I'm starting to despise Texas.

[minty_green]

*Originally posted by thatDDperson *
When the Spoetzel Brewery sold to Budweiser, they screwed with everything.

Fascinating, but false. The Spoetzel Brewery is not owned by Annheuser Busch, Miller, or any other big brewer:

I heard a rumor that the Spoetzl Brewery has been bought out by a giant corporation.

Here’s the truth: the Spoetzl Brewery is the oldest independent brewery in Texas. Since 1989, the Spoetzl Brewery has been privately owned by The Gambrinus Company of San Antonio, Texas. Gambrinus imports Corona beer (and other Modelo brands from Mexico) to the eastern half of the U.S. and imports Moosehead Beer (from Canada) nationwide. Gambrinus also owns the BridgePort Brewing Co. in Portland, Oregon.

Gambrinus provides sales and marketing support for the Spoetzl Brewery, but our brewmaster (Mr. John Hybner) is responsible for the daily operations at the brewery. He oversees every batch, still handcrafted by the fine folks (pardon our pride) in Shiner, Texas.

Recant your heresy, Yankee.

[Homebrew]

*Originally posted by matt_mcl *
**What with the underground city, you could stay indoors for months at a time. **

I’ve seen Waydowntown.

[Freyr]

*Originally posted by hermann *
**Homebrew, I just read about it in the paper. It was an AP story and mentioned that Texas joins 36 other states which have such a law. Does that ease your pain? **

What’s bothersome about this, is that it’s too close to the number of states required to pass a constitutional amendment (which is 38, right?). What with that proposed amendment, restricting the definition of marriage to one man and one woman, I can see it breezing thru the required number of state legislations and becoming enshrined in the federal constitution too easily.

[jayjay]

*Originally posted by Freyr *
**What’s bothersome about this, is that it’s too close to the number of states required to pass a constitutional amendment (which is 38, right?). What with that proposed amendment, restricting the definition of marriage to one man and one woman, I can see it breezing thru the required number of state legislations and becoming enshrined in the federal constitution too easily. **

Why do I suddenly feel this wash of frigidly cold fear and rage come over me?

What the hell are we Queers supposed to do if such an amendment is passed? “Enshrined in the Constitution” is the closest thing to damn near permanent the US government ever gets. The whole gay rights movement is based on the possibility that someday we can gain the status of first-class citizens. A Defense of Marriage Amendment would permanently bar that from happening, and give opponents of any gay rights initiative legal and governmental ammunition.

I am profoundly frightened now.

[matt_mcl]

It would also make the US, AFAIK, the first country in the world to specifically enshrine homophobia in its constitution.

[Polycarp]

*Originally posted by jayjay *
**Why do I suddenly feel this wash of frigidly cold fear and rage come over me?

What the hell are we Queers supposed to do if such an amendment is passed? “Enshrined in the Constitution” is the closest thing to damn near permanent the US government ever gets. The whole gay rights movement is based on the possibility that someday we can gain the status of first-class citizens. A Defense of Marriage Amendment would permanently bar that from happening, and give opponents of any gay rights initiative legal and governmental ammunition.

I am profoundly frightened now. **

Here’s a news article on said amendment from last May.

HRC’s talking points on it. A website favoring it. (Note to fellow Episcopalians: these guys are separatists not affiliated with the Anglican Communion except in their own minds.) [url="http://www.allianceformarriage.org/reports/030304/030304.htm"Something scary.

[elucidator]

My name is elucidator, and I’m a Recovering Texan…

(“Hi, elucidator!”)

I still have the same recurring dreams, like I’m driving down a half-ass road, got a bucket of catfish on ice in the trunk, vague smell of stink-bait on my clothes, a sweet chiquita who doesn’t mind the smell cracking open a couple of long-necks and spinning up some home-grow…

Then I see it. A shack, looks like it was assembled by a tornado, got a broken screen door on the front says “Mrs. Bairds is goooood bread!” and sign that underlines the obvious: “Bar-B-Q”

And I wake up sobbing…

[jayjay]

*Originally posted by matt_mcl *
**It would also make the US, AFAIK, the first country in the world to specifically enshrine homophobia in its constitution. **

Well, assuming sufficiently large values for the meaning of the word “constitution”, it wouldn’t be the first. There was a certain regime in the early part of this past century that had a similar basic government policy.

running from Godwin, but dead serious nonetheless

[phouka]

Matt, hang in there. After all, Prohibition was enshrined in the Constitution, and we all know how well that worked out.

[FriarTed]

I thought Texas would have passed the DOMA before any other state.

Anyway, might as well despise the US, over 50% of the public, the Democratic Party and President Clinton (he DID sign the thing & even Hillary has expressed reservations about gay marriage).

Now to figure out how to use the Rolling Eyes Smiley