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crazyjaneMy goodness, it's been a while, hasn't it?
For those who have started reading this journal in relatively recent times, the Shit List is an occasional post where I rant about the things that really, really outrage me. The name comes from a marvellous L7 Song, which I now post for your listening pleasure:
First up, we have a new entrant to the Shit List Hall of Shame - the Queen. Well, to be more accurate, Clarence House.
Now, if you're lucky enough to have been living in a media blackout for the past, oh, month or so, you might not know that Prince William is marrying his fiancee, the 'commoner' (choke, gag) Kate Middleton, this weekend. What an event! What a historic moment! What a chance for the media to bore us all silly with unending reportage.
Sky News is even launching its new HD channel for the occasion, while also running uninterrupted coverage on its main channel. Those pesky news bulletins can go live on the Business Channel, because clearly they're not as important as watching a wedding.
You might have guessed I'm not thrilled by the prospect. It's not that I have anything against the idea of them marrying, or even the idea of media coverage - but honestly, does it need to be on every single free-to-air channel, as well as a bunch of cable ones?!
But that's not why Clarence House is on the Shit List. You see, along with the usual royal-watching commentators, who no doubt will breathlessly gush about Kate's dress, and wax sentimentally lyrical about the Unseen Guest at the wedding (the late Princess Diana of Wales) - royal weddings provide an opportunity for comedy. For satire. For sheer shits-n-giggles. And so we have the comedy commentary on Channel 10 from Dave Hughes (ugh), and Dame Edna Everage waving her gladioli on Nine.
What we won't get - and here's where I get shitty - is the planned comedy commentary by The Chaser, which was slated to screen on ABC2 simultaneously with the 'straight' coverage on ABC1. And why not? Because Clarence House - apparently acting on instructions from the Prince and his fiancee - told them they couldn't do it.
Moreover, they told every network that is to receive a clean feed of the footage that - should they provide footage to The Chaser - that the feed would be instantly yanked. To back this up, Clarence House shoe-horned a new condition into the feed agreement, that no footage is to be used 'in any drama, comedy, satirical or similar entertainment program or content'.
And yet ... and yet ... Hughesy and Dame Edna are still okay to do their shows.
This little edict clearly discriminates against The Chaser. Now, say what you will about their brand of humour (and personally, I think they're a little hit-and-miss), there's just no good reason for this. So maybe the Prince doesn't like The Chaser - but guess what, we left the absolute monarchy behind several centuries back. The royal wedding is a deliberately public event, and as such, likely to be subject to commentary from all sides. Using threats to stomp on one particular comedy group? Talk about ham-fisted arrogance.
Oh, and just while we're at it - the ABC, and all you media organisations that caved in to Clarence House and promised not to give The Chaser access to the footage? You get a special mention on the Shit List, you spineless wankers.
Next up, it's time to take aim at the US Congress.
It's been ten years since the horrifying events of 9/11 - and, being something of an anniversary, it was perhaps inevitable that the events of the original day would enter the headlines fairly quickly. Some kind of tribute, perhaps, or maybe a 'where are they now?' series.
But no. Rather than any such 'human interest' reporting, the issue of healthcare for the 9/11 first responders has popped up - as in, when they might finally going to get some, so that they can pay their skyrocketing health bills.
What's that, you say? These people are heroes? They risked their lives to save as many as they could? Even when there was no hope, they sifted through the ruins looking for something, anything, to lay grieving relatives' minds to rest? They suffered terribly with psychological and physical problems - including cancer from breathing in the vaporised remains of concrete dust, asbestos and who knows what else - because their commitment to their duty outweighted concerns for their own safety? They're not already receiving the best healthcare government money can buy?
No. They're not. Their lives have been used as political footballs for nearly ten years.
So, when a bill designed to finally redress that unbelievable wrong - the Zadroga Bill, named for a first responder who died waiting for healthcare - looked like it might actually pass through both Houses, it seemed too good to be true.
It is.
You see, just as everything looked set to go, Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns from Florida added what he called 'a simple, straightforward amendment'. It imposes a teensy little condition that needs to be fulfilled before the frst responders can get any money at all.
They 'simply' have to agree to let the FBI investigate them, and have it proved to the government's satisfaction that they are not terrorists.
Yeah, you read that fucking right.
The heroes of 9/11 - the people who risked everything to do their jobs - and in many cases, volunteered to help because they were there and couldn't just stand by and watch - should be subjected to an incredible insult like this, just to go with everything they've suffered for the last decade.
