of gay marriage and lgbt rights.
ORDER THE E-BOOK
ORDER THE PRINT EDITION (Coming Soon!)
tryxkittie for the link. This one kid is amazing. He is sooooo Aang. Did you see his stick work? And those flips. ARRRG!!!!!! And that adorable smile at the end. He is soooooooo Aang.
Thanks also to
aang_aint_white for giving me some ideas of a way to speak out about this casting fiasco other than making all of you and everyone around me listen to me rage about it. He has a great series of pictures HERE so folks not familiar with the show can see the art and characters, and maybe understand better why the fans are so upset. And HERE’S the link to where he explains how to do a productive letter campaign. Who knows if it’ll make a difference but I’m tired of just bitching about it. I’m ready to do something…anything. From the youtube page:
From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes the first of many "songs around the world" being released independently. Featured is a cover of the Ben E. King classic by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it travelled the globe. This and other songs such as "One Love" will be released as digital downloads soon; followed by the film soundtrack and DVD early next year. Sign up at www.playingforchange.com for updates and exclusive content. Join the Movement to help build schools, connect students, and inspire communities in need through music
Why Are Prop 8 Supporters So Obsessed With Our Sex Lives?
Often I think about the wounds of America, injuries that run deep from injustice and hate. Some days the pain fades but it is not forgotten, it throbs in the background drowned out by our jublication. And some days like today bigotry creaps in and picks at those healing scabs until they are raw and bloody again, leaving us feeling vulnerable. I will not give into the bigots as they poisen good peoples minds, confusing them until they don't know who the true enemy is. I ask for our allies, straight or LGBT, no matter the color of your skin or the religion that holds your heart. Do not abanden the fight now. Do not give into the whispers that wish to divide is. This is a time of great change, the recent joy effect all of us, proving that there need not be limits on dreams. The recent heartbreak affects many of us too, LGBT and allies alike, reminding us that freedom from the limitations schained upon us by others must be fought against ferosiuosly. I have hope, but only through unified effort can our dreams of true equality for all Americans truely be realised.
