Friday, February 28, 2014

Arizona: Top Trying to Rationalize Discrimination

Arizona's SB1062 gives us a wonderful example of how the view of a hierarchy is so different from the top than it is from the bottom.

People on top of a hierarchy (those claiming religion as a legitimate reason to discriminate) use rationalizations so that they won't have to examine how their actions adversely affect those in lower groups (in this case LGBT folks). Also coming into play are elaborate uses of "noble causes" to justify their beliefs.

What a wonderful example happened this week in Arizona, where people are using their hierarchical religions to rationalize that they are really the ones being slighted, because they can not hide behind their religion to discriminate.

In hierarchical religions, "Man" is not made in the image of God, but instead, "God" is made in the image of a man on top of a hierarchy. Here is a perfect example.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/25/us/arizona-brewer-sb1062/

Friday, February 14, 2014

An Old White Guy from Texas Done Good


Dale Hansen, a Dallas sports anchor for ABC local affiliate WFAA, made a wonderful address on Monday night in support of Michael Sam, the SEC defensive lineman poised to become the first openly gay player in the NFL.


He did a great job of pointing out that violent and criminal behavior of men is overlooked in allowing players the benefits of the NFL, but the NFL is balking at accepting a gay man. Typical of hierarchies, the top group (straight men) is allowed to act and and do as they please, but the bottom group (gay men) barely has the right to exist. 
Mr. Hansen was interviewed live today on "Ellen," with his charismatic wife Chris supporting him in the audience. He said that people might be surprised that an old, fat, white man from Texas would say what he did, and stereotypes are falling on both sides. He said that the outpouring of positive comments and support gives him hope for a good future for his children and grandchildren.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olc5C4SXAYM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NTNZzskIME

Monday, February 10, 2014

You Won't Forget This Twenty Minutes

Even after studying hierarchies for thirty years, both of us were really amazed by this movie, and learned a lot.

Imagine a world where being gay or lesbian is the norm and being straight is the minority. This role reversal is a short movie told through the life of a girl who is straight, but is harassed in a homosexual culture that views being straight as wrong.

This short movie takes less than twenty minutes to watch, but you will remember that twenty minutes for a long time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnOJgDW0gPI