Blog and blog alike

Jamie picked up on the "scratch 'n sniff" news story news story I blogged yesterday, and then he linked to something equally bizarre: Students at the Univ. of Oregon are attempting to cast a politically correct "Vagina Monologues", claiming that "this year's production" (They have one every year? What, is the pussy the school mascot?) didn't fully represent the population of students.

See, this is what's so great about college. You leave your stupid suburban upbringing and you land in an environment where everything seems important and cutting edge and has a certain quality of vinceremos. You spend a lot of time splitting hairs and yelping about something that turns out to be not very important -- but the whole time, you actually are doing something important, which is learning to be sensitive to other people. So what if you go too far and bend over backwards and wind up looking a little silly? ("'The queer community, the women of color community and the plus-size community did not feel represented last year,' producer Nicole Pete said.") So what if half the queer community are only LUGs and the women of color community includes a bunch of rich, privileged Asian girls? They're learning solidarity.

Okay, I know I sound like I'm totally making fun of them, but actually I really do like it. Because at least some of those college kids will wind up getting radicalized for real, and they'll stay radicalized. Not about bogus stuff like the casting of the school play ("In addition to securing a more diverse cast, the selection committee will also be looking to include activists and community members who are involved with women's issues.") but real justice stuff. And some of those LUGs will love queers for the rest of their lives, if not sexually, then affectionally. No, righteous college kids are OK with me.

Speaking of being politcally correct, the arch-conservative Richard Vigurie was the guest today on 'Fresh Air'. I had never heard the guy, though I've been reading about him for the last 25 years, since he helped engineer Reagan's victories. I was amazed at how he sounded on radio -- like an elderly bigot whose wires had worn a bit thin, he kept repeating that "seculars" and liberals had "declared war" on Christianity. I missed the beginning of the program and had no idea who it was; I thought it might have been some elderly right-wing Catholic bishop, but it couldn't have been, because the same show had an elderly right-wing Episcopalian bishop on just a few days ago (not Robinson, listed first on that program listing; scroll down to see the bit about Robert Duncan).

It would be worth it to listen to that Vigurie program, if you can stand it. The sheer illogic, not to mention the life-sucking lack of joy and animation in the man's voice, is enough to make you cry. But if you can stand it, it doesn't hurt once in a while to listen to the enemy.