Chuckling...didn't I just write a blog on political correctness?
The blood had barely dried on the dance floor when the media rushed to embrace the gay community. The lights came on, the cameras rolled, and microphones were shoved into faces of the grieving - broadcasting genuine drama queens' tears. The coverage was as fierce as 9-11. Every news channel & website was wall-to-wall speculation, backed up by millions of FaceBook feeds. WHO would do this? WAS this a hate crime? WHY was this allowed to happen, when it was clear early on that the shooter had been radicalized? Of course, no one dared answer MY first question: "How long would it take Obama & Hillary to make a speech about gun control?" (Answer: about 24 hours.) As the coverage unfolded over the following week, it was hard to decide which thing was more appalling: the nightclub shooting itself, or the media assumption that all gays are Democrats. My own immediate reaction last Sunday went something like, "You mean nobody but the terrorist had a gun in Florida nightclub at 2am?" That's certainly not what I expected after watching CSI Miami. Or Scarface.
As CNN insisted that the terrorist was "home grown," the media's political correctness machine was forced into overdrive. The shooter was undeniably a Radical Muslim. He'd purposely called 911 from the club to make sure that authorities knew he was killing gays for Allah. His father supported the Taliban, he'd made several Meccas to Saudi Arabia, and his coworkers knew about his upcoming killing spree - but didn't tell police out of blatant political correctness. I remember people saying once, "Bush lied, people died," so what would make a snappy Orlando jingle? It's hard to rhyme "Muhammad" with "blood," and no snappy chant effectively communicates the opportunism of reporters during on-the-street interviews. I wonder how many fellow gays even realize how we've been used to advance the Clinton/Obama agenda in the shooting's wake? "#Gays4Trump" became one of last week's top hashtags, but CNN refused to report how Twitter tried to censor (gay) Republican's tweets following the slaughter. Sigh...such a dangerous double standard.
The blood had barely dried on the dance floor when the media rushed to embrace the gay community. The lights came on, the cameras rolled, and microphones were shoved into faces of the grieving - broadcasting genuine drama queens' tears. The coverage was as fierce as 9-11. Every news channel & website was wall-to-wall speculation, backed up by millions of FaceBook feeds. WHO would do this? WAS this a hate crime? WHY was this allowed to happen, when it was clear early on that the shooter had been radicalized? Of course, no one dared answer MY first question: "How long would it take Obama & Hillary to make a speech about gun control?" (Answer: about 24 hours.) As the coverage unfolded over the following week, it was hard to decide which thing was more appalling: the nightclub shooting itself, or the media assumption that all gays are Democrats. My own immediate reaction last Sunday went something like, "You mean nobody but the terrorist had a gun in Florida nightclub at 2am?" That's certainly not what I expected after watching CSI Miami. Or Scarface.
As CNN insisted that the terrorist was "home grown," the media's political correctness machine was forced into overdrive. The shooter was undeniably a Radical Muslim. He'd purposely called 911 from the club to make sure that authorities knew he was killing gays for Allah. His father supported the Taliban, he'd made several Meccas to Saudi Arabia, and his coworkers knew about his upcoming killing spree - but didn't tell police out of blatant political correctness. I remember people saying once, "Bush lied, people died," so what would make a snappy Orlando jingle? It's hard to rhyme "Muhammad" with "blood," and no snappy chant effectively communicates the opportunism of reporters during on-the-street interviews. I wonder how many fellow gays even realize how we've been used to advance the Clinton/Obama agenda in the shooting's wake? "#Gays4Trump" became one of last week's top hashtags, but CNN refused to report how Twitter tried to censor (gay) Republican's tweets following the slaughter. Sigh...such a dangerous double standard.
For as terrible as the Orlando shooting was, what it revealed about our media was far more terrifying. Despite the killer's shout-from-the-rooftops ISIS connection, news anchors refused to say the words "radical Islam," intentionally downplaying the incident. A terrorist attack in a gay bar - a direct assault on a crucial Democratic voting demographic - was the worst case scenario for Hillary's agenda (so bad that CNN.com even refused to call Pulse a "gay" bar for the first six hours). The shooting forced us to face the fallacy of gun control, the menace of political correctness, and the out-and-out danger of failing to use every means possible to profile those who clearly intend us harm. Seriously, the only thing missing was "Baghdad Bob" denying that the Americans were in Iraq.
But a much darker truth surfaced in the days that followed, especially after Donald Trump's chillingly matter-o-fact speech. News anchors began insisting the shooter was "homegrown," ignoring mounting evidence of multiple radical Islam connections. The killer's 911 transcripts were edited to remove all references to Allah - completely changing their tone for public release, with the clear intention of misleading voters. Hillary & Obama capitalized on the tragedy to bring up gun control, while CNN planted Anderson Cooper in Orland - ready to ambush local authorities on camera. And while all this was happening, gays in Orlando were threatened a second time, when a local "GaysForTrump" movement surfaced, before being quickly repressed by death threats. Who knew that the Pulse's shooter would seem like the "tolerant" one...?
