By Jess Silverstein
How much longer must I keep writing about the intolerance, ignorance, hate, discrimination, and buffoonery that’s infecting the Santa Ynez Valley?
Solvang is in the crosshairs yet again, and it’s not only directed at self-proclaimed bigot and Solvang City Councilmember Robert Clarke (read my last opinion on this idiot here), but now it’s Solvang Mayor Mark Infanti.
Numerous news outlets reported this past week that Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, urged Infanti and the Solvang City Council to get with the times and support the LGBTQ+ community. The Danish mayor pretty much said if you’re going to embody and dress up like a Danish town, then act like one and here’s our track record of inclusiveness. Read her letter here.
As many know, this issue comes up as painted rainbow crosswalks and pride themed banners were proposed for June, the nationally recognized Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community. The proposal has been denied twice with Infanti being one of the deniers citing issues with horses not liking certain colors. Never seems to be an issue during the Fiesta horse parade, but ok. Councilmember Clarke then took it upon himself to go on an anti-gay, anti-drag, anti-anyone different than his straight, white, Christian, self rant while calling himself a seemingly proud bigot.
This all falls on the backdrop of two young men recently being charged with burning pride flags last summer, Santa Ynez Valley High School quickly cancelling it’s anti-bullying campagin that included rainbow crosswalks due to community complaints, and numerous reports of anti-gay experiences from LGBTQ+ community members living in the valley.
The letter from Copenhagen’s Mayor is diplomatically telling Solvang this is unacceptable and not at all Danish.
Infanti, ever prideful, said in a KEYT interview that he and the council did receive Andersen’s letter and he responded to the mayor, but declined to state what the response included. He then said he worked with the applicant over the Pride banners and is “hopeful it will be granted” at the Solvang City Council meeting on Monday, April 24.
That’s interesting.
On Friday, the Santa Barbara County Republican Party (known for it’s conspiracy ridden emails with links to blogs devoid of anything factual and upcoming banquet hosting accused child sex trafficker Matt Gaetz) sent out a newsletter written by the “Santa Ynez Valley Common Sense” group.
It says that during Monday’s City Council meeting there will be a third application for Pride banners being installed during the month of June. It says there have been 300 emails against, and 20 in support.
“We are the overwhelming majority, even if social media makes it appear otherwise,” the ugent call to action states, adding Infanti’s name at the bottom making it appear that he’s the one writing the message.
“We cherish the Constitution of the United States and are God-centered,” is what the Santa Ynez Common Sense group has plastered on their homepage. But it appears they only cherish parts of the Constitution that work best for them.
The Constitution explains that Americans are free to exercise the religion of their choice, but the government shall not impose religious values on the people. Yet one specific political party has no problem doing just that, and apparently this group that has common sense in their name very much lacks it.
If what they say is true, that 300 letters have been written to oppose LGBTQ+ representation for pride month, then the Santa Ynez Valley hates gay people.
Social media is no different. There are hundreds of people on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (seemingly from the local area) that are putting their homophobia and bigotry on full display.
“Wake up people, that is not discrimination, that is a group of people throwing a fit because they didn’t get their way,” wrote Miranda Khivrenko on Instagram. You’re wrong Miranda, it’s discrimination. Especially when the council denies the application for being “too political,” essentially saying that one’s identity as LGBTQ+ is political. If you can’t understand that, I suggest you take time to education yourself on being a decent human being.
“Solvang has their own ‘look’ for their tourist destination city, to look like a danish town, not a pride town,” wrote Monique Tamez on Instagram. Oh Monique, you’re also wrong and sorely misguided. If a town is playing dress up as another country for money but refuses to actually embody those country’s values then it’s appropriation in the highest order. And having banners for one month during Pride month does not make it a “Pride Town,” it just shows it’s a welcoming and accepting place for EVERYONE, not just you Monique.
I’ve even seen some locals posting on social media that the letter from the Copenhagen mayor is “fake” and all part of a ploy from a LGBTQ+ organization to make Solvang look bad. The lengths people will go to be discriminatory and then attempt to hide it, shift blame, and flat out lie are astounding. For anyone confused, the letter is not fake and is published on the City of Copenhagen’s website with the mayor’s signature.
