I-N-T-E-L-L-I-G-E-N-T . . . PUH-LEEZ!!!

So, in what I like to refer to as a dumbass move, Rick Santorum wants people to call him intelligent. Well, personally, I find this hard to do, because . . .

. . . in citing a recent study which showed that fewer Americans are getting married, he - in a move only an intelligent person might make - tweeted the following: "Here is 1 effect of changing definition of marriage".

Let me count the ways how inane this comment by a man, who wants people to consider him i-n-t-e-l-l-i-g-e-n-t . . .

First - the change in the definition of marriage, i.e., whoever the heck wants to marry can marry, probably doesn't have any impact on why people are marrying less.

Second - if the definition was changed, and members of the GLBT community could marry, then, the percentage of Americans getting married would . . . INCREASE.

So much for the intelligence of Rick Santorum. Just sayin' . . .

Scottford

The Wrong Kind of Silence

Here's what I don't understand: silence.

No, not the silence of the lambs, but the silence that persisted in the whole Penn State debacle that's currently unfolding and resulting in the retirement of a legendary coach.

You see, it doesn't matter that he, and others, followed University protocol, reported the 'situation' to their supervisors, and then went on their merry little way . . . while, allegedly, an untold number of boys were repeatedly molested/raped.

You see, forget University protocol. Someone - the assistant who first told the coach, or the coach who told his supervisors, or the father of the assistant who told his son to report it to the coach - should have said the hell with protocol and gone to the police.

You know what might have happened?

The molestation might have stopped. An untold number of boys might not have become scarred for life by the molestations.

The fact is, everybody is at fault because nobody did what they should have done: gone to the police.

I don't understand the silence that prevails in situations like this. I don't understand, no matter the circumstances, how every single person involved just went on with their lives.

Is it part of human nature to not want to assume some sort of responsibility? Well, I told the coach, so my job is done. Geesh.

What about the boys who were molested/raped after the fact? Didn't they matter?

I guess I'll never know the answers to these questions. I can only hope that I, in a similar circumstance, would do more, do what is right, and go to the police.

In the end, no matter what guilt is felt by the molester, the coach, the assistant, and all others involved in the cover up, the highest price paid is by those boys that could have been saved by molestation if only someone had done the right thing - go to the police - in the first place.

Scottford

PTC

I don't need someone to police my television shows. I don't need some group - that thinks they're way more intelligent than everybody else in America, so much so that they can decide what people watch or don't watch - of obviously (allegedly) limited intelligence to make it their life's goal to Big Brother me.

I'm perfectly capable of deciding whether I want to, or don't want to watch a program, read a book, see a movie, or whatever.

Apparently, the PTC, aka Parents Television Council, has decided that NBC's The Playboy Club is a "degrading and sexualizing program". The PTC, through their rabid dog efforts, have convinced 7 advertisers to quit advertising on the show.

We are not Russia during the Cold War. We are not a third world country ruled by a dictator. We, i.e., the United States of America, are a democratic country with citizens, for the most part, capable of making informed decisions.

So, dear PTC (and trust me, the words I could fit to those initials aren't pretty - ha), GET A LIFE! I don't need you making decisions for me. The citizens of the United States do not need you to make decisions for them in regards to what they watch or don't watch on television.

Scottford

Bullying . . .

. . . is unacceptable in any way, shape, form!

Can you hear me Michelle Bachmann? Rick Perry? NOM? Do you understand that your actions in attempting to deny equality to the GLBT community is a form of bullying? Do you understand that your actions help reinforce that bullying is okay?

How many kids have to die, before the world at large takes notice? How many, before you and your like-minded counterparts finally realize that your words/actions have an impact on others? Your words/actions aren't any different than that of the bullies who led Jamey Rodemeyer to commit suicide!

Oh, you justify your words/actions, you make excuses for them, but, in the end, the excuses, at least to me, mean absolutely nothing. Humanity has a long history of justifying abhorrent behavior . . .

. . . Hitler

. . . The Crusades

. . . just to name two.

Hitler truly believed he was right - as did many others - in what he did to the Jews, and to others that didn't meet his standards for humanity.

