One of the random misconceptions that most liberals won’t let you get away with is the idea of “freedom.”  Sadly, it has been in the history of Africans living here in the diaspora of North America learning that freedom, is in fact not free.  It always costs something.  Stephen King at the end of his screenplay “Storm of the Century” wrote:

This is a cash and carry world.  Most times its a lot.  Sometimes, it’s all you have.

I know this is a weird introduction into my defense of the white female who allegedly lost her campaign as Miss California to ultimately become Miss USA.  Do I agree with what she said–HELL NAW!!  Any viewpoint supported by the biblical scriptures I immediately question–but that’s just me.  Do I think she should have said it?  Well, therein lies the rub.  That was her judgment call and we should respect it.

I watched Bill O’Reilly last night, and last night he had decided to be a journalist when he had some guy on there named Wayne Besen who sounded like a complete fool. 

Besen sounds like a complete jackass, and O’Reilly was correct to put it to him as to “only if people agree with you then it’s okay” mentality was sound judgment.  Fact of the matter is that this country is in a statistical dead heat when it comes to gay marriage.  Just because gay marriages have passed in Iowa, Massachusetts and Vermont does not mean that “the tide is turning” in their favor.  While I’m all for it, and I’m with the Log Cabin Republicans on this one that for the “less government” talk of Republicans you’d think they’d be trying to keep this one of Congress and various state houses, fact of the matter is that for every one person in this country who’s for gay marriage, there’s an equal and opposite opinion from another citizen.

So, why are we listening to Perez Hilton?

You know how I feel about people like him:  he’s the epitome of the anti-intellectualism that pervades the consciousness of the daily lives of Americans.  Part of my inhibition toward v-logging, although I still may do it on a random, monthly basis, is the fact that it’s easy and requires less thought.  It’s easy for me to pop open my computer and start talking off the cuff; weblogging still places an emphasis on the written word and it requires me to think about what I’m going to say a bit more than otherwise.  Then for Perez Hilton and the millions of other YouTubers get online and act a complete fool.  They spout off from their mouth and give no thought to what they’re going to say.

Take the sad case of Asia McGowan.

Although this isn’t quite the same situation as with Perez Hilton and Carrie Prejean, just look at what freedom of speech has allowed.  We’ve all been on YouTube clips and to read the numerous hateful comments is somewhat appalling.  Sometimes I wonder is it really adolescent teens who have nothing better to do or are these full grown adults who truly feel that way or are these mentally agitated adults of the Timothy McVeigh and Unabomber vein who plan to act on these feelings and beliefs.  Personally, I couldn’t care less whether or not Perez Hilton, of all people, gets on YouTube and called Barack Obama a nigger, I would begin to question his sponsors, but nonetheless, who really cares.  I’m more interested in Prejean getting flak for her statement.

Frankly, what was the point of asking her the question if they wanted her to mask her own feelings.

Or maybe they just got mad that homegirl just gave a shitty answer.

Hilton asked her should every state follow suit of allowing same sex marriages, and she went on to contradict herself by saying that while we live in a country where there’s a choice, she felt that in “my country” marriage should be between a man and woman.  It was probably a loaded question, and Hilton knew that from jump.  He’s a fool.

But, should she have been punished?  No.  Should she have known better when she answered the question?  Yes.  It’s all about agency, she had the responsibility to make that decision when entered the contest on a state level and rose to this level to a national stage.  That much Besen was right about; she made a controversial statement in public, she should have been prepared for the fallout.  Or maybe all of this was planned from the beginning, maybe she planned on this because she certainly getting more attention than Miss America and Miss USA’s normally get–I mean who watches that now.  Hell, last one I remember was Vanessa Williams back in 1984 and I wasn’t even born yet!

All of this is fluff people.

This is a mask of the real issue which is the homophobia that’s behind her answer.

Yes, it’s homophobia.

How can you say that Uppity Negro?  How do you know she’s homophobic?  Have you talked to her?  She probably had gay friends that she’d take a bullet.

I’m sure she has some black friends too.

Whether she has gay friends, or black friends, whatever the case is, I think it reeks of homophobia, or at the least a xenophobia that runs rampant here in this country because we allow it.  I just heard today in class from one of our professors that one huge misconception is that many of those who participate in heterosexual acts have this belief that all gay folks are after ALL straight people.  EEENK!  WRONG ANSWER!  In just the same fashion, whereas I don’t like all women I meet, every gay male doesn’t like ALL gay men.  Moreover, I’m just not convinced of the argument that the “very fabric and nature” of our country is going to be ripped apart because two grown individuals want to be afforded equal rights under the law.  

For those who are part of the LGBT community, I’m about to take license and I am open to criticism if I get this following piece completely wrong.

But, I think some of the mindset behind the “we’re here, we’re queer, get used to it” movement was just simply saying “accept me for me being.”  It wasn’t necessarily trying to force one to participate in it, or go after kids and recruit kids to be gay (could you imagine how ludicrous some people think), but simply accepting, not just tolerating, someone on a human level, person to person.

The problem with Prejean’s statement, that Perez Hilton in all of his ___________  (fill in the blank) was that what she said created a further wedge between citizens and humans in this country; it further perpetuated the mindset of “us vs. them” that has lead to nothing but death and destruction in world history.

What are your thoughts?  Do you think she should have penalized for her answer?  Do you think Perez Hilton had an ulterior motive when he asked the question?  Should she have just played the game and been done with it?  What do you think the “fill in the blank” should be?

Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL