Daily Archives: 10/08/2009

(Community Matters) This story of Michelle Obama’s slave roots is fascinating and touching.

and it reminds me of a recent conversation. A enlightened, 65ish anglo man was talking about growing up in the south and how he didn’t remember any prejudice – acknowledged that whites and blacks lived separately but didn’t think there was much racism. And, we were talking about history. When I blurted out that the only Mexicans in my elementary school text books were bandidos and Santa Anna, a couple of folks looked at me like, what’s that mean.

I’m so pleased things have changed so that people of color can be proud of their heritage (though, I realize many were before, many weren’t). I regret that many folks feel threatened by the evolution away from a white, male dominated culture in this country. And, I look forward to even those folks one day realizing the richness of our multicultural character and civic life. The rich heritage of our nation’s history is not diminished but enhanced.

(Community Matters) Hard to believe we’re missing our UK friends’, Punchdrunk’s opening tonight in Boston. We’ve flown to London twice for overnights just to see their shows; they are extraordinary.

(Community Matters) Wow, talk about being conflicted. I’m wrecked I won’t be here this weekend to participate in the Mamma Jamma Ride Against Breast Cancer. Already over 500 registered riders who’ve raised $441k for breast cancer services in Central Texas. I’m extraordinarily proud of our friend Jan Hill who first imagined this ride and very proud that the Entrepreneurs Foundation helped make it happen. We facilitated the collaboration which created the ride (plus lots of other cool things), and we’re a shareholder in the ride – our portion of the proceeds will be granted competitively for breast cancer services & education.

And, while sad to be missing Mamma Jamma, Steven and I are excited about our trip to Washington DC to participate in the National Equality March (LGBT equality).

I believe we’ll hear at least a couple of very cool annoucements from the White House and the president between now and Sunday’s march. Understandably, my LGBT brothers and sisters are impatient and want equality today. Heck, so do I. And, the President has had a few global, spiraling crises on his plate. Nevertheless, it is UNCONSCIONABLE that LGBT people are denied many of the rights of our democracy. . . . good things happening, and absolutely, we demand more now.

(Community Matters) directly from Towleroad:

New Orleans Saints linebacker Scott Fujita talks about why he is endorsing the National Equality March and why he supports gay rights in an interview with Dave Zirin in the Huffington Post:

“By and large in this country the issue of gay rights and equality should be past the point of debate. Really, there should be no debate anymore. For me, in my small platform as a professional football player, I understand that my time in the spotlight is probably limited. The more times you have to lend your name to a cause you believe in, you should do that…A year ago or two years ago, I remember reading about an initiative that was proposed in the state of Arkansas. It was some kind of measure that was aimed at preventing adoptions by single parents. Now, the way I read that and the way that I translated that language was that only heterosexual, married couples could adopt children. As an adopted child that really bothered me. I asked myself, what that is really saying is that the concern with one’s sexual orientation or one’s sexual preference outweighs what’s really important, and that’s finding safe homes for children, for our children. It’s also saying that we’d rather have kids bounce around from foster home to foster home throughout the course of their childhood, than end up in a permanent home, where the parent, whether that person’s single or not, gay or straight. Either way, it doesn’t matter. It’s a home that’s going to be provided for a kid who desperately needs a home. As an adopted child, that measure really bothered me. It just boggles my mind because good, loving homes for any child are the most important thing.”

Fujita, who is straight, married, and has kids, also discusses homophobia in the locker room and whether or not his views on gay rights make him a target for mockery among teammates.

Adds Fujita: “I have no concern about that whatsoever. I know who I am. My wife knows who I am. I don’t care one way or the other Dave. I imagine that when some of this gets out guys in the locker room might give me a hard time, and they always give me a hard time. They call me the Pinko Communist Fag from Berkeley. I’m used to it. I can take it all.”

(Community Matters) The birth of an elephant caught on video – watch, it’s worth it.

(Community Matters) I’m just on page 2 of Vanity Fair’s article, Wall Street’s Near-Death Experience, an excerpt from to-be-published, Too Big To Fail.

(Community Matters)

.

here . . . .

hat tip: Bryan Jones

(Community Matters) Steven and I hosted the ADL Torch of Liberty committee for dinner tonight. umm, we might have facilitated more of a party than a meeting, but I think we got all our work done 🙂

The Torch of Liberty dinner (1/28/10) will honor Amy & Kirk Rudy and will recognize Larry Connelly & James Armstrong. We’ll be talking a lot about ADL’s role in Central Texas’ civil rights community as well as ADL’s and the American Jewish community’s role in civil rights historically and now.

Not all but nearly the entire committee made it including: Shelley Zausmer, Mark Salmanson, Marcia Levy, Jeff Newberg, Lily Saad, Judy Berkowitz, Stacey Field, Michael Feferman, Jan Soifer, Dave Shaw, Amy & Kirk Rudy, Lynn Meredith, Diane Land & Steve Adler, Audrey & Ray Maislin and David Goldstein plus Elliot Beger from new york.