In case the North Carolina toilet political situation wasn't enough.... Texas not prepared to learn from it.
This is an example of why I don't like the Big 12 having so many interests in Texas.
Kansas, along with all Big 12 schools, will take a hit from this if it becomes real.
@drgnslayr The problem with situations like this is that they're simply no win situations. There are large portions of the population that feel strongly on each side of the issue so there's just no way to please everybody on this issue and other issues involving the LBGT community.
@drgnslayr Bathroom bills are unenforceable. Although I agree with the premise of them, the thought of enforcement of such laws must be a nightmare for law enforcement and business owners.
Maybe the NCAA should stick to sports and stay out of politics?
@JayHawkFanToo And. this should be in Gen Discussion
Never expect the independent nation of Texas to act with an eye or ear to what transpires in northern states. Set foot in Texas, and you will soon understand that you have crossed into ANOTHER COUNTRY.
@brooksmd I am curious. I read this board on my phone, and all posts show up chronologically when I click on my "Unread" button, not separated by type of category. Does it work differently on a tablet or computer? I'm just wondering whether the category matters depending on the way you access posts. I know they are separated on the Buckets home page, but I never navigate from there.
Facing HUGE mobility issues with traffic, this is what the homophobe Lt. Gov. is addressing. It does not affect businesses, just gov. offices and schools. The "blue" flag of Austin is the target. It will backfire big time and there is strife within the GOP because of this. This legislature will find the same backlash that NC faced on their HB2 bill. The ones the legislature needs to control are their own.
@mayjay Sometimes I mark as read all non-KU basketball topics from the main page. Stops me from having to read the KU football recruiting thread accidentally, I hate it when I hear there is a shiny new recruit, get all excited...and it's a football player. No biggie though.
I agree. How can everyone's sensitivities be addressed with a policy one way or the other?
My fear is that by bringing it to the political forefront, it puts organizations like the NCAA and Big 12 on the hot seat.
@REHawk said:
Never expect the independent nation of Texas to act with an eye or ear to what transpires in northern states. Set foot in Texas, and you will soon understand that you have crossed into ANOTHER COUNTRY.
That is definitely true. But I respect individuality, even if it is on a statewide level.
When I lived abroad and would visit Kansas, I usually didn't enter America through Texas, but then once I did I was in for a shock.
Once you land in America you go through immigration and customs. Typically, you hear and see, "Welcome to the United States of America. You will now pass through US Customs and Immigration."
But in Texas, I heard and saw, "Welcome to Texas. You will now pass through Texas Customs and Immigration." The officers all had cowboy hats on.
I used to take offense to all the uniqueness of Texas and their desire to be unique. I've definitely loosened up on that and have come to appreciate the uniqueness of places in America.
It is about diversity. And I think our country has used that word only for one side of the political fence, when it is something necessary and healthy for BOTH sides of the aisle.
Texans are proud people. I don't agree with everything down there, but sometimes I think we could use just a bit more pride in our state. But there is a balance to everything.
@JayHawkFanToo said:
Maybe the NCAA should stick to sports and stay out of politics?
Unfortunately, they can't. They can't because they live off of sponsorship, and sponsors are like all other entities having to deal with the public. Some of the public needs to see issues addressed through all levels of everything. This is often motivated by political and news organizations that use whatever they can to push the issues.
Or... should I say "fortunately" because the common people have more than an election vote as their power, they also have their spending dollars to influence politics.
All of these "can of worms" relates to the public becoming more political as politics weighs heavy on all media and especially socially media. It is creating a more complex life for all of us, organizations, businesses, governments.... but maybe that is necessary to have more of the public involved in decision making.
@Texas-Hawk-10 Aw, shucks, I know quite a bit about Texas history and attitudes. For over twenty years I have spent more than 1/4 of each year down there. My wife taught history and social studies for a few years in a South TX high school. She was teaching the year that TX legislature instituted a law that all public schools would establish and honor a policy that students would begin their school day by standing and pledging allegiance to the grand state in which they were schooled. A state always on the cutting edge of threats to break away from the union. Hell, Agent Orange ought to just build his wall somewhere up along the Red River!
Of course they can and they should. Do you think businesses are going to tell the NCAA...we will stop sponsorship unless you make a political stand? No way, too much money involved. In fact, it would give businesses political cover.
@JayHawkFanToo said:
Maybe the NCAA should stick to sports and stay out of politics?
OK, hmmm..., so do you think the NCAA should have been "neutral" during the 1950's when it continued to hold the Tourney in segregated KC, causing Wilt to have to stay in a different hotel from the other Jayhawks? No role for the NCAA when state laws--politics--directly affect their athletes?
@JayHawkFanToo Didn't someone fairly well-known say something along the lines of an injustice to the least of them is an injustice to all of them?
"The right to swing my arms in any direction ends where your nose begins. " Oliver Wendel Holmes.
Just because a minority is entitled to rights does not mean a majority should be deprived of its own rights in the process. The way the "bathroom" law is worded is an invitation to controversy and it goes against what most people want. I have yet have to find one person with young kids that agrees with it. Per the law, you and I who most likely think of ourselves as manly men, could walk into the women's restroom of an elementary school and as long as we indicate that internally we "identify" ourselves as women, we can get away with it...law of unintended consequences that was recently discussed by our local school district.
