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Once again: Harvey Milk Day is a bad idea
Didn’t we just do this? Wasn’t it a mere six months ago that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation designating Harvey Milk’s birthday a day of “special significance in California’s public schools? Indeed it was, yet the bill has risen once more, buoyed by a gold statuette and a lawmaker determined to harangue California voters into submission. The last bill — AB 2567 — was to have established May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in honor of the San Francisco supervisor and gay activist who was gunned down in 1978. The bill would have designated the date as a day where teachers would be “encouraged” to conduct “suitable commemorative exercises.” Schwarzenegger vetoed the measure in September. The bill’s author, Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco, introduced a nearly identical bill this week in an attempt to capitalize on the best-actor Oscar win for Sean Penn, who portrayed Milk in the film of the same name. In a news conference Thursday, Penn and Leno told reporters they were confident Schwarzenegger will pass the bill this time around. “If there’s one thing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger understands, it’s box office, and Harvey Milk now has box office,” Leno said. I gather, by Leno’s comment, he expects California parents to suddenly shake off their convictions and demand that Schwarzenegger approve the new version of the bill, now that folks have seen the film and know the truth, sort of. I’ve got news for Leno. If “box office” is the measure by which the governor decides to veto or not to veto, then Harvey Milk Day is going down for a second time. The film “Milk” may be a critical success, but movie goers aren’t exactly breaking down doors to get in. Released in November, the film’s domestic take thus far is only about $30 million — not much of a profit for a film that cost $20 million to make. If box office truly was a standard Schwarzenegger took seriously, he would surely take note of one of the top-grossing films so far this year. Just seven weeks after its January release, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” a silly farce of a film, has already raked in $129.4 million. Oscar material it ain’t, but it is age appropriate for young ones. Too bad we can’t say the same for Harvey Milk Day. Leno did try to sugar-coat the bill’s intro a bit, saying the bill would urge — but not require — schools to conduct commemorative exercises. He was also quick to assure taxpayers the bill would “cost no money whatsoever.” Well then, who’s supposed to plan, carry out and supervise these commemorative exercises — parent volunteers? Should the bill pass, teachers would naturally whitewash the life and times of Harvey Milk (as some critics suggest the film has done), but may find defining such terms like “homosexual,” “bisexual” and “transgender” a bit of a stretch. But such issues are irrelevant to gay rights activists who are desperate to link the martyred Milk to the Proposition 8 debate now before the state Supreme Court. A Harvey Milk Day in public school? It was a bad idea in September. It’s a bad idea now. 14 comments from 11 users
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posted by
erikbako
on Mar 8, 2009 at 03:31 AM
This law is ridiculous - I can't even go into it because we've already been there and done that. HM was a pedophile and drug addict. Will our children be learning about this as well? If this day passes I see two viable alternatives: a) parents keep their children home from school that day feigning illness - a stomachache from sour Milk would be my excuse b) schools honor Harvey Milk day by giving every student an administrative day off. No need to discuss anything - just put him on the same level as our Washington, Lincoln, MLK, Cesar Chavez, etc. and send the kids home on their gay marry way. posted by
learnem
on Mar 8, 2009 at 04:58 AM
the gay mafia will stop at nothing to push its agenda on the people who expect their lawmakers to make these kinds of decisions.. what do you really expect? look at it this way...we have state legilators (maldonado, DEMORAT, Santa Cruz) who, admittedly, has NEVER been off-roading, thrown a leg over an ATV, experienced riding sand dunes on a high performance quad, nothing.....continues to attempt to legislate my sport....that would be like me attempting to legislate atomic power.... it is ludicris that, when left unchecked, the idiotic ideas, and the shear amount of taxpayer money willing to be spent, our "prestigious" lawmakers get away with.
posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Mar 8, 2009 at 07:43 AM
You guys ain't scared, are ya? --virgil posted by
VirgilAnderson
on Mar 8, 2009 at 07:48 AM
"Just seven weeks after its January release, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” a silly farce of a film, has already raked in $129.4 million." Economic Depression Escapism. We've seen it before. --virgil
posted by
Lingtaowoo
on Mar 8, 2009 at 07:51 AM
Not really scared ~Virgil~.....but it sure does sound alot like that T.V. commerical with the kids in the back seat asking the parents.." Are we there yet..Are we there yet..Are we there yet...." posted by
KCnative
on Mar 8, 2009 at 08:38 AM
Why just HM day. Why not a day to praise and honor all homosexuals for their outstanding roll model, disease free, ultra normal life style. We could call it Gay Day and have it coincide with the Folsom Street Fair then bus all our children down there for a look at the wonderful life style these people lead.
posted by
catpaw
on Mar 8, 2009 at 10:58 AM
This has been a subject before. I feel as adamant about keeping gay politics out of schools as much as I do about keeping religious agendas out of the classroom. Were Harvey a straight, would there be a proposal to name a day for him? I think not. The only reason this guy is the subject of a holiday is he was homosexual; no other reason. Memorializing somebody on the basis of their sexual identity is--well, a gay thing to do. posted by
rxgirl1984
on Mar 8, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Can I get another serving of homophobia please??? posted by
Rickldo
on Mar 8, 2009 at 04:17 PM
I really never did like Milk... does this make me a homophobe or just lactose intolerant? posted by
NancyII
on Mar 8, 2009 at 04:35 PM
Ah there's that clever little word "homophobia" again. You know, the one the libs love to toss around when others disagree with them about gay issues. Lets take a look at the word itself. I don't like broccoli, won't eat it, can't stand it, but I don't fear it. Does that make me a broccoliaphobic? On the other hand, I don't like math and it scares the bejesus out of me so I guess that really does make me a mathophobic. Could we be very clear on the actual word before tossing it around? Anybody? THEN you can start calling names. posted by
NancyII
on Mar 8, 2009 at 04:36 PM
Oh yeah, to stay on topic..HM Day..bad, bad idea. posted by
WardCleaver
on Mar 8, 2009 at 06:29 PM
Nancy, do you mean Harvey Milk Day, or Husband Material Day? posted by
NancyII
on Mar 8, 2009 at 06:51 PM
Ward, other than politics, they're interchangeable. posted by
ShellyTrinidad
on Mar 10, 2009 at 11:29 PM
I don't want to agree with Marylee about anything, but I have to admit she's right about this. I don't like goverment sponsored awareness days/ months for any group ... Asian Awareness included. Making a day that deals with sexual orientation is just a wee bit extreme for my taste.
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