Write to Solvang’s mayor Infanti and the city council members below to show your love and your support of the LGBTQ+ population in our county. Discrimination will not find a home here, we must all be allies.
council@cityofsolvang.com
Op-Ed’s are written by community members, not representatives of edhat. The views and opinions expressed in Op-Ed articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of edhat. [Do you have an opinion on something local? Share it with us at info@edhat.com.]
Yeah, his comment was stupid. I didn’t call him stupid. Big difference. Do you think Jess is doing anything good by calling an entire community haters of gay people? That’s what’s happening here.
You are focused on the wrong thing, and people see right through it. BYE
BASIC, just call it a day and ADMIT that you are a bigoted old coot.
Wow, Alex. That’s stupid.
BASIC – “….. just looking to call names and nitpick instead.”
ALSO BASIC 3 hours later – “Wow, Alex. That’s stupid.”
LOL, Basic, I don’t know what I’ve said that’s “stupid” because you’re not smart enough to figure out how to post on the internet.
Why do people spend so much time and energy bringing attention to our differences?
BFT – because those “differences” have caused some people to be beat, shot, raped, stabbed, murdered, bullied, fired from jobs, and worse throughout our history. They just want to be treated like the rest of us and be able to celebrate their differences, not hide them from society any longer. Sad you don’t understand that simple idea.
Exactly bft.
And Alex, thanks again for your valuable contribution to the topic at hand.
GT you think I defended burning pride flags? You’re smoking too much fool. Look at yourself. All hate.
The SYV Reagan cult continues to worship white pride and spread hate…..
Just wow…lol. The capital of Denmark dunked on Solvang leadership for being kooks and they think it’s a conspiracy theory. Sad that they want to be petty and bigoted instead of doing their jobs, Solvang deserves much better. Especially Bob Clarke, rhe unelected professional ding-dong.
Solvang isn’t what it used to be. It looks like a worn out miniature golf course. SYV had a boom from the Sideways movie but that has played out. Glad we’re seeing this in national news so tourists can decide to spend their hard earned dollars in more welcoming cities. SYV is full of hateful bigoted repuglicans that wants to cancel the existence of others.
Keep it up, GOP. Keep hating LGBT people, keep passing weird draconian laws against trans people, keep outlawing abortion. Keep banning books and telling teachers what to say. Keep losing elections and becoming irrelevant. You’re on the wrong side of history. Cry more.
THANK YOU, Chillin’!! Me and my whole family will always vote BLUE for women, for kids being safe in schools, for LBGTQ people, for everyone who believes you have freedom to be free from religion. For Separation of Church and State! VOTE BLUE TO SAVE AMERICA!
BASIC – I proudly hate racists and bigots. Why don’t you? Eh… we all know the answer to that.
A must-read here:
https://www.independent.com/2023/04/23/clowns-aholes-woke-poison-%e2%80%95-solvang-leader-vents-over-lgbtq-issues/
Quotes from the involved parties obtained through FOIA.
“Clarke called his colleagues “bozos” for revisiting their previous vote and “bowing to a tiny woke mob.” He vowed to “keep fighting this crap” and suggested Solvang cancel its upcoming Pride parade because of the backlash he has personally received over his comments. ”
“Clarke repeatedly blamed LGBTQ organizers and their supporters ― whom he referred to in various messages as “alphabet mafia” and “chardonnay antifa” as well as “snowflakes,” “clowns,” and “assholes” ― for stoking division and “spewing” their “woke poison” across the community. “Their campaign will not relent until we all cave to a far left woke agenda,” he said in a group email.”
“Clarke promised them that, for every one of his “butt-hurt” critics who spoke at upcoming council meetings, he would donate $10 to Gays Against Groomers, “a coalition of gays against the sexualization, indoctrination, and medicalization of children under the guise of LGBTQIA+,” according to its website.”
There’s more… What a hateful person. But as always, it’s the hypocrisy that gets me, as the conservatives/Right/Republicans seek to control the actions of people while touting their belief in freedom.
What an absolute piece of shit this guy is.
Can’t wait for BasicBish, CryVor and Babymistakes to defend him and ask why all the leftists are spreading hate and division.
YIN YANG – If accurate, those quotes paint the portrait of a true bigot. Hating people for the way they are born is true evil. This should not be tolerated.
Yin Yang! That’s all insane! What a hateful hateful man! I live in the valley and I’ll be contacting his office to complain. How UGLY. This man does NOT represent me or my family! VOTE HIM OUT! No room for hate in SB county! SHAME ON YOU, Solvang Mayor!
