Saturday, September 01, 2012
The Rollenhagens.
Christian Friedrich Rollenhagen was born in 1832 in the tiny town of Brusewitz, Prussia, second oldest son of Friedrich Wilhelm Rollenhagen and Anna Luise Eggert. The Rollenhagens are known to have lived in the area since at least the 1770s.
Fred, as he was later known, trained as a master tailor. He was married in 1857 to Hanna Frederike Theel, who had been born in Brusewitz in 1833, the daughter of Gottfried Theel and Anna Marohn. Frederika must have gotten pregnant on their wedding night, because 9 months and 9 days later she gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Auguste Emilie. A son, Emil Amandus, was born in September 1860 in the nearby town of Hansfelde.
A photograph from the early 1900s of Brusewitz, Anna Rollenhagen in the foreground.
In 1862, the couple, their two children, Frederika's parents, her brothers Friedrich and Christoph, and her sister Maria traveled to Hamburg and boarded the Sir Robert Peel and spent weeks sailing to the United States in steerage. Why they came to the United States has been forgotten. They would later move to places that were very similar, in terms of climate, geography, and vegetation, to Brusewitz.
Sir Robert Peel.
The Sir Robert Peel was launched in 1852 and sailed primarily between Hamburg and New York City, carrying immigrants. The ship would later sink in November 1863 in the North Sea.
There were 293 passengers aboard the vessel. Six died during the voyage, including the Rollenhagen's 21-month-old son Emil Amandus.
Rollenhagen and Theel families, listed on the 24 June 1862 passenger list for the Sir Robert Peel.
The Rollenhagens and the Theels headed west, settling on Grand Island, Erie County, New York. They lived in a log house, with Frederick working as a farmer. A son Herman was born in August 1864. A state census was taken in June 1865.
Rollenhagen family in the 1865 New York state census.
In February 1866, my great-great grandmother Anna Maria Dortea was born. I have a hand-painted fraktur that was created using a piece of ordinary lined paper, the blue lines highlighted with gold.
Anna Rollenhagen fraktur.
The family moved to Michigan soon afterwards, they were there by March 1867 when son Otto Frederick was born. The couple's last child, a daughter Edith Augusta Marie, was born in July 1869.
In August 1870, the couple and three children- Amelia, Herman, Anna, Otto, and Mary; Gred's brothers Herman and August, who had come over from Brusewitz, and a servant girl, Augusta Daubach (who would later marry one of the Rollenhagen brothers)- lived in Crockery township, Ottawa County, Michigan. Fred worked as a farm laborer while Fredrica kept house. They owned $300 in real estate and $150 in personal property (tools, furniture, clothing).
The Rollenhagens in the 1870 census.
In June 1880, the couple and their four children- Herman, Anna, Otto, and Edith- lived in Ravenna, Muskegon County, Michigan, where Frederic worked as a farmer and Hannah was keeping house. All four children had attended school in the last year.
The Rollenhagens in the 1880 census.
In June 1900, the couple, their son Otto, his wife Adaline, that couples four children, and a servant woman lived in Ravenna. Fred was still farming, helped out by his son.
Rollenhagen household, 1900 census.
My grandmother had a photograph of Fred and Fredericka. I suspect it was taken sometime between 1890 and 1905. Fred has a full head of hair and a big bushy beard. A watch chain and fob are visible, the pocket watch is tucked into a vest pocket. His jacket is mostly unbuttoned, I'm not sure if this was because he was chubby, or it was to show off the watch chain, or because it was the style. Fredericka has an elaborate lace collar, pinned at the neck, and is holding, apparently, a handkerchief.
Fred and Fredericka.
Fred died in October 1906 from "dropsy of the heart," probably a heart attack. His death was reported in the Coopersville (MI) Observer on 19 October 1906: " The funeral of Frederick Rollenhagen, who died last week Thursday at his home near Dennison, was held Tuesday morning with services at the home at ten o'clock and in the church at eleven o'clock. The burial took place in the Coopersville cemetery. The Rev. L. E. K. Hagen of Grand Haven officiating. Mr. Rollenhagen was one of the oldest residents of the community and had lived in the vicinity of his late home for about fifty-four years. He was born in Germany, September 10, 1832, and is survived by four children and eighteen grandchildren. Death was caused by dropsy of the heart."
