Tag Archives: military

Friendly Fire

Posted on August 30, 2012 by

Before the recent community kerfuffle, I was talking about the Pagan blood libel and how that affects the experience of being Pagan and Wiccan today. I want to share a couple of my own experiences to try to convey just … Continue reading →

Posted in Pagan, religious freedom | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Review: Lale, Asatru for Beginners

Posted on September 21, 2011 by

Lale, Erin. Asatru for Beginners. e-book second edition, 2009. 157 pages. Asatru for Beginners is by Erin Lale, an Asatruar who has run for office as a candidate for the Libertarian party. Lale moderated an MSN group for Asatruar for … Continue reading →

Posted in book reviews, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Teaching stupidity

Posted on September 20, 2011 by

A whole new industry has sprung up in the US that peddles bigotry. Worse yet, it does so with government funding and teaches government agents to fear and hate part of the population they’re supposed to serve. It’s the anti-terrorism … Continue reading →

Posted in civil rights | Tagged , , ,

Social change, socialization, and the end of DADT

Posted on September 19, 2011 by

How ending DADT will spread the idea of equality for people of all orientations among parts of the US population which have previously been most homophobic. The “don’t ask, don’t tell” compromise which allowed gays and lesbians to be members … Continue reading →

Posted in civil rights, military, QUILTBAG issues | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

An open letter to Gen. Schwartz

Posted on September 15, 2011 by

Dear Gen. Schwartz, I was very heartened to hear about your recent release of guidelines for maintaining “government neutrality regarding religion.” When I met you at [a recent event] in the DC area, you told me that you’ve always seen … Continue reading →

Posted in civil rights, military, religious freedom | Tagged | 2 Comments

Navy Chaplains, Damn Lies, and Statistics

Posted on August 28, 2011 by

In the latest example of stunning dishonesty from conservative Christians who want to view themselves as persecuted, a group of Navy Chaplains has apparently enlisted a damn liar statistician to “prove” that they’re being discriminated against by not being promoted … Continue reading →

Posted in civil rights, military | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Given names: Up now at the Slacktiverse!

Posted on August 24, 2011 by

I’ve got a new piece up at the Slacktiverse called “Given names,” on the topic of names and power. I draw from several different examples and intersections: military interactions, men using women’s names to create an unwanted sense of intimacy, … Continue reading →

Posted in feminism, military | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Protect us all, or let it be

Posted on April 22, 2011 by

Since the Supreme Court affirmed that the execrable calumny produced by Fred Phelps’ clan (Westboro Baptist Church) is protected speech, Congress is considering passing laws that would expand the exclusion zones of time and space around military funerals. Unfortunately, I … Continue reading →

Posted in civil rights, ethics, military, QUILTBAG issues | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Imagine this: OPF

Posted on April 12, 2011 by

Imagine the uproar that would happen if a conservative Christian picked up a brochure in the Chaplain’s office that read: Officers’ Pagan Fellowship (OPF) of the U.S.A. was formed in 2011, in the midst of the longest-running wars in US … Continue reading →

Posted in discrimination, military | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Protected speech: Ur doin it rong.

Posted on March 5, 2011 by

Slacktivist recently argued that If [groups spouting anti-gay diatribes] have been arguing in good faith all along, then they will be gladdened by yesterday’s decision. They will be happy to learn that they need not fear any abridgment of their … Continue reading →

Posted in discrimination, ethics | Tagged , , , , , , ,