Right-Wing Extremists are Abuzz over Musk's Straight-Arm Salute

'Incredible things are happening already lmao,' wrote Gab founder and Hitlerbot innovator Andrew Torba

This is a headline straight out of Philip K Dick's universe. Unfortunately, it appeared in the magazine Rolling Stone, which like the rest of us has seen better days. I sighed.

The following is an ACTUAL proposed law in Mississippi. I mean, a legis-la-tor proposed this. It had to be printed and distributed and everything. It has, of course, not an ice cube's chance in the middle of a cotton field in August of getting anywhere, so put away your outrage. It's what you call a protest move by somebody who was fed up.

MS SB2319 Contraception Begins at Erection Act;

An Act To Enact The Contraception Begins At Erection Act; To Define Terms; To Provide That It Shall Be Unlawful For A Person To Discharge Genetic Material Without The Intent To Fertilize An Embryo; To Provide For Criminal Penalties; To Provide Certain Exceptions; And For Related Purposes.


Summary

This bill, known as the "Contraception Begins at Erection Act," proposes to make it unlawful for a person to discharge genetic material (sperm) without the intent to fertilize an embryo, effectively criminalizing certain male reproductive behaviors. The legislation establishes a graduated fine structure for violations, starting with a $1,000 penalty for a first offense, escalating to $5,000 for a second offense, and $10,000 for third or subsequent offenses. The bill includes two key exceptions: genetic material donated or sold to a facility for future embryo fertilization, and genetic material discharged using a contraceptive method intended to prevent fertilization. These provisions would be enforceable starting July 1, 2025, in the state of Mississippi. The bill appears to be a provocative legislative attempt to regulate male reproductive activities, potentially as a satirical response to or commentary on restrictive reproductive health legislation.

Even Philip Dick couldn't have imagined that, nor did he, although he conjured up an incredibly stupid anti-abortion story once. Nor, for that matter, did Kurt Vonnegut, although, as Kathleen Founds discovered, he wrote something pretty awful on the gender-relations front. There's a lesson in there: don't try to use fiction to take a 'strong stance' on a subject you don't know enough about. Wait, listen, learn. Then, possibly, let your characters take you on an open-ended journey. Do not, under any circumstances, map out a didactic little tale intended to put everyone else in their place. People will come along later and learn better, and then they will judge you harshly.

Speaking of people history will judge harshly – assuming there will be a history to do any judging – I found this very interesting history of the Canterbury Pulpit. The Canterbury Pulpit, of course, is in the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. It's the one the Right Reverend Mariann Budde was speaking from the other day when she made a newly-reelected political leader very uncomfortable.

[T]he Canterbury Pulpit. . . is a massive pulpit carved from stone left over from the building of Bell Harry Tower at Canterbury Cathedral, gifted from the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Bishop of Washington, Edward Satterlee. Carvings on the pulpit include King John forced to sign the Magna Carta, the Venerable Bede on his deathbed translating John's Gospel into Anglo-Saxon, and Bishop William Tyndale being burned at the stake by King Henry the Eighth for translating the Bible into English.

– The Very Reverend Christopher A Pappas, Vancouver, British Columbia

Considering the personage in question has followers who are all about banning books, the inclusion of William Tyndale in those carvings held special meaning for me. Also the Venerable Bede, of course: I feel an affinity with translators of all spacetime. The Right Reverend Budde was, of course, doing exactly what she was supposed to be doing: telling the truth as she saw it from the pulpit in the church where she belonged. Some people were offended because they truly thought they had succeeded in getting everyone in the Christian world to believe that Jesus didn't really mean that business about loving your neighbour. They absolutely do not believe, such people, that he really meant it when he said this:

Then shall the kynge saye vnto them that shalbe on the lyfte hande: departe from me ye coursed into everlastinge fire which is prepared for the devyll and his angels. For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meate. I thursted and ye gave me no drinke. I was herbourlesse and ye lodged me not. I was naked and ye clothed me not. I was sicke and in preson and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answere him sayinge: master when sawe we the an hungred or a thurst or herbourlesse or naked or sicke or in preson and did not ministre vnto the? Then shall he answere the and saye: Verely I saye vnto you in as moche as ye did it not to one of ye leest of these ye did it not to me. And these shall go into everlastinge payne: And the righteous into lyfe eternall.

– Matthew 25:41-46 as translated by William Tyndale

I believe he really meant it, and that it wasn't just a suggestion. I suspect that when it happens, Kurt Vonnegut and Philip Dick will be a bit surprised. Not, of course, as surprised as some others will be. But I doubt whether William Tyndale will.

Anyway, as we say these days, we're living in a bad timeline and we wish heartily that we weren't. I wish I knew when it would get better – or we would experience the fulfillment of what Tyndale translated at such cost. I don't. But I know one thing: we need to take the public figures less seriously and each other more. And pay attention to that hymn they sang at Jimmy Carter's funeral.

Dmitri Gheorgheni

03.02.25 Front Page

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