AMEN and THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Paolo wrote: Wed Nov 05, 2008 4:48 pm The political discussions were shut down in a 3 way consensus between IE, Kristoff, and myself. Actually, I threw the switch, just so you know.

In no way, shape, or form was this any kind of censorship or "power play" based upon any of our three varying political opinions.

To sum it up, we're all damn sick of putting up with it here, AND in the media.

Personally, I'm sick of all the whining that goes with the damn forum.

This comes about from the recently escalating hostility of the posts, arguments on a scale like we've never seen before, and some comments (while not pulled or moderated) that were a bit disturbing when one considered the members exchanging them. With election day coming up, we figured that things were only going to get worse and that the only viable solution was a TEMPORARY ban on all discussions of anything political.

The forum WILL be back - but you're going to have to wait.

BudleyBare (imported) wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:59 am My hope is that Paolo is so overtaken by something that he looses his way back to "the switch", and that it remains off permanently. I quit reading that and a few other categories a long time ago. Too ugly and/or dark for my taste.

I concur with BudleyBare. "Political Discussions" only leads to headaches and heartaches and hard feelings about others, please never turn it back on.

The political realm is one that affects all our lives and simply choosing not to discuss politics does not change that. I will not delve deeply into the "What IFs" of history, but I have no doubt that there are many tragedies of epic proportion that might have been avoided "IF" people had only spoken up sooner.

Yes politics does generate its own level of vitriol and hyperbole, but this is only because the passionately held opinions of the people having the discussion. As ugly as things have gotten I feel it is far better to have a war of words than a war of weapons. Having had the experience of being chased in a parking lot by young men with sticks and bats, and I much prefer having the conversation over getting my skull bashed in.

Politics are a cesspit but it is better to have the cesspit where things can be dealt with and properly contained, than it is to let the BS spill out into the street in the form of physical violence. I know that no one here would ever take it to that level, but I am speaking generally of providing the space for a political discussion rather than hoping things will get better if we just ignore the problem.

Regarding how uncivil things have become I would remind everyone that It is always easy to remain calm and dispassionate about things one does not care deeply about. I struggle to remain civil even as my civil rights have been taken away ( for now ) but this is something I feel passionate about and this is a conversation I want to continue, even as unpleasant and repugnant as it may be to others.

Please bring back the political forum. No one has to scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the link if they find the discussion to be offensive. In the words of Harry S. Truman If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

jemagirl (imported) wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:46 pm Please bring back the political forum. No one has to scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the link if they find the discussion to be offensive. In the words of Harry S. Truman If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

I agree with Jemagirl! Two specific people were directly attacking a life style that they think is wrong, and what should we do give them the other cheek? For me that is not an option. I have turned the cheek to many times from now on any one that attacks the life style of others is getting a direct frontal attack back. I will not stand back while the Conservative Christians pick us off one by one.

With the passage of Prop 8 by a 4.4% margin I am ashamed to be a Californian and an American! It should not have been a surprise because this sort of crap has happened before in America. At the start of WW2 the Japanese were rounded up and put in camps. Earlier the Cherokee were forced out of there homes and on a long walk in which many died. I could go on but will spare you all. The other side lied about it affecting the children to get there prop passed, and If there was a devil is then he was on there side.

I am really trying to keep this non political but to be perfectly honest my blood is boiling and it will be a very long time (if ever) before it goes back down.

I stood my ground and I stand behind my words! Two people directly attacked the life style of others that have a different opinion then there own and they will continue to do so, and I will continue to fight them head on for the rights of people to live the life style they want to live and if I get jail time because of it so be it! But I have to stand up for our rights especially when others are trying to tear us apart.

I am a very tolerant person unless the rights of others are being trampled on in the name of God and the Bible. People have used the Bible to prove there side for a long time and it is time to stand up to those people for rights and the way you want to live!

At the risk of engaging in political discussion and getting into hot water for it, I would like to argue for the reopening of the political forum.

While we here at the archive are a very diverse group of people, I believe that every member here at the archive needs to understand the fundamental implication of two common denominators that we ALL share. The first is our association with each other and the second was best articulated by Carol Hanisch when she coined the phrase "The personal is political."

Even by our very association with each other here in this forum, we are engaged in the political act of free association and of speech and of expressing ideas to one another. The fact that this forum is not run as a democracy does not alter the fact that we are engaging in political acts.

Nearly everything discussed here on the forum is now regulated, or has at one time been regulated by government, and this regulation is often to our detriment. Not so long ago there were laws on the books in every state which dictated with whom you may have sex, what gender they must be, what positions you may have sex in, and what color your partner must be..... "The personal is political"

Many here are eunuchs, or would like to become eunuchs, and here again we see politics come into play, where others have decided what is best for you..... If you are wondering why it is so difficult for you to achieve your goals, I have one answer for you and that is... "The personal is political"

Many of our archive members are transgender. We have many m2f as well as m2e. Even if you do not consider yourself to be transgendered others may perceive you to be. Therefore it may be of some concern the the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, as wonderful as it is... does not protect you.... "The personal is political."

On November 7, despite opposition from the LGBT community House Leadership brought to the floor a new version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that does not include gender identity. The bill passed by a vote of 235-184, with 7 progressive Democratic allies voting no to show support for consideration of a trans inclusive version of the bill.

http://www.thetaskforce.org/issues/nond ... _main_page

And if you were wondering why transgender people got excluded.... I have only one answer for you "The personal is political." So even by existing as a human being on this planet you are engaging in a political act...

