Re:
1 year ago
Monday, January 10, 2011
Mercury Soapbox Artwalk Episode 1
I know it seems like this blog is a little neglected, however, we've been doing a TON of work over at our new tumblr - mercurysoapbox.tumblr.com - on twitter - @mercurysoapbox - and on facebook so make sure to check us out!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The first step in a long battle...
I'm sure you've already heard, but a judge in California has declared that the vile referendum known as Prop 8 as unconstitutional.
But wait, this isn't the end of the fight. The religious right wing, who think that the Constitution should regulate morality is already greasing their wheels to appeal.
My feeling is that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals with uphold the Judge's decision. It's the Supreme Court that I'm worried about. If they choose to hear the case, the ideological imbalance could result in an interpretation that could make Prop 8 a federal base on which many states will make their laws upon. But I don't know if the Supreme Court will choose to hear the case. Especially since there is a court case in Massachusetts that would probably reach their bench before that.
We can talk about it we're blue in the face (and we have) but the fact that this issue is about civil rights and not the defense of a moral interpretation of "marriage" eludes many of our conservative friends. The ones who absolutely LOVE the Constitution except when it conflicts with their world view . I would challenge anyone to dispute that the vast majority of people who advocate Prop 8 or condemn homosexuality do so because they believe it's immoral on some or many levels. And of those people, many derive that feeling of morality from a religious view of some sort. Once you go down that road, you've already relegated our LGBT friends to second class citizenry in your own mind. It's no wonder that the Churches (specifically the mormons) came out in force to help spread propaganda in favor of Prop 8 (remember that next time you think of Mitt Romney or any of the evangelical politicians in Washington today)
But there is a silver lining. If you haven't noticed, it's the youth of this country that is defeating homophobia. With each passing generation, the bigoted way that our predecessors viewed homosexuality makes less and less sense to our young people. Will homophobia die all together? Probably not. But if we all open our eyes we can tuck it away so that you would have to look really hard to find it.
If you take one thing away from this writing, remember that this fight for equal rights is no different from other civil rights issues from the past. The Constitution guarantees a basic set of rights for EVERYONE straight, gay, bi, black, white, blue or yellow. Citizen, resident or illegal alien. Please remember that first and foremost, people are just that; PEOPLE.
Posted by Vinny Mongru
But wait, this isn't the end of the fight. The religious right wing, who think that the Constitution should regulate morality is already greasing their wheels to appeal.
My feeling is that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals with uphold the Judge's decision. It's the Supreme Court that I'm worried about. If they choose to hear the case, the ideological imbalance could result in an interpretation that could make Prop 8 a federal base on which many states will make their laws upon. But I don't know if the Supreme Court will choose to hear the case. Especially since there is a court case in Massachusetts that would probably reach their bench before that.
We can talk about it we're blue in the face (and we have) but the fact that this issue is about civil rights and not the defense of a moral interpretation of "marriage" eludes many of our conservative friends. The ones who absolutely LOVE the Constitution except when it conflicts with their world view . I would challenge anyone to dispute that the vast majority of people who advocate Prop 8 or condemn homosexuality do so because they believe it's immoral on some or many levels. And of those people, many derive that feeling of morality from a religious view of some sort. Once you go down that road, you've already relegated our LGBT friends to second class citizenry in your own mind. It's no wonder that the Churches (specifically the mormons) came out in force to help spread propaganda in favor of Prop 8 (remember that next time you think of Mitt Romney or any of the evangelical politicians in Washington today)
But there is a silver lining. If you haven't noticed, it's the youth of this country that is defeating homophobia. With each passing generation, the bigoted way that our predecessors viewed homosexuality makes less and less sense to our young people. Will homophobia die all together? Probably not. But if we all open our eyes we can tuck it away so that you would have to look really hard to find it.
If you take one thing away from this writing, remember that this fight for equal rights is no different from other civil rights issues from the past. The Constitution guarantees a basic set of rights for EVERYONE straight, gay, bi, black, white, blue or yellow. Citizen, resident or illegal alien. Please remember that first and foremost, people are just that; PEOPLE.
Posted by Vinny Mongru
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Corner
Little boy you don't even know. You can't see the years ahead of you. Enjoy this time while you can, 'cause it'll be the last time you'll have a leg to stand. They all look at you and take you apart before you can speak. Give you a number, label you into a color. So surprised on how little being older matters with choice. You grow up into these schools feeding you, forcing to keep up. New numbers, tests and standards every year. You wonder how you can ever keep up. They say you got something in your mind stopping you from reaching, except that everyone has the same thing, how is that right?
Give you pills, you refuse to take them like all the rest. You can see color and know the difference as the world has become mechanized. Rejection, expectations, you threw them out. A wagon of paint and pens you drag with you. Show them under night until the next morning they came. They saw what you meant on the wall. The lose their pills. Men and women come out of their offices screaming unfair. Boy goes on to another wall. He doesn't get too far. Oh no.
Men in uniform, scared of the change. Wanting the change take orders and raise barrels to his head. He won't drop the brush. He won't drop the brush. Crimson splashes go on brick. He falls to the ground. The men stop and cry, on their knees wondering why. On this wall was the change, a truth far from fear. Yet the fear crumbled the messenger into the corner he painted. His own end.
Give you pills, you refuse to take them like all the rest. You can see color and know the difference as the world has become mechanized. Rejection, expectations, you threw them out. A wagon of paint and pens you drag with you. Show them under night until the next morning they came. They saw what you meant on the wall. The lose their pills. Men and women come out of their offices screaming unfair. Boy goes on to another wall. He doesn't get too far. Oh no.
Men in uniform, scared of the change. Wanting the change take orders and raise barrels to his head. He won't drop the brush. He won't drop the brush. Crimson splashes go on brick. He falls to the ground. The men stop and cry, on their knees wondering why. On this wall was the change, a truth far from fear. Yet the fear crumbled the messenger into the corner he painted. His own end.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
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