Also not published for some reason not yet divulged to me.
Over the years I have watched many friends and colleagues go through Army, Navy, Marine, and National Guard training and preparation. An old high school classmate of mine has just come back from a tour in Iraq and another has just shipped out, and every time I read the paper cant help but feel nervous as I scan over the news.
The military has been a huge part of our country for as long as anyone can remember and since 9/11 even the most socially inept and current event oblivious individual will have some opinion on what’s going on overseas. Wars are going on everywhere it seems, and fighting mounts even within the military itself. I speak of social fighting; the activist movements against the DADT: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
As someone who was in the process of enlisting in the National Guard but was forced to stop because of this aggravating “rule”, I figured it was finally time for me to give justice to all the able bodied and eager young men and women who have been hindered by this policy.
For those of you who have heard of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” but aren’t exactly familiar with the concept, allow me a moment to explain the history.
During preparation for WWII the US military added psychiatric screening to its induction process. Homosexuality at this time was labeled as an indicator of psychopathology and for the first time, homosexual people were differentiated from “normal” people in the military. In the following decades new regulations were passed concerning homosexuals serving in the military and the terms “desirable” and “undesirable” discharge were commonplace. President Bill Clinton, who had campaigned on the promise that all citizens should be allowed to serve in the military regardless of their sexual orientation, aimed to change these ways of the military. Opposing Clinton however, was the Congress. After Clinton was inaugurate Congress rushed to enact the existing gay ban policy into federal law. The policy they strove for (Defense Directive 1332.14) was that homosexuality is incompatible with military service and those persons whom engage in homosexual acts or state that they are homosexual or bisexual, were to be discharged. In order to combat this onslaught of opposition, on December 21, 1993, the Clinton Administration issued a compromise: Defense Directive 1304.26, which stated that military applicants were not to be asked about their sexual orientation. This policy is known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The DADT policy has sparked heated debate among Democrat, Republican, pro-gay, and anti-gay groups and those debates show no sign of cooling until another drastic change occurs.
Since it was implemented, Nathaniel Frank of the Advocate writes, DADT has ended the careers of more than 13,000 service members. Because of this policy, while at the time it was implemented seemed to be the only way to go, the growing awareness for gay rights has given people the opportunity to understand just how unfair the “rules” are. The pressure to conform to the hetero stereotype in the military forces people to act differently –often in negative ways such as bashing women and gays,- just so that they can stay in uniform. However it’s not just the military members that suffer. Because gay troops are prohibited from revealing their sexual orientation, their families and partners have no way of accessing the resources offered to most military families and are denied access to information about deployed family members, including their status, condition, and return dates. To anyone who has a loved one in the military, I ask you, would you be able to deal with not knowing if they had been hurt or killed in the line of duty just because you had to keep your relationship a secret? I think not.
And for those of you who have been “prematurely banned” from military service due to publicly coming out, (or even publicly advocating gay rights and issues like myself) the sad fact of the matter is that this policy prohibits good people from protecting their country and their loved ones just because they happen to be the same gender as themselves.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Trevor project.
Not published because it was deemed too controversial.
As many of you may have heard, there had been a lot of speculation about “Laramie Project,” a play portraying the events that took place before, during, and after Mathew Shepherds murder in 1998, and one of the most performed productions in America, which was being shown at Fargo South High school in weeks prior. The reason for this attention was the fact that a well-known religious group, Westboro Baptist Church, who’s extreme protests, picketing at military funerals, and anti-gay agenda have earned them the label of a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League, had made an announcement that they would stage a protest against the play.
This announcement sparked a wave of discontent and concern among many Fargo and Moorhead students of both college age and high school, especially givin the fact that the WBC also had the nerve to stage a disturbing campaign on our very campus a few years ago; a sight that quite honestly disgusted me seeing as they held it right outside the daycare.
In response to this threat of protest against the hard working students and faculty putting on the play, on February 18 in the Rainbow room, a small group of GSA members and myself banded together to make signs of support. If the WBC was going to protest, we sure as hell weren’t going to take it lying down.
On February 20, despite the blistering cold, a group of picketers from MSUM as well as the high school lined on the street opposite the building for hours to show support for the performance while a squad car waited quietly in the parking lot.
I asked a few of them if they knew about the WBCs threat to attend, and while some of them hadn’t heard about them and had just come to watch the play and support it, they were appalled at the idea of such a strong opposition being present at what was supposed to be an event meant to teach and inform the community. “It’s important for these types of messages to be supported by members of the community, and for people to learn that there are always options out there,” says NDSU picketer and attendee of the production.