The Church, back in the day - the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the extinction of the Pagans - believed it was justified, that it was God's will, in what they did, i.e., kill, rape, do whatever they had to in order to convert people to the one, true religion . . . at least in their minds.

Once upon a time, this county believed that women were inferior and should stay at home, barefoot and pregnant (okay, only if you lived in the South), and didn't have the right to vote or, for the most part, work outside of the home. If someone were to say that we should go back to those days, then those same women seeking to deny equality to the GLBT community would be up in arms!

It's funny - in a sad, sad way - that these same women can so easily denounce/deny equality to fellow humans and completely forget that their gender had to fight for what they have right here and now. Michelle Bachmann, a few generations back, wouldn't even have been able to consider a run for President. Just sayin' . . .

Once upon a time, this country believed in slavery.

There are so many more instances I could write of the denial of equality, of bullying on a level that is - almost - unbelievable.

There comes a time and place where the narrow-minded views of the allegedly righteous need to come to an end.

That time is HERE!

That time is NOW!

Scottford

Bullies

Let me put one thing in perspective: politicians, for the most part, are bullies, whether on the State or Federal level.

North Carolina has put their blatant attempt at discrimination, at denying equality to human beings, i.e, the Marriage Equality Ban, on the May 2012 ballot.

This, dear readers, is bullying.

This, dear readers, is just another example of hate legislation.

Our government is full of bullies passing, or trying to pass, hate legislation so that only those that they believe are superior, i.e., heterosexuals, can marry.

This is only the beginning. Sooner or later, these bullies will begin to introduce other legislation that strip away the rights of citizens of the United States.

It is unfortunate that our government is no longer a democracy. Our government is led around by the nose by allegedly narrow-minded conservatives who line the political coffers of these politicians so that their limited point of view becomes the view of this nation.

We are better than that, dear readers.

We deserve better than a pack of bullies running the Federal and State governments. We deserve people who can't sleep at night because inequality exists in our nation. We deserve people who are willing to stand up and fight for EQUALITY, and not people willing to bow down to the pressure of their financial backers.

Every senator or congressman, Federal or State, who votes for any legislation that denies equal rights to any citizen of the United States is nothing more than a bully. They are equal to the bullies in schools that harass GLBT kids to the point where those same kids commit suicide.

Schools across the nation are implementing anti-bullying laws, and yet shouldn't similar laws be in place in State/Federal governments so the continued bullying/harassment of the GLBT community can come to an end? Shouldn't the concerned citizens of this country speak up and say: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I say YES! How about you?

Scottford

Dating Done God's Way

No, joke, people, no joke at all . . . at least according to a commercial I saw multiple times this weekend.

So, I watched a bit of television this past, long weekend, and I kept seeing ads - multiple, btw - for dating sites from Zoosk, to Match, to EHarmony, to Christian Mingle . . . which alleges you can find your perfect match "God's way".

Okay, I'm sorry, but . . . SERIOUSLY! God is now running a dating site for Christians? This is His way for Christians to find a date?

I'm sorry, but I think God has a bit more on his plate than to run a dating site. Oh, I think they mention finding "God's match for you". Uh-huh, yeah, take that with more than a grain of salt.

Seriously, people have way too much time on their hands to come up with stuff like this.

I didn't meet my partner - of 17 years, btw - by using a dating site. I did it the old fashioned way: I went out to a public place and met him.

Yes, dating sites make things easier: you see their alleged picture first, find out their likes and dislikes, and, depending on the site, take some compatibility tests so the site can match you up with your perfect mate.

Well, my partner and I found out those things for ourselves . . . and we're still together. Yeah, we have our ups and downs, as all couples do, because there is no such thing as a perfect relationship.

The sad thing about all of this is that people are going to actually believe that this Internet dating site actually has an in with God. They're going to get their hopes up, and then . . . in a good percentage of their cases, they're going to get their hopes dashed.

Are these people with dashed hopes going to blame the site? Of course not. They're going to unfairly blame God because of the BS this site used to promote their site in the first place.

Scottford

Natural Disasters

You know, limited intelligent life-forms shouldn't be allowed to run for political office. Then again, if they didn't, who would fill the positions?

Seriously, MB in another illogical move, has now determined that God is trying to get the attention of politicians by wreaking havoc with natural - hurricanes, earthquakes - disasters!