Don’t miss the Angry Poodle while you’re on the Independent’s page.
https://www.independent.com/2023/04/19/cutting-off-solvangs-nose-to-spite-its-face/
” I proudly hate racists and bigots. Why don’t you? Eh… we all know the answer to that.”
I proudly hate racism and bigotry, but I don’t proudly hate the individual, because hate is a blanket that excludes the possibility of a human changing. But you do you, I’ll do me.
Solvang HAS a “PRIDE STORE”….Does Santa Barbara…?
Solvang HAS a PRIDE PARADE…..Does Santa Barbara…?
Solvang HAS a PRIDE DAY AT THE PARK… Does Santa Barbara…?
Yeah, they capped the issue of Pride Banners for a month displayed on the main “drag” of Copenhagen Street…So what? Does that mean “HATE”….?
The LGBT+ community is supported and accepted, but we don’t need indoctrination of a groups ideology or political beliefs in the faces of everyone else…
Because the Head of SB County’s Rainbow Coalition didn’t get what he asked for, we are all HATERS… Insane.
COAST – golly you’re not super informed, are you? LGBQT people are BORN that way. It’s not a choice, like politics, therefore they CANNOT “indoctrinate” people. They can’t “make” your kids turn into drag queens or become trans. Your comment is really awful.
Coast, in spite of your hate speech…. a simple Google search using the Internet that Al Gore invented revealed the following:
“Solvang HAS a “PRIDE STORE”….Does Santa Barbara…?” No, but no one is stopping anyone from starting one.
“Solvang HAS a PRIDE PARADE…..Does Santa Barbara…?”
Santa Barbara has the Pacific Pride festival
“Solvang HAS a PRIDE DAY AT THE PARK… Does Santa Barbara…?”
Santa Barbara has numerous pride events near round.
“Because the Head of SB County’s Rainbow Coalition didn’t get what he asked for, we are all HATERS… Insane.” No coast, those with statements like yours are being called out for being hateful bigots – somehow believing that those of another sexual orientation are trying to indoctrinate you or that solely being an LGBTQ person makes one political.
Coast, I’ve seen you post the most hateful racist, sexist, and homophobic comments on edhat. I think it’s best if you sit this one out. Still surprised you haven’t been permanently banned from edhat.
COAST, I wish I could downvote your hateful comment several times over. How ugly is your heart? Gay people don’t “indoctrinate” kids, that’s the gun groomers. UGH. So disheartening.
You can’t always get what you want…
They just want equality but that seems to be too much for Solvang.
BASIC – you would have been fun during the Jim Crow era.
… but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.
FYI, it was the democrats the supported Jim Crow
Here’s some help: https://www.studentsofhistory.com/ideologies-flip-Democratic-Republican-parties
9:14 – Read a history book. Everyone with a high school diploma knows the parties changed. LOL seriously?
Reposting part of a comment I made earlier about Solvang. I want to say that there are not hundreds of letters and emails in support of the council’s actions – the minority is deliberately exaggerating public support for their position, unless you count multiple texts and emails from a small group of supporters separately, If Infanti is part of the Santa Ynez Valley Common Sense group his political career is over. That group makes Marjorie Taylor Greene look reasonable.
It’s important to understand that Robert Clarke, who lost an election to Solvang City Council in November, was appointed – not chosen by voters – to his new seat. He does not represent the majority of Solvang residents. Furthermore, to drum up support for his out-of-touch agenda he solicited input from a small group of citizens by inviting them to speak at the City Council meeting. It is doubtful that they would have shown up if he hadn’t reached out to them and asked them to contact his fellow council members. The views his supporters shared are not representative of the way most people think in Solvang. Notably, the same group has endorsed four out of five SYVUHSD board members. Take a look at the group’s website, Santa Ynez Valley Common Sense, to understand just how out of touch this loose organization of people really is. Robert Clarke needs to be removed from office when he is up for election later this year, as do the four school board members. Vote them out.
Thank you for the reminder. Clarke is a homophobe and a bigot and he doesn’t deserve public office. Vote him out.
Virago, We just moved to the Valley. SO disheartened by the closed minded bigots we have encountered here. WE WILL VOTE THEM OUT. You can be sure of it! Voting blue all the way. I don’t want to live in a place where people are such bigots, but here we are, so we will FIGHT them.
