By a vote of 45 to 151, the Massachusetts legislature has defeated an amendment to ban same-sex marriage in their state constitution. They needed 50 votes to get the measure on a statewide ballot for voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would take away rights that have already been granted. I have to say, I'm a bit surprised. Unlike my hubby, I'm much more pessimistic when it comes to the Christianists and homophobes efforts to enshrine their bigotry in law. Homophobia, I believe, is much more visceral and prevalent in the American psyche than many in the gay community would like to believe. We often think that America is less racist, less intolerant, more accepting. I think that is true to some extent, but, when kids still call each other faggots when they wish to insult, and the press ignores stories of gay bashings, and churches are allowed to push their religious views in government, I think we have a long way to go and society has a lot to learn. We're getting there. Itty bitty step by itty bitty step. My friends say I'm too impatient. Another minute in second-class citizenship status is too long in my opinion.
In our state, we passed a domestic partnership bill, watered down from civil unions because it would be more "palatable". I think this is a great, progressive step, but I do take issue with having to settle for a luke-warm civil right when it's still 2nd class citizenship. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the author of "The Quiet Gay Revolution"that we have made some serious progress in the last decade on equality in American society. I just think that we're spending too much energy on playing the "let's not shock others" game in an effort to please everyone. There comes a point when walking on eggshells around the elephant in the room is a bit ridiculous! It took me a long time to understand the proud chant, we're here, we're queer, get used to it! I feel that more and more. Meanwhile, our domestic partnership law is now being fought by some more bigots who want to interfere in something that doesn't affect them in the least. They are mounting a ballot initiative campaign to overturn this law. If they gather the signatures, I think they need 50,000, then the law will be delayed from implementation in January 2008 until it can be voted on in the November 2008 elections. The consensus is that they will indeed get the signatures. Like the last anti-gay ballot initiative, the signature gatherers set up tables at various bigot churches around the state. After leaving the Sunday worship service of your choice where they teach about the love of God, you can stop by and show your hate filled soul by signing the initiative petition. Why is it legal for churches like this to sponsor any political initiative campaign at all? Why do they get to influence elections issues and keep their tax-free status? I want to ask straight folks if I can vote on your marriage? Frustration is not the word for what I feel. It's actually a simmering rage. Now do you understand why I'm a bit more than impatient?
Arthur Silber has another wonderful essay posted on his blog yesterday. It gives a perspective of his own growing up as a gay man . He is a little older than me, but his experiences are similar to my own. He is right, most people don't realize the near constant hurt that our society exerts on those of us who are gay/lesbian. We are reminded in almost every magazine, TV show, newspaper article, movie, media commercials, that we are on the outside. Our feelings, our opinions, our contributions are not so much hated, though they are often hated, but invisible. It's getting better. Things are not as hostile as they used to be. The mainstream media still trots out the Jerry Falwells (good riddance to bad, Christianist bigot rubbish!) and Rick Santorum. At least they are discussing the issue. Whenever, topics like same-sex marriage come up in the news, like the recent vote in Massachusetts it's less sensational than it used to be. It's now just mentioned briefly in passing, while the issue of Paris Hilton's jail experience is SO much more important and needs to be reported on, photographed and updated on an hourly basis! To tell you the truth, I'm not sure if that's good or bad.
So, I take a big breath, relax, smile and remember that somewhere in the U.S. it is legal to be married to my husband. Way to go Massachusetts!!!!!
P.S. My husband and I are celebrating 3 years of marriage this week. Another hallelujah moment!!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Extraordinary from the Ordinary
I recently experienced an ordinary event which I realized later was actually quite extraordinary. I met a family, two parents and a 3 year old boy. I’ll call the couple C and D. Their bright, blond-haired little boy had come from an abusive home. It seems that his birth-parents had been pretty nasty folks. They may have been the natural, biological mom and dad, but there was nothing natural about them. Their idea of calming the baby was to choke him and the birth father even kicked him in the ribs when he was 18 months old. It makes me really wonder if there shouldn’t be a license for parenting In this case, the father was hauled off to jail. Personally, I think any grown man who would kick in the ribs of an 18-month old baby should be shot. But that’s my opinion.
