SOUNDBITES — “These dedicated, brave and inspirational protesters who came of age yesterday have my unequivocal support. No longer will I be silent in the face of this growing injustice. Whether they are the beginning of a new wave and new tactics for this community has yet to be seen. This much I do know: I plan on giving money, signing up and supporting GetEqual.org to see where it leads us. They have proven to me they deserve a chance. After all, eighteen years later we still have “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. What are we waiting for?” —Activist David Mixner, celebrating yesterday’s actions with a nod toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (via)
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David Mixner Is Getting All MLK Jr. Over Get Equal’s Ballsy Move
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Dan
Why does it say CONTINUED at the end of the paragraph?
When I clicked on CONTINUED, there was no additional information, it took me directly to comments.
terrwill
Until that miserable vile crunt Bernice King holds another rally at her Fathers grave to denounce the Gays again…….
AndrewW
David Mixner is simply attempting to make himself viable.
Yesterday’s childish publicity stunts did nothing to change any minds or garner any support for our community. They likely did just the opposite.
Mixner and some in his generation continue to mislead young people by filling them with old, tired ideas from a bygone era. Mixner asked GetEqual and Dan Choi to make believe it was 1970 yesterday. He convinced them to ignore the simple reality that the world has changed and we must too.
We have enough attention for our struggle – confirmed by the fact that a 10 year old boy from Arkansas refused to pledge allegiance until the LGBT community had equality. WE DON’T NEED ATTENTION, WE NEED RESULTS.
If Mixner wants to continue promoting this behavior and suggesting it is effective, WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE? Tell us HOW these childish stunts furthered our objectives. Because here’s a news bulletin: NOBODY cares if you are ANGRY or the half a dozen self-described activists are angry.
The LGBT Community needs accountability – from HRC to ill-conceived publicity stunts to political efforts – and that includes old-school David Mixner. If you want to promote these activities, provide some evidence that they are effective, otherwise shut up and let these tired old ideas fade into the past where they belong – with your 8-track tapes, VW Buses and tied-dyed t-shirts.
Athiest
@AndrewW: bullshit.
AndrewW
@Athiest: “Bullshit?” That’s your EVIDENCE? You must have something? If these stunts were effective, please tell US how.
Mixner may want to Supersize the tired old idea of civil disobedience, but we want some evidence. Because if this does lead to changing minds and garnering support WE WILL ALL CHAIN OURSELVES TO FENCES or DISRUPT SUPPORTIVE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
Accountability requires evidence or proof. Where is it?
Cam
No. 3 · AndrewW
David Mixner is simply attempting to make himself viable.
Yesterday’s childish publicity stunts did nothing to change any minds or garner any support for our community. They likely did just the opposite.
___________________
The coverage on CNN, was incredibly supportive. They talked about what a shame it was that an honorable man like Choi wasn’t allowed to serve, they had commentators on saying that what the gay community was doing was right int his instance, and that they weren’t attacking their friends, they were doing what the black community was doing and that was reminding their friends, how they got elected and that they were accountable. This was a national news program that is watched by millions and by members of congress who completely came down on the side of Choi, there is no way you can say that this did nothing. Congresspeople are scared of bad publicity. That is what they will get if they fail in this repeal.
AndrewW
@Cam: ATTENTION does not equal SUPPORT. It is NOT evidence that these publicity stunts HELP us. Nobody is going to change their mind because Dan Choi is upset or angry. They can only happen with understanding. Making news isn’t making progress.
No votes in the Congress will change because of these stunts.
Thankfully, this publicity stunt got very little attention in the mainstream media. I suppose it’s not that harmful if we look stupid on our own Blogs, we don’t need to show the world we’re stuck in the past and that we engage in stunts instead of a real strategy.
Athiest
@AndrewW: You need a history lesson, and I’m not the one to give it.
Cam
No. 7 · AndrewW
@Cam: ATTENTION does not equal SUPPORT. It is NOT evidence that these publicity stunts HELP us. Nobody is going to change their mind because Dan Choi is upset or angry. They can only happen with understanding. Making news isn’t making progress.
____________________
Once again, you keep saying these things but provide no proof. Congress absolutly pays attention to what the national news and the DC political blogs are saying. Please do not try to say that CNN, giving sympathetic coverage to this guy, calling him a dedicated honorable man and how terrible it is, that he has to do this. Please do not try to tell me that this has absolutly no effect on Congress. What I do notice though is that you never ever, say what YOU would do. HRC’s lobbying isn’t helping, every single gay friendly section to the health care reform bill, including ending the unfair taxation of Domestic Partner benefits was not included int he bill…so there was millions of their lobbying dollars flushed away, and you also say that Choi’s event was bad..so again, what would YOU do, what would YOU recomend?
