Where have all the trees gone?

Anyone else noticed the new minimalist look of Highland Ave. (at Virginia)? For some reason, city workers cut down all the trees last week. I assume there’s necessity behind that decision, but aesthetically it’s an unwelcome flashback to a time when Atlanta was bereft of much greenery:

UPDATE: My most reliable source on all things Atlanta, Bobby Bubbles, informed me that Bradford Pear trees don’t age well, hence the mass clearing. There is good news — the sidewaks will be enlarged, according to B squared, and fast-growing Japanese elms will be planted.

(Pic of Highland Ave., circa 1949, courtesy of Atlanta Time Machine)

Smackdown

A bitch fight between two queens may be tiresome, but in this case I think it’s instructive. And, of course, I can never resist a little righteous indignation.

Duane — I only link those who have something constructive to say, sorry for the breach of “net-tiquette” — continues to insist I hate myself, mainly because I don’t like what he likes and dare criticize a movement that’s grown stale.

but by condemning what we do have and what we do currently do (such as pride), that sends a message of self loathing. Sorry, but it does. If he isn’t a self loather, and actually does not have a problem with the gay movement being filled with many nuances (even if some are “unsavory”), then that is fine; it just wasn’t what was portrayed.

An event like pride may have political ramifications, but it is meant to be a celebration of ones identity and pride within themselves; sometimes, that means letting it all hang out, for worse or for the better. I just see the condemning of that (especially if you are gay yourself) as self loathing… forgive me.

(First off, maybe you should look up the definition of nuance, because you apparently have a problem recognizing it.)

Look, I apologize for not owning a Madonna album … am I not allowed in your club? That’s fine, but I’m not concerned with the petty queer establishment. I came to terms with that long ago.

I remember driving down to the Tara theater to see “Torch Song Trilogy,” as I was gay and it was a movie about gays (a rare thing at the time). I looked for some security, but instead found distance. I didn’t want to be a screaming queen. I’m not flamboyant. I don’t cry a lot. I don’t feel the need to start every sentence with “As a gay person …”

And I’m not alone. Many gay kids are kept in the closet because they don’t welcome the “Stepford Fags” archetype that awaits them, the one that listens to the same music, goes to the same gym and idolizes the same washed-up hags.

Criticize me for being contrarian, or even malcontented … that’s fair. But you’ve gone way too far with the self-loathing tag.

Now I suppose if I showed up at Pride today in my tighty-whiteys, then I’d be okay with me (by your way of thinking). Strange logic.

Wearing your undies in public doesn’t make you proud or brave … it makes you an exhibitionist who obviously didn’t get enough attention as a child. I’d say that about a straight person running around in cock huggers, as well. Why not hold ourselves to a higher standard?

And what is this gay culture you speak of? Regrettably, it’s become nothing more than a fulfillment of stereotypes created (mainly) by straight people. They’re comfortable with the nelly queen, a la Jack on “Will and Grace.” It’s non-threatening. A gay person who challenges that orthodoxy is somehow unsettling … and apparently you share that conviction.

Does Chris Rock hate himself because he takes on the African-American community? I think not. I wouldn’t dare compare myself to Rock, but my mission is similar.

Maybe you should read my blog more thoroughly. I’ve dedicated plenty of space to the plight of homosexuals around the world (on an almost weekly basis). Sure, I’m plenty critical of our community here at home, but I see it as filling a void that desperately needs to be filled.

Be Pavlov’s dog all you want, I could care less. But don’t belittle those of us who want more.

Now go get your pride on, bitch!

Noted and quoted

John McCain gives his party a well-deserved tongue-lashing –

"We came to office to reduce the size of government. Lately, we have increased the size of government in order to stay in office. Soon, if we don’t remember what we were elected to do, we will lose both our principles and our office and we will leave as part of our legacy a mountain of debt and bankrupt entitlement programs that our children’s grandchildren will be suffering from."

Picture of the day

Drunk soccer fans clash in Stuttgart following Germany’s victory Saturday in the World Cup.

Where have all the trees gone?