Because, apparently, a deep-cover agent for al Qaeda might have been posing as a pretzel salesman on 9/11, and when the planes hit thought, 'Fantastic, I'll just pop on over there and risk my life helping out, because that way my cover will be impeccable and I get the bonus of scamming money from the government. Sweet!'
Bitch. PLEASE.
What's worse, is that this outrageous amendment was then endorsed by the Democrats. It sailed through the House.
What kind of fuckwit thinks like this? Who sits there and wonders if a firefighter who is dying of lung cancer might be a terrorist just waiting to be activated by his 'Islamist masters' - perhaps by suicide-bombing the Chemo Ward at the local hospital? How can someone be so lacking in basic human decency as to deny these people the healthcare they've desperately needed for years, finally hold it out to them - and then snatch it away with pious mouthings about how it 'makes a lot of sense' to insult them so grossly? (And yeah, I'm looking at you, Democratic leader Henry Waxman.)
Aaacchhhhhh. The idiocy is infuriating. Here are Jon Stewart's takes on it - he does the necessary ridicule and outrage at this idea far better than I ever could.
And finally, some actual good news. Remember how Jim Wallace, the head of the Australian Christian Lobby, decided to use Anzac Day to push his own personal hate agenda?
Well, now Australian Christians are speaking up about it, and making it clear that Wallace and his largely Pentecostal lobby group does not speak for them. They have a petition in progress, which will be presented to the Prime Minister, stating clearly that Christianity in Australia is incredibly diverse, and urging Julia Gillard to seek the views of all types of Christians (rather than pandering to Wallace).
I think this is bloody brilliant. Those of us who aren't Christian can rail about Wallace and his organisation, but - arguably - the majority of Christians are the most damaged by his hate speech and narrow interpretation of religion. Not only do they suffer the pain of seeing someone speak for them who is twisting their faith into something hateful, but too often they're put in a position of having to defend their personal beliefs because they are lumped in with the ACL.
The petition can be found here.
If you know anyone who is a Christian, and who is offended or appalled by Wallace and his claim to 'represent all Christians', please send them the link.
So, that's another Shit List wrapped up. Three continents, three stories to get your blood boiling - but at least there's some light in the last one.
Stay angry, fellow ranters, and remember - if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
For those who have started reading this journal in relatively recent times, the Shit List is an occasional post where I rant about the things that really, really outrage me. The name comes from a marvellous L7 Song, which I now post for your listening pleasure:
First up, we have a new entrant to the Shit List Hall of Shame - the Queen. Well, to be more accurate, Clarence House.
Now, if you're lucky enough to have been living in a media blackout for the past, oh, month or so, you might not know that Prince William is marrying his fiancee, the 'commoner' (choke, gag) Kate Middleton, this weekend. What an event! What a historic moment! What a chance for the media to bore us all silly with unending reportage.
Sky News is even launching its new HD channel for the occasion, while also running uninterrupted coverage on its main channel. Those pesky news bulletins can go live on the Business Channel, because clearly they're not as important as watching a wedding.
You might have guessed I'm not thrilled by the prospect. It's not that I have anything against the idea of them marrying, or even the idea of media coverage - but honestly, does it need to be on every single free-to-air channel, as well as a bunch of cable ones?!
But that's not why Clarence House is on the Shit List. You see, along with the usual royal-watching commentators, who no doubt will breathlessly gush about Kate's dress, and wax sentimentally lyrical about the Unseen Guest at the wedding (the late Princess Diana of Wales) - royal weddings provide an opportunity for comedy. For satire. For sheer shits-n-giggles. And so we have the comedy commentary on Channel 10 from Dave Hughes (ugh), and Dame Edna Everage waving her gladioli on Nine.
What we won't get - and here's where I get shitty - is the planned comedy commentary by The Chaser, which was slated to screen on ABC2 simultaneously with the 'straight' coverage on ABC1. And why not? Because Clarence House - apparently acting on instructions from the Prince and his fiancee - told them they couldn't do it.
Moreover, they told every network that is to receive a clean feed of the footage that - should they provide footage to The Chaser - that the feed would be instantly yanked. To back this up, Clarence House shoe-horned a new condition into the feed agreement, that no footage is to be used 'in any drama, comedy, satirical or similar entertainment program or content'.
And yet ... and yet ... Hughesy and Dame Edna are still okay to do their shows.
