The Midwest Monday News 01.09.06
Posted by Steven Bellah on 01.09.2006
Listen to Howard Stern today if you have a Sirius Satellite Radio, then read this report.
Hey everyone! Burning Midnight Oil this week (no, not the band--it's just late) so let's get to it!
In the normal American town of Salt Lake City.....from Yahoo:
A movie theater owned by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller abruptly changed its screening plans and decided not to show the film "Brokeback Mountain." The film, an R-rated Western gay romance story, was supposed to open Friday at the Megaplex at Jordan Commons in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Instead it was pulled from the schedule.
A message posted at the ticket window read: "There has been a change in booking and we will not be showing 'Brokeback Mountain.' We apologize for any inconvenience."
Cal Gunderson, manager of the Jordan Commons Megaplex, declined to comment.
The film, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, is about two cowboys who discover feelings for one another. The two eventually marry women but rekindle their relationship over the years.
The movie's distributor, Focus Features, said that hours before opening, the theater management "reneged on their licensing agreement," and refused to open the film.
Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said not showing the film set an example for the people of Utah.
"I just think (pulling the show) tells the young people especially that maybe there is something wrong with this show," she said.
Mike Thompson, executive director of the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah, called it disappointing.
"It's just a shame that such a beautiful and award-winning film with so much buzz about it is not being made available to a broad Utah audience because of personal bias," he said.
----I couldn't agree more. With that last line, not the pulling of the film.
Hey, "Brokeback Mountain" has inspired more "Gay Cowboys eating pudding" jokes than any film in history, but regardless of the content, it still should be allowed to be seen. I understand why certain people don't want to see it. That's fine. Don't. But do not let YOUR personal opinion affect everyone else. For instance, I think Shinedown is a terrible band. But if people want to go see them in concert and buy their CD's, knock yourself out.
There are people who want to see "Brokeback Mountain"--so let them. I've always said about anything you dislike, whether it be a person, movie, music artist, etc.---if you don't like it/them, you don't have to go see it/them. No one is forcing the citizens of Salt Lake to see this movie. But appartantly it is OK to force them not to.
Scalito. There. I said it. And just to piss you Righties off even more, I won't even call him by his REAL name.
The Senate hearings begin for Scalito this week, which is the only real political news I can think of, other than the Abramoff guilty plea (which I'll get to). This one's a forgone conclusion, so can we just get him on the bench and get Roe V. Wade outlawed already? Now, I don't think it should be, but we all know it's gone, gone gone. So let's just get it over with. And once again, President Bush breaks another promise.
In the 2nd debate with Kerry, he said he would nominate someone who would uphold the ideals of the Supreme Court. Uh huh. So Harriet Miers was a great judge, huh? Oh wait, she never was, sorry. Scalito is a Right Winger who will do the Right Wing's bidding for the next 35 years--exactly the opposite of what Dubya told us. But that's ok--he really isn't lying to us and is the greatest president ever--at least since Reagan.
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay O!!!
Wow, didn't see this one coming. Well, I'm not surprised by the remarks, but I'm shocked that he's still alive! From Yahoo:
The American singer and activist Harry Belafonte called President Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world" on Sunday and said millions of Americans support the socialist revolution of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
Belafonte led a delegation of Americans including the actor Danny Glover and the Princeton University scholar Cornel West that met the Venezuelan president for more than six hours late Saturday. Some in the group attended Chavez's television and radio broadcast Sunday.
"No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we're here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people ... support your revolution," Belafonte told Chavez during the broadcast.
The 78-year-old Belafonte, famous for his calypso-inspired music, was a close collaborator of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and is now a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. He also has been outspoken in criticizing the U.S. embargo of Cuba.
Chavez said he believes deeply in the struggle for justice by blacks, both in the U.S. and Venezuela.
"Although we may not believe it, there continues to be great discrimination here against black people," Chavez said, urging his government to redouble its efforts to prevent discrimination.
Belafonte accused U.S. news media of falsely painting Chavez as a "dictator," when in fact, he said, there is democracy and citizens are "optimistic about their future."
