Thursday, September 23, 2010

GAGA vs. DADT

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is discrimination. You can be for it, you can be against it, but there's no arguing that, by forcing gay servicemembers to keep mum on a basic truth of their being, you're denying them rights that others are free to exercise.

I've heard some very convincing arguments against abolishing DADT, mostly from those within the military or closely associated with it. They point out very practical problems with changing an institution that is as much social as it is professional.

What few who make those arguments realize is that outsiders like, let's say for example, Lady Gaga, just see it as a government policy of discrimination.

Now, there's two things opponents of DADT could do to help their argument. The first is to understand why proponents say the military isn't ready for a repeal of DADT, so as to better craft their arguments.

The second is to find Lady Gaga, thank her politely and ask her to stop.

Lady-Gaga

For the record, I think it's great that a prominent figure has stood up for the cause. I just think it was better when Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that repealing DADT would be "the right thing to do" earlier this year.

Why? Let's compare their ability to argue the point. Adm Mullen, you're up first;

"I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens."

An excellent point. Now Ms. Gaga, looking fetching in a dress made of meat at the recent VMA awards. Why did you wear a meat dress?

"If we don't stand up for what we believe in, if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones."

 

Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a winner.

While Gaga is more flashy and is bound to get more attention, she's really doing more harm than good. Any change in the attitude toward DADT is going to have to come from inside the military, and while Adm. Mullen makes a reasoned and reasonable argument, Lady Gaga's simplistic and confusing arguments will only inspire resentment, not compromise.

No matter what you believe, I think we can all agree that Lady Gaga should keep to her areas of expertise, especially if she really does care about the cause she's fighting for.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Hello world! I'm back!

To the few it may concern:

I've been gone from the world of opining for some time. This occured because, for about three years, that was my profession. During that time, all my creativity was poured into my print columns and after three years of it, I was a bit burned out.

But that was more than a year ago, and I'm ready to get back to action. My goal for this space (which you can see was used only briefly before  now) is to continue the kind of work I did with my print column, "Soon To Be a Major Religion." Between Facebook and Twitter, I don't really need to share minor personal accounts here — expect more commentary on society, politics, movies, comic books and many other subjects you probably don't care about.

So if you happen to be reading this, consider it a beginning. Watch this space for what I hope becomes something worth reading.

Monday, June 29, 2009

'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' review

In lieu of a review of the latest Michael Bay fiasco, I wanted to just post an image of poo. Sadly, Google couldn't find a pile big enough.

"Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen" featured more Transformers, more locations and more explosions. It also featured more humping dogs, more Decepticon testicles and more unnecessary... everything.

A hallmark of poor science fiction, TF2 starts out on prehistoric Earth, where ancient Transformers show up for some sinister reason. We meet The Fallen, the film's big baddie (a Transformer who, as far as I can tell, doesn't actually transform).

Flash forward to now, where things start out with a bang with a joint US/Autobot strike force hunting down a Decepticon in China. Which Decepticon? No idea. Why? Unclear.

What we do get from this mission is a few half-second glimpses of Arcee, a female Autobot who is actually three motorcycles. From the movie, you wouldn't know any of that, as she gets far less screen time than the humping dogs and about one line late in the movie.

You also see Autobot leader Optimus Prime taking orders from the human soldiers. Later, we find Megatron bowing down to The Fallen. This subservience fits neither character and is never addressed.

Following the pointless action in Asia, we meet back up with Shia LaBeouf's Sam Witwicky and his over-the-top comic-relief parents. They've since adopted another small dog for a few pointless scenes (a common thing in this film). Sam's going off to college, leaving behind his Autobot buddy Bumblebee (who only speaks through recorded songs, another pointless choice that falls flat) and his impossibly hot girlfriend Mikelah (Megan Fox).

Sam leaves, but not before establishing that he can't bring himself to say "I love you" to Mikelah, which becomes an increasingly stupid plot point. 

We're not sure where Sam goes to college, but Bumblebee drives there, Mikelah later flies there with a mini Transformer in her carry on and the Decepticons find him there via an unexplained Pretender Transformer, a character who I'm surprised more people weren't confused by.

Eventually (and at too great a length) the plot is revealed. Sam, Mikelah, Sam's roommate and a former secret agent have to stop The Fallen — who's been hanging out in space, again with no explanation — from destroying the sun. The Fallen admits that he can only be stopped by a Prime (for no reason whatsoever), thus setting up another plot goal.