Last word on this subject on my part, lest risk being called intolerant. Back to KU basketball.
@JayHawkFanToo I will join you in back to bb, but only after a "huzzah!" raised up to your caution on the law of unintended consequences--because we agree on something! It is my favorite law other than all the famous corollaries to Murphy's, of course. ("Murphy was an optimist" is a good one.)
The issues of the public bathroom are really mute. As they are just a small subject matter to the bigger picture. As the saying goes follow the money.
Today the issue is whether a transgender can use the bathroom of their choice. Yet is that real the issue? Hear me out. Take for instant the Gay movement on being afforded the right to marry. Doesn't really matter what side of subject you fall on. What matters is what the government has and will do. That's the scary part. For instants is really legal for gays to marry? No, What was passed is that two people of the same sex can engage in the concept of marriage. See what I'm saying. You don't have to be gay to marry someone of your same sex but you can if you wish.
It's the same thing with the bathroom issue. It's not about whether a man can use a women's bathroom or vice versa. Yet it's about what the Government will do. Now remember when I said follow the money. Well here it is. It appears that it will become legal that a person can use any bathroom of their choosing. Big Business and Business alone are putting the pressure on this issue. As someone said look at what happened to North Carolina. Why would business's push on this issue? Well why we would a business or public place need two bathrooms if such a bill is passed? They won't. Think about it. if you as a man or women can use the restroom of your choice, then there is no need of two bathrooms. Business will save thousands and millions of dollars.
Then we can all sit back and watch the evening news filled with stories of women being raped and children being molested in public restrooms. All the while wandering how we reached this stage in our so called great society.
Its shocking that we would have national debate about what is a very miniscule % of Americans, specifically the bisexual or actual transgender. There are many gay or lesbian people, that will still consider themselves the sex that they are, they just prefer same sex partners. Meaning, most all gay men still consider themselves men, and would use the male restroom still. Same for lesbians, they'd call themselves women, and use women's restrooms.
But in this time of PC, we see the time and money spent on chasing down every. Single. Possible. Social. Injustice. Real. Or Perceived. Why? Because we will spend every possible dollar, mark, lira, pound sterling to try to create Utopia right now on this planet. So how's our progress?
Honestly, I dont know how Bernie Sanders, Angela Merkel, and other ultraprogressives can actually keep a straight face. Merkel's nickname from other Germans is now "Mother Fatima". Her grand social experiment is literally blowing up in her face, yet she remains steadfast in her beliefs. It is truly unreal. What is unreal, you ask? Well, the totally unrealistic expectations on mankind to be able to mentally assimilate some new social paradigm--> you honestly think the hard-knocks crowd, the fanatics, the freeloaders, the purists, the fundamentalists (of any ilk) will all suddenly all get along??? Now that's simply some old, burnt out 60s flower child "peace & love" dead idea, disproved by 40+ more years of reality around the world, but people gotta stick to their ideas, dont they. Open your eyes people to the fact that the world's population is very diverse, and there are wide differences amongst peoples. Try telling any of them that their view is "wrong". Good luck. Put the doobies away.
For example, if you ask these fundamental radical islamists, about America, they exactly point to the late 60s, Woodstock debauchery, drugs, etc, as the "decline" of American culture. They dont have much issue with the older WW2 generation. That whole "peace/love/drugs/sexual revolution" stuff is exactly what they hate (I read an essay about it recently). But their fatal mistake is to think the entire American society espouses the same views and beliefs--we dont. Now what happens if you persecute a people for something they didnt do, nor espouse?
Sociologists please answer. We can discuss this stuff, as if we were in Sociol 101, cant we?
Another question: If Cruz was a constitutionalist, why would he support Texas ceceding from the Union? Or would he not?
Politics goes from anything very far right over to very far left. I think in the past the main voices were more moderate. But in today's world of internet, 24-hr "news" media, all the opinionated medias... it has come to the point where the fringe elements are getting their ways now (in both directions).
I hope this all settles down, but I don't think it will. "News" media makes their money on sensationalism, and there is no sensationalism in the center.
Now the far right and Trump are getting into power. But watch what happens... in a few years it will embolden the far left to take power. Trump flubs this up, he may be helping someone like Sanders get elected.
And the media loves it. All Americans glued to their media, awaiting to know what small unique group will demand their own toilets, how much will Trump collude with Putin. And all it does is build fear and hate from within our society. And that is what will drive our elections from here on out.
The sad thing.... the political toxicity bleeds out into just about everything. Now we look at college sports....
I'm pretty sure sports fans from North Carolina might have a lot to say about this.
@drgnslayr Agreed. I think we are along for the ride. It is also going to provide an example of "collective wisdom" (good or bad) by what direction the country goes (regardless of any 1 person's political beliefs). The "herd" mentality, of course, running around aimlessly--> yet everyone thinks that they matter, and are absorbed with self-importance.
All I would say to people is that it is "fleeting". We are but a grain of sand. A few decades on this planet, then its over. To quote a famous president: Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. There's no guarantees in life, and all you "get" is a chance to make yourself into something. Nor is life fair. The inescapable fact of our short lives.