I really like the Arizona Republic's political cartoonist, Steve Benson. He has the courage to tell it like it is through his editorial cartoons -- not always an easy task in a state that leans to the conservative side. And today, Mr. Benson out-did himself.
5 comments:
Great cartoon! I've often felt that policies like DADT primarily serve to protect the bigots. Especially when those in charge try to couch the arguments agains openly gay men and women serving in the military in terms of the problems it would create. Most of the problems it would create is rooted in the fact that the average heterosexual in the military (apparently) can't behave like reasonable adults. Why exactly is that the fault of gay people?
Good question Jarred. I wish I had an answer.
It's a common straight mindset. The administration at my school (many of whom were considered "gay friendly", some of whom were in fact gay or lesbian themselves) essentially told my trans friend, and all the other gay students in the room, that it's their responsibility to play educator. So, essentially, if people harass you around campus, it's apparantly your fault for not having educated them enough. I truly don't understand that.
-Peace
Well said, Anon!
Of course, the truly frustrating part about that mentality is that some people simply don't want to be educated. For whatever reasons (and believe me, they escape me), they prefer to remain ignorant and bigoted. No number of attempts by anyone to change that will have any effect. (After all, change has to ultimately come from within.)
I'm all for educating those who are sincerely open to it. But for those who wish to remain willfully ignorant and mistreat their fellow man, I think there comes a time where we have to say, "Fine, you can remain ignorant if you want, but you will not be permitted to make others suffer because of your ignorance."
I'm normally patient with people who are TRYING to get it. Especially if they are taking SOME initiative in the effort. But I think it's unfair, and stupid to say that it's ultimately my resposibility to make sure that the entire world around me is educated enough to not be horribly offensive (even assuming they all are open to being educated). That's majority privilige right there that you don't need to explain yourself, but everyone already understands your experience. ::grump::
-Peace
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