Oct 14, 2008

You know where this is headed

Chicago public officials have revealed plans for a gay-friendly high school to open up sometime in the year 2010. Personally, I think all high schools should practice tolerance which is how I define "gay-friendly", but that's another story.

I'm not so sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, gay students are subjected to tremendous pressure and ostracism from the mainstream all over the country. However, I don't know if the answer to the problem is to isolate it. Like I said up there, I think all schools should be tolerant of all students. To specifically have a school focus on one segment of the student body is a bit odd. I don't know. Then again, I don't know how it feels to be gay in a predominantly straight world. Especially at that age.

One thing I do predict, however, is that someone in the McCain campaign (and I'm not saying anyone at or near the top of the campaign, just somebody somewhere in there) will put together "education", "Chicago" and "gay" and somehow pin this on Obama. You just watch. It's gonna happen.



What do you kids think? Is this a good idea?

Other Campaign News
Obama is now being hit with affair rumors. Regardless of what some people think, rumors of an affair at this point of the election could be crippling to either candidate. Although nothing really came of the allegations that McCain cheated on his wife back in 1992. Maybe because he already had cheated on his first wife without any repercussions. With his current wife, Cindy.

And yesterday, John McCain took his most aggressive steps to distance himself from the Bush Administration. It's early and I can't find text from his Virginia rally online yet so I'm only para-phrasing here. But he stated that the country can't spend the next four years like we spent the last eight, just waiting for our luck to change. That the explosion of government spending in the failed policies of the past eight years have crippled our economy. I guess he's not going to ask President Bush to campaign for him in the next three weeks, eh? If he had been this "maverick-y" a bit earlier on then it could have weakened Obama's campaign of change somewhat. I think it's a smart move on his part, but maybe a little too little, a little too late.

Hey, we heard from Sarah Palin's future son in-law Levi Johnson over the weekend. He answered questions about his relationship with Bristol and his relationship with the McCain campaign. I admit that I was one of the kids that thought he was being pressured to marry the girl because of how miserable he looked on television. But none of us really know him or his feelings at all. This was a good start. And he said when asked about Obama that he doesn't really know anything about him and he seems like a good guy, but that he is still rooting for McCain to win. Good for him for stepping out of the Palin's shadow for a moment.

Finally, in the same stump speech I mentioned earlier John McCain said he would veto any bill that came before him that contained any "pork barrel" spending. Hmm. Didn't he and Obama just vote "Yes" on a that $700 Billion bailout that had around $150 Billion of "pork" added to it? So as Senator, he is okay with it but as President he would be against it? Hmm.

24 comments:

jiggs said...

I am jealous of Levi Johnson's extreme good looks.

Unknown said...

I don't know about that gay school. I thought of the bullies in the adjacent schools cheering in triumph if one of their victims got transferred out. That would just encourage their neanderthal behaviour. No, I think the bullying has to be dealt with more directly.

Faiqa said...

Gay schools smacks too much of the whole "separate but equal" crap of the early part of the last century.

As for the election, I think McCain is trying to ingratiate himself to the American Muslim population by taking a stand against pork in general, while Obama is trying to distance himself from being perceived as a Muslim by voting *for* pork issues. (Heh, get it? Muslims don't eat pork). Personally, I think buying barrels of pork is totally disgusting. Chicken is the original white meat. Everyone knows that. Politicians.

Slyde said...

i dont think there is a need for a gay school...

i know that kids today are MUCH more tolerant of it than when i was in high school. My neices are constantly talking about their gay friends in school, and it really isnt a big deal to anybody. If anybody was out of the closet when i was in high school, they would have been crucified...

Verdant Earl said...

Jiggs - I've heard he might be on the lookout for a good stunt-dick. ;)

MikeB - It sounds like the bullying is the main reason they want to open up this school. I agree...there should be a better way.

Faiqa - Nice thoughts on pork. A barrel of the stuff would be pretty disgusting. I prefer a barrel full of monkeys. ;)

Slyde - That's surprising, knowing a little something about high-schoolers. Glad to hear it.

