Author: ali redford

I love dogs and people. I want living creatures to thrive. I love to cook, and share the food, but ya gotta get in line in front of the dog.

A Bit Of A Sojo Article I Read Earlier

of interest here. OpinionPoliticsDemocracy, Voting, and Governance

The Church Can Offer Trans Refuge From Bad Theology and Bad Legislation

By Oisín Rowe

Snippet:
In the book The Great Open Dance: A Progressive Christian Theology, theologian Jon Paul Sydnor argues that even the apostle Paul calls for an allegorical reading of Genesis by citing his letter to the church in Galatia. In Galatians 4:21-31, Paul explains the significance of Sarah and Hagar. In verse 24, he tells his audience, “These things are being taken figuratively: the women represent two covenants.” If Paul didn’t read Genesis literally, then I think that permits Christians to interpret Genesis from a more open perspective when it comes to gender and sexuality.

I hold out hope that the Bible can be interpreted in such a way as to make room for me and other trans people. I grasp on to the idea that there is a Christianity out there that is safe and committed to fighting anti-trans legislation. Perhaps to my own harm, I even sometimes find myself hoping that fundamentalists and the Far Right can be persuaded. Persuaded to care, persuaded to see the shared humanity between themselves and transgender people, persuaded by their own good book to protect my community and change their ways. Though I know this is unlikely, I continue to cling to hope. As I am literally fed and cared for by a Christian community, I gain a better understanding of what faith looks like. Today, I am choosing to have faith in my identity as something beautiful and chosen, and good.

In Transgender, Intersex, and Biblical Interpretation, theologians Terese J. Hornsby and Deryn Guest write, “The trans body is not a minority exception to a two-gendered system; it is not an anomaly or a body that exists in the margins. The reality is that there are no margins.” This limitlessness, this abundance, is not only good theology, it is safety, it is belonging.

Oisín Rowe

Beware!

It’s A Trap by Clay Jones

For my fellow Star Wars kids Read on Substack

The entire world has come to know that the Oval Office is now a trap.

When Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky visited the White House, Trump sprang a trap on him that included veep, JD Vance, who definitely doesn’t fuck couches. I’m glad we cleared that up.

Trump used JD as a pitbull to start the attack, and for him to come in from behind. Zelensky can be scary, yo. And it was smart as Zelesnky picked apart JD’s attack of “Why haven’t you tried diplomacy?” Zelesnky calmly gave JD a thorough history lesson.

JD and Trump were raising their voices, shouting at Zelensky as though it was his fault Russia illegally invaded his nation, and Ukraine had failed to use diplomacy to avoid it, just as Poland had failed to use diplomacy against the Nazis. Haven’t we learned anything from history?

At some point, Trump and JD realized they were embarrassing themselves and the nation, and they kicked Zelensky out of the White House. I can’t wait until we kick Trump out of the White House. Again.

In April, Trump was interviewed by Terry Moran of ABC News in the Oval Office, and Trump bullied Moran, trying to get him to accept that a fake photo was real.

“MS13” had been superimposed onto the photo Trump was showing of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man Trump illegally deported to a Salvadoran prison, with the text clearly typed on top of his knuckles. Oddly enough, Trump had shared the same photo a week before without the text superimposed. Our president (sic) is a moron.

Moran tried to direct the conversation away from the silly photo, probably trying to save Trump some further embarrassment, but Grandpa wouldn’t let it go. He kept insisting that Moran believe the obvious lie.

Trump did it again last week, springing an Oval Office trap on the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.

Trump was showing Ramaphosa photos and videos, often of the wrong places and without context, insisting that White genocide was taking place in his nation. It’s not. (snip-MORE)

“Blowin’ In The Wind”, And An Important SCOTUS Decision in Regard to Labor in Peace & Justice History for 5/27

May 27, 1940
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled a sit-down strike was not a violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act even if it interfered with interstate commerce. The company had sued for treble damages (triple their financial loss) under the Act. The Court said that if the strike were found to be a restraint of trade, then “practically every strike in modern industry would be brought within the jurisdiction of the federal courts under the Sherman Act.”
The American Federation of Full Fashioned Hosiery Workers under its president, William Leader, had declared a strike at Apex Hosiery Co. in Philadelphia, and had organized support among other workers in the city. When Apex refused to recognize the union, he declared a sit-down strike and led an occupation of the factory which lasted for
seven weeks.
Unlike the UAW sit-down at the GM plant in Flint, however, violence was committed against the management personnel and significant damage was done to manufacturing equipment.
Summary and full text of the Supreme Court decision 
May 27, 1963

