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!!!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
I'm Glad It Was Written...
Once in a while you come across something that, as a writer, you'd wish you'd written yourself. You wish it not out of envy so much as it reflects exactly what you feel. I discovered a blog today written by Arthur Silber called Once Upon A Time. In today's post he has an essay called, "We Are Not Freaks" discussing how it feels to be gay or lesbian in our society.
I agree with Mr. Silber. Unless you are gay, you cannot fathom what it feels like to be gay in our culture, not fully. Inadvertently, many who are sympathetic participate in the same "freak" show mentality that is the debate over gay civil-rights. He hit the nail on the head exactly. I am not an object that you can put on display and say, "Here's a gay man, who calls himself married. What should we do about this and how should it be discussed?" I'm a real person, with feelings and a real stake in the debate that rages on.
While society debates whether I, as a gay man, should have certain civil rights or not, meanwhile I don't have any. While Christianists harp on and on about what they believe and their moral principles, I have to live daily with the fact that if my partner were rushed to hospital, I may not be able to see him. Christianists feel that their religion is being trampled on. I don't see how my existence and my ability to have the same rights and responsibilities they have can prevent them from the practice of their particular brand of worship. They can still believe what they believe, attend the church they attend and spout the same hateful bigotry that passes for loving scripture. They can hate me all they want, but why do they get a say on how I live my life and what rights I have? What makes their religious beliefs more important than mine? My church believes that any couple relationship is a sacred and private matter between that couple. To say they cannot legally be a couple is based on gender violates my church's beliefs. So why is a Christianist church's beliefs more important than mine. Why do they have a bigger voice in public policy than mine?
Once any person's real civil rights have been trampled on, then all of us in our society suffer. ALL of us suffer. The current presidential campaign by former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, who happens to be Mormon, is a fascinating example of this. Mr. Romney thinks that because he has proved himself to be the true social conservative Republican candidate he is a shoo in for winning the presidency. Because his current stance on same-sex marriage and abortion issues coincide so closely with evangelical Christians, Mr. Romney thinks he will automatically garner their support. Unfortunately for former Governor Romney, most evangelical Christians view the Mormon church as an evil cult. Evil cults are tolerated about as much, and in some cases less so, than gays or lesbians. He is learning fast, if he hasn't learned already, that projecting your own narrow points of view based on religion onto a democratic society makes for a sticky mess.
So, let's say someday, evangelical Christianity becomes the church of state for the USA, then what? Well, laws could be passed to imprison not only gays, lesbians and women who have abortions, but practicing Mormons, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses and many other groups not falling under approved evangelical guidelines. We also get into the problem of which brand of evangelical Christianity is the right one. Many of these groups believe that dancing and listening to popular music is okay under certain guidelines while other believe it is incredibly evil in any form. Many believe that images and symbols of Christ are not to be tolerated as it violates the 4th of Moses' ten commandment. Look at what his commandment says: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. So what happens to those Christians who have the
sympol on their cars? Do they get imprisoned too?
Starting down the path of discrimination only leads to more discrimination. You never know which person will be the one in power or the one discriminated against. All I can say is stop it!! Me living my life does not hurt yours in any way. Enacting restrictions on gay and lesbian people or any other minority will never make them go away. It hasn't done it in all the thousands of years of history of the human family.
Thank you Mr. Silber for your essay. I hope many read it and get a small glimpse of how I feel. We are not freaks.
I agree with Mr. Silber. Unless you are gay, you cannot fathom what it feels like to be gay in our culture, not fully. Inadvertently, many who are sympathetic participate in the same "freak" show mentality that is the debate over gay civil-rights. He hit the nail on the head exactly. I am not an object that you can put on display and say, "Here's a gay man, who calls himself married. What should we do about this and how should it be discussed?" I'm a real person, with feelings and a real stake in the debate that rages on.
While society debates whether I, as a gay man, should have certain civil rights or not, meanwhile I don't have any. While Christianists harp on and on about what they believe and their moral principles, I have to live daily with the fact that if my partner were rushed to hospital, I may not be able to see him. Christianists feel that their religion is being trampled on. I don't see how my existence and my ability to have the same rights and responsibilities they have can prevent them from the practice of their particular brand of worship. They can still believe what they believe, attend the church they attend and spout the same hateful bigotry that passes for loving scripture. They can hate me all they want, but why do they get a say on how I live my life and what rights I have? What makes their religious beliefs more important than mine? My church believes that any couple relationship is a sacred and private matter between that couple. To say they cannot legally be a couple is based on gender violates my church's beliefs. So why is a Christianist church's beliefs more important than mine. Why do they have a bigger voice in public policy than mine?
