Leon Acord's Blog, page 2

X Marks Hate

[Author's Note: Since Elon Musk still deadnames his offspring, I still call it Twitter. It, and he, deserve no better.]

Wanna play make-believe for a moment?

 

Let’s pretend an ultra-famous mega-billionaire has invited you to his big bash. By attending, you’ll raise your social profile, meet famous people who could advance your career – maybe you'll even make yourself rich and famous by attending!

 

You’d RSVP in the positive without hesitation, yes?

 

Now, let’s imagine that your celebrity host is also a renowned racist, who's family made their fortune thanks in large part to apartheid. He's well known for fascist behavior and interference in governmental affairs. He communicates with our nation’s enemies and successfully conspires with a wannabe dictator to secure power. He proudly brags about using illegal drugs. He’s well known for bullying employees and skirting work rules, He's harassed the several mothers of his children, and has disowned his own trans daughter.

And now, he says he plans on putting Americans through "hardships" to help his own personal Hitler secure his/their goals.

 

Would you still  plan on attending? Of course not! And why would you? “Guilt by association,” and all that.

Right?

But guess what! If you’re still on Twitter/X – SURPRISE!  – you’ve already been at that party for some time!

I must admit, I was already stymied by how many fair-weather liberals remained on repugnant racist Elon Musk’s vile platform.

But in light of recent developments, I am absolutely flummoxed. I must ask, “What the hell is wrong  with you?”

 

You will hear all sorts of excuses from those who refuse to budge. Believe me, I've had the arguments!

 

“I’m staying there to fight fascism and defend democracy in the lion's den!” they will proclaim.

How’s that battle going? (If it were working, Musk would have already thrown you out of his party!)

 

“My one little account doesn’t make a difference,” they’ll then claim, forgetting that the best way to drive a business out of business is to take your  business elsewhere.

If everyone canceled their "one little account," it certainly would make a difference.

 

“I stay on there to see what the Right is up to,” is another lame excuse. As if the mainstream media doesn’t already report on every tweet that's even remotely newsworthy.

 

Fresh out of excuses, some tweeters might finally state the truth.

 

“But my followers! It took me years to build my base!”  

And that, in my humble opinion, is perhaps the lamest excuse of all.

You’re willing to sell your soul for a little popularity?

 

Which leads back to my original question: "What the hell is wrong with you?"

 

The hard truth is, you are not – cannot be – truly pro-democracy if you’re keeping the fascist’s Lie Machine alive. No matter how many followers you have.

Not even if you’re Brian Tyler Cohen, Marc Elias, the Lincoln Project, or others who claim to be fighting the good fight, but who continue tweeting away. Even though they know  better.

 

Because they know Musk uses Twitter to promote blatant lies unchecked, to block truth unchallenged, to bully and harass his enemies (of which there are many).

When he bought the platform, Musk fired most of its employees, and removed all guardrails and safety supervision – declaring himself the king of "free speech."

As a result, it quickly became awash with Nazis, porn, trolls, and Russian and Chinese bots.

And now, empowered by his bizarre friendship with president-elect Trump, he’s become even more malignant – spreading blatant lies about patriots like retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, and joking about assassinating President Joe Biden & Vice President Kamala Harris, among other disgraces.

Because he owns the forum, he can post anything he wants without consequence or censorship, no matter how outrageous, not matter how false.

And if you dare insult him or any of his cronies? He will throw you out of his party on your ass!

Then there's Musk’s constant lies to support his latest pet project, the “presidency” of Donald J. Trump. Those certainly paid off, with Trump naming Musk the head of Trump's nebulous, newly formed "Department of Government Efficiency."

Musk's behavior is becoming exponentially more and more reptilian.

For example, he recently doxxed the names of of some government employees he plans to fire -- making them targets of MAGA's merry morons. He warns "average Americans" [ i.e. , non-billionaires] are going to have a hard time as he enacts his "vision."

And Trump hasn't even been sworn in yet! Imagine how bad it will get in the months and years ahead.

That is, unless Musk meets the same fate of many former Trump ass-kissers and gets thrown under the gold-plated bus.

 

But as my friend Jeffrey Hartgraves used to say, "Until then, it's now."