C and D couldn’t be better parents. We were in a restaurant and they were very attentive but firm with their son. They gave him lots of attention and listened to him whenever he had something to say. The little boy being able to talk was a miracle in itself. When they first brought him home, the tyke was afraid to make a sound. His biological parents were brutal if he made so much as a peep. He had learned to remain perfectly quiet and still. At 18 months old he had not achieved development much past that of a 2 month old. Once he realized that communicating was okay, he would get frustrated because he could not verbalize what he needed or wanted. C and D decided to teach him deaf sign language while he was learning to speak. They quickly realized just how bright this child was. He rapidly learned the signs he needed and even in learning to speak, he has surprised his teachers in how quickly he is catching up to other children his age. At 3 years old, he now is a very happy little boy,
I have personally witnessed how so-called traditional families treat their children, letting them run up and down the aisles at restaurants and grocery stores. They allow the kids to treat others with contempt and rudeness. They ignore them even as they scream and cry for their parent’s attention. When I was in Utah a few months ago, I was reminded of just how chaotic it is to go to a restaurant while kids are running around, dodging servers with trays of hot food and mom and dad haven’t a care in the world.
C and D are not those kind of parents at all. They lovingly watch their son, not allowing him to bang utensils on the table but instead took out a toy to distract him. They encouraged him to try all the food on his plate and they were constantly teaching him to verbalize his needs and wants. They had him learn the names of everyone at the table which helps him develop his speech. They included him in the conversation as much as possible. I have seldom seen such loving parents. It was an amazing experience.
So why do I tell you all this and why is it so amazing? To this little boy C and D are “Daddy” and “Papa”. Yes, they are two men. There are many out there, mostly Christianists like the Catholic church in Massachusetts, who would rather have a child languish in an institution or be passed from one foster-family to another than allow a gay or lesbian couple to adopt a child. C and D certainly did not have to adopt this precocious little guy. They were taking on a child that had some severe physical and emotional problems. This little lad was very healthy and happy. He was devoted to both men and they to him. At one point, one of the dads said that he would do anything for his son. He said it with a fierce protectiveness that showed in his eyes.. Someone told me once that adoptive families are often the most loving. Anyone can conceive a child, many do so by accident, but adopted children are being raised by people who truly want to take on the awesome responsibility. I am truly in awe of C and D. My admiration knows no bounds and I wish them all the best that life has to offer, and I personally will continue to fight that their family and others are protected. Denying such a family basic civil rights like marriage, insurance benefits and the right to adopt because of particular religious beliefs is frankly un-American in my opinion.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
United States of Fear
I've been struck by how Americans love to be afraid. Just listening to the reports of the latest bomb plot at JFK on CNN you would think that a major disaster was narrowly averted. In reality, while the bumbling fools who were planning it seriously talked about what they were doing, they had not even thought through all the facts. Causing jet fuel tanks to explode would be difficult, since it is designed not to explode. The would-be terrorists did not even have the explosive devices yet, and as the breathless investigation officials admitted, it wasn't even to the operational stage. In fact they got their idea to create this terror project from an FBI informant. A case of wagging the dog?
Fear is everywhere in our culture. We are so afraid to live life. Recently a family member asked me if I was going to be traveling overseas any time soon. They were concerned that the risk of being a victim of terrorism would rise significantly if I were to travel. I had to remind this person of just how many acts of terror we have seen in the last 6 years. Think about it. The odds of being in a car accident in your own home town are much greater.
I know the feeling though, worrying about the future. I'm a big worrier and I've always projected what might happen into the future instead of living in the now. I'm trying to be more mindful of living in the now. I recently read some interesting information on Buddhism which advocates living in the now, being mindful of what is instead of what could be. Interesting concept and it makes you think. I've had to learn that more and more over the last six years of the current Bush administration. There are things you can do/change and others you have no control over. Recognizing what that is has been a hard lesson to learn for me.
I guess it's a lesson that Americans as a whole are having to learn. I find it interesting that their response to fear tactics has grown more and more tepid. Having your government lie to you over and over again is a painful way to learn that lesson.
Fear is everywhere in our culture. We are so afraid to live life. Recently a family member asked me if I was going to be traveling overseas any time soon. They were concerned that the risk of being a victim of terrorism would rise significantly if I were to travel. I had to remind this person of just how many acts of terror we have seen in the last 6 years. Think about it. The odds of being in a car accident in your own home town are much greater.
I know the feeling though, worrying about the future. I'm a big worrier and I've always projected what might happen into the future instead of living in the now. I'm trying to be more mindful of living in the now. I recently read some interesting information on Buddhism which advocates living in the now, being mindful of what is instead of what could be. Interesting concept and it makes you think. I've had to learn that more and more over the last six years of the current Bush administration. There are things you can do/change and others you have no control over. Recognizing what that is has been a hard lesson to learn for me.
