(If you’d like to debate the actual circumstances surrounding Terri Schiavo, please refer to one of millions of threads elsewhere. Thank you.)
I have some time off before I start life as a real doctor this summer, and I’m thinking about places where CrazyCatLady and I could get away to for a week or so, to stave off the stress of moving and just enjoy some much-needed time together.
We’ve been to Key West before, and we both loved it, so it has been mentioned in passing as one possibility. However, every time I think of Florida, I can’t help but think of how disgusted I am by the state’s government, specifically Jeb and the legislature, over their treatment of Terri Schiavo and her husband.
On the one hand, I try to live by my principles and not give my money to people who violate them. Tourism is Florida’s lifeblood, and even though losing my meager contribution wouldn’t mean much, if enough like-minded folks did the same it might turn some heads.
On the other hand, we’re talking about Key West here, a place that embodies just about everything these right-wingers rail against–sex of all types in all combinations, drunken debauchery, sloth, and generally letting everyone live their lives the way they want to. It also doesn’t seem fair to punish a whole state just because of the morons in charge, when many of them–and even many aspects of the government, like the courts–were more level-headed on the matter.
If they’re so level-headed, then how’d Jebus get elected anyway?
Oh right. They can’t count. They can’t read. They can’t tell when their chains are being yanked. Quite honestly, I don’t know what to think about Floriduh anymore. Once upon a time I knew it as the home of the Other Happiest Place on Earth. Then I saw Cocoon and learned that a bunch of nice old people lived there. Now, whenever something socially horrifying happens, it happens in Florida. It’s practically outdoing California. Even Mother Nature wants to wipe it off the map.
Can’t we just chop it off and kick it on down to Cuba? You can have Key West, Doctor J. I’ve always wanted to visit. As an alternative, I found Savannah to be much more divine. I don’t know how it rates in debauchery, though. Perhaps New Orleans might be the place for you and the Missus.
Incidently, if I’ve offended any Floridians, my sympathies. I’d really like to apologize but, you see, it’s futile. I will still abhor the state. I’m sure you’re very nice though.
Boycott Florida, if for no other reason than, if you decide right now not to go to Florida for this holiday (oh, OK, then, “vacation” ), then you save yourself thte trouble of thinking about it, and you can get started with the sex and debachery immediately
Well Key West is cool, I guess - but please stay out of the locals’ hair. (In my experience they are generally bitter and resentful that their quaint little speck is perpetually crowded by a constant stream of drunken pinchpenny tourists, keeping prices high and wages low.)
Not to sound like a corporate shill, but the 2 Universal parks in Orlando are really cool and fun, particularly Islands of Adventure - and once you’re there you might as well be anywhere, were it not for the weather. (We boycott Disney.)
Otherwise, threatening not to come? Fine - see if we EVER notice 2 less tourists in Florida. Laughable, mang!
[QUOTE=DoctorJHowever, every time I think of Florida, I can’t help but think of how disgusted I am by the state’s government, specifically Jeb and the legislature, over their treatment of Terri Schiavo and her husband.[/QUOTE]
Aren’t the courts there part of the state’s government?
Is there any likelihood at all that the governor and legislature would even consider changing their way of thinking as a result of yours or anyone else’s actions?
How important is it to you to make a statement that will almost certainly be lost on those you’d like to reach, while possibly impacting those who see it the way you do?
Well, I live in Florida, and dammit, I love it here - except for all the old people, urban sprawl and right-wing Jesus freaks. If you think you’ll have a great time, hey, come on down! Never mind the natives who drive around with bumper stickers that say, “Welcome to Florida - now go home!” I’m a transplanted Yankee myself, so I try my best to ignore them. I can understand why you might want to boycott Florida, but hey, the state could use the boost to its collective IQ, even if only temporarily.
There’s plenty of nice normal non-Bush voters here in Florida. We had four hurricanes last year and we could use all the tourism bucks we can get. Maybe we could finally afford a new governor? One that actually cares about Florida and not his own agendas. sigh It is to dream.
But anyway, don’t take your frustration out on the whole state. Come see the only Everglades in the whole world before Jeb fills it in or drills for oil in it. Come on down! We promise not to stick a feeding tube in ya.
I retract what I said about Florida. I’m a shit. There must be something redeemable in Florida if it brought us the likes of Wile E. I’m sure y’all can live without me but if you really think you can manage to feed ole Jebediah to the alligators, I’d be thrilled to send ya some tourist dollars. I haven’t seen the ocean in too many years.
Incidently, say all ya want about southwestern Ohio. I hate it here too. We’ve got plenty of our own holier-than-thou homophobic spoonfed religious whackjobs. I’m pining for the fjords.
Hey, wait a minute – some of the coolest, most fun people I know are in southwestern Ohio! I’ll have you know I’ve spent several weekends in Cincinnati and Dayton and am planning on doing so again within the next month. (OK, some of them may be religious nutjobs, but they’re Wiccan religious nutjobs who are a lot more fun!)
That said, I’m afraid I too have been considering writing to the Florida Tourism Bureau, a couple of Chambers of Commerce and Disney and telling them I won’t be vacationing in Florida in the foreseeable future. The reason I’d write to them, not Florida’s legislators is because the legislators won’t be affected by my money. Now, to be honest, I don’t like heat and humidity and I spent 7 years living in Hawaii and miss it dearly, so it’s not like Florida has been high on my list of places to go back to. On the other hand, at the risk of sounding paranoid, this business about passing a law which says anyone entering a PVS in Florida will have a feeding tube stuck in them terrifies me. Can anyone post or e-mail me the Straight Dope on this? Is this real? Or is it just one more example of the hysteria generated by the Terry Schiavo mess? Or, in other words,
), then you save yourself thte trouble of thinking about it, and you can get started with the sex and debachery immediately