I totally agree. Its depressing to think that radical groups like the WBC are still out there spreading messages of intolerance and hate, hurting good people in the process.
While the WBC did not show up at the play -a turn of events that I’m sure the school faculty were thankful for, - in preparation for the counter-protests efforts, the signs made by MSUM’s GSA organization voiced strong support of the LGBT community, including moving quotes from scripture and visually impacting signs that displayed a noose being cut with the words “Cut the Hate.” My favorite signs however were the ones that advertized The Trevor Project, whose mission it is to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing resources nation wide, a 24/7crisis intervention lifeline, a digital community, and educational programs.
James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone, who created the 1994 short film “Trevor,” a comedy about a gay 13-year-old boy who is rejected by his friends because of his sexuality and tries to take his own life, founded the Trevor Project. Because of the issues that the film addressed, when “Trevor” was scheduled to air on HBO, Lecesne, Rajski, and Stone decided to create a hotline for young individuals who might be faced with similar problems. This hotline, the Trevor Lifeline, became the first nationwide, 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQIA youth.
Jessa Dronen who came to support the play with her friend and her boyfriend, stated that she is proud of South High for putting on this production and relayed that; “Hate has no room in the community.” I am personally proud of the show of support that the community displayed for this play, made even more steadfast by the fact that everyone came despite the risk of frostbite.
To all of you who attended, I hope you will continue to support the LQBTQAI community and never let people get you down. As one of the picketers, Justine Skauge added; “I believe in it as long as it’s love.” –Stay Curious!
As many of you may have heard, there had been a lot of speculation about “Laramie Project,” a play portraying the events that took place before, during, and after Mathew Shepherds murder in 1998, and one of the most performed productions in America, which was being shown at Fargo South High school in weeks prior. The reason for this attention was the fact that a well-known religious group, Westboro Baptist Church, who’s extreme protests, picketing at military funerals, and anti-gay agenda have earned them the label of a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League, had made an announcement that they would stage a protest against the play.
This announcement sparked a wave of discontent and concern among many Fargo and Moorhead students of both college age and high school, especially givin the fact that the WBC also had the nerve to stage a disturbing campaign on our very campus a few years ago; a sight that quite honestly disgusted me seeing as they held it right outside the daycare.
In response to this threat of protest against the hard working students and faculty putting on the play, on February 18 in the Rainbow room, a small group of GSA members and myself banded together to make signs of support. If the WBC was going to protest, we sure as hell weren’t going to take it lying down.
On February 20, despite the blistering cold, a group of picketers from MSUM as well as the high school lined on the street opposite the building for hours to show support for the performance while a squad car waited quietly in the parking lot.
I asked a few of them if they knew about the WBCs threat to attend, and while some of them hadn’t heard about them and had just come to watch the play and support it, they were appalled at the idea of such a strong opposition being present at what was supposed to be an event meant to teach and inform the community. “It’s important for these types of messages to be supported by members of the community, and for people to learn that there are always options out there,” says NDSU picketer and attendee of the production.
I totally agree. Its depressing to think that radical groups like the WBC are still out there spreading messages of intolerance and hate, hurting good people in the process.
While the WBC did not show up at the play -a turn of events that I’m sure the school faculty were thankful for, - in preparation for the counter-protests efforts, the signs made by MSUM’s GSA organization voiced strong support of the LGBT community, including moving quotes from scripture and visually impacting signs that displayed a noose being cut with the words “Cut the Hate.” My favorite signs however were the ones that advertized The Trevor Project, whose mission it is to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing resources nation wide, a 24/7crisis intervention lifeline, a digital community, and educational programs.
James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone, who created the 1994 short film “Trevor,” a comedy about a gay 13-year-old boy who is rejected by his friends because of his sexuality and tries to take his own life, founded the Trevor Project. Because of the issues that the film addressed, when “Trevor” was scheduled to air on HBO, Lecesne, Rajski, and Stone decided to create a hotline for young individuals who might be faced with similar problems. This hotline, the Trevor Lifeline, became the first nationwide, 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQIA youth.
Jessa Dronen who came to support the play with her friend and her boyfriend, stated that she is proud of South High for putting on this production and relayed that; “Hate has no room in the community.” I am personally proud of the show of support that the community displayed for this play, made even more steadfast by the fact that everyone came despite the risk of frostbite.