I guess it's a lesson that Americans as a whole are having to learn. I find it interesting that their response to fear tactics has grown more and more tepid. Having your government lie to you over and over again is a painful way to learn that lesson.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Call to action
Here's my email to Cleary University's president (his email is tsullivan@cleary.edu):
Dear Dr. Thomas P. Sullivan,
President of Cleary University,
It is with disappointment that I learned that the Livingston Economic Club at Cleary University plans to have Ann Coulter speak on October 1, 2007 to kick-off your Founder's Week Celebration. In light of recent events with the Don Imus controversy, I'm surprised that you would have a speaker like Ms. Coulter speak at your esteemed institution. Mr. Imus has been in the news recently for using bigoted, racist and feminist remarks on his radio show for which he was subsequently fired. Ms. Coulter is, in my opinion, guilty of even worse bigoted remarks. She called presidential candidate John Edwards a "faggot" and she has referred to Muslims as "rag-heads".
Your mission statement states that Cleary University is "committed to the betterment of society". Does Cleary University think it is to the betterment of society to be associated with someone that uses such derogatory descriptions of people she does not like. I have no quarrel with any one's Constitutional right to Freedom of Speech, however, calling others by such hateful slurs is not a good reflection on her or on Cleary University. Do you really want to show your support for people like Ann Coulter and Don Imus? If you and your university really do support such people, then you send a message to every student, member of faculty, employee and alumni that Cleary University does support bigotry and intolerance. What a fine message to send, especially to your students!
I urge you to rethink the idea of having Ann Coulter speak to kick-off the Founder's Week Celebrations. Surely you can find someone who does not use hateful name-calling to get their points across. Let's not give people who use hate speech a pulpit from which to preach their hatred and intolerance. I'm sure Cleary University can do better and does not want to sully its reputation.
Dear Dr. Thomas P. Sullivan,
President of Cleary University,
It is with disappointment that I learned that the Livingston Economic Club at Cleary University plans to have Ann Coulter speak on October 1, 2007 to kick-off your Founder's Week Celebration. In light of recent events with the Don Imus controversy, I'm surprised that you would have a speaker like Ms. Coulter speak at your esteemed institution. Mr. Imus has been in the news recently for using bigoted, racist and feminist remarks on his radio show for which he was subsequently fired. Ms. Coulter is, in my opinion, guilty of even worse bigoted remarks. She called presidential candidate John Edwards a "faggot" and she has referred to Muslims as "rag-heads".
Your mission statement states that Cleary University is "committed to the betterment of society". Does Cleary University think it is to the betterment of society to be associated with someone that uses such derogatory descriptions of people she does not like. I have no quarrel with any one's Constitutional right to Freedom of Speech, however, calling others by such hateful slurs is not a good reflection on her or on Cleary University. Do you really want to show your support for people like Ann Coulter and Don Imus? If you and your university really do support such people, then you send a message to every student, member of faculty, employee and alumni that Cleary University does support bigotry and intolerance. What a fine message to send, especially to your students!
I urge you to rethink the idea of having Ann Coulter speak to kick-off the Founder's Week Celebrations. Surely you can find someone who does not use hateful name-calling to get their points across. Let's not give people who use hate speech a pulpit from which to preach their hatred and intolerance. I'm sure Cleary University can do better and does not want to sully its reputation.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Oh Dear God!
"I have no desire to make windows into men's souls." ~ Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I of England said these words while discussing the Catholic versus Protestant debate in her country during her reign. After the violent religious purges of her sister Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary) she wanted to heal and unite her country. Queen Elizabeth did not want to play the role of gatekeeper and examine each of her subjects and their personal beliefs.
As part of the anti-theocracy blogswarm for Easter weekend, let's open a window into the soul of the average evangelical, right-wing conservative voter in America. What if they were having a twinge of conscious? What would they think about their having been used as a pawn in George W. Bush's election? What would their prayer be like? Let's listen in:
Oh God the Eternal Father,
Please bless my family and friends. We are celebrating Easter this weekend and the glorious resurrection of Your Holy Son Jesus. At this time of peace, love and goodwill let us remember the example Your Son set. I won't think of the war in Iraq too much when I remember that Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers." and "Turn the other cheek." And bless us in our efforts to end abortion and the killing of all those innocent little unborn children. Never mind that thousands upon thousands of innocent children have been killed in Iraq. That's different.
And speaking of abortion we want to make sure those pro-choice folks lose the right to make decisions about their bodies. After all even though they don't share my religious beliefs we should force them to make decisions based on mine We'll force those awful sluts to have unwanted children that can be brought up in conditions of poverty, neglect and abuse. We can't trust them with a choice but we can sure trust them with a child! After all there are PLENTY of adoptive families out there. Never mind that we've never adopted any children nor do we plan to. If we can't end abortion legally then we'll just pay those girls $500 to have their babies like they want to do in Texas. No unwed, teenager would have a baby just to make what they think would be an easy $500 would they? They realize that all they have to do to prevent pregnancy is to use some form of birth control. They'll never have sex anyway. Of course if we continue our fight to keep birth control out of the hands of teenagers, because if they don't have birth control then they'll never have sex.