Seriously, woman???

Do you really think that God gives a hoot about politicians (of which MB is one!!!)? If so, why doesn't He just send a bolt of lightning to wipe out the lying/corrupt politicians currently in office . . . and those running for office?

I hate to tell you MB, but God is not speaking to you through natural disasters. You might think he is . . .and you might want to check into your own clinic for some reparative therapy while you're at it . . . but he isn't.

People die in natural (oh, you might want to look up the definition of that one in your spare time, MB) disasters time after time. Were they bad people? Was God punishing them? What about devout Christians that die of cancer? With your current illogical thinking, MB, that would be God talking to the politicians.

If you're hearing voices in your heads, they have meds for that, MB! Just sayin' . . .

Homosexual Lifestyle . . . NOT!

According to The Advocate General Mills allegedly dropped its ad/sponsorship of the show Pretty Little Liars because one of the characters is a lesbian. General Mills disputes this allegation. Uh-huh!

But . . . the reason General Mills even knew a character was a lesbian is because that fun little group known as the Florida Family Association (i.e., alleged hate group . . . at least in my opinion) sent the following message to General Mills that the "shows audience of primarily 12 - 18 year old girls was being sent a message that reinforces and legitimizes this homosexual lifestyle in a manner that could affect these young girls' sexual identity for a lifetime.

Uh-huh!

First, dear Florida Family Association, there is no such thing as a homosexual lifestyle, because, if there is, well, then, there's such a thing as a heterosexual lifestyle which I'm 100% POSITIVE you and the other allegedly narrow-minded people that make up the Florida Family Association would vehemently deny.

Homosexuality, like heterosexuality, is a part of a person's genetic make-up. You're born hetero or homo. Nobody chooses this option. God chose it for the person at the moment the sperm met the egg and did the little happy dance that fertilized the egg and created life!

Oh, and just in case you're wondering (and listening to Michelle Bachmann), you can't cure homosexuality, any more than you could cure heterosexuality. It's never gonna happen. Born Gay. Die Gay! Born Straight. Die Straight. It's the facts of life people!

Scottford

p.s. No more Cheerios for me!

Politician

So, Michelle Bachmann, winner of the straw poll in Iowa, has stated that she isn't a politician. Well, I have news for you, Michelle Bachmann . . .

. . . you are a politician. Oh, you might try to delude yourself by saying, in interview after interview, that you're not a politician, but . . . YOU ARE.

You are running for a political office.

That makes you a politician.

You evade answer politically damaging questions.

That makes you a politician.

You've competed in a political debate.

That makes you a politician.

Face it, Michelle, you can't cure the gays, and you are a politician!

Sarah Speaks . . .

. . . and doesn't say anything useful. Big Surprise!

So, in the midst of tumbling stocks, and a downgrade by a credit agency, Sarah Palin opens mouth, and inserts foot . . . again: “Be wary of the efforts President Obama makes to ‘fix’ the debt problem,” she said. “The more he tries to ‘fix’ things, the worse they get.”

Then, not to outdo herself, she sticks her other foot in her mouth:
“How shamelessly cynical and dishonest must one be to blame this inevitable downgrade on the very people who have been shouting all along ‘stop spending?’” This comment was in response to people pointing the finger at the Tea Party Movement.

Of course, it's okay to blame the president, the Democrats, and anybody else who isn't part of the Tea Party Movement, but shamey-shamey-shamey if anyone dares place blame on the Tea Party!

Seriously, Sarah, get a life.

The reason our county is in the shape it is in, is because we have an inept government not willing to work together. We have a government - and trust me, any members of the Tea Party are no different - who wants to broker deals, i.e., I'll agree to this to fix the current crisis, if you'll agree to that, rather than actually deal with the crisis at hand: a rising, unmanageable debt brought about by a series of Presidents, both Democratic and Republican, throughout the years, and by a Senate/Congress too busy playing party politics to actual do the jobs they were elected to do.

So, dear Sarah, instead of acting immature, pointing your finger, and saying I told you so, why not try being an adult for a change and actually offering non-party biased solutions. Geesh!