Fred's death certificate.
After Fred's death, Fredericka continued to live with her son Otto and his family in Ravenna.
Rollenhagen household, 1910 census.
Fredericka died in April 1914 from pneumonia. Her obituary appeared in the A May 1914 issue of the Coopersville (Michigan) Observer: "OBITUARY. Fredericka Theel, daughter of Gotfried and Anna Theel, was born in Germany, December 12, 1833, and died April 18, 1914. She was married to Frederick Rollenhagen, February, 12, 1857. Six years later together they left their native land for America, Settling first in New York. After about three years residence in New York they removed to Nunica, Ottawa County, Michigan. Then in 1871 to the home in Ravenna township, Muskegon County, where she lived until her death. She was the mother of six children, Emelie A., Mandus, Herman A., Anna M., Otto F., and Edith A.., three of whom, one buried at sea, together with her husband, have gone before. There remain two daughters, Mrs. Anna Clawson, of Traverse City, and Edith, now Mrs. Hoyt Taylor, of Coopersville, one son Otto F. Rollenhagen who now occupies the old home in Ravenna township, thirty-five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren with many friends and neighbors.
She was an earnest Christian, a loving wife and mother and will be greatly missed by the church, family and friends.
Card of Thanks
We take this method of thanking our friends and neighbors, who so kindly assisted us during the sickness and burial of our beloved mother. Your kindness will never be forgotten.
MR. AND MRS. O. ROLLENHAGEN
MR. AND MRS. HOYT TAYLOR
MRS. ISAAC CLAWSON"
Fredericka Rollenhagen death certificate.
Fred and Fredericka are buried in the Coopersville-Polkton Cemetery in Coopersville, Ottawa County. THe opposite side of the tombstone has an inscription for Fredericka's father Gottfriend Theel.
Fred and Fredericka's tombstone.
My uncle has a spinning wheel that was handed down in the family. My grandmother gave me the fraktur and a Tea Leaf cup and saucer that once belonged to Fredericka.
Tea Leaf cup.
Brusewitz is now part of the Poland, the German residents driven out at the end of World War II.
In 1998, I traveled first to Brudzewice, Poland, It is still a small town of brick homes, the barns connected directly to each house. Women were working in potato fields and called out to me and the ex, wondering who we were and what we were doing. We didn't speak Polish and they didn't speak English, so we could not communicate.
Afterward, I went to southern Germany and met my Rollenhagen cousins, the descendants of a brother who came to the United States, but was sent back to Brusewitz after the oldest brother, who had remained behind, died prematurely. He ended up marrying his brother's widow and the modern Rollenhagens descend from that couple. My cousin Claus created a website for the family, which I helped out with information I collected here in the United States.
Christian Friedrich Rollenhagen was born in 1832 in the tiny town of Brusewitz, Prussia, second oldest son of Friedrich Wilhelm Rollenhagen and Anna Luise Eggert. The Rollenhagens are known to have lived in the area since at least the 1770s.
Fred, as he was later known, trained as a master tailor. He was married in 1857 to Hanna Frederike Theel, who had been born in Brusewitz in 1833, the daughter of Gottfried Theel and Anna Marohn. Frederika must have gotten pregnant on their wedding night, because 9 months and 9 days later she gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Auguste Emilie. A son, Emil Amandus, was born in September 1860 in the nearby town of Hansfelde.
In 1862, the couple, their two children, Frederika's parents, her brothers Friedrich and Christoph, and her sister Maria traveled to Hamburg and boarded the Sir Robert Peel and spent weeks sailing to the United States in steerage. Why they came to the United States has been forgotten. They would later move to places that were very similar, in terms of climate, geography, and vegetation, to Brusewitz.
The Sir Robert Peel was launched in 1852 and sailed primarily between Hamburg and New York City, carrying immigrants. The ship would later sink in November 1863 in the North Sea.
There were 293 passengers aboard the vessel. Six died during the voyage, including the Rollenhagen's 21-month-old son Emil Amandus.
