Can We All Try to Get a Grip?

January 20, 2012 by Debbi

You know, sometimes I read the news and what some people might take as bad news, I see as a failure to communicate.

For instance, this article about gay marriage legislation, among other issues, in Maryland.

Yeah, just when I was feeling so good about my state and all. I know, I know …

But I digress. With respect to the issue of legalizing gay marriage, the article states:

A new poll finds Marylanders closely divided on two hot issues that will likely appear on the November ballot – same-sex marriage and tuition breaks for illegal immigrants.

Voters are nearly split down the middle on the two proposals.

The poll of 808 registered voters taken last week by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies found 49% favored same-sex marriage and 47% opposed it.

“Opposition to same-sex marriage among African-American voters is what keeps the issue close in the state,” pollster Patrick Gonzales said in his analysis. “If black support was equivalent to that of Democrats, as it is on many issues, same-sex marriage would be in a solid majority in Maryland.”

Two-thirds of Democrats (68%) support gay marriage, but 60% of African-Americans are opposed, as are 62% of Republicans.

About 38% of voters “strongly” oppose same-sex marriage, while 34% “strongly” favor the law, which will be sponsored this year by Gov. Martin O’Malley. If it passes, it will likely be petitioned to referendum.

What’s really interesting is what this article doesn’t say. In point of fact, many ~~black~~ ~~African-American~~ people object to homosexuality on religious grounds.

But religion and state are kept separate in this country, right? And just because gay marriage is legalized, that doesn’t require you to participate in it. It just allows it, between people who do believe in it, okay?

And it’s not up to the government to tell us right from wrong, is it? That’s a matter of religious belief and personal choice, correct?

So … you if don’t want to marry someone of the same gender, you don’t have to just because the law says people who want to can do so. Now do you get it?

And speaking of things you don’t have to do … you don’t have to watch TV shows that you find personally offensive, do you?

And, yes, I will quote the article about this televised taste travesty:

ABC’s Modern Family is releasing its f-word payload tonight despite attempts by a some protestors to halt the episode from airing. As EW.com previously reported, two-year-old Lily will horrify her parents by learning the word “f–k” on tonight’s episode “Little Bo Bleep.”

Since news of the episode broke, the always trusty Parents Television Council and a student organization nobody has ever heard of until now called the No Cussing Club have lined up against the hit series, outraged the Emmy-winning program would portray a foul-mouthed toddler.

“Our main goal is to stop this from happening,” said No Cussing Club founder McKay Hatch. “If we don’t, at least ABC knows that people all over the world don’t want to have a 2-year-old saying the ‘F-bomb’ on TV.”

Okay, some group is horrified about a show in which parents are horrified about their kid’s language. I’m sorry this is too funny.

But wait! It gets even better!

“It is certainly in poor taste,” added Melissa Henson, director of communications and public education for PTC to Fox411. “The more we see and hear this kind of language on television, the more acceptable and common it will become in the real world. Since television is constantly adding to the likelihood that children will be exposed to this kind of language, we will naturally see more and more children eventually emulate that behavior.”

Modern Family co-star Eric Stonestreet tweeted angrily about the controversy: “Lily didn’t ACTUALLY say FU*K. She said fudge. How bout see the episode, THEN form an opinion. For fudge sake people. Chill the f–k out … how bout redirecting energies of the No Cuss Club 2 reading 2 the elderly, picking up litter, feeding the hungry…”

OMFG! Awesome!

Indeed. During the taping, the actress who plays Lily said “fudge,” so it’s not like producers taught a tot some profanity. But the show bleeps and blurs the word, and the reaction of Lily’s parents Cam and Mitchell make it clear the character supposedly said “f–k.” And to be fair, the Cussing Club and PTC is clearly concerned about what’s being portrayed to viewers in the show.

LMAO!!!! ROFL!!!! Ha ha ha ha … I can’t go on.

Here’s the thing: Since “f–k” is masked in the episode, the only way a child watching the show is going to know what Lily is saying is if an adult tells them. And if the PTC doesn’t think the f-word is already “common” in “the real world,” well … every person’s reality is almost entirely subjective, but most versions I’ve seen have profanity in it.

Oh, please, let me wipe the tears from my eyes. You’d be surprised about what some people’s realities are versus other’s.

Word to the wise: if you hate the show, change the f*cking channel, okay? Ha ha ha …

Oh, and is the world really going to go to battle over this? Seriously?

Do we need the UN to step in?

Personally, I’d rather take a ride in a TARDIS to this place. (via Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar)

And speaking of Paul Downie, look what article came up in a Facebook discussion with him, Nina Haglund, and Trevor Veail this very day. Don’t ask, don’t tell.

PS: Did you know that the ancient Peruvians ate popcorn?