By staying on Twitter, you implicitly support not only Musk, but his lies, his anti-American policies, his megalomaniacal ego, and the skin-crawling Musk-Trump alliance.

 

“I’m just one person. I don’t make a difference.” Oh, shut up.

 

Just imagine if all the liberals, independents, and media companies stomped out of Musk’s party?

 

After the wildly disappointing election, it's starting to happen. Fed up with Musk’s rampant churlishness, his interference in national affairs, and his petty vindictiveness, users are now fleeing his platform in droves, and flocking to alternatives.

 

Meta’s Threads is one option. Alas, Mark Zuckerberg's Twitter wannabe has de-emphasized news and politics from its social networks. Just further proof that Zuck is as spineless as Musk is evil.

Need more proof of his cowardly status? See below , Zuck’s congratulatory note to the man whom he’d banned from his platform for insurrection just four years earlier.

Ick. 

Many former Twitter users, myself included, found a new haven on Bluesky .

 

Why do we prefer it to the others?

 

Bluesky has no ads, there's no "master algorithm." Users have much more control over their feeds. Their moderation team quickly enforces community standards (a feature Musk quickly killed at Twitter). Posts about news and politics are not "shadow banned."

Many users have created “starter kits,” where you can follow (or block) numerous users with just one click.

Bluesky CEO Jay Garber claims her site is "billionaire-proof" since it's not one centralized feed of content but a "protocol" from which endless feeds (sports, cats, libraries) can be created.

In other words, since the site is open-sourced and maintained by many contributors, like Wikipedia, it's more difficult for a single person or company to control it.

I’ve been there since Nov. 7, and I’ve yet to encounter a single Nazi or a porn bot. There are a few MAGA morons, but they are quickly dispatched. In fact, I’m spending most of my social-media time there these days. ( Follow me! )

 

The “Xodus” from Twitter (as media calls it) clearly makes man-baby Musk nervous. After all, he paid $44 billion for Twitter. Its current estimated worth is around $600 million. No wonder he’s acting out.

But then again, he did buy a Presidency as a result. Not a bad investment.

I truly hope you will leave Musk’s fascist party and join the fun on Bluesky. It's still small, with 20 million users (as of this writing), so let's help it grow! Let’s bury Twitter once and for all!

And if you can't bring yourself to leave the party? Then stop claiming you're pro-democracy. Because you are not.

Actions speak louder than words.

Now buckle yourselves in. It's going to be a bumpy fight.

#####

Burgeoning curmudgeon (or is that queer-mudgeon ?) Leon Acord takes on current events (MAGA, cancel culture), modern-day life (precocious parents, technology), pop culture (theatre critics, closeted actors), and more in Expletives Not Deleted , his collection of bitchy yet bubbly essays, all written in the same acerbic voice that made his memoir SUB-LEBRITY a five-star Amazon bestseller.

Buy it HERE  

LISTEN: Leon Acord on the John Miller Program

"On this installment of the John Miller Program, John and Phil Perrier talk with actor, author Leon Acord, of the hit show Old Dog & New Tricks.

Leon brings the funny and all three bitch about old guy urinary tracts. Then, John welcomes former NFL wide receiver turned Broadcaster Mike Schumann. Mike talks about winning the Super Bowl…"

Me & a pro football player on the same show? Now that's some diverse casting!

I always have a great time chatting with John! Click HERE to listen!

ON SET: Being Bad in 'Death Doula'

Even if you're not in "show business," I don't have to tell you the entertainment industry has been struggling.

After the one-two punch of COVID and union strikes, I personally began to feel my acting career had finally run out of steam.

A feature-film role I'd been offered went non-union, so I passed. Another film production shut down shortly after the casting process. Auditions had all but dried up.

But, slowly, things began to pick up. A small role in a play last year, a part in a one-day USC workshop film at the beginning of the year. And eventually, more auditions.

Drip, drip drip ...

So I'm thrilled to be cast this summer in a fabulously juicy part, being bad in Death Doula , Morgan Montgomery 's amazing USC MFA thesis short film.

Death Doula is a Dark Mirror -esque tale set in a dystopian reality where assisted suicide of the terminally ill is not only legalized but commercialized -- with a script containing several "Oh My God!" jaw-dropping moments.

