Huff-Po Disses Zombies, Twitter
Blogger Paul Dailing at liberal leaning online news aggregate Huffington Post has a decidedly Anti-Zombie post today regarding this weekend’s Zombie Rights marches (noted below). In this he also discusses the use of Twitter as a news gathering mechanism, and its effect on reporters. We at ZADL feel unqualified to discuss Twitter at this time, but have left a comment for him. We will see if they respond.
We at the Zombie Anti Defamation League (zadl.org) object to the vitalist tone in which the article is written.
Too often in films, popular culture, and news reporting are our post-vital friends depicted as mindless ghouls. We would hope in these enlightened times of the 21st century, that we can finally begin to rise above those vitalist stereotypes, and present a more honest and inclusive view of Zombies. This is the reason for the ZADL. We do not seek to cast aspersions upon you, but only to provide a voice, and educate people about the vitalist attitudes that pervade our culture.
Words like “menace” and “undead” are considered distasteful to us, and we seek to change the dialog about Zombies by using more Zombie-conscious terms like “post vital.”
We thank you for your attention in this matter.
To All Concerned Members of the ZADL:
First of all, let me express my excitement that the site is no longer idle. After nearly four years of inactivity, your organization has risen again with an unquenchable, insatiable urge to consume and devour hatred and inequality.
And I salute you. Fight the chainsaw of prejudice. Swarm over the sawed-off shotgun of oppression.
But to the point: I had no intention of slighting you or your fine organization with my Huffington Post blog entry. My goal with the piece was to simply recount the facts related to media coverage of the zombie apocalypse.
If any were offended by my decision to use “the language of the streets” with such phrases as undead, menace, voudoun monsters and reanimated cannibals, I apologize.
I do feel a need to correct you on one small detail, however. The HuffPo post wasn’t, as you suggest, my response to the weekend’s Zombie Rights marches.
This was my response to the weekend’s Zombie Rights marches: http://gettingstrange.windycitizen.com/2009/04/27/making-an-ass-of-myself-at-the-zombie-pub-crawl
In short, I meant no slight against you and your unde- um … post-vital brethren. Some of my best friends are zombies, although I wouldn’t want my daughter to marry one and I don’t think you should be teaching in our schools.
But my point is I don’t have any malice against you and your kind for the post-lifestyle choice you have made. I also don’t have a daughter.
All the best to you and your fine organization. Let’s move past this. Like I always say, live and let li- … uh … crap.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Paul Dailing
P.S. Now vampires, they’re A-holes. Mummies too. Dusty Egyptian bastards.
Mr. Dailing,
Thank you for your reply. As we stated in our comment at Huffington Post, we do not mean to cast aspersions. Our goal is merely to educate and inform the general public regarding the hurtful phrases and attitudes that Zombies must so often endure. Your participation in the Zombie Rights marches this weekend encourages us that our message is being heard by the public at large, and we applaud it.
Your comments about schools we find a bit discouraging, since many Zombies do find employment in such institutions (Lunch Ladies, Spirt Shop Managers, Wrestling Coaches…). We don not despair however, it simply means we have more work to do.
(Personally, I feel that a Zombie standing at the head of a class chanting “Braaaaaaaiiiiinnnnsssss” can only reinforce the value of education in our youth.)
Can you take the next step, and transition from support to advocacy? We cannot achieve our goals of Vital/Post-Vital integration without public figures such as yourself acting as proponents for the cause.
Remember, inside every living person is a dead one waiting to get out.
Thanks for all you can do.
PS – We have posted our musings concerning Mummies and Vampires, but are unwilling to be abusive – solidarity and all.