The Rollenhagens and the Theels headed west, settling on Grand Island, Erie County, New York. They lived in a log house, with Frederick working as a farmer. A son Herman was born in August 1864. A state census was taken in June 1865.
In February 1866, my great-great grandmother Anna Maria Dortea was born. I have a hand-painted fraktur that was created using a piece of ordinary lined paper, the blue lines highlighted with gold.
Anna Rollenhagen fraktur.
The family moved to Michigan soon afterwards, they were there by March 1867 when son Otto Frederick was born. The couple's last child, a daughter Edith Augusta Marie, was born in July 1869.
In August 1870, the couple and three children- Amelia, Herman, Anna, Otto, and Mary; Gred's brothers Herman and August, who had come over from Brusewitz, and a servant girl, Augusta Daubach (who would later marry one of the Rollenhagen brothers)- lived in Crockery township, Ottawa County, Michigan. Fred worked as a farm laborer while Fredrica kept house. They owned $300 in real estate and $150 in personal property (tools, furniture, clothing).
The Rollenhagens in the 1870 census.
In June 1880, the couple and their four children- Herman, Anna, Otto, and Edith- lived in Ravenna, Muskegon County, Michigan, where Frederic worked as a farmer and Hannah was keeping house. All four children had attended school in the last year.
In June 1900, the couple, their son Otto, his wife Adaline, that couples four children, and a servant woman lived in Ravenna. Fred was still farming, helped out by his son.
My grandmother had a photograph of Fred and Fredericka. I suspect it was taken sometime between 1890 and 1905. Fred has a full head of hair and a big bushy beard. A watch chain and fob are visible, the pocket watch is tucked into a vest pocket. His jacket is mostly unbuttoned, I'm not sure if this was because he was chubby, or it was to show off the watch chain, or because it was the style. Fredericka has an elaborate lace collar, pinned at the neck, and is holding, apparently, a handkerchief.
Fred and Fredericka.
Fred died in October 1906 from "dropsy of the heart," probably a heart attack. His death was reported in the Coopersville (MI) Observer on 19 October 1906: " The funeral of Frederick Rollenhagen, who died last week Thursday at his home near Dennison, was held Tuesday morning with services at the home at ten o'clock and in the church at eleven o'clock. The burial took place in the Coopersville cemetery. The Rev. L. E. K. Hagen of Grand Haven officiating. Mr. Rollenhagen was one of the oldest residents of the community and had lived in the vicinity of his late home for about fifty-four years. He was born in Germany, September 10, 1832, and is survived by four children and eighteen grandchildren. Death was caused by dropsy of the heart."
Fred's death certificate.
After Fred's death, Fredericka continued to live with her son Otto and his family in Ravenna.
Fredericka died in April 1914 from pneumonia. Her obituary appeared in the A May 1914 issue of the Coopersville (Michigan) Observer: "OBITUARY. Fredericka Theel, daughter of Gotfried and Anna Theel, was born in Germany, December 12, 1833, and died April 18, 1914. She was married to Frederick Rollenhagen, February, 12, 1857. Six years later together they left their native land for America, Settling first in New York. After about three years residence in New York they removed to Nunica, Ottawa County, Michigan. Then in 1871 to the home in Ravenna township, Muskegon County, where she lived until her death. She was the mother of six children, Emelie A., Mandus, Herman A., Anna M., Otto F., and Edith A.., three of whom, one buried at sea, together with her husband, have gone before. There remain two daughters, Mrs. Anna Clawson, of Traverse City, and Edith, now Mrs. Hoyt Taylor, of Coopersville, one son Otto F. Rollenhagen who now occupies the old home in Ravenna township, thirty-five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren with many friends and neighbors.
She was an earnest Christian, a loving wife and mother and will be greatly missed by the church, family and friends.
Card of Thanks
We take this method of thanking our friends and neighbors, who so kindly assisted us during the sickness and burial of our beloved mother. Your kindness will never be forgotten.
MR. AND MRS. O. ROLLENHAGEN
MR. AND MRS. HOYT TAYLOR
MRS. ISAAC CLAWSON"
Fred and Fredericka are buried in the Coopersville-Polkton Cemetery in Coopersville, Ottawa County. THe opposite side of the tombstone has an inscription for Fredericka's father Gottfriend Theel.