I play Dr. Cybil, the ambiguous owner of Divine Transitions, a company providing Fantasy Island / Total Recall -type final-wish-fulfilment scenarios, such as "Go Down on the Titanic," or a James Bond-themed Time to Die room, as part of their life-ending services.

The film follows "death doula" Renata (the amazing AnnaLisa Erickson ) as she trains a new teenaged intern ( Romy Evans ), and uncovers Cybil's sinister plan to "expand" the business!

I love making movies at USC; the films I've made there over the past 20 years are often more professional than the "professional" ones I've done. And Death Doula was no exception. Such a talented director and amazingly skilled, efficient crew. Their attention to detail was amazing.

And don't forget, Old Dogs & New Tricks was crewed primarily by folks I'd worked with when they were USC students! So it felt good to "pay it back."

An added bonus: all of my scenes were shot within USC's 20th Century Fox soundstages -- heaven for an actor!

I had a blast playing against type opposite a talented actress with a skilled director!

Fingers crossed that more great roles follow! I'd be happy to continue acting at USC until the biz gets back to normal.

Death Doula will be finished in December. Follow the film on Instagram at @deathdoulathefilm

Meanwhile, here are a few more pics from the set:

With make-up/hair stylist Jeanne Mare-Raubenheimer

Photos: Jacob Piller

ON SET: Going Bad in 'Death Doula'

Even if you're not in "show business," I don't have to tell you the entertainment industry has been struggling.

After the one-two punch of COVID and union strikes, I personally began to feel my acting career had finally run out of steam.

A feature-film role I'd been offered went non-union, so I passed. Another film production shut down shortly after the casting process. Auditions had all but dried up.

But, slowly, things began to pick up. A small role in a play last year, a part in a one-day USC workshop film at the beginning of the year. And eventually, more auditions.

Drip, drip drip ...

So I'm thrilled to be cast this summer in a fabulous, fabulous part in Morgan Montgomery 's amazing USC MFA thesis short film Death Doula .

Death Doula is a Dark Mirror -esque tale set in a dystopian reality where assisted suicide of the terminally ill is not only legalized but commercialized -- with a script containing several "Oh My God!" jaw-dropping moments.

I play Dr. Cybil, the ambiguous owner of Divine Transitions, a company providing Fantasy Island / Total Recall -type final-wish-fulfilment scenarios, such as "Go Down on the Titanic" a James Bond-themed Time to Die room, as part of their life-ending services.

The film follows "death doula" Renata (the amazing AnnaLisa Erickson ) as she trains a new teenaged intern ( Romy Evans ), and uncovers Cybil's sinister plan to "expand" the business!

I love making movies at USC; the films I've made there over the past 20 years are often more professional than the "professional" ones I've done. And Death Doula was no exception. Such a talented director and amazingly skilled, efficient crew. Their attention to detail was amazing.

And don't forget, Old Dogs & New Tricks was crewed primarily by folks I'd worked with when they were USC students! So it felt good to "pay it back."

An added bonus: all of my scenes were shot within USC's 20th Century Fox soundstages -- heaven for an actor!

I had a blast playing against type opposite a talented actress with a skilled director!

Fingers crossed that more great roles follow! I'd be happy to continue acting at USC until the biz gets back to normal.

Death Doula will be finished in December. Follow the film on Instagram at @deathdoulathefilm

Meanwhile, here are a few more pics from the set:

With make-up/hair stylist Jeanne Mare-Raubenheimer

Photos: Jacob Piller

READ: Heir Loss - Aging Without Kids

I don’t believe in regrets. At  least I didn’t . But as I get older, I realize I might have at least one.

It’s that Laurence and I never had kids.

We talked about it quite a bit, casually, in our early years together. We certainly had enough lesbian friends with whom we could’ve shared a child. And Laurence would’ve been a loving, attentive parent. But our talks never really got serious.

Because, truth be told, I never truly wanted a kid then. I didn't believe I was up to the challenge. And for very good reasons.

Like many actors/writers, I’ve a tendency to be just a tad selfish with my time and a bit self-centered.

Now, I’ve read plenty of interviews with celebrity parents who say childbirth, and raising a child, changes a person. Your heart grows, and you just can’t help but put your child’s needs and wants first.

That’s what they say.

But clearly, there are enough bad parents out there that disprove that theory. Or at least, it didn’t “take” with them.