Oh, and dear Sarah is also encouraging people with this statement: "Please get engaged in 2012 electoral politicians and support experienced, vetted, pro-free market fiscal conservatives."

Oh, and conservatives will be the downfall of this country. Conservatives are already doing their best to deny equality to citizens of the United States. Do we really want such allegedly narrow-minded people gaining power in this country?

I THINK NOT!

Scottford

Frivolous

So, Michelle Bachmann believes that gay marriage is a frivolous matter. So, in a logical line of thinking, if gay marriage is frivolous, than obviously so is equality. Isn't it great that we have someone running for President that doesn't believe in one of the founding principals of this country? Yeah, sarcasm in case you missed it.

Seriously, people, all the GLBT community wants is the same rights heterosexuals want: equality. We want equal treatment under the law.

I want equal treatment under the law.

Michelle Bachmann - and the rest of the GOP hopefuls - aren't out for providing equal treatment under the law to all citizens of the United States. The only people they're concerned with are the narrow-minded individuals out to deny equality to all citizens of the United States.

It is sad to see that these alleged Christians are, well, so allegedly un-Christian like.

Scottford

Illogical

So, Shawn Akers, the Public Policy Analyst for the anti-gay (i.e., alleged hate group) organization Liberty Counsel believes that "California's new LGBT-inclusive history law represents bullying of the worst kind". Go here for the full article.

Seriously, it's okay to revise history to make certain events not happen, but it's not okay to include events that wouldn't have happened if not for members of the LGBT?? Yeah, illogical thinking of the allegedly (sorry, have to use that word for legal purposes) narrow-minded strikes again.

It simply amazes me how certain people like to twist things to defend their allegedly inane point of view.

Oh, btw, a member of this same group stated that LGBT youth commit suicide because they "know what they are doing is unnatural, is wrong, is immoral".

LGBT youth commit suicide because of people who join these alleged hate groups and propel bullying to an all time new level.

Scottford

Not Curable

So, Michelle Bachmann - you know, the allegedly rabid right winger, teas swigging partier - thinks that gays can be, well cured.

LMFAO!!

Seriously, there isn't a cure for homosexuality, anymore - unfortunately - than there is a cure for her delusions! Boy, do I wish there was a cure for her delusions, and that of like-minded people.

Let me tell you what my 86 year old mother, when asked about her gay son - that'd be me, just in case you have any doubts - said: Scott is just like God made him.

Do you hear that Michelle Bachmann? My 86 year old, Catholic mother, is a heck of a lot smarter than you!

You can't cure what God made. Sorry, you can delude yourself into believing you can cure what God made, and the people you allegedly brainwash can believe that they are cured, but, deep down, they're as gay as they were on the day the egg and sperm met and created life. Just sayin' . . .

Scottford

People Not Robots

What I ask of you, as the elections come up, is to seriously consider yourselves as people, and not robots of a particular mindset. Are you willing to follow a politician who isn’t following their heart or conscience, but who is rather following the mindset of a particular group – Democrat, Republican, Tea Party, Coffee Party? They are only saying what they need to say to a) get the backing of the particular party and b) to get your vote.

They are not speaking from their hearts and conscience.

History has shown us, i.e., the people of the United States, that politicians do not keep the allegedly false promises they make to convince you - us - to vote for them. Go on, check out all the promises of the candidates you have voted for in the last few elections and see how many of their promises were kept. I'm betting $$$ that more promises have been broken than kept.

Our government is - allegedly - corrupt. It is broken. The politicians broker deals behind the scenes that strip away their humanity, and strip away the American peoples faith in their government.

The politicians in office, those aiming to get in office, are not speaking from their hearts and conscience.

They cannot speak from their hearts and conscience and get elected, because . . . the Republican't, the Democrat, The Tea and Coffee Parties would not support them. They would toss them aside like a used, well, condom. Good for one use only! Sorry!

None of those parties want a candidate who speaks from their heart and conscience. Oh, yeah, they make those claims, they fire up their righteous indignation, but, in the end, their own self interests, and not the the greater good of We the People of the United States comes into play.

So, as the elections gear up, the hateful/negative ads begin to air, remember this: the ads are false and taken out of context. You need to check the facts for yourself. Do Not Trust the Political Ads!!!

