02/02/2005
Hey Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone
I briefly pointed to an article regarding Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and her criticism of the PBS show "Postcards from Buster" last month, but now that there's a bit of perspective on the issue (and PBS has pulled the episode) it's worth mentioning again, if only to quote this piece by Derrick Z. Jackson in the Boston Globe:
"So obvious is it what tail wags the new education secretary. Allegedly appointed to close the achievement gap and end what President Bush calls the soft bigotry of low expectations, the first loud barks from Margaret Spellings were not directed toward failing schools, incompetent superintendents, or even teachers unions. Spellings bared her teeth at lesbian mothers."
Essentially, "Spellings and Bush are hostage to a homophobia so wacky" that Spellings knew just what to do to impress her boss the first day on the job.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 8:23 AM EST by Andy in Current Affairs | Permalink
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Great article. I saw the cartoon yesterday and I can't imagine something so innocent causing such a fuss in such high levels of our government. If anything, I hope others get a chance to see it and finally wake up to the mixed up priorities our government wishes to focus on.
Posted by: Patrick | Feb 2, 2005 11:49:59 AM
I find it very odd that Spellings would criticize this cartoon. She's obviously a lesbian herself. Look at those glasses!
Posted by: michael | Feb 2, 2005 2:17:14 PM
Thanks for the reference to the "Globe" article. I read it just after reading 365gay.com's quoting Spelling's further illumination of the depth of her homophobic agenda in saying that nothing about gays should be discussed in public schools, and as King George was reiterating his support for a Constitutional amendment and "traditional marriage," and opposition to activist judges--read judges that disagree with him. And, a few hours after reading "Time" magazine's current cover story of the 25 leading evangelicals [not counting Falwell, Robertson, and countless others]--read theocratic extremists. It does not surprise in the subjective theism of its writers--given the regular appearance of CHRISTmas and Easter stories in such "news" magazines, even though Jesus, like Franco, is STILL dead to many of us. But their descriptions of the 25 border on early valentines, filled with admiration for their clout if not exactly love. Worse still, after their initial shock and depression, I sense a complacency settling across the gay community at large. As if the triumph of the Extreme Right on November 2nd was a fluke, with no ongoing consequences. And pieces like this one from Boston remain too rare.
Posted by: Leland | Feb 2, 2005 10:29:56 PM
you should took up and believed in your self
Posted by: Amy Flood | Mar 20, 2005 7:17:54 AM