I feared I'd only be interested in fatherhood if my kid was smart and/or gorgeous – and if it were stupid, hideous, or bratty (or, God forbid, all three!) I’d quickly lose interest. Maybe even grow to be embarrassed. Or resentful.

Or even worse, what if they turned out just like me? I’d turn into Joan Crawford.

At the very least, I could never live up to my own parents’ excellent example.

Despite missing out that "your heart grows" business, there've been plenty of benefits to being childless:

We’ve traveled a bit, unencumbered by diaper bags and strollers; we dine out quite frequently; we’ve been able to focus on our respective careers and even produce a few show-biz projects.

It’s also meant more disposable income, allowing me to continue my obsessions with clothes, movies, and Wonder Woman comics and memorabilia.

But it isn't all "me me me." There are many selfless reasons to opt out of this procreation business. Our carbon footprint is certainly much smaller than most as a result!

And when you think about it, is it really smart or even humane to bring more children into a world suffering from overpopulation and climate change?

Or, for that matter, into a deeply divided country, thanks to the right-wing coup currently in progress by Trump and his sycophants in Congress and SCOTUS?

Hell, just attempting to become pregnant in America's current political climate must be a terrifying prospect for any woman!

But I digress...

With no offspring, we’ve been spared the dramas of childhood illnesses and injuries; bad grades; orthodontia; teenaged drug use; fights with school administrators; and assorted angsts over crushes, broken hearts, and social-media slights.

Not to mention the truly heart-breaking tragedies that strike some truly unfortunate souls. Yes, I’ve seen those gut-wrenching St. Jude Hospital commercials.  

But … as we’ve aged, and I’ve watched my family grow, with young nieces and nephews becoming adults and starting families of their own, as well as watching Dad adjust to life without Mom, I wonder if maybe Laurence and I missed the boat.

Not because my Dad's "bloodline" ends with me. As he has reassured me, "There are enough Acords already."

Ironically, it's because of my aforementioned selfishness.

Laurence and I are both pretty healthy, but I do sometimes wonder – if we both eventually become too infirm to care for each another, who can we possibly guilt-trip into taking care of us?

In other words, we’re old! And getting older all the time. And aging without kids can be scary.

I’ve joked with Laurence that I do have a late-game solution: 

We should adopt a parentless thirty-year-old!

We’ll agree to pay for their wedding (at least the first one), babysit the “grandkids” whenever they need us, and bequeath to them our earthly possessions (including my sizeable wardrobe and impressive Wonder Woman collection) –   if  they agree to be there for us when we need rides to the doctor, help arguing with insurance companies – or, in the end, someone to tell the doctors that it’s finally time to let us go.

But karma being who she is, I realize my scheme could never work. I’m sure I’d inadvertently adopt someone as selfish and self-centered as I am, and they’d be just as horrible as a son/daughter as I’d probably be as a parent!

So, on second thought, no. No regrets. We'll just have to stay healthy & ambulatory forever!

#####

Burgeoning curmudgeon (or is that queer-mudgeon?) Leon Acord takes on current events (MAGA, cancel culture), modern-day life (precocious parents, technology), pop culture (theatre critics, closeted actors), and more in Expletives Not Deleted, his collection of bitchy yet bubbly essays, all written in the same acerbic voice that made his memoir SUB-LEBRITY a five-star Amazon bestseller.

Buy it HERE 

LISTEN: This Queer Book Saved My Life

If you read my memoir SUB-LEBRITY, you know that the Summer of 1981 kicked my ass. I was 18, had been on my own for all of three months, and was a complete and utter failure.

What I didn't cover in that book is that a single novel gave me the spirit and courage to dust myself off and start over ... again!

That book was The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren & it truly did bring me back to life.

So I was honored and thrilled to be invited to talk about this much-beloved story on the GLAAD Award-nominated podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life with J.P. Der Boghossian

We talk about the events of that summer, how I identified with the character "Billy Sive" and wanted to play him on screen, how longed for a romance with someone like "Coach Harlan Brown," how it gave me the courage to re-embrace my queerness, why I've never read the sequels, and why I'm now relieved that Hollywood never made a film version after all.

You'll also hear some samples of the upcoming audio-book version of my collection of essays Expletives Not Deleted.