Once any person's real civil rights have been trampled on, then all of us in our society suffer. ALL of us suffer. The current presidential campaign by former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, who happens to be Mormon, is a fascinating example of this. Mr. Romney thinks that because he has proved himself to be the true social conservative Republican candidate he is a shoo in for winning the presidency. Because his current stance on same-sex marriage and abortion issues coincide so closely with evangelical Christians, Mr. Romney thinks he will automatically garner their support. Unfortunately for former Governor Romney, most evangelical Christians view the Mormon church as an evil cult. Evil cults are tolerated about as much, and in some cases less so, than gays or lesbians. He is learning fast, if he hasn't learned already, that projecting your own narrow points of view based on religion onto a democratic society makes for a sticky mess.
So, let's say someday, evangelical Christianity becomes the church of state for the USA, then what? Well, laws could be passed to imprison not only gays, lesbians and women who have abortions, but practicing Mormons, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses and many other groups not falling under approved evangelical guidelines. We also get into the problem of which brand of evangelical Christianity is the right one. Many of these groups believe that dancing and listening to popular music is okay under certain guidelines while other believe it is incredibly evil in any form. Many believe that images and symbols of Christ are not to be tolerated as it violates the 4th of Moses' ten commandment. Look at what his commandment says: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. So what happens to those Christians who have the
sympol on their cars? Do they get imprisoned too?While I was traveling this summer I visited the House of Terror in Budapest, Hungary. This is a holocaust museum that is housed in the actual building that Nazis and later communists used for torturing and murdering those who were deemed dissidents and undesirables. One startling thing I learned is that those who began this governmental office of terror and interrogation were themselves tortured and murdered under the very program they created. The communists took over and began using the same horrible procedures on their Nazi forbears.
Starting down the path of discrimination only leads to more discrimination. You never know which person will be the one in power or the one discriminated against. All I can say is stop it!! Me living my life does not hurt yours in any way. Enacting restrictions on gay and lesbian people or any other minority will never make them go away. It hasn't done it in all the thousands of years of history of the human family.
Thank you Mr. Silber for your essay. I hope many read it and get a small glimpse of how I feel. We are not freaks.
Friday, February 16, 2007
I Heart Gay People!
If gay and lesbian people are given civil rights, then everyone will want them! ~Author unknown
As you may know, John Amaechi, a NBA player for the Utah Jazz (Utah of all places!) has come out of the closet as an openly gay man. This along with the Snickers snafu created some real dialogue lately about what is and is not bigotry in the mainstream media. Sometimes my frustration rises above what is bearable when I witness the snail-pace that gay civil-rights are changing in this country. Then I remember that it wasn't all that long ago that people in the media would never even say the word gay, especially without a smirk and a nasty joke. My hats off to Mr. Amaechi for his courage in coming out in a very closed, overtly homophobic profession as professional male athletics. It can't be easy, it never is, but he has taken a great step forward for all of us. I wish him well.
Meanwhile, former NBA player, Tim Hardaway, ranted about his own bigotry problems. He said in a recent radio interview:
"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people," he said. "I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."
I find it very interesting that a African-American man of all people should express this kind of vitriol. I guess when you are a rich athlete you are above all that. He later apologized for his statement, an apology I feel is a bit convenient to make. Especially since the NBA has dropped him from participating in events for the All-Star weekend in Las Vegas. Apparently Hardaway learned the hard way that making locker-room rants as a representative for the NBA you'd better be prepared for the consequences. Hardaway was already in Las Vegas and now has to cool his heels. Thank you NBA for standing up for decency! I'm pleasantly surprised at this
As you may know, John Amaechi, a NBA player for the Utah Jazz (Utah of all places!) has come out of the closet as an openly gay man. This along with the Snickers snafu created some real dialogue lately about what is and is not bigotry in the mainstream media. Sometimes my frustration rises above what is bearable when I witness the snail-pace that gay civil-rights are changing in this country. Then I remember that it wasn't all that long ago that people in the media would never even say the word gay, especially without a smirk and a nasty joke. My hats off to Mr. Amaechi for his courage in coming out in a very closed, overtly homophobic profession as professional male athletics. It can't be easy, it never is, but he has taken a great step forward for all of us. I wish him well.