To all of you who attended, I hope you will continue to support the LQBTQAI community and never let people get you down. As one of the picketers, Justine Skauge added; “I believe in it as long as it’s love.” –Stay Curious!
wtf: me ranting about the newspaper
Ask anyone who knows me; I don’t complain or bitch about things much. But when column (specifically asked for) does not get published in this week’s paper and I’m offered no explanation, no confirmation, and no feedback, even I get a little pissed off.
I wouldnt be as irate if this was a first time offense, but this has been the 5th time this has happened. One column (I found out 5 days later) was too long and had been replaced by a god damned full page liquor store add (a horrible moral decision for a college newspaper mind you), and another column was ‘too controversial.’ It’s a freaking OPINION column! I don’t care that bad publicity is still publicity! WBC’s got a foot long metal spike shoved up their ass’s and people should be aware of it. That wasn’t even the main topic of what I was writing about! It was a passing comment at best!
Now, I know I’m being a little unfair, after all, I know the constraints of publishing a newspaper can be brutal. You have to fit in columns about why the next Spiderman movie is an insult to die-hard fans everywhere (no offense A.H., but it’s a movie. You don’t have to watch it.) But okay, fine, I totally understand why some things would take priority over something as insignificant as facts and opinions on the “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” policy (an area I was SPECIFICALLY HIRED to write about). Yeah, I get it. Shrug it off. You can always look forward to further rejection Tara.
…I just had to get that off my chest. It was either blog about it or kick in the window in my dorm.
I in no way mean any offense or ill intent to the nice people who work at the Advocate. I guess it’s first come first serve and my article was either too long, too late, or too controversial…
Seriously though, no ill thoughts your way.
I wouldnt be as irate if this was a first time offense, but this has been the 5th time this has happened. One column (I found out 5 days later) was too long and had been replaced by a god damned full page liquor store add (a horrible moral decision for a college newspaper mind you), and another column was ‘too controversial.’ It’s a freaking OPINION column! I don’t care that bad publicity is still publicity! WBC’s got a foot long metal spike shoved up their ass’s and people should be aware of it. That wasn’t even the main topic of what I was writing about! It was a passing comment at best!
Now, I know I’m being a little unfair, after all, I know the constraints of publishing a newspaper can be brutal. You have to fit in columns about why the next Spiderman movie is an insult to die-hard fans everywhere (no offense A.H., but it’s a movie. You don’t have to watch it.) But okay, fine, I totally understand why some things would take priority over something as insignificant as facts and opinions on the “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” policy (an area I was SPECIFICALLY HIRED to write about). Yeah, I get it. Shrug it off. You can always look forward to further rejection Tara.
…I just had to get that off my chest. It was either blog about it or kick in the window in my dorm.
I in no way mean any offense or ill intent to the nice people who work at the Advocate. I guess it’s first come first serve and my article was either too long, too late, or too controversial…
Seriously though, no ill thoughts your way.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Chalk on the ground
published march 3, 11
As an art student, I make it a point to visit the CA Art Exhibit whenever there are new pieces being shown. This semesters BA exhibit displayed some wonderful and stimulating work created by MSUM students that showcase a wide range of talents, mediums, and ideas.
The day I attended, one piece in particular caught my eye though, or should I say, nearly caught my foot. Maia Kim Monke-Lundberg; Maia Kim for short, had made use of 3D media to render a crime scene body chalking on a black background. This piece titled “Bullied Teen,” was filled with about 200 ceramic dots that were painted to emulate the vivid colors of the rainbow, standing out brilliantly against the dark background. Around this ceramic dot body, clearly representing the presence of death, ran a long line of white ‘chalk’ text, relaying the names of teenage homosexual males and the fate that befell them.
I wanted to talk to Maia almost instantly after seeing this work, so I tracked down her email address and asked for an interview. Maia however, proved to be a very busy person indeed. An Art education major at MSUM with an emphasis in photography and ceramics and currently student teaching at Kennedy Elementary and Carl Ben Middle school, Maia was willing to meet me in person, but I didn’t want to detract from her free time so we relied on the wonders of technology and decided on an email interview.
I personally admire those who choose an education degree because kids, in all honesty, are not my forte, so already, even without the impact of her work being the reason for the interview, I already hold a good deal of respect for Maia. While I’m sure that student teaching introduces a whole slew of new time-consuming challenges, Maia says that; “As far as my artwork (is concerned), I will continue to do my own work in my spare time…. I am looking forward to being an art teacher and an artist as well!” Maia has big plans for the future and hopes to start teaching after she graduates in May. After having spent seven weeks in Korea, she hopes to live and teach there, and aims to someday teach at a college level.