I'm really proud of this show. I hope you'll give it a listen at podfollow.com/thisqueerbook or wherever you get your podcasts! For a transcript of our conversation, click HERE!

#####

Burgeoning curmudgeon (or is that queer-mudgeon?) Leon Acord takes on current events (MAGA, cancel culture), modern-day life (precocious parents, technology), pop culture (theatre critics, closeted actors), and more in Expletives Not Deleted, his new collection of bitchy yet bubbly essays, all written in the same acerbic voice that made his memoir SUB-LEBRITY a five-star Amazon bestseller.

Buy it ,,,HERE or order it wherever books are sold!

WATCH: Harvey Brownstone Interviews Leon Acord

"Harvey Brownstone won't wanna interview me! He interviews stars!"

Well, I was wrong, he did wanna talk with me, and I'm so glad he did!

https://youtu.be/m9gm3MF5S2U

It's always a joy when an interviewer does their research, so I've been a fan of  Harvey Brownstone Interviews for awhile now. And he didn't disappoint! I had a blast chatting with Harvey. He really did his homework! Thank you, Harvey!

I hope you enjoy watching it! Catch 'Harvey Brownstone Interviews Leon Acord' above, at ,,YouTube or on ,,Harvey's site.

#####

Burgeoning curmudgeon (or is that queer-mudgeon?) Leon Acord takes on current events (MAGA, cancel culture), modern-day life (precocious parents, technology), pop culture (theatre critics, closeted actors), and more in Expletives Not Deleted, his new collection of bitchy yet bubbly essays, all written in the same acerbic voice that made his memoir SUB-LEBRITY a five-star Amazon bestseller.

Buy it ,,HERE or order it wherever books are sold!

READ: From Black to Worse*

What the hell is happening to us?

This isn’t your usual generic, geriatric “Those darned whippersnappers and their new-fangled music!” type of rant.

I’m not complaining about trends in music, television, or fashion. I’m not even bitching about the evolution of the English language.

I’m talking about the frayed, thread-bare fabric of American society today.

What the hell is happening to us?

It seems the very foundation of society is not only cracking but crumbling. At record speed. In front of our very eyes.

The rule of law has lost its teeth. Republicans ignore Congressional subpoenas and are almost never punished. A deranged throng invades the Capitol, foolishly believing they will somehow thwart democracy. Then the idiots express shock – shock! – when their criminal behavior results in criminal penalties.

A boy grabs his semi-automatic rifle, travels across state lines to go people hunting, murders two innocents, then not only walks away scot-free, but becomes a poster boy to racists and needle-dicks everywhere.

Science is ignored. Higher education is ridiculed.

Social media is turning us against each other, but most folks can’t bear the thought of logging off.

Automobile fatalities are off the charts as drivers become increasingly reckless, causing more frequent and deadlier accidents than ever before.

Hell, even simple self-preservation, once the most basic fundamental of life, seems beyond some of us. Our lakes and rivers are drying up, our oceans are rising, our forests are in flames, and the ice caps are melting. Global warming and climate change are now simply undeniable as photos of dried lakebeds and exposed sunken boats have become commonplace. Yet so many (citizens and corporations) ignore the blatant evidence and continue to lie and deny.

What the hell is happening to us?

Why have so many Americans become hateful, vengeful, and so God-damned stupid?

I have a theory. And it may shock you.

I blame Barack Obama.

 

It’s not directly his fault. Rather, it’s the result of his presidency. Or rather, the reaction to his presidency.

I grew up in 1960s/1970s Indiana. So I know all about the “closet racist.” Hell, I was surrounded by them. Chances are, so were you! You know the type…

He said things like, “She’s pretty for a Black girl.” Or, “He’s Black, but he’s just like us.” Or, “After five minutes, you’ll forget he’s Black.” And he actually thinks he’s giving a compliment!

She’s never joined the Klan. She’s never used the “n-word,” at least not outside her home. She knew to keep her prejudices to herself, especially as the new century began.

In my hometown of Kokomo, they jokingly referred to Apperson Way, the main street through the town’s “Black neighborhood,” as “African Way.” All in good, clean fun.

Except to me. That’s when I first started speaking out. Back then, the conversation usually went something like this:

“That’s racist!” said I.