Meanwhile, former NBA player, Tim Hardaway, ranted about his own bigotry problems. He said in a recent radio interview:
"You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people," he said. "I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."
I find it very interesting that a African-American man of all people should express this kind of vitriol. I guess when you are a rich athlete you are above all that. He later apologized for his statement, an apology I feel is a bit convenient to make. Especially since the NBA has dropped him from participating in events for the All-Star weekend in Las Vegas. Apparently Hardaway learned the hard way that making locker-room rants as a representative for the NBA you'd better be prepared for the consequences. Hardaway was already in Las Vegas and now has to cool his heels. Thank you NBA for standing up for decency! I'm pleasantly surprised at this
Monday, February 12, 2007
Surprise!
This was written on Friday, February 9, 2007. I couldn't post it then in case it would ruin a surprise I had in the works:
Today I’m flying to Salt Lake City, Utah to visit a friend for the weekend. Due to some rather rough turns of events, this very old (the friendship is old, not the friend, despite both our salt & pepper hair) and dear friend needs some cheering up. His partner and I planned a last-minute surprise visit by me. The surprise on his face will be fun to see.
I’m writing this on board a Delta Airlines Boeing 737 jet. Despite having flown many, many times in my life, I still never get over the thrill of a jet taking off. Even though I understand the physics of it, it still amazes me that a big multi-ton metal tube can be lifted off the ground thousands of feet in the air, hurtling hundreds of miles per hour. I have always wondered what it would be like to go back in time and pluck a person, like my great-great-grandfather who fought in the Civil War, and bring him forward to witness flying machines like this. Maybe he’d think it was some sort of wicked sorcery, cowering in the bathroom in fear! Or, maybe he’d have his nose glued to the window in wonder, watching the scenery go by miles below, tiny mountains and lakes looking like a toy railroad panorama.
If my vision and hearing had been better, I’m sure I would have been a pilot. Traveling anywhere, especially by air, makes me feel like a giddy little kid. Today in the airport waiting area, there was a dad and two kids about 9 and 10. The youngest, a little girl, was so excited to get on board. Every time the gate agents announced a new section boarding, she would jump to her feet and her dad would have to tell her to sit down, it wasn’t time yet. I know that feeling and still have it, though I probably appear to be jaded about the whole thing. Perhaps it’s just as well I can’t be a pilot. I don’t ever want the excitement of travel to go away.
This flight is a puddle jump to me. Now that I’ve gone overseas on 13 hour flights, 2 hours seems like nothing. I remember once flying to Oakland, California and the flight actually had a stop just across the bay in San Francisco. The flight over the bay was less than a 5 minutes and the plane never reached a cruising altitude of more than a few thousand feet. It was odd, but a great way to see San Francisco Bay.
Even if I’ve been somewhere before, I still like to travel there. It’s great to see how other people live and what is changing. I remember the first time I went to Europe, it was amazing to me that life goes on in other places, speaking different languages and experiencing a completely different culture. I suppose that sounds silly. But, until I really experienced a different part of the world, it was easy to get caught up in the idea, that your particular space and time is the only world that exists. You don’t imagine the billions of other people out there, living simultaneously on one planet traveling through Sol’s solar system. I think for insular Americans, it is especially hard to imagine.
Salt Lake City is not one of my favorite destinations. I’d never live there again. I’ve had enough of living in red states. I won’t be making that mistake again. Some of my favorite people in the world live there though. I’ll get to see a few of them this weekend. It will be good to see people I haven’t seen in a few years. I’ve never surprised somebody like this. Some surprises are not much fun, but I think this one will be.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Marriage is for breeding only!
Many the same-sex marriage opponent has put up the argument that marriage is mainly for the procreation and raising of children. On July 26, 2006 the Washington State Supreme Court, in a near-sighted, cowardly ruling, stated, just this reason for why the state can limit marriage. Never mind that defense of marriage supporters like Pat Buchanan, married since 1971, has never had children. Well, a new group called the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance is presenting an initiative I-957 which defines marriage under the narrow Washington Supreme Court's ruling. If passed it would:
So here is where the opponents of same-sex marriage can put their money where their mouth is. If marriage is all about children and only children, well there oughta be a law. Of course it means that people past child-bearing age would not be able to marry. Also, infertile couples would have to dissolve their marriage. And a couple who have lost a child would no longer be married unless they procreate again. Empty nesters, whose children are no longer dependent, would no longer need marriage right? So their marriage should be dissolved too. But, oh well. It's all about having children. Love and a desire to be linked to someone for the rest of your life are irrelevant. The Christianists should be overjoyed!
