but now i can't use the curbstomp line as the post title

Thursday, 21 July 2011

Totally zonked on Sherlock and word origins, but here is a spray of em dashes to consider:

—Players by DeLillo: amazing. Running Dog: not as good, very fun.

—Dobby Gibson is doing Poetry Crossfire and it's better than guaranteed financial collapse of the world's grooviest superpower. Ben Mirov and I faced off over Bei Dao's "Morning."

—30 Under 30, an anthology of words by folks who barely know how to shave—edited by Blake Butler and Lily Hoang—is now out. You should put it in your DVD player to express your outrage over Netflix's policy changes. You're welcome.

—Carrot cake conspiracy in the Advocate, which is something I advocate. What she says is "My actual songs don't seem political, but they are; they're about oppression and liberation of bodies—and not just human ones—and mourning, witnessing and healing at both political and personal levels."

—Speaking of carrot cake, the new Dinosaur Bees is a blast, and the new NOÖ Weekly is a blast of scuff-eyed soul.

—Finally, thanks to Tyler Gobble for reading my poem "Is That It's You" for a big audio thing on Small Doggies. Beat the heat. Curbstomp the heat until its teeth fall out.

comments | | Read More...

A Down Syndrome-Free Country

Did the blog post title get your attention? Yeah, it got mine too. How about this for a headline: Plans to Make Denmark a Down Syndrome-Free Perfect Society.

Forget for a moment the Down syndrome-free part; but perfect? Please. There is no such thing as a perfect society. There just isn't. And even if there are no people with Down syndrome in a particular country, it still won't make it 'perfect.' What about criminals? What about those with any other kind of disability? Why is Down syndrome always singled out as being expendable?

Back to the original point. This headline hurt. Like a punch in the gut. I know there is all this research to 'improve' prenatal testing for an earlier and more accurate diagnosis of Down syndrome (presumably so more abortions could happen), but for a country to come right out and basically admit they want, or are trying to have, a society free of individuals with Down syndrome? Wow. Just wow. Like a slap in the face.

The article doesn't say exactly how they plan on achieving this, just that they have "put their foot on the ground to promote increase abortions of fetuses suspected of having Down syndrome." Suspected of having Ds? Are they even going to confirm through an amnio or CVS?  

The article goes on to say that if "progress continues at this rate, the last case to be born with this illness will be the year 2030." Huh? How can you predict something like that? You can't prevent Down syndrome from happening since it happens at conception. And surely there are some Danish women who will either decline prenatal testing, or decline an abortion. I would hope they couldn't actually make women have an abortion because their baby was prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome.

Apparently Denmark started to "control the number of children with Down syndrome born in Denmark" since 2004 (how in the world did they do this? Just highly encourage and persuade women to get abortions?). Whatever they are doing has worked though because the number of cases of Down syndrome births has fallen by 13% annually. 

I even took Kayla to Denmark a few months before her 2nd birthday. I have cousins over there (who happen to adore her; and I know you can't judge a whole country's citizens on what the government/medical establishment is doing. I know not every single Dane feels this way.) Joe and I had been talking about going to Denmark next year. He's never been and again, I have cousins over there we would like to visit. But reading this article sure did make me pause and reconsider if I really want to take my daughter to a country where they are actively trying to eliminate people like her. Although, maybe a whole bunch of families should take their loved one with Down syndrome over to Denmark and flaunt them around ... show them it isn't such a terrible thing. Show them they fit in just fine with their society. Show them they are living and loving life, thankyouverymuch.

comments | | Read More...

Special Exposure Wednesday

Wednesday, 20 July 2011

One of my favorite pictures from our trip to Isle of Palms beach.

comments | | Read More...

GQ's Ignorant and Insensitive Remark

Monday, 18 July 2011

GQ recently published their list of the 40 worst-dressed cities. They ranked Boston as #1. As if their opinion really matters. I wouldn't have given it another thought, except for a lovely little blurb by the guy who wrote up the Boston piece - John B. Thompson. His bashing against Boston included this quote, “Due to so much local in-breeding, Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome.”

You won't find it mentioned in the online piece anymore. But the damage has been done. I read about it in the Boston Herald's article specifically mentioning that reference. By the time I went over to GQ's article that quote was already gone ... although I've yet to read anything from GQ on this issue, must less an apology.

In reading through the comments on the Boston Herald it seems a few people think this quote meant a "style-down" syndrome instead of a style "Down syndrome." I seriously doubt that. If that was the case why wouldn't GQ make a statement explaining that was how it was intended to be read? Why did they remove the quote online? If it was supposed to be 'style down' they would have put quotation marks around those 2 words, not capitalize the whole Style Down Syndrome. If they didn't mean "Down syndrome" there are plenty of other, more accurate, choice of words, or phrase. It was meant exactly as the put down was written.