But a much darker truth surfaced in the days that followed, especially after Donald Trump's chillingly matter-o-fact speech. News anchors began insisting the shooter was "homegrown," ignoring mounting evidence of multiple radical Islam connections. The killer's 911 transcripts were edited to remove all references to Allah - completely changing their tone for public release, with the clear intention of misleading voters. Hillary & Obama capitalized on the tragedy to bring up gun control, while CNN planted Anderson Cooper in Orland - ready to ambush local authorities on camera. And while all this was happening, gays in Orlando were threatened a second time, when a local "GaysForTrump" movement surfaced, before being quickly repressed by death threats. Who knew that the Pulse's shooter would seem like the "tolerant" one...?
I cannot fathom why people can't see how dangerous the political climate has become. I'm saddened by gays in particular - my community, my people - because for as hard as we've fought for equality over the decades, we can't see that we're repressing other people, in the same way we once were, ourselves. We're intolerant to a fault, and we've forgotten the fact that WE'RE the minority in a vastly larger world of traditional values. We behave like smokers who force ourselves into a nonsmoker's house, then light up in the living room, ash'ing on the upholstery. If someone was that rude in our homes, we'd blow a gasket - and throw them out on their asses.
But when anyone criticizes our own behavior, we attack like children who've yet to learn the reality of the world. And that's what I feel like we're doing when anyone dares suggest that the Republicans might be right on this one, in regards to the overall safety of the country. Forty nine of our brothers & sisters were reduced to puddles of blood & flesh, but we're all still sharing PC talking points on social media, as though we have blinders on. Come on, people...we're so much smarter than that. And we should be as scared as hell with the fact that our current media - including FaceBook, Google, and Twitter - is intentionally censoring hashtags, searches, and news feeds of those who don't share their liberal political views. We may be smug now, but there will come a time when the tables are turned...and we'll be the ones as hated as GaysForTrump. Think about that. It's closer than you think.
But when anyone criticizes our own behavior, we attack like children who've yet to learn the reality of the world. And that's what I feel like we're doing when anyone dares suggest that the Republicans might be right on this one, in regards to the overall safety of the country. Forty nine of our brothers & sisters were reduced to puddles of blood & flesh, but we're all still sharing PC talking points on social media, as though we have blinders on. Come on, people...we're so much smarter than that. And we should be as scared as hell with the fact that our current media - including FaceBook, Google, and Twitter - is intentionally censoring hashtags, searches, and news feeds of those who don't share their liberal political views. We may be smug now, but there will come a time when the tables are turned...and we'll be the ones as hated as GaysForTrump. Think about that. It's closer than you think.
Reveling in being on the "popular" side sets a dangerous precedent. When we revel, we're so caught up in groupthink, we fail to notice imminent dangers that are growing under our noses. Blindly reveling is a lot like an alcoholic's denial; everyone can see the addict's problem, except for the addict himself. And the way that liberals refuse to see the menace of rampant political correctness is almost worse than denial, because it endangers so many other people. They're "addicted" to political correctness, and Orlando's massacre is their most recent DUI. How many times are we going to let them back on the road? How many people have to die in Florida discos or Bengazi embassies before we take their license to govern away?
Whether you support Trump or Hillary, I really want you to pay attention to how the media covers their campaigns. Whenever a candidate gives a speech, observe how the content is "spun" by different news organizations - and more importantly, how some news outlets intentionally try to influence viewers/readers opinions, barely hiding their bias. Watch your favorite news channel, and then re-watch the same story on the network you hate the most. The exact same exact topic is reported one way on FoxNews, but covered completely differently on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC. It isn't fair. It isn't American. Reporters are supposed to "cover" the news without bias, but few actually do.
But take a moment to consider if you were on the "unpopular" side of the bias. How would you feel? How angry would it make you? How you you react if you knew in your heart that you were right, but no one else would give you the time of day?
Whether you support Trump or Hillary, I really want you to pay attention to how the media covers their campaigns. Whenever a candidate gives a speech, observe how the content is "spun" by different news organizations - and more importantly, how some news outlets intentionally try to influence viewers/readers opinions, barely hiding their bias. Watch your favorite news channel, and then re-watch the same story on the network you hate the most. The exact same exact topic is reported one way on FoxNews, but covered completely differently on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC. It isn't fair. It isn't American. Reporters are supposed to "cover" the news without bias, but few actually do.
But take a moment to consider if you were on the "unpopular" side of the bias. How would you feel? How angry would it make you? How you you react if you knew in your heart that you were right, but no one else would give you the time of day?
THAT'S what the upcoming election is really all about, and I can't wait to see what it brings out in everyone. We gays may think that we're riding high now, but all that will change if our next President has a Crisis of Character.
And I still think Trump should choose Bernie Sanders as his running mate.
And I still think Trump should choose Bernie Sanders as his running mate.