Some More Thoughts About the Conservative Agenda

[grav_ity]

We're two days out from the election. People have probably made up their minds. They're already talking about a Liberal minority, and whispers of a PC/NDP coalition are circulating (HOW WOULD THAT EVEN WORK?).

The National Post ran an ad a few days ago that was ludicrously transphobic. Under the McGuinty government, teachers are required to conform to curriculum requirements that have them teach about homophobia, and that a heteronormative lifestyle is not the only one. They are not allowed to send home notes warning parents that this is about to be taught, and parents can't pull their kids from the classes. The idea behind the restrictions is that the teachers are trying to teach non-heteronormative as normal and acceptable. While I realize it might cause some awkwardness, I'm for it.

(There's a side post here about how a bunch of kids in my high school got out of reading "The Wars" by Timothy Findlay, a book I really disliked, but instead of actually talking about the violence and sexual content, the teachers just had them read "All Quiet on the Western Front", a book I kind of liked, instead. TALKING IS KEY, is my point here. By NOT talking, we solve nothing. Hard conversations are usually the most important ones.)

Obviously, other people are not. And they are voting for Tim Hudak.

The ad, which just boils my blood, features the photo of a small girl and text of her asking her teachers not to confuse her by letting her know that she may have other options.



It makes me angry.

Now, the National Post, which ran the ad, issued an apology and pulled it. The Sun, a paper out of Toronto, ran it anyway. It infuriates me.

It gets more interesting. Technically, the ad was independent, but a couple days ago, there were some Actual Conservative pamphlets passed out, that are quite similar to the ad. As has (unfortunately) become the norm with the Conservatives, the pamphet is RIFE with factual errors, most of which are grossly misleading and serve no real purpose other than to make a touchy situation worse.

What I kind of want to see is another ad, with that same picture of the little girl that says "I'm confused. Everyone tells me I'm a girl, but I don't feel like one. Mummy makes me wear clothes I don't like and Daddy won't let me pay baseball with my brothers. I wish there was a teacher who could explain this to me, because I like who I am. OH, WAIT THERE IS! THANK YOU MR. McGUINTY!"

It's possible that I am too emotional for politics...

+++

The good news is that the Liberal response ads (to the first wave of Cons. attack ads) are tasteful and fight back at the same time, and they've FINALLY starting invoking the spectre of Mike Harris, which makes me happy. They are fighting with numbers, not names (more or less), and I appreciate that. *bites nails*

Comments

[ancarett]

I can't see a PC/NDP coalition being floated, except by some crazy pundits or newscasters. These people aren't even on the same book, let alone the same page.

I've made up my mind based on the issues that are important to me and mine. I don't think it will have a big impact but I really hate our smug incumbent and the policies he represents so I'm happy to have an alternative I can embrace!

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

These people aren't even on the same book, let alone the same page.

It was on CTV. They were asking Horvath about it. I was all "Um...guys? WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING?"

I really sort of love the incumbent here...but I couldn't bring myself to vote for her.

[shadadukal]

The idea behind the restrictions is that the teachers are trying to teach non-heteronormative as normal and acceptable. While I realize it might cause some awkwardness, I'm for it.

Heck yes, that's a good thing.

Hard conversations are usually the most important ones.

Hear, hear.

Funny, I've been far less confused about who I am since I "discovered" bisexuality and non-gender binary ideas. I WISH I HAD HEARD OF THAT EARLIER! That would have be swell. I would have felt like far less of a freak.

Your idea for a counter ad is magnificent. Can you send it to someone who would make it happen?

I'll go look at pictures of kitten now.

[querulouspeg.livejournal.com]

Not entirely related but I thought you would enjoy this, taken yesterday at the Conservative Party conference here in the UK!

[pirateveronica.livejournal.com]

ug. The Sun is a piece of crap.

I've been hearing about the NDP/PC coalition and I don't really have words, its just a blank stare. Seriously? Horvath knows she'd get more done with McGuinty than Hudak. Madness.

Hudak scares the bejezzes out of me, certainly more than Harper does, which is frightening.

I love the blatantly racist radio ads he's been running all campaign, about evil immigrants and foreign university students.

The nightmarish future of a Harper federal govt, a Hudak provincial, and a Ford Toronto makes me feel ill. (I don't live in Toronto, but Im close enough to feel the effects).