Maia recognized that her work in the BA exhibit was LGBTQAI oriented she explained that it was her reaction to the severe bullying that has been going on among so many teens throughout the country. She specifically wanted to focus on what young teens were going through that ultimately led to their suicides. Oddly enough though, “Bullies Teen” was Maia’s first big piece of artwork that was focused on the LGBT community. She stated; “I have not made artwork based on sexuality issues because I think it is a very sensitive subject that needs to be taken with caution, clarity, and seriousness. If you create a piece of artwork based on topics such as suicide and that involve the LGBT community, it should make a statement. I wanted this piece to make people stop and think. I wanted them to become aware.”
Creating public awareness about the issues is indeed what Maia’s piece did, especially given the overtone of Fargo South High’s showing of the “Laramie Project” on February 20th, which Maia attended. Like this play, Maia wanted to create public awareness. She didn’t want to persuade someone’s view on the topic; she simply wanted to inform. “I wanted to create awareness of how harmful bullying is and the consequences of such hurtful words and actions towards others.”
After attending the “Laramie Project,” Maia hopes that pieces of artwork and plays continue to enable viewers to examine their beliefs about homosexuality and to become aware and confront these issues. She ended our interview with a inspiring quote from the play; "I hope what you take from this is that as world citizens, we are charged with the responsibility of compassion towards our fellow humans, compassionate thoughts, sentiments, words and actions."
As an art student, I make it a point to visit the CA Art Exhibit whenever there are new pieces being shown. This semesters BA exhibit displayed some wonderful and stimulating work created by MSUM students that showcase a wide range of talents, mediums, and ideas.
The day I attended, one piece in particular caught my eye though, or should I say, nearly caught my foot. Maia Kim Monke-Lundberg; Maia Kim for short, had made use of 3D media to render a crime scene body chalking on a black background. This piece titled “Bullied Teen,” was filled with about 200 ceramic dots that were painted to emulate the vivid colors of the rainbow, standing out brilliantly against the dark background. Around this ceramic dot body, clearly representing the presence of death, ran a long line of white ‘chalk’ text, relaying the names of teenage homosexual males and the fate that befell them.
I wanted to talk to Maia almost instantly after seeing this work, so I tracked down her email address and asked for an interview. Maia however, proved to be a very busy person indeed. An Art education major at MSUM with an emphasis in photography and ceramics and currently student teaching at Kennedy Elementary and Carl Ben Middle school, Maia was willing to meet me in person, but I didn’t want to detract from her free time so we relied on the wonders of technology and decided on an email interview.
I personally admire those who choose an education degree because kids, in all honesty, are not my forte, so already, even without the impact of her work being the reason for the interview, I already hold a good deal of respect for Maia. While I’m sure that student teaching introduces a whole slew of new time-consuming challenges, Maia says that; “As far as my artwork (is concerned), I will continue to do my own work in my spare time…. I am looking forward to being an art teacher and an artist as well!” Maia has big plans for the future and hopes to start teaching after she graduates in May. After having spent seven weeks in Korea, she hopes to live and teach there, and aims to someday teach at a college level.
Maia recognized that her work in the BA exhibit was LGBTQAI oriented she explained that it was her reaction to the severe bullying that has been going on among so many teens throughout the country. She specifically wanted to focus on what young teens were going through that ultimately led to their suicides. Oddly enough though, “Bullies Teen” was Maia’s first big piece of artwork that was focused on the LGBT community. She stated; “I have not made artwork based on sexuality issues because I think it is a very sensitive subject that needs to be taken with caution, clarity, and seriousness. If you create a piece of artwork based on topics such as suicide and that involve the LGBT community, it should make a statement. I wanted this piece to make people stop and think. I wanted them to become aware.”
Creating public awareness about the issues is indeed what Maia’s piece did, especially given the overtone of Fargo South High’s showing of the “Laramie Project” on February 20th, which Maia attended. Like this play, Maia wanted to create public awareness. She didn’t want to persuade someone’s view on the topic; she simply wanted to inform. “I wanted to create awareness of how harmful bullying is and the consequences of such hurtful words and actions towards others.”
After attending the “Laramie Project,” Maia hopes that pieces of artwork and plays continue to enable viewers to examine their beliefs about homosexuality and to become aware and confront these issues. She ended our interview with a inspiring quote from the play; "I hope what you take from this is that as world citizens, we are charged with the responsibility of compassion towards our fellow humans, compassionate thoughts, sentiments, words and actions."
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