Comments on: Wicca, Transgender Jokes, Sex Discrimination: Google Sued for Civil Rights Violations http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/2009/11/05/wicca-transgender-jokes-sex-discrimination-google-sued-for-civil-rights-violations/ Just another Firedoglake weblog Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:22:24 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: GregoriusU http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/2009/11/05/wicca-transgender-jokes-sex-discrimination-google-sued-for-civil-rights-violations/#comment-9067 GregoriusU Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:11:15 +0000 http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/?p=1714#comment-9067 Once a company reaches the size where its founders can no longer greet each employee by name, it should go without saying that new employees do not necessarily care about the founders' ideals. The first generation at Google believed whole-heartedly in the slogan "Don't be evil." Since then, they've gotten a LOT more employees, a lot of whom could care less about not being evil, and many of those are in power- and decision-making positions. When my blog HAIL DUBYUS! http://haildubyus.com/ started running into Google actions to marginalize its presence (it's a cartoon blog, was very critical of Bush/Cheney before it became fashionable, and one day 90% of my back cartoons were eliminated from the image database), people treated me like I was crazy for thinking that this wasn't just some glitch because "Google doesn't censor" and its motto is "Don't be evil." I have no doubt that there is religious and gender-sensitive discrimination at Google because that's the way it is ALL over US companies. Google is just another one of them and as long as no one complains, "acceptable" prejudices, like making fun of marginalized religions or gender-altered individuals, will be ignored or "winked at" because from the second-generation on, the new higher-ups JUST DON'T CARE. It's time to take down the "Don't Be Evil" sign and put up one that says, "We're only in it for the money." Good luck on the suit. Once a company reaches the size where its founders can no longer greet each employee by name, it should go without saying that new employees do not necessarily care about the founders’ ideals. The first generation at Google believed whole-heartedly in the slogan “Don’t be evil.” Since then, they’ve gotten a LOT more employees, a lot of whom could care less about not being evil, and many of those are in power- and decision-making positions. When my blog HAIL DUBYUS! http://haildubyus.com/ started running into Google actions to marginalize its presence (it’s a cartoon blog, was very critical of Bush/Cheney before it became fashionable, and one day 90% of my back cartoons were eliminated from the image database), people treated me like I was crazy for thinking that this wasn’t just some glitch because “Google doesn’t censor” and its motto is “Don’t be evil.” I have no doubt that there is religious and gender-sensitive discrimination at Google because that’s the way it is ALL over US companies. Google is just another one of them and as long as no one complains, “acceptable” prejudices, like making fun of marginalized religions or gender-altered individuals, will be ignored or “winked at” because from the second-generation on, the new higher-ups JUST DON’T CARE. It’s time to take down the “Don’t Be Evil” sign and put up one that says, “We’re only in it for the money.” Good luck on the suit.

]]> By: Teddy Partridge http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/2009/11/05/wicca-transgender-jokes-sex-discrimination-google-sued-for-civil-rights-violations/#comment-9063 Teddy Partridge Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:54:28 +0000 http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/?p=1714#comment-9063 Transgender people are the last ni&&ers in America. It's still entirely acceptable to make jokes at their expense in polite company, on television shows, and at public gatherings. It's even permitted in the most progressive venues. Our alleged discomforts with their gender identity are, of course, vastly outweighed by the existential questions transgender people face in their lives. It's almost impossible to imagine being transgender. That impossibility should help us be compassionate: ponder for just a moment having that unimaginable conflict between being and presentation at the core of your existence. Then tell me these folks have it easy. It's one of the toughest kinds of humans to be. I hope more honesty and acceptance lies ahead. The struggle transgender people face is still so huge. Role models like Chaz Bono will help. But until then, America must provide civil protections in housing, the workplace, and the law to everyone. Transgender people are the last ni&&ers in America. It’s still entirely acceptable to make jokes at their expense in polite company, on television shows, and at public gatherings. It’s even permitted in the most progressive venues. Our alleged discomforts with their gender identity are, of course, vastly outweighed by the existential questions transgender people face in their lives.

It’s almost impossible to imagine being transgender. That impossibility should help us be compassionate: ponder for just a moment having that unimaginable conflict between being and presentation at the core of your existence. Then tell me these folks have it easy. It’s one of the toughest kinds of humans to be.

I hope more honesty and acceptance lies ahead. The struggle transgender people face is still so huge. Role models like Chaz Bono will help. But until then, America must provide civil protections in housing, the workplace, and the law to everyone.

]]> By: Phoenix Woman http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/2009/11/05/wicca-transgender-jokes-sex-discrimination-google-sued-for-civil-rights-violations/#comment-9061 Phoenix Woman Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:42:32 +0000 http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/?p=1714#comment-9061 Two words: Threefold Law. Two words: Threefold Law.

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