While this initiative is not serious, it does illustrate the stupidity of one of the major arguments same-sex marriage opponents throw up in every debate on this issue.
- add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;
- require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
- require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”
- establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
- make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits.
So here is where the opponents of same-sex marriage can put their money where their mouth is. If marriage is all about children and only children, well there oughta be a law. Of course it means that people past child-bearing age would not be able to marry. Also, infertile couples would have to dissolve their marriage. And a couple who have lost a child would no longer be married unless they procreate again. Empty nesters, whose children are no longer dependent, would no longer need marriage right? So their marriage should be dissolved too. But, oh well. It's all about having children. Love and a desire to be linked to someone for the rest of your life are irrelevant. The Christianists should be overjoyed!
While this initiative is not serious, it does illustrate the stupidity of one of the major arguments same-sex marriage opponents throw up in every debate on this issue.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
America the Fearful
In a way, I'm glad my Dad died before he could see what is happening to his beloved country. He fought in World War II and very much believed in America and its Constitution. He believed that the freedoms of speech and press were all important. He thought the flag burning debate was silly. While he thought the act of burning the American flag in protest was abhorrent, he felt it was the right of every American to do so if they wished to. He knew that being an American isn't easy. You must protect what people say even if what they say is not what you want to hear.
That's why I get so mad at politicians when they say that if you criticize the president, debate the Iraq war or express the wish to have our troops come home you are emboldening the enemy. I could care less what the enemy thinks. If we are so scared of what the enemies of our country are going to think, then they've already won. Few people realize that terrorism is only successful when people are terrorized. Nothing actually has to happen like a bomb or a plane crashing into a building. If people do what they want just by them laying down a threat, then they've succeeded as a terrorist. One of the greatest journalists of our time (this was back when journalists investigated and reported the news instead of just repeating what people, read White House, tell them), Edward R. Murrow, said, "No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are his accomplices."
I was in London just a few months after the tube (what they call their subway) and bus bombings in 2005. I expected the tube trains to be empty and everyone in London very fearful. The reality was, while people were wary, they went about their business as usual. Passengers are reminded constantly over the subway station PA systems and by public service posters to watch for any unattended bags or suspicious behavior but the trains were as crowded as they've always been. I myself discovered a backpack that sat by itself in one of the stations. I alerted a policeman and as it turned out the owner had wandered away for a moment to get a candy bar out of a vending machine and had stopped to talk to a friend. Once the police were satisfied that the bag belonged to someone and was quite harmless, they thanked me for being alert and everyone went about their business. In the U.S. it would have been breathlessly reported on a CNN breaking news bulletin and I probably would have been interviewed by Diane Sawyer. The British, like most Europeans, are very pragmatic about security and safety. They want it just as much as we do, but they also know that there are bad people in the world who will do violent things. You can take precautions and do your best to prevent violence from happening but you still have to live your life.
During that 2005 trip to England, I was invited to a dinner party at the home of a British friend of mine. Being the only American, I was surrounded by mostly British and a few attendees from other European countries. They all questioned me about what Americans really think is happening in Iraq and how in the world did we put a president like George W. Bush into office. I assured them that while Bush won the last election it was only by a slim margin. I also told them that the war in Iraq was increasingly unpopular and becoming more so. They seemed to visualize Americans as overtly religious and paranoid. It was hard but I think I persuaded them that most Americans are just like them, wanting safety, and security and that not all Americans fall into political extremes. I also told them that, for Americans, being attacked on our own soil was a new and very disturbing thing. Terrorist attacks were something that happened in other countries. One party goer quipped, "Well, I guess America had to grow up some time."
But have we really grown? Daily I hear about how some politicians feel we shouldn't debate the president's foreign policy. The so-called journalists lets the White House repeat the old saw of how we should trust them, allow them to spy on other Americans without a warrant or oversight, and torture suspected terrorist so that we can get unreliable information from them. They want us to continue to condone secret interrogation prisons, and holding people without charge for years in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We're losing our freedoms daily in this country. Hopefully the newly elected Democratic congress will provide some oversight and staunch the bleeding away of civil liberties. We need to openly debate and criticize our leaders actions because they are servants of the American people, and not the other way round. Hopefully we'll become a real democratic republic again and not give in to terror. Still, I'm glad that Dad can't see what a fearful, freedom compromising, world-bully that our country is becoming. It would break his heart.
