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Quotes & Quips
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Compiled By Jack Nichols No Greater LeaderNo greater leader emerged in the Twentieth Century than the great Martin Luther King, Jr. His brief life touched more people that did anyone else. He was never elected to any public office. He was more like a great teacher who comes this way once in a while. His own words say more than anyone can hope to say of him. Editorial Board— Greenwich Village Gazette, January 14 www.nycny.com The Final Word Unconditional love will have the final word in reality. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. No Toilet on the Katherine Harris Special Oh yeah, and that $10,000 charter plane for Secretary of State Katherine Harris' lawyers to travel to Washington for a U.S. Supreme Court hearing, then return in time for a trial in Tallahassee on recounts the next day…But lest the public think the lawyers were traveling in the lap of luxury, think again. Peanuts and donuts were free on the seven-seater, but the toilet was out of commission. Maya Bell, Sandra Pedicini & David Cox—“So How much is that per chad?” Orlando Sentinel, January 14 Let the Boys Scouts Sell Cookies Principles are fine things, but where the rubber meets the road, high-minded disputes all too often come down to money, who's got it and how it's used… According to published accounts, two religious denominations, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Methodist men's group, which between them sponsor more than 53,000 troops involving more than 800,000 boys, told national Scout leaders that if the ban against gay leaders were dropped, they would pull their donations, boys and sponsorships…While Boy Scouts depend heavily on sponsors to cover expenses, Girl Scouts raise half of their operating funds from cookie sales. Dennis Rogers—“ Kids lose in Scouting scandal” Raleigh News & Observer, January 13 Why Sheriff Laux Ignored Teena Brandon's Killers Friedman said Laux was reluctant to arrest Lotter because he had a history of damaging the jail by plugging up toilets and causing floods. "He would not arrest him because he would overflow the toilets," he told the court. "That's the outrageous thing about this case." Butch Mabin—“ Court hears appeal arguments in Brandon case”-- Lincoln Journal Star, January 13 Something Provocative Down Under Jesus Christ as a homosexual. Two of his apostles joined in a gay marriage. Two Christian men crucifying the said gay Messiah. Jesus kissing Judas on the lips. Terrence McNally's play Corpus Christi, which opens at Melbourne's Athenaeum II Theatre on January 17, depicts these scenes, and more…Producer Paul Vout wanted to bring something provocative to this year's Midsumma Festival, and he could hardly have been more controversial if, well, he had soaked a crucifix in urine and hung it in the National Gallery of Victoria…Already, a newly formed Catholic priests' group and a family group are furious…They told The Age that Corpus Christi aims to deliberately offend Christians, mocking their beliefs, and that it is sowing hatred to promote the gay cause. The groups predict there will be protests, and say such a production should not go ahead. Carolyn Webb—“Confronting dogma with a leap of faith”—The Age, Australia—January 9 No More Bush! Mad about another Bush in the White House? Then shear off your own and let him know…That's the call-to-arms of Silicon Valley co-founder Emily Hofstetter…Hofstetter, whose site focuses on women working in the Internet industry, conceived of the protest in her own shower, as she mused upon the recent election shenanigans. As her e-mail--which she sent to about 2,500 people--explains: "There in the shower I began softly chanting 'no more bush, no more bush, no more bush' over and over again until I was in a mantra/trance-like state. I reached for the Lady Schick, a slick bar of handmade soap, and before I knew it, there was no more bush. Completely shaven, I stood in the shower laughing. I laughed until I cried and then it hit me: Women are probably going to be the most affected by this recent faux-lection. Why then don't we do something that will at least show our disapproval for the recent decision. The way I see it: One Close Shave Deserves Another!" In response to the thin margin that decided the recent presidential election, Hofstetter exhorts other women to follow her lead--to shave themselves as an act of protest and "save the clippings, bag them and send them to our clown prince president for his inauguration. Better still, let's all go to the inauguration and throw the 'bush clippings' at our new president like confetti at a ticker tape parade!" Katharine Mieszkowski—in a widely circulated e-mail, January 2 'Southern Baptist Sissies' Author Drops Out (Del) Shores said he is no longer a Christian. He believes in a loving God. And "Christ was a wonderful teacher," he added. "But Christianity doesn't embrace me, and I don't embrace something that doesn't embrace me." Not every church is as unaccepting of homosexuality as the Southern Baptists', and Shores said he's open to experiencing what other churches might offer. "But I don't really believe in the theology. I don't think Del Shores can be a gay Christian." Don Shirley—“The Gospel According to a Nonbeliever”—Los Angeles Times, January 14 Just Another Nazi Pope John Paul II's ferocious support for discrimination against homosexuals makes him the moral successor to Nazi homophobia, according to gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. Tatchell cites the Pope's recent outspoken denunciation of same-sex marriage legislation in the Netherlands, and the Catholic Catechism's shrill, intolerant anti-homosexual language. He argues that the Vatican's relentless opposition to lesbian and gay human rights echoes the bigotry of Nazi leaders such as Heinrich Himmler. Rainbow Network--www.rainbownetwork.com United Kingdom, January 14 Promise Keepers: A Christian Men's Movement? The command to “take back” the role of Godly head of the household could easily lead to "justifiable" battering. Allen Corben—“Response to the Christian Men's Movement”—Brother: The Journal of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism, Winter 2000 www.nomas.org |