Anyone else noticed the new minimalist look of Highland Ave. (at Virginia)? For some reason, city workers cut down all the trees last week. I assume there’s necessity behind that decision, but aesthetically it’s an unwelcome flashback to a time when Atlanta was bereft of much greenery:

UPDATE: My most reliable source on all things Atlanta, Bobby Bubbles, informed me that Bradford Pear trees don’t age well, hence the mass clearing. There is good news — the sidewaks will be enlarged, according to B squared, and fast-growing Japanese elms will be planted.

(Pic of Highland Ave., circa 1949, courtesy of Atlanta Time Machine)

Smackdown

A bitch fight between two queens may be tiresome, but in this case I think it’s instructive. And, of course, I can never resist a little righteous indignation.

Duane — I only link those who have something constructive to say, sorry for the breach of "net-tiquette" — continues to insist I hate myself, mainly because I don’t like what he likes and dare criticize a movement that’s grown stale.

but by condemning what we do have and what we do currently do (such as pride), that sends a message of self loathing. Sorry, but it does. If he isn’t a self loather, and actually does not have a problem with the gay movement being filled with many nuances (even if some are "unsavory"), then that is fine; it just wasn’t what was portrayed.

An event like pride may have political ramifications, but it is meant to be a celebration of ones identity and pride within themselves; sometimes, that means letting it all hang out, for worse or for the better. I just see the condemning of that (especially if you are gay yourself) as self loathing… forgive me.

(First off, maybe you should look up the definition of nuance, because you apparently have a problem recognizing it.)

Look, I apologize for not owning a Madonna album … am I not allowed in your club? That’s fine, but I’m not concerned with the petty queer establishment. I came to terms with that long ago.

I remember driving down to the Tara theater to see "Torch Song Trilogy," as I was gay and it was a movie about gays (a rare thing at the time). I looked for some security, but instead found distance. I didn’t want to be a screaming queen. I’m not flamboyant. I don’t cry a lot. I don’t feel the need to start every sentence with "As a gay person …"

And I’m not alone. Many gay kids are kept in the closet because they don’t welcome the "Stepford Fags" archetype that awaits them, the one that listens to the same music, goes to the same gym and idolizes the same washed-up hags.

Criticize me for being contrarian, or even malcontented … that’s fair. But you’ve gone way too far with the self-loathing tag.

Now I suppose if I showed up at Pride today in my tighty-whiteys, then I’d be okay with me (by your way of thinking). Strange logic.

Wearing your undies in public doesn’t make you proud or brave … it makes you an exhibitionist who obviously didn’t get enough attention as a child. I’d say that about a straight person running around in cock huggers, as well. Why not hold ourselves to a higher standard?

And what is this gay culture you speak of? Regrettably, it’s become nothing more than a fulfillment of stereotypes created (mainly) by straight people. They’re comfortable with the nelly queen, a la Jack on "Will and Grace." It’s non-threatening. A gay person who challenges that orthodoxy is somehow unsettling … and apparently you share that conviction.

Does Chris Rock hate himself because he takes on the African-American community? I think not. I wouldn’t dare compare myself to Rock, but my mission is similar.

Maybe you should read my blog more thoroughly. I’ve dedicated plenty of space to the plight of homosexuals around the world (on an almost weekly basis). Sure, I’m plenty critical of our community here at home, but I see it as filling a void that desperately needs to be filled.

Be Pavlov’s dog all you want, I could care less. But don’t belittle those of us who want more.

Now go get your pride on, bitch!

You went there

I’ve been waiting for the self-loathing homo card to be dealt:

sometimes I think you have a little self hatred for gayness. This weekend is about pride and being proud of who we are… if leather jock straps get the job done, then they get the job done!

Thanks for taking the bait, Duane, for whom I hold no malice, save that you completely misunderstood my point (and “gayness,” for that matter). In fact, you didn’t even bother to argue it. And I appreciate your concern, but I’m quite pleased with myself, perhaps too much so.

Within the previous post I stated I have no trouble with the extremes of our community, but that you can’t expect people to take you seriously when you don’t take yourself seriously. If you wanna shake your ass in public, feel free — I’ve been there — but be prepared to accept the consequences of irrelevance.

In the end, I want the gay movement to mature, not flounder in platitudes and self-righteousness. Isn’t that a worthy goal?

Too bad you had to resort to name calling. Pretty intolerant, if you ask me.

**For an even better defense of yours truly, read Andisheh’s comment beneath the previous post.