Fox is such a classy outfit — I’m shocked that one of their employees would be charged with looting in Iraq.

We saw a dress rehearsal of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” at BAM’s Harvey Theater last night. There are only a few performances through May 2 so go buy your tickets right now! It was one of the most satisfying opera performances I have seen in a while — as music and as theater.

James has a good post on it.

Gay Republicans are beneath contempt. They are the modern equivalent of pro-Nazi Jews.

Rick Santorum, Republican Senator from Pennsylvania, and No. 3 in the GOP leadership:

If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual (gay) sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything.

All of those things are antithetical to a healthy, stable, traditional family. And that’s sort of where we are in today’s world, unfortunately. It all comes from, I would argue, this right to privacy that doesn’t exist, in my opinion, in the United States Constitution.

From the same article, Log Cabin Republican Executive Director Patrick Guerriero:

There is nothing conservative about allowing law enforcement officials to enter the home of any American and arrest them for simply being gay. I am deeply troubled that Sen. Santorum would divide America in a time of war. Mainstream America is embracing tolerance and inclusion. I am appalled that a member of the United States Senate leadership would advocate dividing Americans with ugly, hate-filled rhetoric.

… and John Partain, president of the Pennsylvania Log Cabin Republicans:

The discriminatory remarks made by Sen. Santorum clearly do not reflect the compassionate conservatism promised by our president.

“Compassionate conservative” George W. Bush supported the Texas sodomy law when it came under legal challenge, calling it a “symbol of traditional values”.

Here is some more of that “compassionate conservatism”, from the 2002 Republican Party of Texas Platform (see the PDF for the full version, or this from Google):

Homosexuality
The Party believes that the practice of sodomy tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We are opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, recognition, or privileges including, but not limited to, marriage between persons of the same sex, custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits. We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.

Texas Sodomy Statues [sic]
The Party opposed the decriminalization of sodomy.

I’m amused by the “fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders” part. If anyone has information on what our Founding Fathers or Jesus had to say on the subject of homosexuality, please email me.

Here is the relevant section of the 2000 National Republican Party Platform:

We support the traditional definition of “marriage” as the legal union of one man and one woman, and we believe that federal judges and bureaucrats should not force states to recognize other living arrangements as marriages. We rely on the home, as did the founders of the American Republic, to instill the virtues that sustain democracy itself. That belief led Congress to enact the Defense of Marriage Act, which a Republican Department of Justice will energetically defend in the courts. For the same reason, we do not believe sexual preference should be given special legal protection or standing in law.

I recently added several sites to the “cultural” category of my other blogs page.

Female Figure
From Ma’mariya. Predynastic Period, Naqada IIa (circa 3500-3400 B.C.). Terracotta, painted.

I have always meant to attend one of Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturday events, and this sounds like the one to choose. Not only has the “Egypt Reborn” exhibit opened, but the entertainment includes:

From 9 to 11 p.m., dance to Afro-beat and Middle-Eastern pop tunes spun by DJ Neva. A student of world music for 27 years, DJ Neva Wartell is resident DJ for “Nu World Soul,” a weekly world music dance party at Liquids in Manhattan.

Newsday has an article on the exhibit.

I suspect it will be an attractive crowd…

David Neiwert’s blog Orcinus is the place to go for some interesting writing on fascism, and whether we’re headed that way with help from right-wing media such as Rush Limbaugh.

The Public’s New York Now! festival starts in a week. The readings are all free. If you didn’t see The Ladies when it was at HERE in January, now’s your chance.

There is also a festival (not free, but pretty cheap) called “New Hybrids Now!” that includes several things that I highly recommend: Larry Keigwin on May 11 and The Civilians’ “Gone Missing” on May 12. I will be at both of those.

Weekly World News, a news source only slightly more reliable than Fox News, tells us that Saddam Hussein starred in gay porn films.

We were very lucky to get this Gouache by James Esber at the White Columnns benefit last weekend.

James Esber
Untitled (red flower), 2000
Gouache on paper, 22 × 18 in.

He has a show up at PPOW though April 19.

Worth Street Theater, the closest theater to Ground Zero, presents Voices of Peace & Dissent from Ground Zero.

Beginning Monday, April 7, The Worth Street Theater Compapny @ The Tribeca Playhouse presents Voices of Peace & Dissent from Ground Zero.

Voices of Peace & Dissent from Ground Zero will feature a rotating cast of actors, activists and celebrities in curated evenings of pro-peace/anti-war texts spanning history from the Ancient Greeks to the present day – featuring such political oratory as Robert Byrd’s speech to the Senate, Robin Cook’s recent resignation from the British Cabinet, as well as contributions from Eric Bogosian, Tony Kushner and other contemporary playwrights.