Please restore Christian prayer in schools because my children are more important than those children from Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish or atheist families. The children from those families can just listen to the prayers and they might convert to the only true church. Mine. The children from other Christian churches will also have to listen to our particular prayers and beliefs because we know which brand of religion is the only right one. Never mind that I wouldn't want my children to listen to their religious prayers if the roles were reversed. That would never happen would it?
Please let that nice Lesbian couple down the street see the error of their ways and come to Your holy church. I know that they belong to the United Church of Christ which accepts them, they can't be saved because they don't belong to my church. Even though they seem to be peaceful neighbors with two wonderful little children, we can't let them live normal lives because after all they might affect our family. I'm not really sure how they will, but they will right? Please help us in making sure that they are not able to get civil unions or marriage in our state because we don't want them to have any rights. Never mind that they have two children that they need to provide health benefits for, or that if the birth mother of one of the children dies the other partner isn't able to have any right to care for the children. Please make sure that it is legal for companies not to employ them or landlords to rent to them or restaurants to seat them. After all we don't want them being near us because they might turn my family gay. I'm not really sure how that happens but my pastor says that it will so I have to believe him. After all pastors never lie or are gay. Well, except for that minister in Colorado who was consorting with a male prostitute. But he was quickly cured right? He just had to choose to be straight and he was straight! Never mind that I'm not gay and have no idea what it's like to be gay because I'm so much better than they are as a straight, god-loving Christian!
Please bless our president in his mission to make sure that all Americans have to follow Christian beliefs. Isn't it wonderful how he has been trying to insert religion into every facet of government? Why even that nice U.S. Attorney in Minnesota was quoting bible scriptures to her employees. I think that should happen in every office in America, even if the non-Christians, non-believers and Jews don't like it. After all, we both know that my church is so much better than everyone else. Thank you for making me perfect in every way because I know if Pastor Dan tells me to do something I don't have to think about it. He tells me everything I have to believe in and I don't have to make any effort to analyze anything myself.
Please stop those awful Democrats from overturning the Bush administration's wonderful policies. Why are they so worried that the government might be listening to their phone calls? If they're not saying anything wrong, then what do they have to worry about? After all, if Hilary Clinton becomes president (God forbid!), then how will she listen in on phone calls of her political opponents? Of course Republicans never do anything wrong. Well, except for Duke Cunningham and Jack Abramoff and Alberto Gonzales and Tom Delay and Scooter Libbey and... well the list is getting too long and I don't have all night. Please let Bush keep the power to hold people indefinitely without charge. He would never use that power in the wrong way. Never mind that poor Muslim attorney in Portland who was arrested for terrorism and held for several weeks even though the FBI knew they had the wrong man and that the fingerprint evidence was incorrect. He was able to return to his family after several weeks of no contact with them, wasn't he? Those people being held in Guantanamo are definitely guilty of something, right? I mean I'm not sure of what since their "trials" if they have one, will never be made public and we'll probably never know, but our government would never do anything wrong would they?
And if our President wants to torture then he should be able to because we all know that torture is reliable and get us the information we need right? I mean Jesus was tortured on the cross after all so it must be okay. I mean the bible says that torture is justified right? I can't find that particular passage at the moment, but I know it must be there. After all if our soldiers were captured, our enemies would never torture them would they? Those poor Islamic countries are so deluded. They make all women wear veils. Even our First Lady and Secretary of State had to wear head scarves when they visited those countries! How dare they force their beliefs on our good Christian citizens! It's completely different when we talk about going to their country and converting them to Christianity, my particular brand of course.
And we'll continue to fight to make sure that if my husband John was ever in a vegetative, brain dead coma then complete strangers could make the decision for me to end life support or not. We want the government involved in deeply personal family issues because I can't be trusted to make that decision for my own spouse.
And Lord, thank you for the new vaccine that protects women from having cervical cancer. Of course we don't want anyone to have it since it would just promote promiscuity. After all, my daughter will never have sex outside marriage. Her future husband will never have had sex or have picked up the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer because we know that my daughter will only marry a good Christian boy who has never slept with any other girl. I'd rather have my daughter die of cervical cancer than have her take a vaccine that will protect her because it will encourage promiscuity. My daughter will never ever make a wrong choice or become involved in things I don't want her to. My children are as perfect as I am.