“Lighten up!” say they.

“It’s not funny!”

“You have no sense of humor!”

“Calling it ‘African Way’ is offensive!”

“Well, they came from Africa, didn’t they?”

“We brought them here against their will!”

At which point, having lost patience with precocious little Leon, the closet racist would chuckle, tousle my hair, and turn their attention back to the other grown-ups.

But would they ever consider themselves actual racists? Never!

If a Black man were promoted over him to become his boss, he would be angry. But he’s not racist!

Or if a Black family moved in next door, she’d consider moving her family to another part of the suburbs. But she’s not racist!

They were 100% okay with Black people – so long as they knew “their place.”

So imagine their pain, their shock, their confusion and angst, when a Black man won the highest office of the land and became the “boss” of us all. It angered them. It made them just a little bit nuts.

Now multiply that man and woman by, say, 10 or 12 million or more.

That’s what the hell has happened to us.

The idea that a Black man could become the leader of the free world was incomprehensible to these closet cases. Obama’s victory pushed many of these folks out of their racist closets. They had to do something!

After all, the non-closeted racists had wasted no time. Vile posts and graphics online were instant and inescapable. We had to endure the ridiculous, reactionary “Tea Party.” We had to listen while they blamed Obama for every upset and disappointment in their lives.

But even to the still-timid closet racists, everything was the Black guy’s fault – even though they still knew, in their dark little hearts, that saying why they truly felt way this was still completely unacceptable.

They made shit up. Crazy shit, like “He’s a Muslim!” and “He’s coming for your guns!” and “He’s a foreigner!” and “He’s about to impose martial law!” and “Obamacare means death panels will decide who lives or dies!” (The fact that insurance companies basically already perform this service was lost on them.)

They railed against his tan suit. They railed against his wife’s bare arms. All while ignoring his many real accomplishments.

But they still would never call themselves racists! Even though they knew they were.

That cognitive dissonance began to drive them bonkers.

 

Speaking of bonkers, tangerine-colored Donald Trump, a known racist since the 1980s, took up the anti-birther campaign, demanding to see Obama’s birth certificate.

And when that 300-pound malignant fistula glided down his gilded escalator in 2015, spewing bigoted bullshit as he announced his candidacy for President, the once-closeted racists found their poster boy. Trump wasn’t afraid to spout racist bile. He was speaking their language. He was voicing their rage.

And boy, were they enraged! After eight years of that Black bastard, they were pissed. They were exhausted. And now, they had a guy who wouldn’t judge them for being racist. Because he was a big one, too.

Once elected (and not by winning the popular vote), Trump emboldened these burgeoning bigots further.

Hearing a President of the United States of America respond to the blatant 2017 hate crime in Charlottesville with the words “there are good people on both sides” gave them full permission to finally act out on their worst instincts. Listening to the asshole refer to African and Latin nations as “shithole countries” empowered them. Emboldened them.

“How can it be wrong if the President says it?”

“If he can spew racist bullshit, then we can, too!”

And that permission for crass behavior has since spilled over into the rest of American life. If the man holding the most respected office in the land demonstrates nothing but disrespect for all things good and decent, well, then you’re a fool if you follow the rules now.

It’s why highway fatalities have skyrocketed. Why crime is exploding. It’s why too many people basically volunteered to die of COVID, all in the name of “owning those libs!” It’s why common sense and common courtesy are both thin on the ground.

It’s why people (who should have better things to do) are up in arms over a Black Little Mermaid.

That’s how we ended up with a nation full of “Karens” (of all genders), ready to act out at a moment’s notice should reality present obstacles to their perceived (white) privilege.

 

Will pointing fingers and laying blame change anything or make matters worse? I don’t have an answer to that question. But I do know, if we hope to ever bring civility back into our national discourse, we must shine a spotlight on these assholes each and every time they act out.

That’s why, just like when I was younger, I try to call out bigotry whenever I see or hear it, be it on social media, or in “real life.” We must never tolerate it, nor accept it as “normal.” Because it is not normal. It should not be tolerated, no matter how accustomed and immune to it we become.

We will never abolish racism. But we must make racists ashamed of themselves again. We must constantly and consistently remind them that their behavior is absolutely, positively, unacceptable by any standard. We must shut down any hint of prejudicial language or behavior with zero tolerance.

