San Francisco: Hellish City of Doom and Pot!

That is, according to Bill O'Reilly. I don't normally watch the guy's show (it's better for my blood pressure not to), but I came across this clip today, which purports to find a link between San Francisco's "secular progressive" city government and what they spin to be it's overly permissive, dirty, drugged up streets.


Because apparently no other city in the country has a homeless population. And because apparently, at least to O'Reilly and his ilk, marijuana is still the stuff of nightmares, hyper piano playing, and death.

This is propaganda of the most blatant and ridiculous stripe, but it's not surprising. Many ultra-conservative talk show hosts and even politicians have long since used the phrase "San Francisco values" as a none-too subtle way of saying "evil homosexual and liberal values." So to see O'Reilly and his crew putting together a sort of modern day cross between Birth of a Nation and Cruising does not come as much of a shock. It is still, however, deeply disappointing to know that there are people in this country who hold such antiquated, uninformed views of their fellow citizens--and that some of them are given widely disseminated public platforms.

Yes, San Francisco has major problems--just like every other city. But not only does the segment insinuate that SF is somehow unique in this (and that this is a result of a more liberal government), it also makes out legalized marijuana, homelessness itself, and homosexuality to be part of those problems. I'm amazed garbage like this ever makes it to the air, but more saddened that this is the chosen tactic of those on the far right who still feel so threatened by things they don't understand.

In this day and age, though, they have less and less excuse to continue in their ignorance. Marijuana is not the "demon weed" it was made out to be by a government and industries interested in eliminating all competition for the cotton industry. Homelessness is a problem we as a society must work to eradicate, but the people themselves are not inherently bad and are deserving of the same rights as the rest of us. Homosexuality...well, hot-button as it still (amazingly) is, medical science, history, and the attitudes of younger generations are all on the side of acceptance and respect. The tide has already well and thoroughly turned.

O'Reilly and his ilk? They should perhaps be readying themselves to walk with those dinosaurs they claim their ancestors once rode.

Alive and well

I only shoot padded arrows, I swear.

Just in from a nice, week-long vacation to California, specifically the Bay area, and contrary to popular belief the state didn't force me to get gay married upon entry. Happily, however, it is true that gay couples now have that right, and I can only hope that the trend toward actual equal rights under the law continues nationwide.

Expect a short trip report tomorrow, including recommendations for awesome places to see and hike should you ever find yourself in that part of the country.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with this short and extremely San Francisco story: on the final night of our stay, we got together with some friends to see the recent Indiana Jones film (which thankfully did not suck) at a spectacular old movie palace called the Castro on, predictably, Castro St. When we got out, it was late at night, the air was cool, and many people were out and about. Strolling rather nonchalantly toward us down the sidewalk came three gentlemen, all naked as the day they were born, seemingly without a care (or a cop) in the world. I couldn't think of a more perfectly Castro/SF way to end our vacation, really, and we all went home with a bemused smile and a good tale to tell.

Hope you all had a lovely and relaxing Memorial Day. In addition to the always welcome three-day weekend, it's good to have a day now and then specifically set aside to remember and honor those people who've served their neighbors by serving, whether militarily or as a civilian, in the name of continually striving to make our country and our world a better place for all to live in.