Thursday, June 12, 2014

Texas' "Pray the Gay Away" Stance Exposes Right-Wing Cognitive Dissonance

From Wikipedia (which I try NEVER to use as a reference, but in this case will serve adequately enough)...

In psychology, cognitive dissonance is the excessive mental stress and discomfort experienced by an individual who (1) holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time or (2) is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values. This stress and discomfort may also arise within an individual who holds a belief and performs a contradictory action or reaction.

Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance focuses on how humans strive for internal consistency. When inconsistency (dissonance) is experienced, individuals largely become psychologically distressed. His basic hypotheses are listed below:

1."The existence of dissonance, being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance"

2."When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance"

Texas GOP Advances "Pray The Gay Away"

Solidifying its place in the ass-end of social evolution, the Texas Republican Party voted this past Thursday to include anti-gay language that would endorse "reparative therapy" in its party platform. The vote taken at their convention in Fort Worth is aimed at rebuking bans on such therapy in California and New Jersey.

From the Associated Press...

Under the new proposed plank, the Texas GOP will "recognize the legitimacy and efficacy of counseling, which offers reparative therapy and treatment for those patients seeking healing and wholeness from their homosexual lifestyle."

Sarah Palin Gives Her $.02 On Bergdhal (She really should have saved her money)

You know, there are some people who really, REALLY should just keep their opinions to themselves. Especially if they don't want folks to start asking questions which may prove more than a bit uncomfortable to THEM. Sadly, Sarah Palin does not feel this applies to her.

Criticizing the president's praise for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was released after five years of captivity in Afghanistan, she opines... (h/t Talking Points Memo)

"No, Mr. President, a soldier expressing horrid anti-American beliefs – even boldly putting them in writing and unabashedly firing off his messages while in uniform, just three days before he left his unit on foot – is not 'honorable service.' Unless that is your standard."

You Are NOT A "Patriot" If...

As I did my annual "walking tour" of Philadelphia this past Memorial Day, observing all of the ceremonies acknowledging the sacrifices of the men and women who have actually fought and died for our freedom, it occurs to me that there is a stark difference between REAL patriots, and those who just use the title to justify their Obama Derangement Syndrome. (Yes. I'm talking to you, Operation American Spring.) With that in mind, I figure I might provide the following as a kind of primer. Think of this as "Patriotism for Dummies".

BREAKING: Divorce Lawyers Expect Surge of Clients as "Opposite Marriages" Become Meaningless

With same-sex marriage bans being challenged, put on hold, or overturned altogether across the country (the latest being in Pennsylvania), divorce lawyers are gearing up for a surge of new clientele as heterosexual couples suddenly realize that the sanctity of their marriage has been diminished by "the Gay".

"We've been receiving a torrent of new calls from distraught couples," says I.M. Slyme of the law firm Dewey, Cheetem, and Howe. "After years and years of feeling so safe and secure in the knowledge that marriage is exclusive to them and them along, I'm getting calls from new clients (mostly men) who are now just saying 'f--k it, I'm done'."

Operation American Spring Joins the #EpicFail Hall of Shame

In the history of really, really stupid dumb-assery there are those moments that stand out. These moments, which seem to come along just when we all need a good hearty belly laugh, deserve a special place in what we call the #EpicFail Hall of Shame.

Remember the May 21, 2011 doomsday prediction of Harold Camping? Thousands of his followers believed his prediction of impending doomsday only to end up dazed and confused like this poor fella.