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[Father_Brain]

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1101896768316400.xml

Gay book ban goal of state lawmaker
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
KIM CHANDLER
News staff writer

MONTGOMERY - An Alabama lawmaker who sought to ban gay marriages now wants to ban novels with gay characters from public libraries, including university libraries.

A bill by Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, would prohibit the use of public funds for "the purchase of textbooks or library materials that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle." Allen said he filed the bill to protect children from the "homosexual agenda."

"Our culture, how we know it today, is under attack from every angle," Allen said in a press conference Tuesday.

Allen said that if his bill passes, novels with gay protagonists and college textbooks that suggest homosexuality is natural would have to be removed from library shelves and destroyed.

"I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them," he said.

A spokesman for the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center called the bill censorship.

"It sounds like Nazi book burning to me," said SPLC spokesman Mark Potok.

Allen pre-filed his bill in advance of the 2005 legislative session, which begins Feb. 1.

If the bill became law, public school textbooks could not present homosexuality as a genetic trait and public libraries couldn't offer books with gay or bisexual characters.

When asked about Tennessee Williams' southern classic "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," Allen said the play probably couldn't be performed by university theater groups.

Allen said no state funds should be used to pay for materials that foster homosexuality. He said that would include nonfiction books that suggest homosexuality is acceptable and fiction novels with gay characters. While that would ban books like "Heather has Two Mommies," it could also include classic and popular novels with gay characters such as "The Color Purple," "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "Brideshead Revisted."

The bill also would ban materials that recognize or promote a lifestyle or actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws of Alabama. Allen said that meant books with heterosexual couples committing those acts likely would be banned, too.

His bill also would prohibit a teacher from handing out materials or bringing in a classroom speaker who suggested homosexuality was OK, he said.

Allen has sponsored legislation to make a gay marriage ban part of the Alabama Constitution, but it was not approved by the Legislature.

Ken Baker, a board member of Equality Alabama, a gay rights organization, said Allen was "attempting to become the George Wallace of homosexuality."

Aside from the moral debates, the bill could be problematic for library collections, said Jaunita Owes, director of the Montgomery City-County Library, which is a few blocks from the Alabama Capitol.

"Half the books in the library could end up being banned. It's all based on how one interprets the material," Owes said.

http://www.itaffectsyou.org/blog/index.php?p=125

Alabama Attorney General Troy King acknowledges his state falls last in many areas. But, he is proud to say, there is one area they finished first:

Alabama Attorney General Troy King acknowledges the state tends to fall last among U.S. states in many areas.

But he says he is glad there's one area in which the state recently came out on top: Alabama was the first state where the attorney general asserted the state would not recognize gay marriages performed in Massachusetts. […]

"I took a little bit of pride in the state being first in something that is good, decent and right," said King, who spoke at a College Republicans meeting in the Ferguson Center Forum on Tuesday night.

Last in many areas? King is right. In just a few minutes worth of research, I discovered Alabama ranks 50th in divorce rate, 44th in poverty rate, 35th in teen pregnancies, 37th in unemployment, 43rd in life expectancy, 47th in infant mortality and 44th in education. But AG King can hang a little plaque in his office saying "First State Not Recognizing Gay Marriages Performed in Massachusetts."

Now, I do not mean to insult the people of Alabama or their values, but I do mean to suggest that perhaps it is time to elect people who will address the issues the state faces at home rather than worry about gay marriages in a state more than a thousand miles away. But hey, it's just a suggestion.

 

[CavemanLawyer]

Now, I do not mean to insult the people of Alabama or their values, but I do mean to suggest that perhaps it is time to elect people who will address the issues the state faces at home rather than worry about gay marriages in a state more than a thousand miles away. But hey, it's just a suggestion.

BAM!