Scottford

Destruction of the Amercian Family

According to GOP hopeful Rick Santorum, he believes that the passage of equality laws to allow gays to marry is 'destroying the American family'.

I say, heterosexuals have been destroying the American family. Why not give the homosexuals a chance to fix them?

Seriously, the lengths allegedly intelligent - big emphasis on allegedly - people will go to in order to defend their stance for inequality is absolutely amazing.

I say we start taking away rights to these people, and then see their response.

So, Michelle Bachmann - women cannot run for President, oh, and you can't vote any longer. What's your response to that? Huh?

Rick Santorum - Republicans are no longer considered citizens of the United States of America. What do you think of that? Huh?

Yes, I know, but . . . the people attempting, and succeeding in some cases to deny equality to fellow human beings, to take an attitude that they're better than the gays/lesbians fighting for equality, is absolutely ludicrous.

In the Eyes of God . . .

. . . , and from my viewpoint, you don’t need a piece of paper to be married.

In the eyes of God, and from my viewpoint, you need your love and commitment for one another.

The piece of paper . . . well, that’s man’s law people, not God’s law. The only thing that piece of paper truly does is guarantee a tax break. Yeah, big whoop.

So, what everyone - well, not everyone, only the narrow minded stuck in the dark ages people -  is truly fighting for as they deny equality to fellow human beings is, yeah, you got it, a tax break. Woo-hoo! Boy, puts things in perspective doesn’t it?

Seriously, people, what's the big deal? I've been with my partner for 17 years and we're probably more married than most heterosexual couples out there. Heck, we have a longer relationship - i.e., marriage - than most heterosexual couples out there.

We love each other, we're committed to each other, we've shared the ups/downs of this crazy life together, experienced joy and sorrow, life and death, and so many other things . . . and we're still together. We are, well, married, no matter what the narrow-minded, alleged Hitlerites have to say about it.

Scottford

In the Name of Purity

He sought to preserve the sanctity of the German Race.

They seek to preserve the sanctity of marriage.

He stripped equality from those he deemed not pure enough.

They seek to deny equality to those they deem not pure enough.

In the end, no matter the denials from them, they are travelling down a similar path that led a man to kill millions of people all in the name of purity.

Yes, some extreme thoughts as Scottford speaks - blogs - for the first time. Okay, it's the second time, on this blog at least, but the first post was really an introductory post. LOL!!

Scottford

Scottford Speaks

Welcome to my latest and greatest . . . blog. Yes, I have more than one blog. Go figure. I have my ranty blog - Rants from the Soapbox. I have my writerly blog - A Writer's Blog. And, I have my family history blog - Dancing with the Ancestors. And, now, I have this one - Scottford Speaks.

I'm not an everyday blogger. Nope, not me, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Okay, maybe not ever is a bit too much, because, with this crazy thing called life, you just never know.

Why Scottford Speaks - hey, maybe it should be Scottford Writes or Scottford Blogs!!! Well, because my friend Traci calls me Scottford and the name kind of stuck . . . kinda like gum on the bottom of your shoe. Eeeewwww, not the best analogy, but, well, it pretty much sums it up.

So, what is this blog going to be about? Heck, if I know, I haven't planned it out that far. Ha! No, seriously, this blog is going to be about, well, me, because, as I tell my sisters . . . it's all about me. HA.

No, the blogs going to be written about me (oops, Freudian slip - I meant by me, not about me), and it's going to be my thoughts, my rages, my insightful musings and . . . well, yeah, it's all about me. Go figure!

Over the course of the next few days, months, years, decades, whatever, I'm going to attempt to post about my viewpoint of this crazy world we live in. Yeah, I might rant sometimes, or I might just direct you over to my ranty blog - Rants from the Soapbox - especially once the political season gets underway. Boy, do politicians make my blood pressure rise. Especially Republican'ts!! Geesh! Then again, Democrats, Tea Partiers, Coffee Partiers, and what ever fly-by-night political party pops up next, makes my blood pressure rise as well. Geesh. So, you just never know what you'll find my talking about - with great intelligence and brilliance, btw - on this blog. You'll just have to keep checking in so you can immerse yourself in my brilliance. HA!

Scottford