When it’s safe to do so, risk making a scene when you witness racism.

Cut no slack. Show no quarter.

We need to shame these hateful racists.

We must shoo them back into their closets where they belong.

It’s a start… 

*Excerpted from Expletives Not Deleted by Leon Acord

#####

Excerpted from Expletives Not Deleted, burgeoning queer-mudgeon Leon Acord's collection of bitchy yet bubbly essays on current events, modern-day life, pop culture and more, written in the same acerbic voice that made his memoir SUB-LEBRITY a five-star Amazon bestseller.

Buy it ,,,HERE 

From Black to Worse*

What the hell is happening to us?

This isn’t your usual generic, geriatric “Those darned whippersnappers and their new-fangled music!” type of rant.

I’m not complaining about trends in music, television, or fashion. I’m not even bitching about the evolution of the English language.

I’m talking about the frayed, thread-bare fabric of American society today.

What the hell is happening to us?

It seems the very foundation of society is not only cracking but crumbling. At record speed. In front of our very eyes.

The rule of law has lost its teeth. Republicans ignore Congressional subpoenas and are almost never punished. A deranged throng invades the Capitol, foolishly believing they will somehow thwart democracy. Then the idiots express shock – shock! – when their criminal behavior results in criminal penalties.

A boy grabs his semi-automatic rifle, travels across state lines to go people hunting, murders two innocents, then not only walks away scot-free, but becomes a poster boy to racists and needle-dicks everywhere.

Science is ignored. Higher education is ridiculed.

Social media is turning us against each other, but most folks can’t bear the thought of logging off.

Automobile fatalities are off the charts as drivers become increasingly reckless, causing more frequent and deadlier accidents than ever before.

Hell, even simple self-preservation, once the most basic fundamental of life, seems beyond some of us. Our lakes and rivers are drying up, our oceans are rising, our forests are in flames, and the ice caps are melting. Global warming and climate change are now simply undeniable as photos of dried lakebeds and exposed sunken boats have become commonplace. Yet so many (citizens and corporations) ignore the blatant evidence and continue to lie and deny.

What the hell is happening to us?

Why have so many Americans become hateful, vengeful, and so God-damned stupid?

I have a theory. And it may shock you.

I blame Barack Obama.

 

It’s not directly his fault. Rather, it’s the result of his presidency. Or rather, the reaction to his presidency.

I grew up in 1960s/1970s Indiana. So I know all about the “closet racist.” Hell, I was surrounded by them. Chances are, so were you! You know the type…

He said things like, “She’s pretty for a Black girl.” Or, “He’s Black, but he’s just like us.” Or, “After five minutes, you’ll forget he’s Black.” And he actually thinks he’s giving a compliment!

She’s never joined the Klan. She’s never used the “n-word,” at least not outside her home. She knew to keep her prejudices to herself, especially as the new century began.

In my hometown of Kokomo, they jokingly referred to Apperson Way, the main street through the town’s “Black neighborhood,” as “African Way.” All in good, clean fun.

Except to me. That’s when I first started speaking out. Back then, the conversation usually went something like this:

“That’s racist!” said I.

“Lighten up!” say they.

“It’s not funny!”

“You have no sense of humor!”

“Calling it ‘African Way’ is offensive!”

“Well, they came from Africa, didn’t they?”

“We brought them here against their will!”

At which point, having lost patience with precocious little Leon, the closet racist would chuckle, tousle my hair, and turn their attention back to the other grown-ups.

But would they ever consider themselves actual racists? Never!

If a Black man were promoted over him to become his boss, he would be angry. But he’s not racist!

Or if a Black family moved in next door, she’d consider moving her family to another part of the suburbs. But she’s not racist!

They were 100% okay with Black people – so long as they knew “their place.”

So imagine their pain, their shock, their confusion and angst, when a Black man won the highest office of the land and became the “boss” of us all. It angered them. It made them just a little bit nuts.

Now multiply that man and woman by, say, 10 or 12 million or more.

That’s what the hell has happened to us.

The idea that a Black man could become the leader of the free world was incomprehensible to these closet cases. Obama’s victory pushed many of these folks out of their racist closets. They had to do something!

