Close readers of YSDA will note that we take a moderate view of transgender issues — as we strive to be moderate on most things with the possible exception of the convicted felon in the White House, who we believe should have been impeached and jailed yesterday.
The view in these parts with regard to the transgender stuff is that fairness, decency, merit and non-discrimination should apply. But we disagree with both the hard-left and the hard-right on specifics. For example. we agree with the vast majority of Americans that transgender athletes should not compete in women’s sports. But, on the other hand, we don’t think it’s an issue that should be legislated. We don’t think Presidents — and both Biden and Trump have weighed in on this from opposite sides — should be involved. Leave it to the NCAA and the WIAA. We’re talking about a minuscule number of cases anyway.
Same goes for treatment of gender dysphoria among minors. Seems like a bad idea to use these treatments on kids before puberty. But again we don’t think the government should interfere. If that’s the decision of a family, well, it’s none of my business.
These views will be called transphobic by hard-left activists and anti-women or child abuse by the hard-right, but I think it’s pretty much where most Americans are at.
This brings us to Trump’s actual persecution of transgender adults. Among other things, he’s ordered the military to purge all transgender members. Not only does that violate any sense of fairness or merit — why expel them if they’re doing their jobs? — but it does something else very fundamental: it singles out and punishes people for just being who they are.
This is the very thing that principled conservatives and I agree on: people should not be treated as members of a group, but as individuals. Instead, Trump will persecute people because they’re members of a group he wants to scapegoat, regardless of how well they’re performing on the job.
The Nazis did that. Hitler did that. And if you can start with a relatively unpopular set of people, then it gets easier to move up the line.
Who’s next?
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
— Martin Niemöller
YSDA stands for:
Free speech.
The rule of law.
Reason.
Tolerance.
Pluralism.
Yellow Stripes & Dead Armadillos 
Exactly.
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Here’s a solution for TDS impaired folks such as yourself Dave.
<humor> Crynomore cryogenic freezing. They can put you down for 4 years, bring you back when Trump’s term is over. And there’s a 50% discount on a Vance extension! Sign up now! </humor>
https://newzy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Dont-Cry-Cryo.mp4?_=1
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A typically juvenile post from a follower of our most juvenile president.
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“First they came for the college swimmers and I did not speak out because I wasn’t a college swimmer.”
Serena Williams and Simon Biles, probably
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Typical Con responses to your thoughtful post. When confronted with anything Dear Leader does that is factually against their so-called principles, they respond with jokes and sarcasm. The only principle that matters is making “libs” mad. This is more a cult than a political party.
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No sense of humor either? This might be the defining characteristic of the Dems. When combined with TDS, it’s a recipe for rigor mortis.
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What’s funny about what’s happening right now?
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The shrill hysteria that TDS brings on is humorous. Y’all get completely bent out of shape and lose your minds.
As to the facts of this post:
“A Washington Post-KFF poll found that 68 percent of adults oppose access to puberty-blocking medication for transgender children ages 10-14 and 58 percent oppose access to hormonal treatments for transgender kids ages 15 to 17.” [Emphasis mine]
For humor in difficult times, try this on for size:
Laughter in Hell: The use of humor during the Holocaust – https://muse.jhu.edu/article/471105
If you can’t laugh, you are becoming stiff, you lose the ability to think clearly. Example? There is almost no substantive critique of the current administration’s policies; a critique which is absolutely necessary. It’s a hair-trigger to Nazis, Hitler and the Death of Democracy.
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Thom,
You started a statement with the phrase “as to the facts of this post,” then proceeded with something that is not relevant to the facts of the post.
Our host said that transgender adults are being prohibited from working in the military; not because of individual capability or merit, but because these adults are transgender. He pointed out that targeting a group of people based on their membership in a group is contrary to contemporary conservative philosophy. He then raised a historical parallel.
You presented us with opinion poll results about allowing children access to transgender-related healthcare. How is that relevant to the facts of the post?
I know Trump is trying to convince people that all you have to do is say something is true and it makes it true, but I hope we can live in a world where words have definitions and logic can exist.
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“For example. we agree with the vast majority of Americans that transgender athletes should not compete in women’s sports.”
Partial agreement with the post. But most Americans, according to this poll, which seems to be about right, are opposed to gender modification in children/teens, not just transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
As to the point of the post:
I find it hilarious that self-professed liberals are now complaining about not treating people as individuals. Need a reminder? The treatment of those who held different opinions on how to address covid.
That’s just one example.
There is no principle being applied here, though it sounds like one is being invoked. It’s just Orange Man Bad. Hitler. Nazis. Ad nauseum.
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Sometimes someone who makes an unfunny joke will blame the audience for having no sense of humor. A good comedian knows a thing or two about setting and timing. This blog post is serious, and thus its comment section isn’t a great place for jokes.
Who on earth thinks to follow up the “then they came for me” poem with a joke? MAGA, that’s who, and that’s the heart of the problem.
If you think our host’s logic is so flawed you find it amusing, please refute it.
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