The record album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, which featured the song “Blowin’ in the Wind,” was released. The song warns of the perils of nuclear war.“ …how many times must the cannon balls fly Before they’re forever banned?”
The song and the lyrics 

https://www.peacebuttons.info/E-News/peacehistorymay.htm#may27

Good Info From The Bee-

A Hidden Reading Suggestion

Janet Shares,

with a well-advised tissue alert.

Understanding Trans Lives: Emotional Insights from ElectricDade

In Regard To GoComics

I think others here read on GoComics, so likely are aware that they did some work on their site. I’m an almost-daily reader there, but I have no account; I just go there and read the ones I want to read.

One of those is “Fur Babies.” Nancy Beiman has not only created a genius little toon about a girl and pets, she’s also mentioned other ‘toonists and their work, and I read those now, most of the time, as well.

Since I don’t have an account, I’m not aware of the issues Ms. Beiman mentions here in her substack. I do see, in comments when I bother reading those, that people have trouble getting in, getting around, and seeing what they go to GoComics to see. So, all of that is the background for this, from Nancy Beiman. Maybe none of you read her comic, and don’t mind what she or any other artist does. But, maybe some of you do, so please read this and give her your thoughts, all right? You’ll need to click through to Substack to do so. And thanks!

A Question and a Poll by Nancy Beiman

Two year anniversary…then what? Read on Substack

FurBabies will have its second GoComics publication anniversary on June 5, 2025.

I was told that I should allow two years for the strip to get off the runway. The time is nearly up, it’s still on the runway, and I need to know if the flight should be cancelled.

Drawing a daily strip is a lot of work for very little reward, and I’m not talking about money. I got rewarded well at first. A core group of readers posted daily on the GoComics page. They enjoyed the strip, there were very few trolls, and the number of followers was going steadily up. Then they changed the site and everything changed for FurBabies.

The strip now gets 50% of the likes and comments that it formerly received. I have no way of seeing if the followers are increasing or decreasing. Some commenters have disappeared (most were able to return, although not without difficulty) No one can see the number of followers change any more. The system now only changes when 100 people add or leave the page. This is of little consequence to strips with thousands of followers, but it is devastating to ones with fewer than two thousand (I am not the only one in this predicament). If the smaller strips aren’t publicized, they never will become better known. I’ve done everything I could to get the word out, but am completely discouraged by the recent developments.

I’m running a poll here and on Instagram: Should I keep drawing the FurBabies?

They were intended to bring a little fun and innocent humor into the comics. The zeitgeist tends toward ‘dark’, snarky, or autobiographical strips lacking in humor. I’m out of touch and I know it. Frankly I don’t want to be ‘in touch’ with these times.

If I do continue FurBabies, I will most likely go to alternate days and drop daily updates.

Thank you for reading this and I look forward to hearing from you.

Nancy

(snip-go answer the poll-it’s a simple couple of clicks. I don’t mind how you vote, but she’d appreciate the information.)

Janet Brings Us Digby

Are We Safe? The Implications of ICE’s Power

The First US Witch Execution in 1647, and More in Peace & Justice History for 5/26

May 26, 1647

The first person in America was executed for the crime of witchcraft. Alse Young was arrested, tried in Windsor, Connecticut, and hanged at Meeting House Square in Hartford, the site of what is now the Old State House.
There is no further record of Young’s trial or the specifics of the charge — only that she was a woman, as 80% of those executed for witchcraft were. The Salem witch trials would not begin for another 45 years.
Some 300 years later the U.S. experienced another “witch hunt” as Senator Joe McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee pursued communists. Arthur Miller makes this comparison in his famous play “The Crucible.”
Read more about the play “The Crucible”   The Guardian
May 26, 1937
United Auto Workers organizers and Ford Service Department men clashed in a violent confrontation on the Miller Road Overpass outside Gate 4 of the Ford River Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Michigan. It became known as “The Battle of the Overpass.” Henry Ford announced: “We’ll never recognize the United Automobile Workers Union or any other union.” Though General Motors and Chrysler signed collective bargaining agreements with the UAW in 1937, Ford held out until 1942.
More background and photos 
Read more
 T
The Ford Servicemen (goons) approach Walter Reuther and Richard Frankensteen, third and second from right, and the other unionists.

