Hard News: In the nicest possible way
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I mean, "at war"? Do the people in that video look like they're at war?
No, but the words of the song do suggest it... "if you're going to go to war, well, you've already got one" (or similar)
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Perhaps a little context is in order here.
The Lily Allen original was (she says) directed at George W. Bush, but she's said she loves the idea of it becoming a general anti-hate ditty.
It was picked up for the original 'Big Gay Collab' video, and at that point a verse about war was dropped.
I drew Anne's attention to that clip and the French response. She jumped at the chance to make a local response, but felt that older gay folk were missing from the other two. That's why you see a much wider age-range in her one, and I think it's a nice touch.
The crowd scenes at the end are at the Family & Naval. And that's Buckwheat in a suit! The phrase "sharp-dressed man" barely comes close ...
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Ah well there it is then Emma. I'd have thought of myself as being fairly reasonable in my views, not at all judgmental and I offered a comment only surrounding the value of telling someone "fuck you". In doing so, I seem to have attracted your ire.
Michael, I have absolutely no idea what in my comment could have set you off. I haven't 'taken issue' with you, I disagree with you. My experience disagrees with you. Your suggestion of moral equivalency I don't find very reasonable, or very valid - particularly not this week.
By responding to you I actually AM engaging with you. You say you're 'not in a position to disagree with anyone', but then you criticise me for not agreeing with you.
Frankly, you know, I'd just like to be allowed a moment to enjoy this. To feel good and supported, and be provided with something of an antidote to this. I don't think that's unreasonable.
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I'd always understood the song as dismissive rather than abusive.
"So please don't stay in touch!"
... not much of a threat. -
Here you are, Michael - Derailing for Dummies. You will find lots more tactics that you can deploy there. And congratulations on doing the "You're damaging your cause by being angry" one so well.
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You know Michael H (great first name btw;-)), as one of the participants in the clip, I thought it was entirely aimed at nutters and bigots, and dismissive of them rather than attacking them. It is both light-hearted (hence all the smiles) and making a serious point.
We don't want to be around small-minded ignorant bigots.
I think that's a reasonable position for anyone with intelligence and a humanist perspective to take.
I am just amazed I don't look as hungover as I felt while doing it.
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If a stigmatised group can't use a stigmatised word, then who can?
If homophobes don't to feel rejected then perhaps they should get out of the rejection business. If they're offended then, now they know how it feels. And this is done with humour.
But seriously, assuming offense may caused assumes they're actually listen. I doubt.
And of course the song's supportive in other ways: To swearers...
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Because it's Friday, a glorious cover of Joy Division's "Transmission" by a Manchester steel drum group:
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I see your steel band and raise you a Hot Chip:
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Geoff, thank you. I am all agog. An email is on its way.
My response to the video was simple undiluted joy, that people could be so affirmative of themselves and dismissive of those who cannot tolerate others being themselves. I recall a similar feeling when reading Hard News a long while back, when Russell responded to some homophobic American psycho, not by his usual measured arguments but by saying "fuck off."
Sometimes, unreasonable thoughts do not require reasoned replies.
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And the official 'Fuck You' music video. It's worth clicking through and watching in HD:
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Because it's Friday, a glorious cover of Joy Division's "Transmission" by a Manchester steel drum group:
Very cool.
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Very cool.
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On the Obama-DADT-DOMA issue noted by Craig:
A really nicely put editorial by Henrik Hertzberg in the New Yorker.
It demonstrates that it's possible to take a clear and critical stance on Obama's backsliding without collapsing into screaming hissy fits like John Aravosis at AmericaBlog did nearly every day for about two weeks.
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And one for all the nerds (I know you're out there)
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No no no Robyn, there is only one way to take Joy Division, and that is VERY SERIOUSLY.
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Not thta the the Lily Allen thing really needs any further justification, but it did finally prompt me to finish this modest effort.
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Previewed and still an edit FAIL how will I live this down...
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Maybe I'm missing the point. But I really don't like the Lily Allen video of her own song. Much prefer the LGBTA ones - the NZ one especially. As Russell says, it's lovely to see older people. And Buckwheat in a suit? Divine.
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Just listened to Kingmaker a couple of times, nice track, good NZ vibe, still waiting for media 7 to load....
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Dear Michael:
Have you considered that the "Fuck you" video is not about YOU? Or the idiots who make marriage laws in the US? Or homophobic bigots in general?
It's not about "advancing dialogue" or actually trying to change anyone's mind. It's about making queers smile. And it's working quite well for me, actually. I can do the nuanced arguments in another forum, if necessary.
If you don't get it, that's fine. I don't attend rugby matches myself (due to major Not Getting It) - but then I don't castigate people who do so.
Also, seconded, the suggestion about checking out the Derailing for Dummies article.
Cheers,
Tracy
And yes, yay for a version with plenty of people who've seen the other side of 30, and plenty of the Sisterhood.
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Following on from the comment above - if you're not the problem, you're not the problem ... but privilege can be a tricksy thing.
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hilarious episode Russ, good stuff, nice to see you Sacha, enjoyed that segment the most. Pam Corkery on the other hand....."in the big house"...Rich...; )
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Regarding Mr Holt's argument: on the one hand, silence can be golden at times. But on the other hand, it pays to remember Martin Niemöller's cautionary tale on doing nothing in the face of a creeping malevolent force.
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If a stigmatised group can't use a stigmatised word, then who can?
Well, Tim, as was noted by Russell and Bill Hastings, research into perceptions of offensive language show "nigger" pushes most people's buttons hard -- and, IMHO, for good reason. While you mileage may vary, I find it even more offensive coming out the mouths of African-American rappers, and I don't really give a shit if the "context" is self-oppressive minstrelsy rather than white contempt.
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