Lord, I am grateful for not having to have any responsibility toward the earth. It's all going to end soon in the rapture so why should we have to care for it? We can pollute, use up all the resources and spoil the air and soil because my children will never have to worry about living in it. My interpretation of the end times is the only correct one. I'm not sure what my kids will do if I'm wrong. My church believes that we are stewards of the Earth which means we can do whatever we want right? Global warming is just a myth because Rush Limbaugh says it is and he's never wrong, is he? We'll just ignore his attacks on disabled people like Michael J. Fox. The hundreds of scientists and researchers are all liberals who don't know what they're saying despite all the scientific evidence to back them up. It's all a myth. We sure enjoy seeing the daffodils come up in February and there are no honey bees to sting us anymore. Those cute polar bears can live in our zoos if the ice caps are melting.
Thank You God for making me an American. I'm so much more patriotic than my liberal neighbor because I belong to the right political party. I can question his patriotism all I want because Freedom of Speech give me that right. Of course we still need to silence those who disagree because we know that they are wrong, democracy or no democracy. If we just tell ourselves that we are right and THEY are wrong it will come true. Kind of like the President. He says we're winning in Iraq and because he says it is so it must be. All of the major news programs tell me the same thing. Never mind that they are controlled by conservative agenda supporters. If we keep saying that the media has a liberal bias well then people will believe us.
Thank you Lord for making me perfect in every way and for letting me impose my beliefs on others. They think they don't want to hear it but I know that they will just come around to my way of thinking if I just keep badgering them about it. Of course I don't need to respect their beliefs or lack thereof because they're wrong. Nobody is as passionate about my religion as I am of course. How could they be? It's so nice to know the mind of God.
In Jesus' Holy Name, AMEN!
Queen Elizabeth I of England said these words while discussing the Catholic versus Protestant debate in her country during her reign. After the violent religious purges of her sister Queen Mary I (Bloody Mary) she wanted to heal and unite her country. Queen Elizabeth did not want to play the role of gatekeeper and examine each of her subjects and their personal beliefs.
As part of the anti-theocracy blogswarm for Easter weekend, let's open a window into the soul of the average evangelical, right-wing conservative voter in America. What if they were having a twinge of conscious? What would they think about their having been used as a pawn in George W. Bush's election? What would their prayer be like? Let's listen in:
Oh God the Eternal Father,
Please bless my family and friends. We are celebrating Easter this weekend and the glorious resurrection of Your Holy Son Jesus. At this time of peace, love and goodwill let us remember the example Your Son set. I won't think of the war in Iraq too much when I remember that Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers." and "Turn the other cheek." And bless us in our efforts to end abortion and the killing of all those innocent little unborn children. Never mind that thousands upon thousands of innocent children have been killed in Iraq. That's different.
And speaking of abortion we want to make sure those pro-choice folks lose the right to make decisions about their bodies. After all even though they don't share my religious beliefs we should force them to make decisions based on mine We'll force those awful sluts to have unwanted children that can be brought up in conditions of poverty, neglect and abuse. We can't trust them with a choice but we can sure trust them with a child! After all there are PLENTY of adoptive families out there. Never mind that we've never adopted any children nor do we plan to. If we can't end abortion legally then we'll just pay those girls $500 to have their babies like they want to do in Texas. No unwed, teenager would have a baby just to make what they think would be an easy $500 would they? They realize that all they have to do to prevent pregnancy is to use some form of birth control. They'll never have sex anyway. Of course if we continue our fight to keep birth control out of the hands of teenagers, because if they don't have birth control then they'll never have sex.
Please restore Christian prayer in schools because my children are more important than those children from Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish or atheist families. The children from those families can just listen to the prayers and they might convert to the only true church. Mine. The children from other Christian churches will also have to listen to our particular prayers and beliefs because we know which brand of religion is the only right one. Never mind that I wouldn't want my children to listen to their religious prayers if the roles were reversed. That would never happen would it?
Please let that nice Lesbian couple down the street see the error of their ways and come to Your holy church. I know that they belong to the United Church of Christ which accepts them, they can't be saved because they don't belong to my church. Even though they seem to be peaceful neighbors with two wonderful little children, we can't let them live normal lives because after all they might affect our family. I'm not really sure how they will, but they will right? Please help us in making sure that they are not able to get civil unions or marriage in our state because we don't want them to have any rights. Never mind that they have two children that they need to provide health benefits for, or that if the birth mother of one of the children dies the other partner isn't able to have any right to care for the children. Please make sure that it is legal for companies not to employ them or landlords to rent to them or restaurants to seat them. After all we don't want them being near us because they might turn my family gay. I'm not really sure how that happens but my pastor says that it will so I have to believe him. After all pastors never lie or are gay. Well, except for that minister in Colorado who was consorting with a male prostitute. But he was quickly cured right? He just had to choose to be straight and he was straight! Never mind that I'm not gay and have no idea what it's like to be gay because I'm so much better than they are as a straight, god-loving Christian!