Mrs. Hall said...

I think this idea is fantastic.

I listened very carefully what the 'anti-self segregation' talking head. I do agree that there might be some difficulty with a transistion for these kids, as they transition from the pride campus into a less accepting world. That perhaps we should channel the energy into making all the campuses more tolerant.

But at the same time, being a teenager sucks and is very hard. These kids already deal with the harsh realities of life.

I say, let's give them a space, to be nutured and grow.

Holly

That Hank said...

Of course bullying needs to be confronted and dealt with. But you go on and tell some teenage queen that he has to suck it up and take his beatings in the interest of keeping the bullies from feeling like they ran him out of there. See what he says about that.

There are a few specifically gay and trans friendly public schools around the country. They're not large, and they aren't intended for all the gay and trans kids in those school systems. No one is forced to go there. But when gay and trans kids are still being beat, hassled, and sometimes killed, there is something to be said for putting them into a safer situation while their tormentors are being dealt with.

I pretty much agree with Holly. Except I have to point out that school is only a few hours a day, and by the time a kid gets to that school, they are well aware of the realities of the world - I doubt they'll forget that many people hate them for being queer just because their teachers and fellow students do not.

Verdant Earl said...

Holly/DG - I'm not a big fan of anything that further seperates us, but I can totally see where you are going with this, and I agree. I think. Tough subject to wrap your head around. I just wish we could all get along. Even during our teenage years.

RW said...

Oh Lord, what would we call the football team....

Do I sense a contest coming up? Do I get to make the first non-PC suggestion...?

Verdant Earl said...

RW - The school will be called the Pride Campus of Social Justice High School, so howabout the Pride Pride? The school where tomorrow night's debate is (Hofstra) has a football team named the Pride. So why not?

(and yeah...I wasn't going to go non-PC yet)

That Hank said...

The mascot for the alternative high school around here, with a high gay and trans population, is a pirate. But they're too small for a football team, and their basketball team is co-ed.

The cheerleaders, though, could beat your ass in a minute.

RW said...

Well you know, it could be the Packers.....

Verdant Earl said...

DG - Ha!

RW - and there it is. ;)

Dr Zibbs said...

The idea of a gay school is not new. They even had a TV show about it. It was called Fame. And boy could those kids fly. High.

Michelle said...

b.e. i don't like the idea of a separate high school for gay kids. It just doesn't sit well with me! People are people you know? Who gives a shit what they do behind closed doors....do you? Do i??

Interesting political stuff going on too!!

Dude, i'm still on the zombie post, WTF???

Heff said...

I don't think it's a good idea either. Who's gonna kick their asses on a dailey basis if they're all confined to one school ?

Heff said...

"dailey" ? Fuck, maybe I need to go back to school.

Ookami Snow said...

What if you aren't gay, but want to go to the school anyway? can that happen? Do they have to "prove" that they are gay?

Verdant Earl said...

Zibbs - Square Pegs it wasn't. ;)

Michelle - I'm always on the zombie issue. Always diligent.

Heff - I wanna see a school where anyone can get their ass kicked regardless of sexual inclination. Huh?

Ookami - Well you have to prove you are at least willing to learn. Take it from there. :)

Anonymous said...

Doesn't seem like the right direction. I don't know all the answers but this doesn't seem like the way to deal with it.

That Hank said...

Ookami Snow - looks like it's gay friendly, not all gay.

Verdant Earl said...

Teeni - I'm leaning towards supporting it a bit more, especially since reading some of these comments. But I agree that isolating these kids seems weird to me.

DG - yeah, it's open to everyone.

Bruce Johnson said...

A gay friendly high school......the possibilities of a mascot just go running through my head......Flaming Eagles comes to mind....as do many others.

marty mankins said...

I'm with you... all high schools should be "gay friendly" I can appreciate the efforts, but I would rather see them go out to all high schools instead of focusing on just one.

Your comments about Levi Johnson were spot on. As much as it's fun to hear someone like Tina Fey joke about "unwilling teens", I have to admire him for bucking the trend and speaking out.