That's why I get so mad at politicians when they say that if you criticize the president, debate the Iraq war or express the wish to have our troops come home you are emboldening the enemy. I could care less what the enemy thinks. If we are so scared of what the enemies of our country are going to think, then they've already won. Few people realize that terrorism is only successful when people are terrorized. Nothing actually has to happen like a bomb or a plane crashing into a building. If people do what they want just by them laying down a threat, then they've succeeded as a terrorist. One of the greatest journalists of our time (this was back when journalists investigated and reported the news instead of just repeating what people, read White House, tell them), Edward R. Murrow, said, "No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are his accomplices."
I was in London just a few months after the tube (what they call their subway) and bus bombings in 2005. I expected the tube trains to be empty and everyone in London very fearful. The reality was, while people were wary, they went about their business as usual. Passengers are reminded constantly over the subway station PA systems and by public service posters to watch for any unattended bags or suspicious behavior but the trains were as crowded as they've always been. I myself discovered a backpack that sat by itself in one of the stations. I alerted a policeman and as it turned out the owner had wandered away for a moment to get a candy bar out of a vending machine and had stopped to talk to a friend. Once the police were satisfied that the bag belonged to someone and was quite harmless, they thanked me for being alert and everyone went about their business. In the U.S. it would have been breathlessly reported on a CNN breaking news bulletin and I probably would have been interviewed by Diane Sawyer. The British, like most Europeans, are very pragmatic about security and safety. They want it just as much as we do, but they also know that there are bad people in the world who will do violent things. You can take precautions and do your best to prevent violence from happening but you still have to live your life.
During that 2005 trip to England, I was invited to a dinner party at the home of a British friend of mine. Being the only American, I was surrounded by mostly British and a few attendees from other European countries. They all questioned me about what Americans really think is happening in Iraq and how in the world did we put a president like George W. Bush into office. I assured them that while Bush won the last election it was only by a slim margin. I also told them that the war in Iraq was increasingly unpopular and becoming more so. They seemed to visualize Americans as overtly religious and paranoid. It was hard but I think I persuaded them that most Americans are just like them, wanting safety, and security and that not all Americans fall into political extremes. I also told them that, for Americans, being attacked on our own soil was a new and very disturbing thing. Terrorist attacks were something that happened in other countries. One party goer quipped, "Well, I guess America had to grow up some time."
But have we really grown? Daily I hear about how some politicians feel we shouldn't debate the president's foreign policy. The so-called journalists lets the White House repeat the old saw of how we should trust them, allow them to spy on other Americans without a warrant or oversight, and torture suspected terrorist so that we can get unreliable information from them. They want us to continue to condone secret interrogation prisons, and holding people without charge for years in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We're losing our freedoms daily in this country. Hopefully the newly elected Democratic congress will provide some oversight and staunch the bleeding away of civil liberties. We need to openly debate and criticize our leaders actions because they are servants of the American people, and not the other way round. Hopefully we'll become a real democratic republic again and not give in to terror. Still, I'm glad that Dad can't see what a fearful, freedom compromising, world-bully that our country is becoming. It would break his heart.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Homphobes are from Mars...
I was outraged to see an article at AmericaBlog today that Snickers ran a disgusting homophobic commercial during the superbowl. It has two car mechanics who accidentally kiss while eating a candy bar. On the Snickers website they have 4 different endings to the commercial. Each one shows the mechanics jumping away and obviously feeling disgusted. One guy says to the other, "Quick, do something manly." One ending shows them drinking motor oil and antifreeze. Another shows one mechanic trying to attack the other with a wrench and the other guy slams the wrench holder under the hood of a car. Those are just two of the endings. All of them are disgusting. On top of all that, they have a video of various Bears and Colts football players watching the commercials and looking very disgusted at the two men kissing saying things like, "That just ain't right!" They also comment on how funny it was that two men who accidentally kiss harm themselves and each other. The underlying message is that gay people are disgusting and should be beaten up or should harm themselves.
If you find this outrageous, be sure to let Snickers know here and their parent company Mars Inc. can be emailed at contact@policies.mars.com. Spread the word about this horrible commercial and demand that Mars end its support of such bigotry. For those of you straight people who can't see all the fuss look at it this way: what if the commercial were between a black man and a white man accidentally eating each other's candy bar and doing the same violent things. It would not have gone over very well in this country.
Mars Inc. has their 5 principles of success on their website. The second principle reads: "Responsibility - As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates we support the responsibilities of others." How is it responsible to denigrate gay people via a commercial that promotes homophobia and violence? This is the kind of thing I get so mad about, and it almost never gets covered in the mainstream media.
