Legal language

Now that summer is here and the girls are in daycare, we are, of course, signing all sorts of paperwork that the daycare requires for their fieldtrips and activities.

I took a close look at some of the releases that we were asked to sign, however, and said "No way." And this has reduced Fiona to tears ("What do you mean I can't go rock-climbing with the other kids?") but we're holding firm and waiting to hear what the daycare has to say in response.

The release asked them to have us admit that rockclimbing includes risks, and that we won't sue if there is death or injury. I can understand their wanting to cover themselves against that risk. But the release also said we couldn't sue in case of death or injury, even if it was due to their negligence.

I can understand that there's a (miniscule) risk of a rope breaking. But if a staff member is hauling my daughter up on the rope and lets go of it? Or doesn't bother to fasten it on her in the first place? Uh uh. They don't get off scot free for doing that.

I told them we'd sign it if they'd allow us to strike out the negligence language. We'll see what they say.

And a second release was even worse: not only is there no recourse in case of their negligence, it said that we would have to pay all of their legal defense costs, even if they were negligent. We couldn't possibly afford that!

Yeah, America is a litigious society, but I'm not unreasonable. I've never sued anyone, and I don't plan on doing so.

But I can't believe that the other parents signed this form.

Homophobia again

It crops up in the strangest ways.

The area around my workplace is rather sparse and barren now, but new businesses are opening up all the time. A new restaurant opened our building, and they offered free meals to people in our workplace to give us an opportunity to check it out. So I found myself yesterday afternoon eating a rather nice lunch (although slow to arrive from the kitchen) and making strained conversation with some people in the office with whom I have nothing in common. We were talking about the work neighborhood, and it became clear quickly that I was the only one who had done any legwork to explore the area. One had gotten scared by a scruffy transient in the bus terminal across the street our first week here, and she seems to have entirely written off the entire neighborhood as a result. From the remarks of the other women at the table, it became clear that hers was the majority opinion. The world, to them, seemed a hazardous place, and it was just safer to just stay inside. Never mind the shops and the museums and the restaurants. Better safe than sorry. Well, I felt sorry for them.

Someone mentioned a second new restaurant, the Rainbow Rooster, also opening up in the area. The sample menu had been circulated around the office, and it seems like a straightforward American food joint. The woman scared-by-a-transient said, "Well, I think the restaurant's name is--" her lips pursed in distaste "--unfortunate."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I imagine it's because it's owned by the owners of that gay bar on the same block."

"Exactly," she nodded. "Of course, I don't think I'll ever be eating there."

Of course. Well, phooey to you. It's Pride Week. I'll be eating at the Rainbow Rooster today. I hope their food is good, and that they get scads of customers and that they're a raging success, and that more tolerant people discover them. People who are courageous enough not to be scared off by that dangerous word "Rainbow" in the title.

Edited to add: I had the 1/4 lb hamburger, and the food hit the spot. The wait staff was very friendly, and the space, as drewan said, is large, bigger than I expected. primroseburrows found their website, too (very rudimentary at the moment, but hopefully they'll have their complete menu up soon. Thanks, primroseburrows!

I also stopped by the desk of she-who-shall-not-be named. "Hey, I stopped by the Rainbow Rooster today."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, the food was pretty good. Friendly staff people. You should check it out."

She lifted an eyebrow. "Was it purple?" She laughed.

I smiled sweetly. "It was pretty harmless looking."

Sometimes all you can do is plant some seeds and hope that gradually, the ground will become fertile enough for them to sprout, someday.