 

[FortNinety]

Can we just let the South succeed already? I'm getting pretty tired of this shit. All those who are sane down there, there's still room left up North.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

Can we just let the South succeed already? I'm getting pretty tired of this shit. All those who are sane down there, there's still room left up North.

secede. I'd rather not see them succeed at this rate.

 

[swoon]

muscle shoals, though

 

[ConfusingJazz]

So, um, does that mean anything that has to do with ancient Greek culture is banned from the state of Alabama?

 

[Nerevar]

secede. I'd rather not see them succeed at this rate.

:lol

Looking at the stats, it doesn't look like you have to worry about that Dune Buggy.

 

[etiolate]

Oh Alabama
The devil fools
with the best laid plan.
Swing low Alabama
You got spare change
You got to feel strange
And now the moment
is all that it meant.

Alabama, you got
the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back.
Your Cadillac
has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track

Oh Alabama
Banjos playing
through the broken glass
Windows down in Alabama.
See the old folks
tied in white ropes
Hear the banjo.
Don't it take you down home?

Alabama, you got
the weight on your shoulders
That's breaking your back.
Your Cadillac
has got a wheel in the ditch
And a wheel on the track

Oh Alabama.
Can I see you
and shake your hand.
Make friends down in Alabama.
I'm from a new land
I come to you
and see all this ruin
What are you doing Alabama?
You got the rest of the union
to help you along
What's going wrong?

 

[Jak140]

Well it's not like anyone in Alabama reads anyway.

 

[dammitmattt]

<---- Alabama resident

Before everyone gets up in arms, know that this is just a publicity stunt by a State House Representative from a tiny town. He's just trying to make a name for himself and gain some public support. I seriously doubt that this bill actually has a chance of succeeding.

 

[dammitmattt]

Well it's not like anyone in Alabama reads anyway.

Auburn University produces more NASA engineers than any other university in the country, and has the best college football team in the land.

 

[Jak140]

Auburn University produces more NASA engineers than any other university in the country, and has the best college football team in the land.

And I'm sure that the first thing they do when they graduate is get the hell out of Alabama. Well, maybe not the football players, but I'm not sure what that has to do with reading anyway. ;P

 

[dammitmattt]

And I'm sure that the first thing they do when they graduate is get the hell out of Alabama. Well, maybe not the football players, but I'm not sure what that has to do with reading anyway. ;P

You are aware that one of the biggest NASA sites is in Huntsville, Alabama, right?

I have to at least try to stick up for my state. It's not the best, but if you stick to the cities and the college towns, it's not a bad place at all.

 

[Jak140]

You are aware that one of the biggest NASA sites is in Huntsville, Alabama, right?

I have to at least try to stick up for my state. It's not the best, but if you stick to the cities and the college towns, it's not a bad place at all.

Don't worry, I'm not being completely serious; just giving you a hard time. :lol

 

[ChrisReid]

Last in many areas? King is right. In just a few minutes worth of research, I discovered Alabama ranks 50th in divorce rate, 44th in poverty rate, 35th in teen pregnancies, 37th in unemployment, 43rd in life expectancy, 47th in infant mortality and 44th in education. But AG King can hang a little plaque in his office saying "First State Not Recognizing Gay Marriages Performed in Massachusetts."

:lol

You are aware that one of the biggest NASA sites is in Huntsville, Alabama, right?

And those sites are picked by latitude, efficiency in reaching orbit, viewing angle of the stars and whatnot. And logically the nearby university would supply most of their employees.

 

[Matlock]

Man, and I was about to roll out the lyrics to "If you're gonna play in Texas."

 

[kumanoki]

I appreciate Alabama!

(You've got to have somewhere to do your discount shoppping...)

(State troopers are far more forgiving than in Georgia...)

(How else would I get to Panama City Beach?)

(Without it, the Chattahoochee would be one big ass lake.)

 

[firex]

well, at least it's not a thread for the appreciation of that god awful band Alabama.

 

[dskillzhtown]

I thought this was about the group...