Dreading Thursday night now.

#hatetheworld

oh, and frak gender binaries.

"I'm confused. Everyone tells me how to dress, how to act, and how to behave and if I do these things nothing bad will happen to me. How come than when I get assaulted its my fault? I followed the rules. Please, explain this to me"

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Agreed on Hudak. During the leadership race, my sister thought he was a member of the Tea Party!

The nightmarish future of a Harper federal govt, a Hudak provincial, and a Ford Toronto makes me feel ill. (I don't live in Toronto, but Im close enough to feel the effects).

I AM TRYING NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT! It's just...too scary for words.

People are stupid, I think.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I believe that every human being has intrinsic value, being made in the image of God, and that hatred and bigotry grieve God's heart and are a disgrace to anyone who claims to represent Him. I also don't believe that religious education should be carried out in schools, unless the school's own mandate makes it plain that teaching a certain religion is part of their curriculum and all the parents and children involved are aware of that and consent to it.

I believe that children should be aware that there are other viewpoints in the world and that other families and individuals make different choices, and I believe there comes a time when every child has to grow up and take responsibility for their own beliefs instead of merely passively accepting what their parents tell them.

But I also believe that every parent has the right to raise their children according to their own convictions, even if I disagree with those convictions. And do I believe that any school should have the right, let alone the government-dictated mandate, to tell my children what they should and should not believe about sexual morality and conduct -- especially without notifying me? Absolutely not. That's WAY out of line.

I have no intention of voting for Tim Hudak. But I am definitely not in favor of what McGuinty's done here.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Is was the deliberate misinformation on the part of the Conservatives that angered me the most. Thank you for weighing in. :)

[lone-pyramid.livejournal.com]

I could tell by the language of the first few points that it couldn't have come from the curriculum, but I suppose not everyone has that advantage. ;)

But oh yes, that is just rage-inducing. How is there not a fine (at the least?!) involved for that sort of deliberate misinformation?

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Dude, even WITHOUT knowing the curriculum, I could tell! If only because of the germ-worries involved in a kissing booth! ;)

[lone-pyramid.livejournal.com]

Ha, the kids at elementary schools aren't even really supposed to hold hands while under our supervision. Kissing booths? I'm a little worried about the mind of the person who wrote that.

[lone-pyramid.livejournal.com]

The thing about a Liberal minority government is, the NDP is probably more likely to side with them than the PCs, so it might not be all bad. Because at least it's still a Liberal gov't.

Also, I was wondering about why the news reported Hudak being greeted by transgendered people when he was here yesterday. Now I am informed.

We talked about some of the policies in class today. Some kids are all "I'm voting XX!" and you know it's because of their parents. I may have swung a student or two away from Hudak in spite of my attempt at impartiality.... *g*

(Seriously, one of my grade fives brought up Hudak's attack ads. Dude, if a ten-year-old has noticed that your only ads are attacking McGuinty -- and he did notice that -- then you have some serious problems.)

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

(Seriously, one of my grade fives brought up Hudak's attack ads. Dude, if a ten-year-old has noticed that your only ads are attacking McGuinty -- and he did notice that -- then you have some serious problems.)

Aw, you're doing your job right! ;)

I assumed that with a Liberal minority there would be a larger NDP role. Yesterday when they were talking about a PC/NDP official coalition, I was TERRIFICALLY CONFUSED.

[lone-pyramid.livejournal.com]

I try. :D

Yes, as was anyone who heard that, I'm sure. Might the reporter have mis-spoke and said the wrong party?

Or perhaps it was someone just completely ignorant. :p~

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

No, because they said it more than once!

[lone-pyramid.livejournal.com]

Embarrassingly ignorant it is, then. *facepalm*

[lone-pyramid.livejournal.com]

Belated, but I just saw your 'chocolate pudding swimming pools!' ad and it reminded me: the same student who mentioned the attack ads? Also wanted to know why Hudak took "good things" McGuinty said and edited the quotes to make them sound like "bad things."

This kid is so getting an A+ in social studies. ;)

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

I MAY LOVE THIS STUDENT! OR HIS PARENTS! (AND YOU!) :)

[lone-pyramid.livejournal.com]

All him (and probably his parents). My involvement was limited to, "You've probably seen McGuinty's ads; he's the guy standing in front of a white screen talking about all the things he's accomplished in the past eight years." He went from there.