The way the Santa Ynez “Common Sense” Krew wrote that notice it almost makes it appear that Mayor Mark Infanti wrote the message himself. Infanti may want to clear that up.
Re: 300 emails of opposition, have those been vetted as (1) from ACTUAL members of the community and (2) from real, identifiable people AND (3) from different people? Let’s see the breakdown. Bet somebody copy pasted a bunch of times and set the internet Qanons to task. Vet em! Let’s see just how shady these bigots are.
Sometimes a “No” is simply…a No.
– If I say “No” to my neighbor’s daughter who wants to sell me Girl Scout cookies…..it does not mean that I hate girls or the Girl Scouts.
– If I say “No” when you ask me to watch your dog for a couple of day….it does not mean that I hate dogs.
– If I say “No” when you ask to borrow money….it does not mean that I hate you.
There seems to be a concerted effort to “cancel” every person and every business in the Santa Ynez valley. This is silly and childish at a minimum. It’s a “we didn’t get our way and taking our ball with us” situation. Grow UP! Live and let live.
Not getting your way does not mean people hate you even if you “feel” that way. Do lot let your feelings get hurt by three people….not worth getting all worked up about it. Basically, it’s a no-brainer if you think about it for a moment of two. Relax (please).
Are there laws and news organizations and super pacs and religions and swarms of angry mobs out there targeting Girl Scouts? or Dogs? Nope. Also it’s best not to compare marginalized communities to dogs.
Baby–
If I say no to all these black people who want their kids in school with my kids, it doesn’t mean I hate black people.
If I say no to Jews who want to join my golf club, it doesn’t mean I hate Jews.
If I say no to children in wheelchairs who would like a ramp to get to a classroom, it doesn’t mean I hate kids in wheelchairs.
If I say no to gay people who want to get married, it doesn’t mean I hate gay people.
I don’t hate ANYONE. I just like saying no to people, Jeez, people, REEEELAAAAAX….
Namaste!
BABY – Dogs, cookies and borrowing money are CHOICES. LGBQT is not. Its so simple, yet you refuse to acknowledge the difference and dig your heels in on defending bigotry. Guess what that makes you?
They didn’t simply say no babysnakes. You’re leaving out the bigoted statements.
Cakes, your examples are not political acts that represent groups of people and involve legislation and civil law and community politics. Your argument is too simple and misleading to be an argument about this issue.
Babycakes, you are so out of touch it’s not even FUNNY. Wake up and look around you at what the far right zealots are doing in this country right now in regards to LBGQT rights! A NO to pride flags IS a hate vote right now. Plain and simple, and Solvang’s mayor is a king of HATE.
Jess, your Op-Ed has just added to the problem you’re trying to address, because you’ve labeled a ENTIRE community of people as “hateful”. How many of them – Santa Ynez citizens- do you know personally?
Good luck with that strategy.
And not ALL trump supporters are racist, homophobic, and sexist predators. They just don’t mind voting for one.
BasicBish,
You’re a total tool, in this case, however, I agree with you.
Lots of lovely people, gay, straight and everything else in SYV, and yes, I know a LOT of people out there.
There are some hardcore shithead bigots out there, but that trend is decreasing as people with education move in.
Red herring alert! Ignore, next comment.
Sac, you’re calling me a racist. Jess called the entire community of Santa Ynez as “hating gay people”. Neither are true, I guarantee you.
BASICINFO805 – As long as I’ve seen your post on Edhat – they have been bigoted, disparaged others, and all around on the wrong side of history bud. If you like to spend your day son the Internet doing this – it’s a sad existence brother.
Racist is as racist comments, although the smarter ones can figure out how to thread a reply.
Basic, you are totally bigoted. See the ratio. Take the L.
Why bother…ok, good luck Jess. Your supporters here are haters, unwilling to discuss and just looking to call names and nitpick instead.
What is there to discuss? You’ve made it clear you’re not going to listen or at least attempt to understand the perspective of the targeted minority and are dismissing their feelings, complaints, and experiences, so we’re not going to do this tit for tat thing with you on the edhat comment board for the millionth time.
BASIC – good people SHOULD hate bigots, racists, etc. It’s not something that should be tolerated. Why do you insist on defending them?
BASICINFO805 was one of the same people defending the burning of the pride flags….