Updated to add: According to Dr Brian Skotko's blog post about this, the full quote was actually, “Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome, where a little extra ends up ruining everything.” I think it's pretty obvious this wasn't intended as a "style down" syndrome as some suggest. A "little extra" is a not-so-subtle dig at those with Ds who have an extra chromosome.

This isn't about being politically correct either. This was meant as an insult. This was a disparaging remark. How else was it supposed to be taken? "Due to so much local in-breeding Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome." Really? Is this what journalism has come to? The author is that juvenile to think he came up with some kind of cool joke by making fun of Bostonians by saying their fashion style is like Down syndrome? What is that supposed to mean anyway? Is the breadth of his vocabulary so small he couldn't come up with anything else? Anything other than insulting the whole Down syndrome population?

Furthermore his ignorant and immature comment about "in-breeding" perpetuates disparaging, and untrue, misconceptions about Down syndrome. It attempts to make a connection between in-breeding and Down syndrome. Down syndrome is not caused by in-breeding (and this isn't the first time I've come across a reference like this).

Well GQ, here is my daughter proudly, and stylishly, sporting an extra chromosome and a Boston hat.

comments | | Read More...

"Suicidal Moths"

Saturday, 16 July 2011

"Suicidal Moths"


I've watched them float.
I've watched them flutter.
Delicate creatures cast asunder;
Led to believe their lives are a blunder.
They chase wonder
All while wondering why:
"Why do I want to wonder?
Why do I even wonder?
I fly as high as others do.
I cruise through rain and thunder,
The chill of winter,
The sting of summer,
But I still often wonder....
....am I among the numbers?"


Their questions yield no answer.
Ignored inquiry is a raw deal;
So they float from thrill to thrill.
It's the closest thing to real....


....until there's nothing left to chase.
Others call their stagnancy complacency.
But they've grown weary of the pace.
Nothing cleaves more than latency.
They see no reason to save face.
It seems useless to hide from others
Whether their wings are dull in hue
Or arrayed in lush, vibrant colors.


They are the lost.
They are the weary.
Lulled into living without cost.
I've never witnessed something so dreary.


It's hard to see clearly
When gliding through the wind
With eyes so cold and teary.
They search for a friend:
Someone with leverage to lend.
Someone willing to extend hands;
But danger is found therein
On the palm in which they land.


Underlying motives.
Undisclosed plans
Line the fingers of the soulless.
Heartless purveyors of swiftly clasped hands.
The hummingbirds have their perch.
The blue jays have their branch;
But what of these delicate souls?
Is their every move left to chance?


I watch them flutter.
I watch them float.
I watch them fly away
As if to find a way
To just escape
Or perhaps search for a hideaway 
Or a higher way
Far away
Furthest from those hands
That sought to swat with every chance.
Or maybe in search of help.
Or possibly in search of self.


The sky is clear; yet it appears
That they've found a new direction.
It's where only they can steer;
So it's barely within detection;
But I've noticed from inception.
I've been watching that long.
I heard every love song
Among moments drawn out and prolonged.
They travel in public.
Not much is required of stealth.
Maybe they're running from oneself.
They think this will offer health.


I see them flutter.
I watch them fly.
I witness them running.
They travel sky high.
I slowly widen my eyes
As I stand to see where they run;
But I can't seem to ask why
As they draw closer to the sun.
I must admit that I understand
Albeit still shocked and stunned.
For them, life is no longer fun.
They've grown tired of being shunned.
It's quite the copious chore
To be okay with being ignored.
They are the ones floating about bulbs
Before being knocked to the floor.
They are the creatures looking around
As if in earnest wonder
In hopes of being seen on the ground
Awaiting feet to be flattened under.
It seems that no one cares
To even lend unsavory skill
To invoke an end to their misery;
So they cater to their own will.


They flock and gather around:
This collective in need of kill;
Yet they never make a sound.
Not one scream or painful shrill.
They've had their fill.
They've choked down pills,
Flown with broken wings,
And dealt with frigid wind chill.


There was nothing I could do.
My only option was to pray
That they would just come to
And change their route one day.
Flutter in my direction.
Float about my way.
I promise to offer protection.
I'll keep this world at bay.
I know it's highly unlikely
That they'll hear the words I say;
But it's always been just like me
To try to pull victims from the fray.


I know the sun seems warm;
But it will surely harm.


I know the light is bright;
But it will surely smite.


I just want them to be alright;
But I can't help them in this fight.


Such a lonely realization lingers
As I stare at ten bare fingers.


I don't have enough room
To pull them from their smoldering tomb.
The inevitable surely looms;
But I won't accept that it's coming soon.
Sunlight glows within my eyes;
But it can't stop the tears I cry
As it consumes and scorches them dry.
I never wanted to say goodbye.


Every single social butterfly
Was once a caterpillar, if given thought.
We give them support to get by;
But what of the suicidal moths?

Written By: Devin Joseph Metz

comments | | Read More...