After all, the non-closeted racists had wasted no time. Vile posts and graphics online were instant and inescapable. We had to endure the ridiculous, reactionary “Tea Party.” We had to listen while they blamed Obama for every upset and disappointment in their lives.

But even to the still-timid closet racists, everything was the Black guy’s fault – even though they still knew, in their dark little hearts, that saying why they truly felt way this was still completely unacceptable.

They made shit up. Crazy shit, like “He’s a Muslim!” and “He’s coming for your guns!” and “He’s a foreigner!” and “He’s about to impose martial law!” and “Obamacare means death panels will decide who lives or dies!” (The fact that insurance companies basically already perform this service was lost on them.)

They railed against his tan suit. They railed against his wife’s bare arms. All while ignoring his many real accomplishments.

But they still would never call themselves racists! Even though they knew they were.

That cognitive dissonance began to drive them bonkers.

 

Speaking of bonkers, tangerine-colored Donald Trump, a known racist since the 1980s, took up the anti-birther campaign, demanding to see Obama’s birth certificate.

And when that 300-pound malignant fistula glided down his gilded escalator in 2015, spewing bigoted bullshit as he announced his candidacy for President, the once-closeted racists found their poster boy. Trump wasn’t afraid to spout racist bile. He was speaking their language. He was voicing their rage.

And boy, were they enraged! After eight years of that Black bastard, they were pissed. They were exhausted. And now, they had a guy who wouldn’t judge them for being racist. Because he was a big one, too.

Once elected (and not by winning the popular vote), Trump emboldened these burgeoning bigots further.

Hearing a President of the United States of America respond to the blatant 2017 hate crime in Charlottesville with the words “there are good people on both sides” gave them full permission to finally act out on their worst instincts. Listening to the asshole refer to African and Latin nations as “shithole countries” empowered them. Emboldened them.

“How can it be wrong if the President says it?”

“If he can spew racist bullshit, then we can, too!”

And that permission for crass behavior has since spilled over into the rest of American life. If the man holding the most respected office in the land demonstrates nothing but disrespect for all things good and decent, well, then you’re a fool if you follow the rules now.

It’s why highway fatalities have skyrocketed. Why crime is exploding. It’s why too many people basically volunteered to die of COVID, all in the name of “owning those libs!” It’s why common sense and common courtesy are both thin on the ground.

It’s why people (who should have better things to do) are up in arms over a Black Little Mermaid.

That’s how we ended up with a nation full of “Karens” (of all genders), ready to act out at a moment’s notice should reality present obstacles to their perceived (white) privilege.

 

Will pointing fingers and laying blame change anything or make matters worse? I don’t have an answer to that question. But I do know, if we hope to ever bring civility back into our national discourse, we must shine a spotlight on these assholes each and every time they act out.

That’s why, just like when I was younger, I try to call out bigotry whenever I see or hear it, be it on social media, or in “real life.” We must never tolerate it, nor accept it as “normal.” Because it is not normal. It should not be tolerated, no matter how accustomed and immune to it we become.

We will never abolish racism. But we must make racists ashamed of themselves again. We must constantly and consistently remind them that their behavior is absolutely, positively, unacceptable by any standard. We must shut down any hint of prejudicial language or behavior with zero tolerance.

When it’s safe to do so, risk making a scene when you witness racism.

Cut no slack. Show no quarter.

We need to shame these hateful racists.

We must shoo them back into their closets where they belong.

It’s a start… 

*Excerpted from Expletives Not Deleted by Leon Acord

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Excerpted from Expletives Not Deleted, burgeoning queer-mudgeon Leon Acord's collection of bitchy yet bubbly essays on current events, modern-day life, pop culture and more, written in the same acerbic voice that made his memoir SUB-LEBRITY a five-star Amazon bestseller.

Buy it ,,,HERE 

LISTEN: Leon Acord on Queer Words Podcast 12/26/23

I was truly honored to join the esteemed collection of writers who've chatted with Wayne Goodman on his very entertaining & enlightening podcast series Queer Words.

It was a wide-ranging conversation, from the books I've written to the books I've read, politics, show biz, and more!

Listen at the ,,Queer Words website, on ,,Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. And check out the many writers Wayne has talked to!

Thank you, Wayne! I had a blast!