It is common for the hard right to accuse progressives of being snowflakes, meaning, I guess, that they are inordinately sensitive and easily offended. The shoe, however, now appears to be on the other foot, as was recently demonstrated with the expulsion of two black state representatives from the Tennessee House for breaching 'decorum.' Now, snowflakery has again reared its icy crystals, this time in another Republican state, Montana.
Zooey Zephyr, a trans-lawmaker, was suspended from the legislature for another 'breach.' She suggested (brace yourselves) they would have blood on their hands if her colleagues banned gender-affirming medical care for children.
Snowflakes know no bounds an can be found everywhere.
ReplyDeleteWhilst I sympathise with the 'person' expelled from the legislature I have problems getting around the "she"!
I have every sympathy for those with gender issues and have no problem with same sex relationships but a biological male with a female mind is beyond me.
Perhaps humankind can come up with a more fitting por noun?
Perhaps humankind can come up with a more fitting por noun?
DeleteIf you are not a he or a she the proper pronoun is it.
I must admit, lungta, as a retired English teacher who had a deep respect for grammar, the use of the pronoun "they' has always bothered me. All of my pontificating about correct subject-verb agreement out the window!
DeleteOne slight correction to my above comment, lungta. What I should have said was not subject-verb agreement but agreement between the pronoun and its antecedent. For example, "John ran down the street. He (not they) did not see the car coming,"
DeleteTo Republicans, the only tool is a hammer. However, that doesn't mean that a problem doesn't exist. the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands all have had long histories in providing services to those saying that they are experiencing gender dysphoria. UK in particular's report on how their system was working led them to change course very significantly - that "gender affirming" would change immediately to "watchful waiting", based on the Cass Report. Children's histories of autism, abuse, eating disorders, family trauma were being ignored if the child indicated gender dysphoria. Now, the issues will be dealt with first and foremost. Medications and surgeries for minors would become extremely rare. These changes were evidence-based, not politically based. No one is outlawing gender care, but the total approach that is currently advocated by APA is being discarded elsewhere. However Democrats are ignoring these studies and analysis of experiences elsewhere. Each side sees the issue as all or nothing. Actually, I think they may both be using hammers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information, Anon. I shall take a look at the Cass Report, with which I am not familiar. What you are suggesting, I think, is that sober analysis, rather that reactionary thinking, is what is called for on both sides. Ideology clearly cannot be the start and end-point of these discussions.
DeletePerhaps we are been drawn into a fools discussion on the US obsession with culture issues whilst ignoring the obvious attack and the erosion of democracy most notably in the legislative houses of state government?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cnn.com/2023/04/07/us/tennessee-democrat-house-representatives-expelled-friday/index.html
Truly, TB, I see the two as inextricably linked. When the two Black lawmakers were ousted in Tennessee, it really was tantamount to telling the electors that their judgement was bad in choosing Pearson and Jones to represent them, and therefore they were being imperiously discounted. I see the same dynamic at work in the Montana situation. It is as if the right no longer even tries to hide its contempt for the voice of the people if it doesn't agree with their own.
DeleteThe lack of decorum ousting was from using megaphones inside their legislature as I understand it.
DeleteDemocracy as well as every other institution will be under threat as long as we have to accomodate immature delusional imaginary feelings and gender dysphoria hallucinations as equal to adult fact and science.
ReplyDeleteTwo white guys would have been censured for megaphones
Perhaps two white people would have been censured, lunta, but would they have been ousted from the state legislature?
DeleteAnother example from the USA.
ReplyDeletehttps://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3879164-florida-lawmakers-bill-would-get-rid-of-the-democratic-party/
TB
Thanks, TB. I was at first incredulous reading the piece, but then I remembered the state involved in this outrageous proposal is Florida.
Delete