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Who stands for human dignity?


This is the question asked by BeloJo political columnist M. Charles Bakst at the end of his most recent Sunday column, referring to a vote by the General Assembly on gay marriage that may or (far more likely) may not be acted on this year. Charlie is clamoring for the vote, and we would like to join his clamor.

Sometimes, "political strategizing" gets one all twisted up and frozen. A number of gay marriage proponents fear that pressing for a vote this session might set back the movement toward fairness and equality. This is another area where we agree with Mr. Bakst. Progress toward human dignity and justice for all will not be stopped. People who loudly decry gay marriage as "an abomination" will soon look like those who stood in the school doorway to keep out students of color, screaming, "Segregation forever!"

We don’t care how those filled with the mindless fear of people different from them have successfully blunted drives to legalize gay marriage in almost a dozen states. They will ultimately lose, because they are for fear, ignorance, and divisiveness.

So thank you, Charlie Bakst. Thank you for being a popular columnist with a daily newspaper of moderate political leanings who has loudly and strongly spoken truth to power on this issue. We are sure that you get more than your share of hate mail on this. Let it be known that there are many, many people who hold you in high regard for your truly inspiring work.

ANOTHER GENERATION MAKES A MARK

Speaking of old pal M. Chuckie Bakst, described in glowing terms in the previous item, his column also shined a light on Seth Magaziner, the son of Brown legend Ira Magaziner. The elder Magazine helped institute the university’s pass-fail system, which essentially got Phillipe his college degree, as the school did not at the time have a major in soccer.

In supporting gay marriage, Seth told Mr. Bakst, "I was raised to just be modest and to do, you know, what I think is right, and that’s all I really think about. I don’t try to compare myself with my father or anyone else . . . none of us can determine the life we’re born into, but we can determine what to do with it, and so I’ve been given a great deal. The important thing is that I use all of that for good, and that’s why I’m [at the State House rally]."

Phillipe also used to work with Ira Magaziner in a firm known as SJS, named after his three children, Seth, Jonathan, and Sarah, an admirable tribute to his and his wife Suzanne’s children. Good to see how the acorn doesn’t drop too far from the tree.

And Ira, if you are still a fan of Bill Parcells after his heinous acceptance of the head-coaching job for the Dallas Cowboys, we will never forgive you. Allie Sherman rules.

THE FIRST STEP IS A DOOZY

How about that front-page photo in the Urinal of Esteban Carpio, the man accused of murdering Providence police Detective James L. Allen, replete with swollen eyes, stitches, and a Hannibal Lecter-style face mask to keep him from spitting or ejecting other bodily fluids while being taken to court?

Obviously, the young man must have fallen down the stairs accidentally a few times at the police station. This came after he already leapt from a third-floor window to attempt to escape after allegedly shooting Allen, a veteran detective and the father of two daughters. Gosh, what a pity. It used to be that people who murdered police officers were absolutely dead meat, as this troubled young punk should be. If anyone who has grown up on the appalling lyrics of racist, sexist rap records in which police officers are denigrated and women are routinely called "hos" and "bitches" can’t take a lesson of what goes around comes around, take a look at this creep’s face. And remember how much time he will have to let the scars mend at the Adult Correctional Institutions.

You get what’s coming to you. Hopefully.

IL PAPA

Phillipe & Jorge don’t use the old pope anymore. We use the new, improved pope.

Yes. What could be more suited to our day and age than having a former World War II German soldier in the Vatican? (News reports say he took part in compulsory military service during the Nazi era.) But why should we be surprised? We have a White House administration filled with gutless chicken hawk religious zealots, one with a lesbian daughter whose mother disavows her, despite working out her own female-on-female fantasies in her unreadable novels, and a seemingly asexual self-loathing black woman who cottons up to a septuagenarian war enthusiast.

Joe Ratzinger has been elected as the new Mr. Pope, perhaps because the cardinals who voted for him hope he turns up his toes a lot more quickly that his predecessor. Pope Benedict XVI, a staunch backer of JP II’s thinking, will receive the kind of saturation coverage lavished on his predecessor. The infighting at Vatican City will remain unabated until someone else gets a crack at doing the papal wave over St. Peter’s Square when Herr Ratzinger kicks.

This, of course, will delay the entry of the Catholic Church into the 21st-century by about 200 years, but, hey, who’s counting? Just as long as the swanning nancy boys at the helm of the organization continue to reap the big bucks from frighteningly poor and bewildered populaces in Third World countries.