So even though you may not want to be political, you are, and in silence you risk your freedom. In closing I would like to leave you all with two thoughts.

The first is that if the political conversation that concerns eunuchs is not going to take place here, where else is it going to take place?

I have learned the hard way that if the conversation about us, isn't coming from us, then the conversation is coming at us, and if that doesn't make sense to you, I'll see you in the line for the ovens.

Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it.

Samuel Clemens

Hey!

It takes real COURAGE to put your feelings in print, even on a semi-anonymous message board like this one.

Therefore, I want to commend all who have participated in it. We may not always agree, but the fact that we COMMUNICATE is remarkable and says much about what kind of people are here and how we are connected despite of political differences.

Therefore, don't be discouraged.

Just remember, we are but a small part of something very, very big and no doubt, whether you see it or not, the universe is unfolding as it should and expanding creating new space as it goes.

There is room for us all, believe it or not...

jemagirl (imported) wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:27 pm At the risk of engaging in political discussion and getting into hot water for it, I would like to argue for the reopening of the political forum.

While we here at the archive are a very diverse group of people, I believe that every member here at the archive needs to understand the fundamental implication of two common denominators that we ALL share. The first is our association with each other and the second was best articulated by Carol Hanisch when she coined the phrase "The personal is political."

Even by our very association with each other here in this forum, we are engaged in the political act of free association and of speech and of expressing ideas to one another. The fact that this forum is not run as a democracy does not alter the fact that we are engaging in political acts.

Nearly everything discussed here on the forum is now regulated, or has at one time been regulated by government, and this regulation is often to our detriment. Not so long ago there were laws on the books in every state which dictated with whom you may have sex, what gender they must be, what positions you may have sex in, and what color your partner must be..... "The personal is political"

Many here are eunuchs, or would like to become eunuchs, and here again we see politics come into play, where others have decided what is best for you..... If you are wondering why it is so difficult for you to achieve your goals, I have one answer for you and that is... "The personal is political"

Many of our archive members are transgender. We have many m2f as well as m2e. Even if you do not consider yourself to be transgendered others may perceive you to be. Therefore it may be of some concern the the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, as wonderful as it is... does not protect you.... "The personal is political."

http://www.thetaskforce.org/issues/nond ... _main_page

And if you were wondering why transgender people got excluded.... I have only one answer for you "The personal is political." So even by existing as a human being on this planet you are engaging in a political act...

So even though you may not want to be political, you are, and in silence you risk your freedom. In closing I would like to leave you all with two thoughts.

The first is that if the political conversation that concerns eunuchs is not going to take place here, where else is it going to take place?

I have learned the hard way that if the conversation about us, isn't coming from us, then the conversation is coming at us, and if that doesn't make sense to you, I'll see you in the line for the ovens.

This issue is a primary reason the limitation on full discourse insults us. Closing the political baard this week of all weeks is outrageous. Just outrageous.

There’s an old saying that if one doesn’t want to get shit on his boots, he ought not dance in a barn yard. I seldom dance, and I don’t like shit on my shoes. And I AM playing in my barn yard. Other folks are too. Do they like shit on their shoes?

Right now I am very angry and upset. The political board here – which was reluctantly put in some time back to confine the shit to one corner of the barnyard – has over the past month or so become very rancorous and mean spirited. People were insulting one another, making personal attacks (I deleted many of them), generally getting out of hand. Thinking and speaking from a different location than normal. It got to the point where enough was had.

I don’t care what your politics are, or your passions. I have mine and that is what they are – Mine. I will not attempt to impose them on anyone else. I do not subscribe to the notion that if I yell louder and/or longer than you, I win the argument. That seems to have become the prevailing tactic.

This is the Eunuch Archive, not the Political Archive. Some political posting is expected, but all consuming plastering of off-topic crap smothering the board is not acceptable. With the way things were getting out of hand, it was necessary to call a halt. We did. Some folks don’t like it – too bad. The referees call time outs in the boxing ring too.

I’ve seen a lot of whining and bitching and carping about how rights have been violated, ad nauseum. Keep in mind this is a PRIVATE board – it is not the government. There is NO right of free speech here. That only applies to government. This is a moderated board. Deal with it.

I’ve noticed that some of the biggest mud slingers are those who are yelling the loudest. There’ve also been those who want to walk away because they can’t have their way. See ya!. I’ll delete anyone who requests or wishes to play that game. I last dealt with that when the kids were about 5. Oh well, been nice to know ya.

Political Board will be up when we damn well get to it. First, I will take a while to cool off.

I go along with Kristr xcpt on on point:

I think straight baby whals should b nukd too.

Blaise (imported) wrote: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:15 pm This issue is a primary reason the limitation on full discourse insults us. Closing the political baard this week of all weeks is outrageous. Just outrageous.

Dammit.

I am gone for a few days and I miss all the fun.

Yes Politics Ruins...I ment Run our lives and to close the forum is just the old Ostrich trick.

Blaise is right in my book.

Blaise you better cool it or you will end up like Huevon or some others whos input made this place a better place.

Obama won.Is that the "real" problem?