Dolores Huerta, a pioneer of the United Farm Workers labor union also in the delegation, called the visit a "very deep experience."
Chavez accuses Bush of trying to overthrow him, pointing to intelligence documents released by the U.S. indicating that the CIA knew beforehand that dissident officers planned a short-lived 2002 coup. The U.S. denies involvement, but Chavez says Venezuela must be on guard.
Belafonte suggested setting up a youth exchange for Venezuelans and Americans. He finished by shouting in Spanish: "Viva la revolucion!"
----So, how long before Rush goes on the air attacking Harry because he hasn't had a hit record in 30 years? Because that's what he usually does--he takes a celebrity who's attacking Bush and says something like: "Well, Mr. Sean Penn, didn't you play stoner Jeff Spicolli? Who gave YOU the right to criticize the President, Mr. Pothead?"
What will he use against Belafonte? "You make terrible ice cream?"
I hope you got that joke.
Feedback!
Hey, someone wrote in response to my "Year in Review" column two weeks ago:
Hey Steve,
You said in your article (I've bolded the part that I wrote--Steven)
"I have gay friends. They are not evil. They do not spit fire when they talk, nor do they cause people they touch to drop dead. However, if you were to listen to Pat Robertson or 75% of the Christians in this country, it is a sin to be a homosexual and anyone who chooses that lifestyle will burn in hell unless they repent their "sins". Well, the God that I worship loves EVERYONE and cares for EVERYONE, no matter what lifestyle they choose. My God loves drug addicts. My God loves people on welfare. My God loves black people, Asians, Jews, Muslims, and every type of religion and race. And, most importantly, my God loves homosexuals.
The Bible is the greatest book ever created, but it's also one of the most misused items in the history of the world. People take every single word LITERALLY in that book, and that's not what it is for. The Bible is there for you to read, gather inspiration, and use it the way YOU feel. I know I don't see the Bible the same way as my parents do, because I was born into a different world then them.
Someone who hates homosexuals because that is how God is supposed to feel is using God, the Bible, and Religion as a crutch to spew their own beliefs. I don't think it's any different than people who blow themselves up on crowded buses because they think God wants that as well. If you don't like homosexuals, as much as I disagree with you, fine. It's your opinion, and you have the right to feel that way. But don't try and change the constitution to suit what YOU think is right, and use "God" as a reason why. Not everyone believes in the same God that you do. I don't. My God loves everyone.
A New Perspective----My parents were disappointed that I did not go to Christmas Eve service this year at their church. The reason why I haven't been to a church in 3 years has nothing to do with my faith. I believe in God. I read the Bible. I pray almost every day. I do not go to church because of the backlash that they have against gays, and how political they have become in recent years. Not all churches are like that, but most are. God would not be happy with 85% of the churches out there right now, and that's why I won't go anywhere near one."
So Im just curious if youve ever read about the cities of Sodom and Gomorah in the Bible since you say that you read it. It addresses homosexuality in that place as being one of the sins that God was going to destroy the place for. There wasnt even 10 men in the place that could be found to be right in Gods eyes.
Mabey we use different Bibles? I dont know...I use the King James Version. I just find it hard to belive that this is so easily overlooked by people that say they read the Bible. Again mabey we use different Bibles, but in alot of cases in my experience, the other people say they use the same Bible as I do to, just wondering.
BTW, God loves everyone, youre right about that. But he doesnt love the sin, and doesnt look the other way and allow you to do anything you wish.
---You make good points, especially the last line. But, you did exactly what I was trying to point out--you took something from the Bible and said what YOU thought. Perhaps others don't feel the same way--perhaps they interpeted it differently?
I will be completely honest and say I haven't read the ENTIRE Bible. I have read parts of it. I never tried to say I've read it cover to cover. I said that I read--(pronounced "reed") it, not read (pronounced "red") it.
You have your opinions, and I have mine. I just don't think the God that I believe in would damn my good friend Adam to Hell forever just because he kisses other men. He is a good, well meaning person who does a lot of good in this world. I think God sees THAT first.
STAY CURRENT