1. To the author, I am a resident of SYV and your title is wildly untrue. I’d venture that about half of the SYV hates everyone, and the other half are working hard to motivate some progress toward reality. The haters in SYV are comprised of middle-aged+ white folks who have either grown up here, or who have been here for quite a while. So I don’t doubt that there is a fair amount of support for Clarke, as they prefer to live in their safe bumf**k bubbles. 2. Clarke’s remarks are shocking, hideous, and childish. Quite literally if my teenager made public remarks like his, she would be suspended or expelled from school. How this man is still in his position is beyond me. 3. This comes on the heels of the SY High School painting over a pride campaign (which was APPROVED by them) on campus recently. The optics are terrible, but continue to bring to light the old-school, good-ol-boy bigotry so rampant here. 4. I also see some validity to the mayor’s points that we do not have month-long events (aside from Jule Fest) or fly banners for any party for longer than the length of an event, normally a few days to a week. We don’t fly flags for any minority’s history months, etc. so any party that would like the month-long banners ought to apply for the same parameters that other groups have. It’s in poor taste to deny with bigotry, but it’s also in poor taste to demand exceptions without compromise. 5. Screw SYV and the horse it rode in on, generally. As soon as my kid is out of school, I’m out of here and never looking back.
“Clarke promised them that, for every one of his “butt-hurt” critics who spoke at upcoming council meetings, he would donate $10 to Gays Against Groomers, “a coalition of gays against the sexualization, indoctrination, and medicalization of children under the guise of LGBTQIA+,” according to its website.
Records show Clarke has so far donated $100 to the organization.”
Here’s a taste of the radical right-wing Gays Against Groomers:
“A child wearing anything queer related is worse than a Nazi having a child wear a shirt with a swastika on it. The queer movement is more evil than the Nazis.”
Gays Against Groomers Illinois @GAG_Illinois Twitter
Wikipedia:
Gays Against Groomers (GAG)[1] is an American far-right anti-LGBT[2][3] organization known for protesting against gender-affirming care for minors, including at hospitals that provide it;[4] against LGBT representation at schools;[5] and against Drag Queen Story Hour events.[6] A spokesperson for the LGBT advocacy group GLAAD has claimed that the group uses the slur “groomer” to characterize LGBT people as pedophiles.[6][7][1] GAG has hosted anti-LGBTQ rallies, alongside other far-right and anti-LGBTQ organizations such as Moms for Liberty, which have been attended by the Proud Boys.[1][8]
GAG began in June 2022 as a Twitter account created by Jaimee Michell, who had previously been employed by right-wing communications firms Arsenal Media and X Strategies and posted similar content on her personal account. The account is known for posting anti-trans rhetoric and has been compared to Libs of TikTok. Michell officially incorporated GAG in September.[6][1] GAG has been banned from multiple social media and payment platforms for violating rules on hate speech; they have been promoted by right-wing media outlets such as Fox News, One America News Network (OANN), and InfoWars.
GAG was founded by Jaimee Michell, at the time a content creator and lead designer at marketing company Arsenal Media, a conservative media organization specializing in creating viral content.[9] GAG’s Twitter account was created by Michell on June 6, 2022.[10] Her website featured examples of her work for conservative candidates and activists.[6] Michell had previously been on the advisory board to Donald Trump’s “Trump Pride coalition”, and described Trump as a “pro-gay” politician. Leading up to the 2020 United States presidential election, Michell was involved in the “Stop the Steal” movement, to promote conspiracy theories that the election had been “stolen”.
There’s more. There’s always more. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gays_Against_Groomers or google who is gays against groomers
Thanks for the Op-Ed, Edhat. Might I suggest an edit to the headline? “Santa Ynez Hates” is sufficient. You have spewed your vitriolic hate from S.Y. like a broken sprinkler all the way to Copenhagen.
Racists running schools, disabled kids restrained and forcefully injected, homophobes run the place. Sounds like the pols & teachers in S.Y. hates anyone who doesn’t look, act, sound, and smell like they do.
If there are good people who don’t hate their neighbors in S.Y, now would be a good time to make yourself heard.
Liberals hate everyone
CHIP – we don’t hate ourselves, we hate people who defend racists, bigots, domestic terrorists and then cry that we’re intolerant of your abject hate for people born differently than you.
I think you nailed it Steve. And the truly sad part is liberals hate themselves.
3:29
If you’re a hammerhead, everything looks like a nail.
LOL, F your feelings bro.
What’s the point of having a comment section here. Unless you are a lefty lib they review and or delete anything you try to post. If a conservative doesn’t like something, they choose not to be a part of it. If a lib doesn’t like something, they ban it for everyone.