But sounds like a publicity stunt. But the bad thing is that this will get positive reaction in some segments of the country. Just to educate some of you, many people from the North, West, and East would agree with this, not only people from the South.

 

[Lmo911]

Geeze, world's hitting hard on Alabama lately... And I agree with the publicity stunt judgment. This guy's nothing.

If it makes any of you feel better, Alabama is also one of the states supporting California's right to have medicinal marijuana.

Not saying they support the practice, just the right of the state to choose to do so. They even had a huge doobie on the front page of the Birmingham Post Herald! That has to count for something, right?

Yup, strange place I live.

 

[Father_Brain]

Stolen from Americablog:
http://www.marshallco.org/www/so/so.htm

I am proud to be an American and that I was fortunate enough to be born in Alabama. The state that has its motto "We dare defend our rights". I was raised in era, the 1940's as a child and the 1950's as a teenager, which I remember with great affection.

During this era, love of God, family, and country abounded. Men were men and women were women and there was no mistaking which was which. Both were proud of their individual roles. Homosexuality was very queer and a despicable act&#8230; an abomination.

During this era, those parents that owned televisions didn't have to worry that their children might be subjected to filth on television such as nudity, the use of God's name in vain, and other profanity because it was unheard of. Parents could allow their children to go to a movie without having to screen it first because the good guy always wore the white hats. There was no question who the "Good Guy" was. Even the "Bad Guy" in the movie didn't use foul language. During this era our nation had a conscience including the television and movie industry.

Children's school days started with the recitation of the "Lord's Prayer" and the "Pledge of Allegiance" to the flag of the United States of America.

It was a shame to break the law. Convicts worked our roadways in unmistakable clothing (black and white prisoner uniforms that clearly identified them as convicts). Their rights were to be sentenced to jail at hard labor as retribution to the victims and their crimes.

The "Ten Commandments" were proudly displayed as a reminder that the real Commander in Chief and Final Judge is God and that this nation was founded on Judeo/Christian principal. Neighbors helped each other instead of jumping at the chance to file a lawsuit.

A man's word was his bond. My word and bond to you, the citizens of Marshall County, is to do my very best to devote all my energy to do my part to return our society to the values that we once held dear.

Please join me. I need your help. Our children deserve no less.

Hmm... 1940s and 50s... Alabama... you thinking what I'm thinking?

 

[xsarien]

Stolen from Americablog:
http://www.marshallco.org/www/so/so.htm


Hmm... 1940s and 50s... Alabama... you thinking what I'm thinking?

I don't know, Brain, on second thought I'm not sure pink is a good color for Zell Miller.

 

[Fragamemnon]

Auburn University produces more NASA engineers than any other university in the country

Kinda loaded statement, considering the huge number of NASA employees in Huntsville, AL (the space capital of the US). Local recruiting and all that.

Personally, I wish we could take the fried okra and iced tea out of the south, transplant it to a nice place like SE Arizona, and then jettison the South completely from the union (renamed "Jesusland", of course). Really tired of the cracker belt holding such disproporitionate power over the rest of the country as a fuction of economic and cultural contribution.

 

[dammitmattt]

Kinda loaded statement, considering the huge number of NASA employees in Huntsville, AL (the space capital of the US). Local recruiting and all that.

Personally, I wish we could take the fried okra and iced tea out of the south, transplant it to a nice place like SE Arizona, and then jettison the South completely from the union (renamed "Jesusland", of course). Really tired of the cracker belt holding such disproporitionate power over the rest of the country as a fuction of economic and cultural contribution.

For the love of GOD I hope you mean "SWEET TEA."

Specifically Milo's Sweet Tea. Mmmmmm. The worst part of working in New Jersey (besides the weather, the mob wannabes, the roads, and the people) is the complete lack of sweet tea.

 

[Father_Brain]

Interview with Sheriff Holcomb:
http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/01/audio-of-mike-signorile-making-fool-of.html