Please bless our president in his mission to make sure that all Americans have to follow Christian beliefs. Isn't it wonderful how he has been trying to insert religion into every facet of government? Why even that nice U.S. Attorney in Minnesota was quoting bible scriptures to her employees. I think that should happen in every office in America, even if the non-Christians, non-believers and Jews don't like it. After all, we both know that my church is so much better than everyone else. Thank you for making me perfect in every way because I know if Pastor Dan tells me to do something I don't have to think about it. He tells me everything I have to believe in and I don't have to make any effort to analyze anything myself.
Please stop those awful Democrats from overturning the Bush administration's wonderful policies. Why are they so worried that the government might be listening to their phone calls? If they're not saying anything wrong, then what do they have to worry about? After all, if Hilary Clinton becomes president (God forbid!), then how will she listen in on phone calls of her political opponents? Of course Republicans never do anything wrong. Well, except for Duke Cunningham and Jack Abramoff and Alberto Gonzales and Tom Delay and Scooter Libbey and... well the list is getting too long and I don't have all night. Please let Bush keep the power to hold people indefinitely without charge. He would never use that power in the wrong way. Never mind that poor Muslim attorney in Portland who was arrested for terrorism and held for several weeks even though the FBI knew they had the wrong man and that the fingerprint evidence was incorrect. He was able to return to his family after several weeks of no contact with them, wasn't he? Those people being held in Guantanamo are definitely guilty of something, right? I mean I'm not sure of what since their "trials" if they have one, will never be made public and we'll probably never know, but our government would never do anything wrong would they?
And if our President wants to torture then he should be able to because we all know that torture is reliable and get us the information we need right? I mean Jesus was tortured on the cross after all so it must be okay. I mean the bible says that torture is justified right? I can't find that particular passage at the moment, but I know it must be there. After all if our soldiers were captured, our enemies would never torture them would they? Those poor Islamic countries are so deluded. They make all women wear veils. Even our First Lady and Secretary of State had to wear head scarves when they visited those countries! How dare they force their beliefs on our good Christian citizens! It's completely different when we talk about going to their country and converting them to Christianity, my particular brand of course.
And we'll continue to fight to make sure that if my husband John was ever in a vegetative, brain dead coma then complete strangers could make the decision for me to end life support or not. We want the government involved in deeply personal family issues because I can't be trusted to make that decision for my own spouse.
And Lord, thank you for the new vaccine that protects women from having cervical cancer. Of course we don't want anyone to have it since it would just promote promiscuity. After all, my daughter will never have sex outside marriage. Her future husband will never have had sex or have picked up the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer because we know that my daughter will only marry a good Christian boy who has never slept with any other girl. I'd rather have my daughter die of cervical cancer than have her take a vaccine that will protect her because it will encourage promiscuity. My daughter will never ever make a wrong choice or become involved in things I don't want her to. My children are as perfect as I am.
Lord, I am grateful for not having to have any responsibility toward the earth. It's all going to end soon in the rapture so why should we have to care for it? We can pollute, use up all the resources and spoil the air and soil because my children will never have to worry about living in it. My interpretation of the end times is the only correct one. I'm not sure what my kids will do if I'm wrong. My church believes that we are stewards of the Earth which means we can do whatever we want right? Global warming is just a myth because Rush Limbaugh says it is and he's never wrong, is he? We'll just ignore his attacks on disabled people like Michael J. Fox. The hundreds of scientists and researchers are all liberals who don't know what they're saying despite all the scientific evidence to back them up. It's all a myth. We sure enjoy seeing the daffodils come up in February and there are no honey bees to sting us anymore. Those cute polar bears can live in our zoos if the ice caps are melting.
Thank You God for making me an American. I'm so much more patriotic than my liberal neighbor because I belong to the right political party. I can question his patriotism all I want because Freedom of Speech give me that right. Of course we still need to silence those who disagree because we know that they are wrong, democracy or no democracy. If we just tell ourselves that we are right and THEY are wrong it will come true. Kind of like the President. He says we're winning in Iraq and because he says it is so it must be. All of the major news programs tell me the same thing. Never mind that they are controlled by conservative agenda supporters. If we keep saying that the media has a liberal bias well then people will believe us.
Thank you Lord for making me perfect in every way and for letting me impose my beliefs on others. They think they don't want to hear it but I know that they will just come around to my way of thinking if I just keep badgering them about it. Of course I don't need to respect their beliefs or lack thereof because they're wrong. Nobody is as passionate about my religion as I am of course. How could they be? It's so nice to know the mind of God.
In Jesus' Holy Name, AMEN!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Open Letter to Michael Ellis, President of Fred Meyer, Inc.