Whoops – that cat jumped on my keyboard again “jhuuuuuuu…..”
VOICE still thinks LGBQT+ is a choice
Steve 0 – the double standard is brutal.
STEVEO – have you ever read the news? “If a lib doesn’t like something, they ban it for everyone.” You mean like rainbow flags, temporary crosswalks, Bud Light?
So weird, how am I reading your comment? Did the government overlords slip up today? Wow, just odd.
“the double standard is brutal.” – only if you’re not very smart.
VOL and STEVEO – what are liberals banning? Come on, out with it. You keep saying cons are “live and let live,” but how do you account for THIS very topic, Bud Light, drag queens reading books, abortions, history books, LGBQT books, trans people playing sports, discussion of gender identity in high schools, the NFL, Nike, Keurig, Starbucks…..heck, just look at this from Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom site:
“NTF WORKSHEET: CONSERVATIVES SHOULD BOYCOTT the FOLLOWING COMPANIES & PERSONALITIES” -https://www.netaxpayers.org/archives/4956
I’m not going to be that guy and copy/paste the list of all the HUNDREDS of people, places and things they want you conservatives to ban, but it’s a lot.
Now tell us again how you are live and let live? Go check the list and get back to us. We’ll be here waiting.
VOICE – but don’t forget….. libs ban/boycott people/things that CHOOSE to be discriminatory against people for the way they’re born. Big difference.jhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy`65l
My bad, I did phrase that wrong. I know us libs have had some boycotts, but my question was in regard to the oft repeated trope that conservatives are “live and let live” and aren’t banning things they don’t like. If that were true, then how do you account for all the things listed below?
Look, you know I don’t like misinformation. That’s what I’m getting at. You all keep saying bans are a liberal thing, but take a look and let me know how you explain the conservative cancel culture.
VOICE – but don’t forget….. libs ban/boycott people/things that CHOOSE to be discriminatory against people for the way they’re born. Big difference.
Sacjon, its a good indicator how brainwashed and biased you are if you don’t know that the liberals are also banning/boycotting things, including books.
Jess. you’re a pretty rude mo-fo yourself! All of Santa Ynez Valley HATES gay people? How the ‘F’ would you know??? Your rude insults are so loud, I can’t hear a thing you’re sayin’….. Just sayin’.
Watcher- you should try reading the article, not just the headline and comments
I love how the right uses “common sense” as a rallying cry. In these issues, “common sense” usually means ignorance. Keep it simple, stupid. Simplicity is king. 2 genders. If there’s no slavery anymore, then racism is over. If wind turbines kill birds, we have to keep using coal and oil. It’s easier and more “common” to ignore the nuances of issues. Willful ignorance, usually due to lack of intelligence, sometimes due to pure hate, is easy. If it’s not black and white, it’s confusing and liberal. Common Sense, indeed!
If it don’t make sense to yer blue collar mind, it’s liberal trickery. They’re trying to indoctrunate my kids and yer kids! Come on folks, it’s “common sense!”
Look at Councilmember Clarke saying the quiet part out loud courtesy of Tyler Hayden at the Independent: https://www.independent.com/2023/04/23/clowns-aholes-woke-poison-%E2%80%95-solvang-leader-vents-over-lgbtq-issues/
He likens gay people to sexual predators and groomers. He’s disgusting and should be recalled ASAP
This is such political bullshit. This is just an attempted power grab.
Leave solvang alone. Copenhagen’s mayor can cram it!
@Lorax, who is attempting to grab power?
SEABIRD – isn’t it obvious? The drag queens are turning kids gay by reading them magic books full of secret trans spells to raise army of indoctrinated children so they can overthrow the government. Probably with assistance from Jewish space lasers.
LORAX – calling something “political” is an easy way to dismiss it and belittle those who are striving for equality because of the way they’re born. The only ones making this “political” are those who are trying to squash the issue.
In the old days, being intolerant or bigoted meant refusing to accept another group of people. Now acceptance is not enough. Being intolerant or bigoted today apparently means refusing to embrace and celebrate a group of people with sufficient enthusiasm and and expense. The valley is very much a live and let live type of place. People in the valley may not choose to celebrate every different group of people, but they are accepting and friendly towards everyone. Interestingly, many liberals are extremely intolerant and refuse to accept others. The outpouring of hatred and contempt in these comments is a testament to that. Many liberals attack and intimidate people who are different from them. I looked up the definition of bigoted below, and it describes the hateful liberals commenting on this article to a tee.