More nun-sense, n’est-ce pas?

OUR EDITOR, CHOCOLATE BOY

Ocean State Chocolates and Confections, that lovely little shop at 294 Atwells Ave. (www.oceanstatechocolates.com), in Our Little Towne, has created a "Voice of Hope Chocolate Truffle Collection" (not to be confused with P&J’s "Voice of Desperation Lima Bean Collection" on display at Casa Diablo). One hundred percent of the proceeds from this annual effort goes into the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Although the debut of the six-piece $11.99 combo took place this past Sunday at Sakonnet Vineyards, the tasty collection remains available at the Ocean State Chocolates and Confections shop on the hill, or calling (in Rhode Island, dial [401] 273-2022; out-of-state, call toll-free [888] 276-2022).

We wouldn’t be promoting this admittedly fine charitable effort if there wasn’t another angle to it. Here’s where the weirdness sets in. According to the folks at Ocean State Chocolates, "our chocolatiers have handcrafted truffles based on the favorite flavors of media celebrities in the Ocean State. Those featured in the collection are: Arlene Violet, WHJJ talk-show host; Giovanni & Kim, of the WPRO-FM morning team; Karen Adams, Emmy Award-winning news anchor for WPRI-TV 12; Ian Donnis, news editor of the Providence Phoenix; and Chef Walter Potenza, host of Cox Cable’s Stir It Up cooking show."

Your superior correspondents could understand this if the truffles were, say, designed as caricatures, because Ian is soooo easy to caricature. But where did they get the idea of "based on the favorite flavor of . . . "? Lucky for consumers, Ian is not a completely old school newspaperman whose favorite flavors would be ink and whiskey [although I did choose the flavors of beer and coffee — Ed.]. In fact, Ian is a foodie of note and a very good cook, although we have no knowledge of him trying his hand at chocolates.

Spring and summer months are traditionally very slow for the Food Bank, so every dollar counts. We encourage you to check out the truffle collection, and if you don’t think the Dipped Donnis Delicacy is up to snuff, complain to him.

TWO ARTISTS

Flags are once again at half-staff as we mourn the passing of two friends, Margo Skinner and Steve Jablecki, in recent days.

Back in the ’70s and early ’80s, Margo Skinner was "the leading lady" in productions at Trinity Rep. Young, beautiful, and hugely talented, with her distinctive husky voice, she was a star. For whatever reasons, she did not go Hollywood. She continued to work in the theater, primarily out of New York. To P&J, she was, is, and always will be a star and the epitome of what it means to be an actor.

Steve Jablecki was one of many Vo Dilun musicians we know. We know very few, however, who actually wrote and performed a top-10 hit song ("Sweet Mary" with his band, Wadsworth Mansion). He was a fun and lovable guy. We’ll miss you, Steve.

COME FLY WITH US

Sophia Academy is a unique school dedicated to creating a holistic learning community for middle school girls from low-income families in the greater Providence community. As envisioned by founder, Sister Mary Reilly, Sophia Academy has created an atmosphere to focus not just on academics, but the spiritual, cultural, and social growth of its students. It is an ambitious agenda and has proven highly successful.

The school is having its big annual fundraiser on Saturday, April 30. This spring gala and auctions raises 10 percent of the entire school budget for the year. Your superior correspondents were there last year (doing our best as auctioneers), so let us tell you how this is one of the best parties of the year.

This year’s extravaganza will, once again, take place in a unique setting (last year it was held at the then-only-half-finished Rising Sun Mill site). We’ll let the event chair, our friend Lynn McCarthy, tell you the rest:

"Put your seats in the upright position and prepare for take-off at Sophia Academy’s airport hanger party. Depart from the ordinary in this fabulous setting with Latin jazz master Carlos DeLeon and his eight-piece band. Enjoy dancing, great food, and an incredible auction (with a live flight attendant/auctioneer) featuring international and local travel packages, and art, artifacts, and collectibles from around the world. Bid on gifts and personal luxuries to add vacation to your everyday life. Take-off is at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. Boarding will be at the Textron Hanger, 566 Airport Road in Warwick. Comfortable air travel or vacation chic optional!!"

We assure you that this is a top-notch five-star event.

Send May flowers and Pulitzer-grade tips to p&j[a]phx.com

The Phillipe & Jorge archives.
Issue Date: April 22 - 28, 2005
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