AndrewW
@Cam: The first thing I would do and I believe we need to do as a community is to hold every idea, tactic, strategy and organization ACCOUNTABLE. That’s where we start.
You can just suggest that these publicity stunts were effective – where’s the evidence?
I agree that HRC has been mostly the waste of $500 million, most of it dedicated to ineffective lobbying efforts. The LGBT Community is finally understanding that reality.
When we collectively agree to be very honest and objective, including being willing to let go of our favorites, and subject everything to an honest appraisal, we will begin to see new ideas and strategies develop.
I appreciate your comments. There are new ideas and strategies on the horizon, but you have witnessed many times the reluctance of many in the LGBT Community to hold ideas/tactic/strategies accountable. Until we agree to embrace accountability, we’ll keep engaging in unproductive behavior. We’ll keep destroying enthusiasm and participation. That must stop.
AndrewW
@Athiest: So, you want to use history as evidence? Grow up – it’s 2010.
Cam
No. 10 · AndrewW
@Cam: The first thing I would do and I believe we need to do as a community is to hold every idea, tactic, strategy and organization ACCOUNTABLE. That’s where we start.
You can just suggest that these publicity stunts were effective – where’s the evidence?
____________________
I pointed out to you that Choi’s actions had garnered very favorable coverage on CNN and aother national news. As somebody who lives in DC, I can tell you that this is what Congress cares about. When the news focuses on something pressure is added. Do you think Toyota would be recalling it’s cars if the news hadn’t caught wind of that issue? So again, There is my evidence, but I have a question back at you…. 😉 What would YOU call effective? If your definition of “Effective” is different than mine we could be debating at cross purposes, and your definition can’t be “All gay rights laws passed” I mean what is effective as far as showing that the next step has been achieved.
J
@AndrewW: Yeah Honey…a I don’t want to hear what you can’t do, I want to hear what you can do. All of your posts knock down anything anyone has done in the past at a grassroots level, yet not a single one has mentioned what you think is going to be effective. Sooo…spill the beans and share with the rest of the community if you have all these grand ideas that WILL work.
If you have no grand ideas, then sit down, shut the fuck up, and let those who actually DO something (anything at this point), do what they do.
You must be an employee of HRC, because its seems only those out to save their jobs are the ones who denounce and form of LGBT activism.
J
*denounce any form of LGBT activism
DR
@AndrewW:
Andrew, all you have been doing all over the web is complaining about what went down yesterday. This is why LGBT advocacy doesn’t work. You think you know it all at the ripe age of what, 24? You don’t. But you continue to rail against the folks who have a grasp of advocacy and organizing, and shout them down thinking you’re smarter and more well-equipped to do something.
If you’re so brilliant, what do you propose? And if you can’t propose anything besides a bitch-and-stitch session about how ineffective civil disobedience is, maybe it’s time to get off the computer, dude. We’re tired of listening to you gripe.
AndrewW
@DR: Then please provide evidence that these publicity stunts work. Or HRC’s lobbying?
Don’t reject accountability – we need to hold every tactic, idea, strategy and organization accountable.
GetEqual is just another carbo-copy of EqualityAcrossAmerica, JoinTheImpact, EqualityNetwork and many others.
We don’t need yet another non-profit with the same tired strategy begging for our money – we need accountability. Because until we make that important, we will continue to defeat ourselves.
BamBam
@AndrewW:
What the hell do you mean by accountability? It’s more than a catchphrase. Repeating a word over and over isn’t a logical argument; It’s a sign you got nothing and don’t want to admit it.
jeffree
Please ask AndrewW, aka Brian NYC & assorted aliases & “pretend friends” what his ideas are. He has none.
it’s SO easy for him to criticize other people’s acts but until he has a GOOD IDEA on what 2 do different, ignore him!!
He’s like the genius @ a bar: full of negativity and **SHORT** on good ideas.,
that’s another word for UNHELPFUL TROLL.
He’s already got kicked off of other websites, lets kick him off here 2 !!
AndrewW
@BamBam:
@jeffree:
It’s okay if you both support GetEqual. The simple question was whether or not these “publicity stunts” actually work.
Several similar organizations have already announced and folded within a year because they couldn’t raise any money.
I know Kip and Robin want to make a living from these stunts, but they also have a responsibility to demonstrate that these actions are effective. If not, they’ll fold, too.
Accountability means provide some evidence.