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Wow, so does this mean everything you write reflects Time Inc's opinion? Or do you perhaps have some sort of standard disclaimer to the effect that it doesn't?
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An experiment for a column I wrote about blogging back in December 2001. All these years later, I haven't been able to kick the habit.
If it's called Daily Blah, how come you don't ... hey, wait, you're writing every day!
See? Told you I'd try harder.
Mister, you talk funny. Are you one of them furrners?
Why yes I am, as it happens. I was born, raised and educated in Great Britain. I've been living in the U.S. since 1996 and identify as British.
I say, old chap, you forgot the "u" in "colour."
No I didn't. I may identify as British, but I am also an American journalist writing for an American audience about mostly American issues. These two different sides of me are a constant source of tension. Nevertheless, Daily Blah will adhere to American English grammar and spelling.
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Daily Blah for... Thursday, February 26, 2004
Making Amends
It’s amazing what some people in this country will believe if you repeat it enough times. They’ll believe that gun sellers deserve way more protection from litigation than the makers of booze and cigarettes, or that Iraq was responsible 9/11, or that Mel Gibson is a serious religious scholar. They’ll even believe that same-sex couples declaring their love for one another in a City Hall 3,000 miles away is such a serious threat to their basic freedoms that it requires rallying the awesome force necessary to change a 220-year-old secular government document.
Yes, folks, that sound you just heard from the White House was the desperate yelp of a wounded president. Far more embarrassing and painful to watch than the Dean scream speech, in its own way. Roughly speaking, it translated to something very similar: “And then we’re gonna go to Massachusetts! And San Francisco! And New Mexico! And tell them who to marry! And then we’re gonna pass constitutional amendments against flag burning! And affirmative action! And we’re not gonna stop until we’ve made bigotry the official state religion! Yeaaagghhhh!!!”
Seriously, I’m surprised that Uncle Karl Rove – upon whose desk this surely must have landed – is not a better student of history. America has only ever passed one attempt at constitutional moral legislation – prohibition – and it was an unmitigated disaster. Whatever they tell pollsters, when they get to the ballot booth most Americans know you don’t mess with that document unless you’ve got a really good reason. Or is Rove expecting the amendment to fail? Is it the martyr’s crown he seeks for the boy king? Nah. Think of the time frame on this one. Even if you got it through Congress before summer, you’d barely get any state constitutional conventions going until, oh, let’s say November. Put it on the presidential ballot and hope people forget what they walked into the booth for. This could well count as another GOP electoral sleight-of-hand in the spirit of the California recall and Texas gerrymandering. Put the amendment on the same ballot as the election, and the whole campaign revolves around gay marriage. Which may mean it’s time for national Democrats – listen up, JForbesK – to stop wincing every time they hear those two wedge words. Repeat after me: you can win over hearts and minds on any issue, even this one. Simply open mouth. Insert spine. Offer vision. Inspire belief.
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