I use the term "plot" loosely, however, as the film is nothing but a collection of explosions and indistinguishable robot battles. The only characters worth caring about are the humans, as all Transformers are completely one-dimensional. Event the offensive Twins — a pair of jive-talking, gold-toothed and illiterate Autobots — are flat.

The question of "why?" came up repeatedly in TF2. Why does Sam's mom curse like a sailor? Why does Soundwave spend the movie humping a satellite? Why does Jetfire walk with a cane and suddenly switch sides? Why does this giant Transformer show up at the end? Why am I watching this?

In the end, after Sam has a vision of heavenly robots and good triumphs over evil, you're left with a hallow feeling. You were never meant to care about any of these characters — you weren't even told who most of the Decepticons were — and so you don't care what happens to any of them.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is a massive waste of time. For something worthwhile, check out the superb 1986 "The Transformers: The Movie." It actually features dynamic characters and Michael Bay had nothing to do with it.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Out of Control

Soon to be a Major Religion
By Jason Roberts
Editor, Go! 24/7

Those fighting social injustice are sometimes guilty of it

I know what it’s like to have your words, actions, inactions and breathing patterns taken out of context. 

More than that, I know what it’s like to create something — send it straight from your mind to a judging public with a quick stop in between for typing and edits. In fact, I’m doing it right now.

I won’t argue that my job is harder than anyone else’s, but the most difficult and frustrating part of creating a message is that once it leaves your hands, it’s not yours to control. It’s up to everyone else, each person with their own background and ideas and prejudices, to decide just exactly what it is you’ve said.

I’ve had well-intended opinion pieces picked apart by large women’s studies classes. I’ve been called a racist after running photos of anti-Wal-Mart protestors (evidently taking pictures of a sign that says “China is Wal-Mart’s best friend” is enough to send me to sensitivity training). I’ve been called “dumber than a post” for honestly relating the bad experience I had at a reader’s favorite eatery.

Don’t take this as complaining. While I was surprised at this when I first got into the business, I’ve learned to accept it as a part of the life. In fact, it’s a pretty good indicator of a journalist’s worth — if you’re not making someone mad, you’re probably not doing your job right.

And while I don’t mind being the subject of abuse, I try to step in when I see it happening to others.

That was the case last week, when a friend (and I hope she’s still my friend after this) posted a link to a blog post by Jean Warner, co-founder of The Oklahoma Women’s Coalition, titled “Shame on The Oklahoman for Violence Against Women Cartoon.”

That’s right, another attack on a political cartoonist. It happens all the time for a reason — they usually have a political point, and can be fairly ambiguous.

This cartoon by syndicated cartoonist Chip Bok (no, The Oklahoman didn’t draw it) depicts President Obama with a sombrero and a group of elephants with sticks, while a piñata of Sonia Sotomayor, Obama’s supreme court pick, hangs behind him. With the media’s various cameras watching, Obama says to the nervous-looking pachyderms, “Now, who want’s to be first?”

Any clear thinker should understand the joke — Republicans will bash the Democratic president’s pick with everything they’ve got come confirmation time. You’d have a point that turning a Hispanic person into a piñata is at the very least culturally insensitive, but that’s as far as it goes.

But Warner, clearly a person with her own agenda that could see enemies at a daycare, chooses to call Bok’s work sexist. “So The Oklahoman today runs a cartoon showing Sonia Sotomayor — a brilliant Hispanic woman scholar, lawyer and judge — strung up by a rope while men with clubs prepare to have at her for believing she’s qualified to serve on the US. Supreme Court,” she posted.

Whiplash is the appropriate response to this. 

Really? This has nothing to do with politics, and instead is the newspaper’s instruction for its readers to beat women with sticks?

“A picture speaks louder than words and that cartoon sends a message to women of all ages,” she said. “Back off. Know your place. Or we’ll take a stick to you and teach you a lesson.”

Warner says shame should be placed on The Oklahoman and its publisher, David Thompson. But if she’s looking for someone worthy of shame, she needs to look in a mirror.

In pushing her own agenda, Warner is reading into Bok’s cartoon more than is there. The cartoon has no more to do with the person’s sex than it does her preference in music or the name of her third-grade teacher.

Those who create will always run across people like Jean Warner, who will accuse you of terrible things just to further their own goals. And while this may be a fact of life, such behavior shouldn’t be tolerated by the rest of us.


Jason Roberts is the editor of Go! 24/7. He can be reached in the newsroom at (785)762-5000 or by e-mail at J.Roberts@Dailyu.com.