“Being or characteristic of a bigot.
Obstinately and blindly attached to some creed, opinion practice, or ritual; unreasonably devoted to a system or party, and illiberal toward the opinions of others.”
VOICE – name one group I am intolerant towards due to how they were born?
Oh wait….. you think people are born racist/bigoted? Or…. that being gay or black is a choice.
Below is the definition of the word liberal, however, I would call it the legacy definition because the meaning of the word has changed considerably in recent years.
“Favoring reform, open to new ideas, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; not bound by traditional thinking; broad-minded. synonym: broad-minded”
Today, a liberal means someone who has strong left leaning political beliefs coupled with a sense of righteousness and contempt towards those who do not agree with them. Liberals are generally unwilling to entertain any ideas that conflict with their ideology. Liberals are typified by a staunch resistance to change and a NIMBY mentality. Liberals also prefer rigid rules and structure in their lives and are uncomfortable with the idea of empowering individuals or letting people be free to be themselves. Liberals expect others to conform with how they think people should live and direct vicious hatred and intimidation tactics towards those who refuse to do so.
CHIP wrong. The meaning has stayed the same, it’s only conservatives like you who think it’s different. Your entire home made “definition” applies just as equally (if not more so) to conservatives.
“Vicious hatred and intimidation” – dude read the news sometime. Jan 6. KKK. Unite the Right. Beating homosexuals in the streets. Lynching black people. Spitting on kids for wearing masks during a pandemic.
You should be ASHAMED of yourself for ignoring all that shit.
Chip, one of the many many examples of how progressive liberals change definitions. My personal beliefs align more with classic liberalism; freedom of speech, civil liberties, individualism, and small government – all things that are foreign to today’s “liberals”. Today’s liberal now call the tenants of classical liberalism “far-right extremism” and they themselves espouse more traits of actual fascism: authoritarian, often characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation and strong regimentation of society and the economy.
I’m sorry you feel so much hate sac.
VOL – read Clarke’s own words below. Do you think he is “tolerant?”
Sac, chip didn’t mention Clarke in this comment, he’s talking about tolerance.
“Many liberals attack and intimidate people who are different from them.” – Yes, FOR CHOICES, not for how they were born.
I hate the crap out of racists and homophobes. I don’t hate Republicans, unless they CHOOSE to discriminate against people for the way they were BORN. How many times do you people need this explained to you?
CHIP – nonsense. Read Clarke’s words he spoke. They’re posted here in at least 2 places. One being at APR 24, 2023 03:43 AM
He is a bigot. No question about it. Stop defending people like this.
CHIP – I’m sorry you think we should tolerate and accept homophobia and transphobia.
“intolerance written on EdHat towards conservatives” – Big fat stack of whatabout. Cool.
Anyways, intolerance of discrimination towards people for the way they are born is a good thing. No one hates “conservatives” just for what they believe. We are intolerant against those who chose to discriminate against others for the way they’re born. I can’t say that sentence any longer. You keep saying the same thing, and I have the same response. CHOICES are different than traits you are BORN with. That you choose to defend those who discriminate against people for how they were born is disgusting and I won’t tolerate it.
Sac, okay, so your changing the subject from Chips post… here’s a FACT: there has been more intolerance written on EdHat towards conservatives than Clarke wrote regarding LGBTQ+.
Chip, this is just another example of changing definitions to suite a an agenda. Tolerance no longer means what is used it to.
VOICE – yeah, and I’m asking what he thinks about Clarke, you know…… the driving force behind this whole issue that is the topic of the article.
Chip, WTF is a “liberal”?
You just sound like another victim claiming snowflake bro. To quote a couple million people, “F your feelings”. LOL
Your comments on Edhat indicate otherwise Sacjon.
ENDEY “hate is a blanket that excludes the possibility of a human changing” – no it doesn’t. If a Klansman changed his mind, saw the errors of his ways and preached tolerance instead of hate, I’d no longer hate him. Easy. If you refuse to acknowledge your intolerance for people because of how they were born, I’ll hate you for being a racist/bigot, etc. But once you become more educated and make an effort to think about others and their struggles and accept peoples’ differences, why would I continue to hate you? Gosh. Super simple there.