Ummm... Spaceship, duh.

Dear Iowa,

I'm going to have to break up with you. I've had faith in you for many years. You stood as a beacon for intelligence and progressive ideas. You were the first non-ultra-liberal state to legalize gay marriage. You were one of the first states to integrate schools and public places. You were one of the first places to recognize equal rights for Blacks overall. You were the first state west of the Mississippi to have a female law graduate. Now, you've showed the country that you've evolved into a bigoted idiot. Not only did you elect Republicans to most of the most important positions in the state, but you kicked three hardworking people out of their jobs in this tough economy.

Justices Baker, Streit, and Ternus FOLLOWED THE LAW in interpreting the Constitution. It's not their fault if you did a lousy job of writing your idiotic views into it in the first place. Also, newsflash: you did not get rid of gay marriage by kicking out three of the seven justices who voted for it. You morons voted out the justices but didn't vote for the convention that would allow you to amend your constitution. So, in the end, you fired three excellent justices for no reason at all.

The general population does not get to vote on whether we give a disadvantaged group their civil rights. If we had allowed that, schools would still be segregated, we would still have separate drinking fountains, and many important contributions made by Blacks would have been lost to this country. The whole idea of placing limitations on marriage in a constitution is absolutely absurd. Fuck you, just fuck you. Who are you to decide how other people should live their lives? Today, I'm embarrassed to live in Iowa.

Amanda

I forgot to put this in my last entry but it probably deserves its own entry. Monday October 11th is National Coming Out Day. It's a day to support LGBT rights. Those of us who are straight can participate, too. Since many of you are still in school, check around there because I'm sure there are events going on. For example, the Outlaws group at the law school is asking everyone to show their support by wearing black t-shirts and they're going to be giving out pins and stickers. Even if you can't participate in an organized event, you can still show your support by wearing a gay pride symbol, the easiest of which would be a rainbow. Anyway, you can get more information here.

... and get a free CD with the Zac Brown Band on it!

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/letters_for_lyrics/

Can someone please explain to me, or point me toward a rational explantion, as to why the Republicans are so opposed to affordable healthcare? I truly do not understand it. The only reasons I am hearing are their greed and some inaccurate view of Socialism. I'm 100 % serious here and would like to try to see any legitimate objections to Obama's plan. No bashing of the President or the Republicans, please.

Owning the Twilight movie is going to ruin my life.

This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that began the modern gay rights movement. To mark this occaision, join The Power by signing a petition calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to lead the 111th Congress expand the Civil Rights Act to declare once and for all that LGBT rights are civil rights and that it will be the public policy of the United States that discrimination based on LGBT status is prohibited.

The petition, copies of which will be sent to Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the President's LGBT Liason, Brian Bond, will be delivered on June 1, 2009, the first day of the 40th annual gay pride month.

The petition can be read and signed at

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/LGBTCivilRightsAct/.

Please:

1. Visit the petition
2. Sign the peitition
3. Forward the petition to everyone you know, promote it on your blogs, and write about it.

To anyone who thinks we can't make this happen, remind them that you are the change, they are the change, and together, "Yes we can!"

Again, the URL is: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/LGBTCivilRightsAct/

I live in Iowa but I go home to Florida every few months so there are quite a few things I could send depending on the time of year.

• Any sort of corn themed souvenir imaginable
  
• Local recipes (Iowa, Florida, and most states in between)
  
• Little souvenirs from Disney World
  
• Local newspapers/magazines
  
• Handmade crafts
  
• Postcards from many places
  
• Any sort of food that's able to be sent internationally
  
• Pretty much anything within a reasonable price range.

I'd like to get anything (legal anythings of course) from anywhere. I'm especially interested in postcards and postage stamps. Just leave a comment!