Marriage and Gay Culture

The gay left voices the usual whines about gays becoming conservative and losing their edge now that we have some modicum of equality in one state. Yes, gay culture will undoubtedly and is undoubtedly becoming more mainstream. So what? No one’s stopping anyone, gay or straight, from being as radical and as subversive as they want. Isn’t it funny how the Christianist right and the queer left are both upset – but for diametrically different reasons? The Christianists think that gay marriage will undermine straight marriage – even though divorce rates have fallen to historic lows in the gay marriage era. Leftists fear that without oppression, they will have no politics left – even though gay people are now far more openly represented across the political spectrum. Both extremes, I think, are wrong. Gay culture has a very vibrant and diverse future ahead of it – right, left, radical, conformist and everything in between. And straight families will be much stronger for bringing their gay sons and daughters into a full and respectful embrace. Which reminds me. I have a frigging wedding to plan.

Lincoln’s Small-Pox

Scientists believe it was a very serious strain of the disease with a 30 percent chance of death. Lincoln had it when he gave the Gettysburg Address:

To reach that conclusion, the researchers contrasted the clinical features of Lincoln’s illness as cited in a host of sources with the manifestations of smallpox, of the milder form of smallpox that occurs in immunized people and of the most common diseases with symptoms that mimic smallpox.

"The serious form of smallpox, known as variola major, was the only disease that closely fit Lincoln’s clinical features: high fever, weakness, severe pain in the head and back, prostration, skin eruption — plus the severity and approximately 21-day duration of Lincoln’s illness," said Dr. Armond S. Goldman, an emeritus professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UTMB and lead author of the study.

"Smallpox was rampant in the United States at that time," Goldman noted. "In addition, although immunization against smallpox was practiced in the mid-19th century, there is no historical evidence that Lincoln was immunized against smallpox before his illness." Moreover, Goldman said, "The milder form of smallpox, known as variola minor, first appeared in the United States at the turn of the 20th century and was unknown in the United States during the mid-19th century when Lincoln became ill."

"Lincoln’s physicians attempted to reassure him that his disease was a mild form of smallpox," Goldman noted, "but that may have been to prevent the public from fearing that Lincoln was dying."

Jut when you thought he couldn’t be more impressive a figure …

326 Pages

I know from first-hand how complex immigration paperwork and bureaucracy can be – but this bill is a door-stopper, even by BCIS standards. On the basic issues – moving from family-based to skill-based immigration, ratcheting up border control, and integrating 12 million illegals – I’m in agreement. But the devil is usually in the details, and I started to read Hewitt’s post about "Section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)), as amended by Title IV" and Mickey’s latest P.P.P.P.P.S. but there’s only so much Red Bull you can safely drink at one sitting. At least Glenn is honest about it:

I still don’t know enough to know if the bill is good or bad. But if the bill is actually a good bill that the GOP base would accept if they read it . . . then that’s an even bigger indictment of the GOP leadership for failing to sell it. At this point, they’ve either mis-sold a good bill, or produced a bad one.

I wouldn’t let that spoil a good hissy-fit. The Dobbs-Kaus-Tancredo faction has been very excitable all weekend.

Transatlantic Boyhood

Divided by a common language, as usual. "The Dangerous Book For Boys" originated in Britain, and it’s been translated:

The book has been extensively rewritten for the American market to replace conkers with “stickball” and the laws of cricket with the equally incomprehensible Navajo Code Talkers’ Dictionary. A lesson on the etymology of “cor blimey” has been dropped, and a trick involving hiding a £1 coin behind your ear now uses an American quarter.

A section listing the kings and queens of England and Scotland has been replaced with the “most valuable players” in baseball. Egbert, the first king of Wessex from 802 to 839, is thus usurped by Lefty Grove, of Philadelphia, who won the baseball honour in 1931.

That would be "honor."