The Ministry of Shadows

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A Not So Hot Rod ...

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 3:55 AM

Maybe Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich thought he was above the law. Maybe he thought those pesky feds would never come up with anything on his high-and-mightiness.

Or maybe he's just stupid as the day is long.

Because rocket scientist Rod got caught on tape talking about a 'pay to play' scheme for picking someone to fill Barack Obama's senate seat - giving the seat to whomever gave Blagojevich the best deal, and hinting that he tried to shake down Obama's campaign for a cabinet position in exchange for a favorable pick.

"They're not willing to give me anything but appreciation," Blagojevich recounts, calling the President-elect a derogatory term.


And my opinion about the 'Calling In Gay' idea that is supposed to rock everyone's world today?

Stupid. Ineffective. Counterproductive.

Why? Because you're putting the message - that discrimination is real and affects real people - second to this 'call in sick' stunt. The danger here is making any inconvenience caused by absence the issue, and not the discrimination.

I'm pretty sure that small business owners who happen to be gay won't be closing their doors. If you're an employee, who are you sending the message to? Your employer, who is already constrained by state and federal law against discrimination? Your co-workers, who will have an increased workload in your absence? A client who doesn't care about your sexual orientation, but may care about getting a Christmas present bought or shipped, or any number of other important errands we run on any given day?

Nor am I impressed with the 'go do volunteer work' part. Larger companies often have gift-matching programs, or support/sponsor toy and food drives during the holiday season. Why not have the gay community contact businesses to sponsor and encourage volunteer work in the same manner?

'Calling in gay' is self-defeating. It counters the argument that it's about being equal, and supports the criticism that gays want some form of special treatment or recognition.


Unlike the case of Ashley Todd, the McCain Campaign worker who faked injuries and told a fish story about a scary black man attacking her just before the election, Kaylon Johnson appears to have been attacked for real.

I'm hoping there's hard proof on the gas station's security cameras.



The Ministry has received 2 comment(s) on this topic.



Brin aka Bindyree - 2008-12-10 16:57:51
Not to discredit what you have said, but seems to me there's more than a passing resemblance between the 'Calling In Gay' concerns you raised and the things the white leaders in the southern US used to say whenever the niggra-ohs boycotted the bus system. :-)

Minister - 2008-12-10 23:33:50
I stand by my comments. Everyone knew the 'rules' said blacks were supposed to sit in the back, so sitting in the front challenged that directly. How does 'calling in gay' draw the same distinction, that participants are directly challenging discrimination? Who is being informed/educated by this action? Is there some prejudice here? Gays only work certain types of jobs? Gays have to work harder during the holidays?