UAW official Richard Frankensteen being beaten by Ford goons
May 26, 1946
A patent was filed in the U.S. for the H-Bomb, the hydrogen, or fusion-based, nuclear explosive device.
May 26, 1969

John Lennon and Yoko Ono (along with her 5-year-old daughter Kyoko) held their second Bed-in for Peace at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. A late-night rendition of “Give Peace a Chance,” recorded in the hotel room with their visitors singing and accompanying, reached No.14 on the Billboard pop music charts.
John and Yoko meet cartoonist Al Capp in their hotel room 
May 26, 1972
The Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty was signed by U.S. and U.S.S.R. (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics which included Russia and 15 other republics). The two countries agreed not to build defensive missile systems and thus to limit escalation of the nuclear arms race. It was reasoned that if either side deployed defensive missiles, the other would be forced to respond by increasing the number, explosive yield or effectiveness of their offensive nuclear weapons and delivery systems to maintain the balance of nuclear deterrence.
Research and development of defensive systems was allowed under the ABM treaty, the U.S. having spent about $100 billion in the 20 years before the treaty was abrogated by President George W. Bush in the first months of his presidency.
May 26, 1991
20,000 Israeli Jews and Palestinians participated in a peace rally in Israel’s capital, Tel Aviv.

https://www.peacebuttons.info/E-News/peacehistorymay.htm#may26

Some Harvard News from God (just read it!) 😉

Trump Humiliates Himself at West Point Graduation by God

Just in time for Memorial Day. Read on Substack

Snippet:

3. God’s Final Word

Dictator Donald wants everyone afraid and confused at all times. Verily, God says fuck that.

There is a better story I want to share.

Harvard just announced free online courses for every US citizen. Topics include basic government, the Constitution, and how to recognize a dictatorship.

Now that is how you defeat tyranny. Not with fear, or panic, but with knowledge. With clarity. With truth. And with stories of hope.

The fight is far from over. But we are not alone.

We will not go quietly.
We will not forget.
We will fight like hell. And we will win.

(snip)

Is It A Good Day To Post About Drag in The US Army?

Everyday’s a good day to do that! Jeff Tiedrich included this in his substack today about the President’s grad speech at West Point. I also linked that below this snippet, if anyone’s interested in that. It’s TMI for me today, but very good; I read his most days. Meanwhile, back to the Army news: -A

Drag in the military: How drag queens helped U.S. soldiers win World War II

Ronald Reagan was even involved in this largely-forgotten tradition.

By Dan Tracer Friday, June 21, 2024 · Updated on June 22, 2024

Long before RuPaul’s Drag Race, Drag Queen Story Hour, or any one of the countless drag shows gracing the stages of LGBTQ+ bars around the world, there was another popular spot for performative gender-bending: U.S. military bases in the 1940s.

During World War II, the military embraced drag shows as a unique form of entertainment and a morale-boosting activity. These officially sanctioned events featured all-male performances with soldiers often dressing in women’s attire. According to author Allan Bérubé, GIs staged these shows everywhere from makeshift platforms to grand theater stages, incorporating popular female impersonation routines of the day.

Due to the official segregation of the armed forces, service-member theater productions had no option but to cast men in female roles.

One of the most iconic productions of the era, “This is the Army,” was initially a Broadway musical designed to raise funds for troops. It later became a sensation as a 1943 film starring Ronald Reagan, 37 years before he was elected President of the United States. These shows not only provided soldiers with much-needed diversion during the stresses of conflict but also served as a safe haven for gay service members, as explained by Joe E. Jeffreys, a drag historian and professor at New York University’s New School. (snip; a little MORE with video)

==========================

elderly golfer’s brain goes fuckity-bye in batshit West Point speech by Jeff Tiedrich

Donny can’t be bothered to act like a human being Read on Substack