Hello! Sorry it has been so long since my last post! It's been very hectic over the last few months as I have been dealing with the final convulsions of a renovation on our house and moving back into that house from a temporary apartment. It's good to be home and good to have the renovation done, but oh what a process!
Recently I went into a local Fred Meyer grocery store and was confronted with a table in their lobby with Boy Scouts conducting a fundraiser. As you may know, the Boy Scouts of America have a policy of discrimination against gay and lesbian people. There have been a number of a occurrences in the last decade of gay boy scouts and boy scout leaders being drummed out of the organization as a reflection of that bigoted policy. Here is my letter to the president of Fred Meyer stores:
Mr. Michael Ellis, president
Fred Meyer, Inc.
3800 SE 22nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97202-2918
Dear Mr. Ellis,
On March 23, 2007 at about 4:30pm I went to the Fred Meyer store in my neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. I was very disappointed to see a group of Boy Scouts selling food items for a fund raiser. I approached the assistant manager on duty, a Mr. Hansen, and expressed my disappointment that Fred Meyer would allow a group that has policies of discrimination to stage a fundraiser in their lobby. He asked me what I meant as he was not aware of any discrimination issues. I informed him that the Boy Scouts of America have a policy to discriminate against gay and lesbian people. It is a group that teaches children that it is acceptable to promote bigotry against a minority group. He said that it was not up to him or the individual store to make the decision to allow groups like the Boy Scouts to hold fundraisers in their store lobbies. He said that Fred Meyer's head office made those decisions. He also informed me that if they allow the Girl Scouts to sell their cookies then they have to allow the Boy Scouts to do the same thing or that would be discrimination against the Boy Scouts. My response to that is, would Fred Meyer allow the Ku Klux Klan to have a fundraiser in their lobby? I think not. The Girl Scouts do not share the Boy Scouts exclusionary policy. In fact their policy is to teach the girls that diversity is a good thing. They make a point of being open to all girls.
By allowing groups like the Boy Scouts to use their store lobbies for fund raising, Fred Meyer is supporting their policies of bigotry. I find that offensive. The Fred Meyer store here is in a very unique neighborhood which has a diverse population including many gay and lesbian families. Allowing the Boy Scouts to have fund raising activities on Fred Meyer property is a slap in the face to those families. I'm hardly surprised that Fred Meyer would do this as they continue to allow the Salvation Army to have their bell ringers on their store properties during the holidays. The Salvation Army is another organization that promotes bigotry against the gay and lesbian community. Kroger Stores, your corporate owner, has a diversity value policy which reads:
Diversity : Reflecting a workplace that includes a variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures, diversity of opinions and thoughts.
Promoting groups that have policies against diversity shows a lack of respect to a discriminated minority. This includes your own gay and lesbian employees. I would urge you to change your policy of allowing bigoted groups like the Boy Scouts of America to conduct their activities on Fred Meyer property. I will be informing my friends and neighbors about this matter. If Fred Meyer continues to allow this activity, I will be giving my business to Safeway.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Recently I went into a local Fred Meyer grocery store and was confronted with a table in their lobby with Boy Scouts conducting a fundraiser. As you may know, the Boy Scouts of America have a policy of discrimination against gay and lesbian people. There have been a number of a occurrences in the last decade of gay boy scouts and boy scout leaders being drummed out of the organization as a reflection of that bigoted policy. Here is my letter to the president of Fred Meyer stores:
Mr. Michael Ellis, president
Fred Meyer, Inc.
3800 SE 22nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97202-2918
Dear Mr. Ellis,
On March 23, 2007 at about 4:30pm I went to the Fred Meyer store in my neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. I was very disappointed to see a group of Boy Scouts selling food items for a fund raiser. I approached the assistant manager on duty, a Mr. Hansen, and expressed my disappointment that Fred Meyer would allow a group that has policies of discrimination to stage a fundraiser in their lobby. He asked me what I meant as he was not aware of any discrimination issues. I informed him that the Boy Scouts of America have a policy to discriminate against gay and lesbian people. It is a group that teaches children that it is acceptable to promote bigotry against a minority group. He said that it was not up to him or the individual store to make the decision to allow groups like the Boy Scouts to hold fundraisers in their store lobbies. He said that Fred Meyer's head office made those decisions. He also informed me that if they allow the Girl Scouts to sell their cookies then they have to allow the Boy Scouts to do the same thing or that would be discrimination against the Boy Scouts. My response to that is, would Fred Meyer allow the Ku Klux Klan to have a fundraiser in their lobby? I think not. The Girl Scouts do not share the Boy Scouts exclusionary policy. In fact their policy is to teach the girls that diversity is a good thing. They make a point of being open to all girls.