This little edict clearly discriminates against The Chaser. Now, say what you will about their brand of humour (and personally, I think they're a little hit-and-miss), there's just no good reason for this. So maybe the Prince doesn't like The Chaser - but guess what, we left the absolute monarchy behind several centuries back. The royal wedding is a deliberately public event, and as such, likely to be subject to commentary from all sides. Using threats to stomp on one particular comedy group? Talk about ham-fisted arrogance.
Oh, and just while we're at it - the ABC, and all you media organisations that caved in to Clarence House and promised not to give The Chaser access to the footage? You get a special mention on the Shit List, you spineless wankers.
Next up, it's time to take aim at the US Congress.
It's been ten years since the horrifying events of 9/11 - and, being something of an anniversary, it was perhaps inevitable that the events of the original day would enter the headlines fairly quickly. Some kind of tribute, perhaps, or maybe a 'where are they now?' series.
But no. Rather than any such 'human interest' reporting, the issue of healthcare for the 9/11 first responders has popped up - as in, when they might finally going to get some, so that they can pay their skyrocketing health bills.
What's that, you say? These people are heroes? They risked their lives to save as many as they could? Even when there was no hope, they sifted through the ruins looking for something, anything, to lay grieving relatives' minds to rest? They suffered terribly with psychological and physical problems - including cancer from breathing in the vaporised remains of concrete dust, asbestos and who knows what else - because their commitment to their duty outweighted concerns for their own safety? They're not already receiving the best healthcare government money can buy?
No. They're not. Their lives have been used as political footballs for nearly ten years.
So, when a bill designed to finally redress that unbelievable wrong - the Zadroga Bill, named for a first responder who died waiting for healthcare - looked like it might actually pass through both Houses, it seemed too good to be true.
It is.
You see, just as everything looked set to go, Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns from Florida added what he called 'a simple, straightforward amendment'. It imposes a teensy little condition that needs to be fulfilled before the frst responders can get any money at all.
They 'simply' have to agree to let the FBI investigate them, and have it proved to the government's satisfaction that they are not terrorists.
Yeah, you read that fucking right.
The heroes of 9/11 - the people who risked everything to do their jobs - and in many cases, volunteered to help because they were there and couldn't just stand by and watch - should be subjected to an incredible insult like this, just to go with everything they've suffered for the last decade.
Because, apparently, a deep-cover agent for al Qaeda might have been posing as a pretzel salesman on 9/11, and when the planes hit thought, 'Fantastic, I'll just pop on over there and risk my life helping out, because that way my cover will be impeccable and I get the bonus of scamming money from the government. Sweet!'
Bitch. PLEASE.
What's worse, is that this outrageous amendment was then endorsed by the Democrats. It sailed through the House.
What kind of fuckwit thinks like this? Who sits there and wonders if a firefighter who is dying of lung cancer might be a terrorist just waiting to be activated by his 'Islamist masters' - perhaps by suicide-bombing the Chemo Ward at the local hospital? How can someone be so lacking in basic human decency as to deny these people the healthcare they've desperately needed for years, finally hold it out to them - and then snatch it away with pious mouthings about how it 'makes a lot of sense' to insult them so grossly? (And yeah, I'm looking at you, Democratic leader Henry Waxman.)
Aaacchhhhhh. The idiocy is infuriating. Here are Jon Stewart's takes on it - he does the necessary ridicule and outrage at this idea far better than I ever could.
And finally, some actual good news. Remember how Jim Wallace, the head of the Australian Christian Lobby, decided to use Anzac Day to push his own personal hate agenda?
Well, now Australian Christians are speaking up about it, and making it clear that Wallace and his largely Pentecostal lobby group does not speak for them. They have a petition in progress, which will be presented to the Prime Minister, stating clearly that Christianity in Australia is incredibly diverse, and urging Julia Gillard to seek the views of all types of Christians (rather than pandering to Wallace).
I think this is bloody brilliant. Those of us who aren't Christian can rail about Wallace and his organisation, but - arguably - the majority of Christians are the most damaged by his hate speech and narrow interpretation of religion. Not only do they suffer the pain of seeing someone speak for them who is twisting their faith into something hateful, but too often they're put in a position of having to defend their personal beliefs because they are lumped in with the ACL.
The petition can be found here.
If you know anyone who is a Christian, and who is offended or appalled by Wallace and his claim to 'represent all Christians', please send them the link.
So, that's another Shit List wrapped up. Three continents, three stories to get your blood boiling - but at least there's some light in the last one.
Stay angry, fellow ranters, and remember - if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