My uncle has a spinning wheel that was handed down in the family. My grandmother gave me the fraktur and a Tea Leaf cup and saucer that once belonged to Fredericka.
Brusewitz is now part of the Poland, the German residents driven out at the end of World War II.
In 1998, I traveled first to Brudzewice, Poland, It is still a small town of brick homes, the barns connected directly to each house. Women were working in potato fields and called out to me and the ex, wondering who we were and what we were doing. We didn't speak Polish and they didn't speak English, so we could not communicate.
Afterward, I went to southern Germany and met my Rollenhagen cousins, the descendants of a brother who came to the United States, but was sent back to Brusewitz after the oldest brother, who had remained behind, died prematurely. He ended up marrying his brother's widow and the modern Rollenhagens descend from that couple. My cousin Claus created a website for the family, which I helped out with information I collected here in the United States.
Friday, August 31, 2012
A rant. I just love how the word "liberal" is a dirty word for some people. It was the fucking douchebag liberal scum who got you your 40-hour work week, Social Security, Medicare, civil rights, women's right to vote, gay rights, and so on. And what have the conservatives given us lately? Hatred of science, hatred of Mexicans, hatred of gay people, hatred of education, hatred of sex, and lots of other fucking bullshit. They seem to think that they shouldn't pay any taxes and yet money will magically fucking appear to pay for the military and the healthcare benefits of Congress people, which, by the way, are so much fucking better than the healthcare benefits you and I will ever, ever have. So go ahead and call me a liberal. And while you are at it, call me a faggot too. Because I am that liberal faggot who isn't going to sit around and let some fucking scumbag Republicans tell me that I can't get married, can't work this job, can't serve in the military and all the other fucking bullshit that fucking conservatives who believe in "smaller government" keep babbling on and on about because they are so fucking filled with hate and fear. End of fucking rant.
This was after reading something written by a Republican woman accusing all liberals of being douchebags who call people names and hate rich people.
Just for the record, I don't hate rich people. I know some very rick folks. I read Martha Stewart's blog and admire what she has been able to accomplish. But I do think that rich people should pay their fair share of taxes. The fact that Mitt Romney supposedly pays 13 percent on his $20+ million annual income, solely because it is "capital gains" is just bullshit. Just pay your fair share. I do, and I don't mind my tax dollars going to do the things I don't know how to do (military, medicine, etc) or want to do (sewer maintenance).
This was after reading something written by a Republican woman accusing all liberals of being douchebags who call people names and hate rich people.
Just for the record, I don't hate rich people. I know some very rick folks. I read Martha Stewart's blog and admire what she has been able to accomplish. But I do think that rich people should pay their fair share of taxes. The fact that Mitt Romney supposedly pays 13 percent on his $20+ million annual income, solely because it is "capital gains" is just bullshit. Just pay your fair share. I do, and I don't mind my tax dollars going to do the things I don't know how to do (military, medicine, etc) or want to do (sewer maintenance).
Things I like:
My new "old" Asiatic Pheasant brown transferprint serving bowl.
Asiatic Pheasant.
It dates to before 1891. Exactly how old, I can't tell (the maker's mark is blurry). I bought it for $29 at the antique store near Evan's new place, that was a bargain.
I'll have to pull out my other antique serving dishes and show them off too.
It dates to before 1891. Exactly how old, I can't tell (the maker's mark is blurry). I bought it for $29 at the antique store near Evan's new place, that was a bargain.
I'll have to pull out my other antique serving dishes and show them off too.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The sunsets in Flagstaff are pretty, the clouds are so close to the ground.
Along Interstate 17.
I spent much of Saturday in an anti-histamine haze. I did awaken enough to make a delicious strawberry cake. I didn't have enough white sugar, so I replaced 1/2 cup with brown sugar. I'm definitely making this cake again.
Cake!
The next morning we went looking for wildflowers.
Evan and Homer.
Evan stopped the truck so I could go say hello to four young pigs. They were so happy to see me, they ran over to the fence and snorted hello. They wanted me to scratch their little heads. Pigs are just like dogs, I really, really don't see how people can be wicked and eat them.