By allowing groups like the Boy Scouts to use their store lobbies for fund raising, Fred Meyer is supporting their policies of bigotry. I find that offensive. The Fred Meyer store here is in a very unique neighborhood which has a diverse population including many gay and lesbian families. Allowing the Boy Scouts to have fund raising activities on Fred Meyer property is a slap in the face to those families. I'm hardly surprised that Fred Meyer would do this as they continue to allow the Salvation Army to have their bell ringers on their store properties during the holidays. The Salvation Army is another organization that promotes bigotry against the gay and lesbian community. Kroger Stores, your corporate owner, has a diversity value policy which reads:
Diversity : Reflecting a workplace that includes a variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures, diversity of opinions and thoughts.
Promoting groups that have policies against diversity shows a lack of respect to a discriminated minority. This includes your own gay and lesbian employees. I would urge you to change your policy of allowing bigoted groups like the Boy Scouts of America to conduct their activities on Fred Meyer property. I will be informing my friends and neighbors about this matter. If Fred Meyer continues to allow this activity, I will be giving my business to Safeway.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Monday, March 5, 2007
The Real Face of Conservatism
There was a time that I have said that I would only vote for the best candidate for any political office, regardless of party. I tend to vote more Democratic but I would have chosen a Republican if I thought they were the better candidate. Not any more. Over the weekend, right-wing pundit, best selling author, and popular conservative speaker, AnnCoulter was invited by Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, to speak at the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) convention. This convention is considered a really big deal in conservative circles. After a rousing introduction full of praise by former GovernorRomney, Ms. Coulter in her usual repulsive charm, made this statement:
"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot,’ so I — so kind of an impasse, can’t really talk about Edwards."
Reacting to Coulter, the CPAC crowd cheered and clapped. I find this very interesting, not Coulter's hateful slur but the crowd's reaction. Coulter regularly spews this kind of hate-filled bile, that's to be expected. The fact that this crowd found her remarks worthy of cheering and clapping paints a very ugly picture of the state of conservative politics in America. What would have happened ifCoulter was talking about Barack Obama and said the "N" word? Derogatory name-calling never sounded so loathsome. Social conservatives are doing a great job of stripping away the veneer of what they think is civilized debate to reveal that their anti-gay rhetoric is little more than bigotry, discrimination and homophobia. As Coretta Scott King said: "bigotry ...seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood," So, really and truly, the Republican party is the party of bigotry. Honoring people who use shameful epithets like "faggot" is pretty pathetic. I think, and hope this points out to the American public that the debate on gay/lesbian issues is one about discrimination and not about preserving "traditional values'. Such pretty words for an ugly issue. Maybe this will bring the real issues out of the closet and we can see this debate for what it really is.
Meanwhile, I see the Republican party embrace people like Ann Coulter, Mitt Romney and Rush Limbaugh, in all their hateful glory. I see them shove Christianism down voter's throats and embrace corrupted political figures like Tom Delay, Bob Ney and Duke Cunningham. I watch their colossally incompetent president lie about intelligence and bungle a war we should never have gotten into. I think I can pretty safely say I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN EVER!!!
"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot,’ so I — so kind of an impasse, can’t really talk about Edwards."
Reacting to Coulter, the CPAC crowd cheered and clapped. I find this very interesting, not Coulter's hateful slur but the crowd's reaction. Coulter regularly spews this kind of hate-filled bile, that's to be expected. The fact that this crowd found her remarks worthy of cheering and clapping paints a very ugly picture of the state of conservative politics in America. What would have happened ifCoulter was talking about Barack Obama and said the "N" word? Derogatory name-calling never sounded so loathsome. Social conservatives are doing a great job of stripping away the veneer of what they think is civilized debate to reveal that their anti-gay rhetoric is little more than bigotry, discrimination and homophobia. As Coretta Scott King said: "bigotry ...seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood," So, really and truly, the Republican party is the party of bigotry. Honoring people who use shameful epithets like "faggot" is pretty pathetic. I think, and hope this points out to the American public that the debate on gay/lesbian issues is one about discrimination and not about preserving "traditional values'. Such pretty words for an ugly issue. Maybe this will bring the real issues out of the closet and we can see this debate for what it really is.
Meanwhile, I see the Republican party embrace people like Ann Coulter, Mitt Romney and Rush Limbaugh, in all their hateful glory. I see them shove Christianism down voter's throats and embrace corrupted political figures like Tom Delay, Bob Ney and Duke Cunningham. I watch their colossally incompetent president lie about intelligence and bungle a war we should never have gotten into. I think I can pretty safely say I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN EVER!!!
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