Does Race Trump Gender?

I imagine, by this point, most people who read this blog know about Caster Semenya, the 18 runner who won a gold but a competitor challenged her biological status, i.e., she's not a she.

The controversy is entirely way to complex. Fascinating but complex.

Yet, I am struck with an interesting rhetorical move by another South African athlete, who, according to The New York Times, stated:

“The question I ask is if this were a European person, would these questions be raised?” said Ruben Ramolefi, a track athlete for South Africa. “It seems there’s hypocrisy behind it.”

Since this is incredibly complex, I ask that Ramolefi not mention another loaded, socially-constructed term into the controversy until someone can figure out the gender issue.

Thursday Musical Tribute...

Regina Spektor, "Samson."



I am a big fan of this song. It hurts, every time.

It is a great example of mortification where the person takes the blame for the downfall rather than scapegoat someone else for the problems in a relationship.

"You are my sweetest downfall..."

The Politics of Cynicism as an Art Form

In his new book, Tom Ridge will proclaim what everyone else knew: during the 2004 Presidential Campaign, Team Bush manipulated the Terrorist Spectrum, i.e. the Terrorist Threat Alert System, for partisan reasons. Even better, because of this partisan tactic, Ridge knew he should leave the federal government.

Ridge stepped down as Head of the Department of Homeland Security in 2004.

I may be wrong about this but, if we believe Ridge to be the virtuous citizen he proclaims, why did he not speak out in in August of 2004 and not August of 2009?

Sigh.

Image of the Day: Metaphors from the Health Care Debate

This seems to be an appropriate metaphor describing the Health Care debate. CNN has more about this person who brought his assault riffle and handgun to a location where President Obama spoke on health care.

Though the person in question is practicing his constitutional rights while protesting, it seems that the refutation for this position is prudence. Similarly to the free speech debate, of course you have the right but it is not always wise to exercise that right. It does not seem to be a prudent move to bring a gun to a forum where citizens can "debate" health care. Somehow this image does not seem to inspire a "good faith effort" necessary for political debate and it does not seem as the person in question is open to an ethical debate, a debate in which the person is open to changing his or her position on a subject.

If only hippies packed heat when Bush and Cheney held their social security or Iraq war rallies. If that occurred, it would have been interesting to listen to conservative commentators attack the hippies for threatening the safety of the President and the quality of the debate.

Oh well. The decline of the American Empire is not here just yet...

Define Irony

From CNN: Walt Staton, a member of the group No More Deaths,was sentenced to 300 hours of community service. His crime: Staton "knowingly littered" since he placed water bottles in the desert for illegal immigrants.

Time served?

Image of the Day

While trying to find the text of a Palin speech, I stopped by a Palin PAC. It is not the official one, though the official PAC is not much better. Yet, like her political career, the site is not well maintained. However, the visuals are interesting.

And the war continues...

Early Morning Dose of Depression

an·o·mie

1. Social instability caused by erosion of standards and values.

2. Alienation and purposelessness experienced by a person or a class as a result of a lack of standards, values, or ideals.

ETYMOLOGY:
French, from Greek anomi, lawlessness, from anomos, lawless : a-, without ; see a- ¹ + nomos, law; see nem- in Indo-European roots

Here is the diary of George Sodini, the person responsible for the deaths of 3 women in Pittsburgh, PA gym. It is an interesting read and, as one commentator wrote:

Not a lot of hate-fueled white American males reach this kind of rational, revolutionary understanding. And in a way, he’s far more honest than the revolutionaries, too prude and self-righteous to admit what really matters in this life: sex, love, escaping loneliness.

Anomie. Anomie. Anomie.

The Rhetoric of Definition, or The Visitor

Twice in the past week, I've watched a kid's show in which aliens--the space kind--are called "visitors." This has happened on Saun the Sheep (Disney) and The Wonder Pets (Noggin). Is the term "alien" offensive now, in the generic form, or is this a comment on illegal residents and their status as visitors? Is this just PC BS or is it a good move?

I'm torn and LC is trying to do somersaults, so time is at a premium, but I thought this was just the sort of thing my fellow TRS friends would want to know.

Happy Birthday, Lion Cub!

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet, sweet goddaughter!

The Dude Abides

To continue fashion month on TRS, I must describe the outfit I wore to Walmart this afternoon.

No, it did not include jorts or mandels.

After finishing some yard work this morning, I showered and put on a pair of chino shorts and a polo shirt. Since I had no immediate plans to leave the house, I chose a pair of slippers for footwear.

Around noon, I started to prepare lunch. I realized that I needed a few items from the store, so I quickly jumped in my car and headed to the supercenter.

I pulled into Walmart's parking lot and opened my door. As soon as I put my foot on the black-top, I noticed that I was still wearing my slippers.

So through the store I went in my brown corduroy house shoes. Classy!

An Add-On To Oxymoron's Recent Post

In addition to avoiding jorts, if one is male, clearly one also must avoid mandals.

One of the delightful definitions:

Men who wear tacky sandals. Not flip-flops. Thick leather, usually brown or black with woven or braided leather. Generally worn with socks proudly.

Another:

An unfortunate fugly fashion mishap involving sandals with leather straps and/or buckles

Friday Musical Tribute

Because Harrogate Can

Is Public Deliberation A Possibility?

As I am preparing to teach a public address course on the rhetoric of rights, I keep seeing online videos that show screaming matches and, in some cases, violence at town hall meetings. You can see some violence here and here. At times like these, it would seem easier to teach in a department that public deliberation is not a practical concept.

In the first video, a opponent to heath care reporter pushes and assaults a supporter. It does not help that the opponent states that the supporter of health care reform "attacked America."

And Harrogate, did you think the violence would end if Obama won the election?

What the World Needs Now: A Musical Tribute

Cracker, "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)":

Because what the world needs now is true words of wisdom like, "La, la, la, la, la."

I just saw a guy in my neighborhood wearing homemade jorts and a half-shirt. I didn't recover fast enough to look at his feet, but I bet he was wearing jellies.

The Christian Gene Isolated

Sunday Musical Tribute

Guns N Roses, from the "Godfather Theme" (solon and megs do not love The Godfather) into one of the sexiest rock songs ever, "Rocket Queen." Who could ask for anything more from a musical tribute?

D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

According to Alaska Report, Todd and Sarah Palin are getting divorced. Of course, no reputable news source has picked up this story, so it may be bullshit.

Friday Musical Tribute

Harrogate knows that his fellow Situationers are not the biggest fans of Phish, but God he loves this song. The sheer instrumental joy of it, right off the bat. So Harrogate thought he'd share a little raise your hands in the air and make the touchdown signal joy, an eddieandbill kind of joy, as we head into the weekend.

Conservative Values, circa July 2009:

The government must send police to harass and arrest middle-class homeowners when no crimes are committed.

Run with that, boys. Right to 2104.

And in honor of the ignominious death of any semblance of cultural relevance allowed to my ideological opposites, I present the non-classic classic QotSA song, "The Fun Machine Took a Shit and Died."





Because, really, what's the purpose of political dialogue if one side is a spastic deaf-mute facing the wrong way?