At 11:00 I hopped in the Fiesta and drove to the Phoenix airport and hopped on an airplane and flew to Albuquerque and then drove a rental car to Santa Fe, where I checked into the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in. It would have been perfect except I was by myself and I kept thinking how much I wanted Evan to be there.
The next morning I drove east to Pecos National Historic Park. I climbed down into the kiva.
Second Pecos church.
The Park Service has to maintain the adobe ruins, which otherwise would melt away in the rain and wind.
Arched doorways.
Handprint.
I drove east on Interstate 25 and visited Fort Union. Back in 1987 and 1988 I worked as an archaeologist at the other Fort Union, in North Dakota.
Fort Union, 1861-1891.
The fort served to protect the area and as a supply depot. Scraps of adobe walls and brick chimneys remain.
Quartermaster buildings.
A walk around the site gave you a good sense of the scale of the fort. What was missing were the hundreds of soldiers and civilians who once lived and worked there. I was the only visitor.
Jail.
I drove back to Santa Fe, gave my talk (which went very well, as unusual). Later I went downtown Santa Fe and walked around the expensive shops, most of which were closed by 7 PM.
I spent much of Saturday in an anti-histamine haze. I did awaken enough to make a delicious strawberry cake. I didn't have enough white sugar, so I replaced 1/2 cup with brown sugar. I'm definitely making this cake again.
Cake!
The next morning we went looking for wildflowers.
Penstemons.
The distant fields were bright yellow.
Evan stopped the truck so I could go say hello to four young pigs. They were so happy to see me, they ran over to the fence and snorted hello. They wanted me to scratch their little heads. Pigs are just like dogs, I really, really don't see how people can be wicked and eat them.
Me and two of the pigs.
The next morning I drove east to Pecos National Historic Park. I climbed down into the kiva.
Kiva.
The Pecos Pueblo ruins are enormous and I wandered along the trail, admiring the occasional wall poking up and the sherds of pottery lying everywhere.
I did not see any snakes.
The Spaniards came and built a church, which was destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. They later built another church and stayed for a while, and the last of the Pecos people walked away in 1838, decimated by European diseases.
The Park Service has to maintain the adobe ruins, which otherwise would melt away in the rain and wind.
Arched doorways.
The museum inside had interesting exhibits. My favorite pot was a reminder that people once lived at the site.
I drove east on Interstate 25 and visited Fort Union. Back in 1987 and 1988 I worked as an archaeologist at the other Fort Union, in North Dakota.
The fort served to protect the area and as a supply depot. Scraps of adobe walls and brick chimneys remain.
Sunflower and ruins.
Park Service employees, paid with our socialistic tax dollars, were busy maintaining the adobe walls.
A walk around the site gave you a good sense of the scale of the fort. What was missing were the hundreds of soldiers and civilians who once lived and worked there. I was the only visitor.
I drove back to Santa Fe, gave my talk (which went very well, as unusual). Later I went downtown Santa Fe and walked around the expensive shops, most of which were closed by 7 PM.
Cathedral.
I hate eating alone, and the restaurants were so fancy and expensive. I eventually went back to the hotel and had a fancy and expensive meal there. The vegetarian entree was mediocre.
At least the soup was delicious.
I got up very early Tuesday morning, drove to Albuquerque, flew to Phoenix, drove to Tucson, went to work, came home, slept, woke up with a migraine. Next time I go to Santa Fe, Evan will have to come with me to keep me company.
Monday, August 20, 2012
My clothes smell like gunpowder, I guess because I was standing close to the cannon both times it was fired.
The City of Tucson was formally established 237 years ago today. An Irish man employed by the Spanish government selected the location, which happened to be located on prehistoric Native American villages, some of which I have documented through the years on this blog.
Patrick and I went to attend the festivities. This year it was held at night, for the first time, and the crowd was much bigger.
Big crowd.
Many people showed up in period costumes- from the Spanish, Mexican, and American Territorial periods.
Three hoop-skirted Confederate ladies.
I was sweating up a storm in my vest, bowtie, and tophat.
Good doggy.
The ceremony began with the firing of the four-pound cannon.
Boom!
