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Wayne Besen

  • Miracles Over Math
    8 December 2004 par (Open-Publishing)
    15 comments

    by Wayne Besen
    If America doesn’t wake up, it will soon become a big, dumb second-tier nation that values miracles over math and superstition over science. Thanks to the Republican’s embrace of anti-intellectualism and demagogic fundamentalism, we are already halfway there.
    In the October 17 edition of the New York Times Magazine, Ron Suskind interviewed a key Bush aide that described the administration’s rejection of enlightenment principles. The aide chastised Suskind for living “in (…)

  • Petri Dish Culture
    30 November 2004 par (Open-Publishing)
    3 comments

    by Wayne Besen
    By now, most people have been sickened by the brawl involving the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and the drunken hooligans that pose as Piston’s basketball fans. We looked on in horror as muscle-bound Pacer’s star Ron Artest leapt into the stands - followed by a few of his teammates - to attack terrified basketball buffs after he was hit by a cup of beer. We watched in dismay as the scene escalated into violent chaos and mayhem.
    Appropriately, National Basketball (…)

  • Civil Wrongs in the Washington Post
    24 November 2004 par (Open-Publishing)
    2 comments

    by Wayne Besen
    Last week, the Washington Post ran a “special advertising supplement” targeted to the black community that said gay people are unworthy of the equal rights that African Americans now enjoy. The supplement was in the guise of a publication called, “Both Sides Magazine”, although it wasn’t a true magazine and didn’t present both sides.
    This disgraceful propaganda - clearly backed by Focus on the Family’s James Dobson - truly broke my heart. “Both Sides” tried to incite anger (…)

  • Anything But Straight
    15 November 2004 par (Open-Publishing)
    2 comments

    by Wayne Besen
    The gay movement is the canary in the coalmine for the future of the Democratic Party. If party leaders move right and abandon basic fairness and equality, it is a strong signal that they will capitulate and surrender their other core principles too. This may lead to widespread disillusionment and the creation of a powerful third party that will shake-up American politics.
    For the record, I have always been a proud Democrat and I still expect to die as one. I have loathed (…)

  • Piranha In The Fish Tank
    11 November 2004 par (Open-Publishing)
    3 comments

    by Wayne Besen
    Religion and politics used to be two issues polite company did not discuss at the dinner table. But as the ill-mannered Neo-Puritan Right belches and bellows victoriously over their bread, it is clear that they have changed the rules of American civility in the most unappetizing ways. A Crucifix now dangerously adorns the body politic and threatens to crucify anyone who doesn’t pander to the pious.
    At its best, religion is a deeply personal tool to build a better life, (…)

  • The Election Pig of 2004
    9 November 2004 par (Open-Publishing)

    by Wayne Besen
    Not even the fabulous RuPaul could find a shade of lipstick glamorous enough to pretty up Tuesday night’s election pig. The excruciating defeat was an unmitigated disaster for the GLBT community. With the Supreme Court thrown into the equation, there is the very real possibility that some aspects of the movement could be set back decades. Many of my good friends and colleagues are depressed, even despondent, as they well should be. A couple of buddy’s are even thinking of (…)