I'm a loser, so that mean I win? Apparently not...

As a point of order (yes I'm referencing Glee, which I will be addressing) I have to say that I usually watch Glee on Wednesday mornings, as I'm not home Tuesday nights and get home far to late to appreciate it.  In any case, there's a couple of issues I have with Glee, or more poignantly it's fans.  And then it's message from this week's episode, which incidentally is an issue I've been having for awhile.

Firstly, I would like to call attention to the fact that just last episode pretty much everyone (including me) was not happy with Glee and/or it's message.  Some were even ready to jump ship and abandon the show altogether because of the tiresome storyline that last episode wove.  I'll admit freely that I had issues with the presentation of the storyline and the lack of realism it had, but it's TV and primetime TV on Fox no less, so I was willing to give it a little leeway.  After all, everyone (even Television show writers) have off days.  But apparently not everyone felt as I did (shocking, I know).  However, after last nights episode all seems to have been forgotten, and even praised because of a couple of things, I'm guessing.  One probably was the fact that Blaine and Kurt finally got together.  It's about time.  Jeez, they've only been singing around each other for pretty much the whole season, so it's nice to finally see two boys kiss on primetime network television (twice!).  Kudos!  The second issue that probably had fans rushing back to declare allegiance to the show is the fact that it returned to spouting that "new" idea that being a loser is something to be celebrated because "it get's better'. 

Now, I'm not against the It Gets Better project at all.  In fact I'm wholly behind it.  I only mean to use the phrase as a anecdote that people spout because they're unwilling to really listen to other people's problems and share their pain, because while immediate pain is fleeting, that doesn't mean that there won't be more down the line.  Then Glee performed Pink's song Dirty Little Freaks.  And then the original songs that New Directions performed.  All good songs with a great message.  But the idea that celebrates being a freak is a little chalky to me.  I grew up as a freak/nerd/outcast/pick appropriate term.  I was never really accepted by my peers (and oddly enough it continues to this day, meh, whatever).  In any case, yay, celebrate the things that set you apart from others, don't be a sheep, own who you are.  Those are all wonderful messages when they come from pop stars(and starlets) and television shows.  But what nobody mentions that along with accepting your differences comes hardship and ridicule from those who are agents of upholding the status quo.  It's hard to be different or have different ideals or opinions, and you have to be willing to stick with it and deal with the crap that will be slung your way for embracing that.  Nobody ever mentions that. 

Now the reason that I mention that is that I read this story and I watched the video, and then I read the news story linked on the one that I originally saw.  Now, I'm not sure of the orientation of the young man who got attacked, but I feel for him.  I've never been physically assaulted in my adult life (and I work very hard not to be) but to be honest, I'm actually afraid sometimes that it will happen.  And I know that I don't have the physical wherewithal to protect myself and am pretty much solely reliant on my wits and my ability to talk my way out of things, which has served me well.  But I think his message of we need to do more is a relevant one.  With all due respect to the It Gets Better project, it's one thing to say that it gets better, but a whole other thing to work towards that goal.  I see a lot of talking, but I don't see a lot of action and or outrage at the state of affairs for Gay Rights in this country.  Maybe we've become complacent, but maybe we're victims of a society of distractions.  Or maybe we're just waiting for the majority of our opponents to die off.  Who knows?  But either way there's not much fire/passion/heart in the movement for gay rights, beyond a general agreement that something needs to get better.

As evidence that while we're talking and saying that it gets better, another young man ends up beaten to death.  Read about it here and here.  At the end of the news story (the second link) the aunt of one of the party crashers says he can't be a gang menber because he's anemic and weighs "like 80 pounds".  Really, it's impossible for him to be a gang member because of that.  I'm sorry, last I checked even someone with those physical stats and whatnot could wield a firearm, which is more than threatening enough. 

I thought about writing more, but I've been eloquent and indignant enough.  I got passed over for even the chance to interview for a supervisor position at work.  I was going to go more in depth about the situation, and wrote all about it, but then sense got the better of me and I thought I'd better not.  Since this is on the internet which even people at work can access.  =)

Anyway, I have to shower and go walk my dog.  Happy Wednesday!