And as ceremonies tend to do, it lasted a long, fretful time. I think to make it more exciting, there should be door prizes.
I looked up and admired the pretty sky. Several times I thought it was going to rain, but it didn't.
Beautiful sky.
After the flag ceremony, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, reading of the founding document in Spanish and English, Proclamation, and additional flags, the cannon was fired again.
The fuse is lit and waiting to be applied.
Once again, the cannon roared, and the sulphuric smoke filled the air.
Many people showed up in period costumes- from the Spanish, Mexican, and American Territorial periods.
I was sweating up a storm in my vest, bowtie, and tophat.
Patrick and Homer.
I showed Patrick around the park and he admired the buildings, artifacts, and the large mural.
The ceremony began with the firing of the four-pound cannon.
And as ceremonies tend to do, it lasted a long, fretful time. I think to make it more exciting, there should be door prizes.
The girl is a Yaqui deer dancer.
After the flag ceremony, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, reading of the founding document in Spanish and English, Proclamation, and additional flags, the cannon was fired again.
Once again, the cannon roared, and the sulphuric smoke filled the air.
Segundo Boom.
I'm going to buy a gray tophat to replace my cheap black one. It was alright as ceremony goes, and the cake was delicious. I was glad to see so many people (hundreds) at the Presidio Park. Of all of the work that I have done here in Tucson, this is probably my proudest achievement.
Monday, August 13, 2012
We made tie-dye t-shirts for our Arts and Crafts Interlude. I had never participated in this messy hippy subculture phenomenon.
First we purchased the necessary items. Then we rubber banded the white t-shirts.
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Banded.
Then I poured water into the applicator bottles and only got a little dye on my hands. The dye was then applied to the shirts.
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Ready to sit overnight.
When completed the shirts were brightly colored. We wrapped them in plastic overnight. The next morning Evan washed them in the washing machine, and Voila! new shirts.
I actually remember the 1960s.
We also went on a drive through an area that had been burned a few years ago in a forest fire. We paused and looked at an archaeology site.
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Evan and me.
Don't leave your camp fire with embers, of I will come and beat the crap out of you.
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Then I poured water into the applicator bottles and only got a little dye on my hands. The dye was then applied to the shirts.
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Dyeing.
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When completed the shirts were brightly colored. We wrapped them in plastic overnight. The next morning Evan washed them in the washing machine, and Voila! new shirts.
We also went on a drive through an area that had been burned a few years ago in a forest fire. We paused and looked at an archaeology site.
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Don't leave your camp fire with embers, of I will come and beat the crap out of you.
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Burned side of road.
The monsoon rains have been heavy up north and the wildflowers were blooming everywhere.
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Unburned side, see all of the nice, unburnt trees?
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
I stopped at the Farmer's Market and the cute farmer had pickling cucumbers for sale, so I bought some.
Six pickling cucumbers, two leeks, five small yellow squash, miniature peppers, a clove of garlic, and a container of jalapeno soft goat cheese (with vegetable rennet).
I sliced up the cucumbers, leaks, and a red onion and soaked them in salt water overnight. Then I rinsed them well and cut up half a yellow pepper and a whole red pepper. Then I put 7 cups vinegar, 3.5 cups sugar, spices (cinnamon, cloves, pickling spice), and the chopped up veggies to cook to a boil while I got the jars and lids ready.
On the stove.
I have never made bread and butter pickles before, so it was an experiment. I felt clumsy putting them in the jars. A clove of garlic and a small hot pepper went into each jar. I ended up with six pints.
Bread and butter pickles.
The last jar wasn't quite filled, so I got to put that one in the fridge to cool. They turned out great, perhaps a little too spicy for my mother.
I sliced up the cucumbers, leaks, and a red onion and soaked them in salt water overnight. Then I rinsed them well and cut up half a yellow pepper and a whole red pepper. Then I put 7 cups vinegar, 3.5 cups sugar, spices (cinnamon, cloves, pickling spice), and the chopped up veggies to cook to a boil while I got the jars and lids ready.
I have never made bread and butter pickles before, so it was an experiment. I felt clumsy putting them in the jars. A clove of garlic and a small hot pepper went into each jar. I ended up with six pints.
