Real Name: Thomas Martinez Gender: male Date of Birth: May 17, 1968 Member Since: March 01, 2008 Last Signed In: November 14, 2008 Profile Views: 228 Blog Views: 1094 The great comics survey Quiet before the storm Are newspapers objective? Death of newspapers? Nah How to cover a community? Race and the media A brother's suicide My love of newspapers Out of the comfort zone A special night March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 
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Out of the comfort zone
The recent debate online about our decision to run a Gay pride story on the front page of the newspaper conjured up some memories for me.
The newspaper industry used to celebrate a week every year in May called Time out for Diversity and Accuracy. The project's goal was to get newspapers thinking and focusing on diversity. Participating newspapers performed projects and reported back. One year, I solicited volunteers at my Colorado newspaper to do a project. Our goal was simple: To do something that would take us out of our comfort zones and then write a first-person account on the experience. I chose to spend a night at a gay bar. A couple of people spent time in the local jail. One went to church for the first time in many years. Current Advocate editor, Chris Cobler, then the editor of our Colorado paper, waited tables at a restaurant for the first time in his life. But back to the gay bar .... I must admit, I didn't go by myself. I coerced another co-worker to go with me. The experience definitely took me out of my comfort zone. I had preconceived notions that ultimately proved false. Basically, everyone was pretty cool. And that brings us back to point on the Gay pride festival. I'd challenge those people who squirm at the idea to take themselves out of their comfort zone and attend the festival. You just never know what you might learn. 13 comments from 7 users
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posted by
maryann
on May 16, 2008 at 12:32 PM
You're welcome.
posted by
ThomasRMartinez
on May 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Maryann,Your idea intrigues me. Thanks for reading and commenting. posted by
maryann
on May 16, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Hello Mr. Martinez, Welcome to Texas. You have a great angle on this issue. I hold to the view that homosexual acts are unnatural and unhealthy. I don't hate any homosexual, I just disagree with them on this issue. I could put myself out of my comfort zone and attend a homosexual pride event to do some type of report on it. I would be objective, and note the good things and the good people there and maybe some other things. I don't know- I'd have to see. But I have a question for you. Would you be willing to go out of your comfort zone, or at least put other people out of their comfort zones, and report on one new item in obstetrics- the 3-D sonogram, and how viewing a baby in the womb with this affects people's point of view on abortion? You describe the child, or have pictures both before, during, and after the abortion. If fact, Spanish t.v. did this year- showing an abortion and the after affects on some networks, and it had a great impact on their society. Many Spanish doctors are refusing to do abortions... If we are indeed talking about comfort zones, then I think this is an area where many are happy with abortions being out of sight, and out of mind. Bringing this out in the open with a first-person account definitely bring people out of their comfort zones. posted by
ThomasRMartinez
on May 14, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Vampires,Thanks for reading and commenting. I've found most people just don't like to be uncomfortable. Hence, most people walk around and stay in their comfort zones. posted by
ThomasRMartinez
on May 14, 2008 at 01:32 PM
Sandwhichh, I've never been to a Civil War re-enactment. I'll have to try that sometime. Thanks for reading and commenting. posted by
ThomasRMartinez
on May 14, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Bighorn,We are planning to cover the event. And we'll report on the numbers. I won't be going to the gay pride festival, however. I'll be challenging myself in another way -- volunteering at a Habitat for Humanity house build for the first time. posted by
ThomasRMartinez
on May 14, 2008 at 01:28 PM
CF,Thanks for reading and posting. Maybe some will take the challenge. Who knows? posted by
sandwichh
on May 14, 2008 at 12:27 PM
They are very fun. The kids usually have a ball. There are usually a large group of teens and early twenty's at the large events. Many times there are on Saturday night's dancing, period music, clothes and lady's in ball gowns. No dancing at Bellmead.
This is the one in Bellmead this weekend. It will be the last there after many years. A home depot, discount tire, 5 story office building and another building have circled the area so parking, atmosphere and all are quickly leaving the not a good place anymore. Progress does not stop. http://www.bellmead.com/htm... This is Liendo in Hempstead. Another good one, larger, at an historic plantation. http://www.liendo.org/civil... This is us at Shiloh National Battlefield Park in Tenn with our main Alabama Battery group. http://www.nps.gov/akr/cust... This is one they have every year but has just past. posted by
kimi
on May 14, 2008 at 11:04 AM
THE CIVIL WAR REINACTMENT SOUNDS FUN. I THINK IT WOULD GIVE MANY A BETTER PERSPECTIVE OF WHY PEOPLE HAVE SO MUCH PRIDE IN THEIR SOUTHERN HERATAGE. CAN YOU GIVE ME MORE INFO. ON DATES ETC. OF THESE REINACTMENTS IN TEXAS?
posted by
vampiresinmyfrontallobe
on May 14, 2008 at 08:29 AM
Wow! Acknowledging a section of the community...heavy stuff! I would suggest that a group of homosexuals spend an evening at a "straight" bar to see how the other side socializes, but unfortunately the behavior wouldn't be much different than if most were sober. Kudos to you, Mr. Martinez, for stepping outside your comfort zone to experience a different section of your community. I wish there were more enlightened individuals like you around here. posted by
sandwichh
on May 13, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Mr. Martinez, This might be a challenge for some uneducated or should it be better said incorrectly educated. I can tell by the remarks some make when they find out what one of my hobby's is.
Wonder if some would be willing to come to a Civil War reenactment and see that a bunch of Southern civil war reenactors are not a stereotyped bunch of toothless, redneck, racist, not past the second grade skinhead KKK'ers (not allowed) waving what some believe is a hate flag around. One this weekend in Bellmead up by Waco and every weekend before Thanksgiving in Hempstead are the two closest to here. The group many times includes historians, lawyers, doctors, engineers, college professors, teachers, truck drivers, plant operators and maintenance people, business owners,... Depending on the location and size of the reenactment many times we have whites, blacks, Hispanics, Indians, females on BOTH sides. Hempstead is a larger event, but with gas prices we will see how many reenactors and spectators show up at many. Bunch from the Austin area, imagine that.
Y'all come on up now, ya here? We'll have the fire going and maybe a chicken hanging if we can forage one up. Or you could go fishing.
Many times it is amazing how much more informed of our history tourist from Europe are than those who live here. posted by
bighorn
on May 13, 2008 at 10:24 PM
I'd prefer to see the community stay away from the beach and let the crowd have their own fun. Wiil the Advocate run a front page story on the attendence to this event? Or the perhaps the lack of people? May I suggest that Mr. Martinez go squirm himself? lol posted by
CF
on May 13, 2008 at 09:33 PM
What a wonderful idea! Bravo, sir. I second that challenge. :-)
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