The last jar wasn't quite filled, so I got to put that one in the fridge to cool. They turned out great, perhaps a little too spicy for my mother.
Thursday, August 02, 2012
So yesterday was Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day and today all of those protest meals are coming out as shit. Very appropriate.
Supposedly this grand event was a protest for First Amendment rights or some similar nonsense. It is strange then, isn't it, that so many of the protesters were willing to openly state that it was all a big group hug for faggot haters. A visit to Mike Huckabee or the Chick-Fil-A Facebook page was sufficient to prove this point. The anti-gay remarks vastly outnumbered the First Amendment remarks.
So lucky that no one I knew ate there yesterday. First of all, I really don't approve of eating chickens. Remember Henny Penny, the bestest chicken in the world? Why would anyone want to eat chickens? They are full of personality, curious, interesting little creatures that sometimes poop on you.
Unfortunately, some of my friends discovered that their friends and family members marched down and had a hate sandwich with a side order of bigotry. Many posted pictures of themselves proudly eating this breaded piece of factory meat that would never rot if left outside in the sun. And some of these people had the balls to say out loud, "Why, I have gay friends! Gay friends that are going to hell and shouldn't be allowed to marry, but friends nonetheless."
Really? I argued with a couple of women online about this. One of them was foolish enough to say the Bible bans gay marriage. I told her to find the specific phrase. Of course she couldn't, because there isn't a particular phrase that specifically bans same sex marriage. She changed the subject, but not before telling me I was not a friend of our mutual friend. That particular mutual friend who called me today because he was so upset that these very same people supported hate. I'm sorry, but it is not possible to be someone's friend and then state openly that they are not your equal in terms of basic civil rights.
In many ways, this was a good thing to happen. We gay folks got to wake up a bit and see that there are a huge number of fundamentalists who simply hate our homo guts. It was a virtual lynching at a fast food restaurant. The culture wars are ongoing, just like the racism that has broken out into the open as white people become the minority in America. These people will likely never change, their resentment will grow and grow as courts and northern states legalize same sex marriage. It will be Roe V Wade II.
At the same time I got to hear from numerous straight friends telling me how disgusted they were and how much they support me. Although I didn't say this to them, I appreciate this more than they can ever know.
Supposedly this grand event was a protest for First Amendment rights or some similar nonsense. It is strange then, isn't it, that so many of the protesters were willing to openly state that it was all a big group hug for faggot haters. A visit to Mike Huckabee or the Chick-Fil-A Facebook page was sufficient to prove this point. The anti-gay remarks vastly outnumbered the First Amendment remarks.
So lucky that no one I knew ate there yesterday. First of all, I really don't approve of eating chickens. Remember Henny Penny, the bestest chicken in the world? Why would anyone want to eat chickens? They are full of personality, curious, interesting little creatures that sometimes poop on you.
Unfortunately, some of my friends discovered that their friends and family members marched down and had a hate sandwich with a side order of bigotry. Many posted pictures of themselves proudly eating this breaded piece of factory meat that would never rot if left outside in the sun. And some of these people had the balls to say out loud, "Why, I have gay friends! Gay friends that are going to hell and shouldn't be allowed to marry, but friends nonetheless."
Really? I argued with a couple of women online about this. One of them was foolish enough to say the Bible bans gay marriage. I told her to find the specific phrase. Of course she couldn't, because there isn't a particular phrase that specifically bans same sex marriage. She changed the subject, but not before telling me I was not a friend of our mutual friend. That particular mutual friend who called me today because he was so upset that these very same people supported hate. I'm sorry, but it is not possible to be someone's friend and then state openly that they are not your equal in terms of basic civil rights.
In many ways, this was a good thing to happen. We gay folks got to wake up a bit and see that there are a huge number of fundamentalists who simply hate our homo guts. It was a virtual lynching at a fast food restaurant. The culture wars are ongoing, just like the racism that has broken out into the open as white people become the minority in America. These people will likely never change, their resentment will grow and grow as courts and northern states legalize same sex marriage. It will be Roe V Wade II.
At the same time I got to hear from numerous straight friends telling me how disgusted they were and how much they support me. Although I didn't say this to them, I appreciate this more than they can ever know.