Update: John at America Blog received a call from Mars/Snickers and they have pulled the homophobic commercials from their website. They have promised him over the phone that they will never air these commercials again. John did note that he had heard from some of his readers who stated that they had seen the commercials on both Comedy Central and Spike TV. We'll see how quickly they respond in pulling these commercials. I hope that Mars/Snickers follows through with their verbal promises.
If you find this outrageous, be sure to let Snickers know here and their parent company Mars Inc. can be emailed at contact@policies.mars.com. Spread the word about this horrible commercial and demand that Mars end its support of such bigotry. For those of you straight people who can't see all the fuss look at it this way: what if the commercial were between a black man and a white man accidentally eating each other's candy bar and doing the same violent things. It would not have gone over very well in this country.
Mars Inc. has their 5 principles of success on their website. The second principle reads: "Responsibility - As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates we support the responsibilities of others." How is it responsible to denigrate gay people via a commercial that promotes homophobia and violence? This is the kind of thing I get so mad about, and it almost never gets covered in the mainstream media.
Update: John at America Blog received a call from Mars/Snickers and they have pulled the homophobic commercials from their website. They have promised him over the phone that they will never air these commercials again. John did note that he had heard from some of his readers who stated that they had seen the commercials on both Comedy Central and Spike TV. We'll see how quickly they respond in pulling these commercials. I hope that Mars/Snickers follows through with their verbal promises.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary...
Quite the piece of work, the Cheney family. I'm talking specifically about Dick Cheney the Vice President, his wife Lynn and their daughter Mary. I'm sure you've heard the news, that Mary Cheney, an openly lesbian woman, and her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe, are expecting a baby. Mary is the one who is pregnant and it seems that she and her parents are resenting to the media comments and controversy stirred up by thiswondrous event. Mary, as you may know, worked on the Bush/Cheney campaigns and is a staunch Republican and supporter of the Bush administration. This despite the Republicans working with right-wingChristianist groups like Focus on the Family to strip every right that gay and lesbian Americans have.
First Dick Cheney, proud grandpa, rebuffs Wolf Blitzer on CNN when Blitzer brought up the controversy. Mr. Cheney said Blitzer was out of line when asking about the controversy being talked about by evangelical Christians like James Dobson in speaking out against Mary Cheney's pregnancy. Then, with hypocritical, fuzzy logic,Mary dissed Dobson and stated: "This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue."
Well Dan Savage in his blog, SLOG, couldn't have said it better. Like him I have no sympathy for the Cheneys at all. They started this debate by campaigning to ruin the lives of lesbian and gay citizens in this country. In many states they have been successful in enshrining hatred in the form of anti-same-sex marriage amendments to state constitutions. They enabled anti-gay/lesbian laws such as the one in Virginia (Mary Cheney's state of residence by the way) forbidding any contractual agreements between unmarried couples of any gender. This means that Mary's partner, Heather Poe, will have no rights to the child they are having as adoption is forbidden and she would not be able to inherit from Mary or have any legal responsibility for their child. Very ironic.
I agree with Dan also in that Mary put herself in the middle of the debate by working with Repbulicans and allowing the Christianist right-wingers to take over their party. She getting it from both sides. Most people in the gay community are furious at her. She's seen as worse than Bush himself because she is a traitor to us. I feel really sorry for her baby, first being born into that awful family and having to grow up in the nasty environment that his/her mother and grandparents have created for us all. I'd hate to have to explain to this child the role that his family played in making sure that his mothers have no rights toward each other and one mother toward the child. Fostering hate like this has only made it easier for the redneck world to harass, bash and even kill gay/lesbian people. Nothing feels worse than having "faggot" shouted at you or being openly discriminated against. Matthew Sheperd died because of this environment of hatred.
I'm normally a very polite and reserved person but I agree whole-heartedly with EVERY word of Dan Savage's scathing article. Mary Cheney, I blame you especially for being a second-class citizen in my own country. Shame on you for what you've done to our community. I'm sorry your child has to suffer, but you and your family have reaped what you've sewn. You made your bed, now you'll have to lie in it.
First Dick Cheney, proud grandpa, rebuffs Wolf Blitzer on CNN when Blitzer brought up the controversy. Mr. Cheney said Blitzer was out of line when asking about the controversy being talked about by evangelical Christians like James Dobson in speaking out against Mary Cheney's pregnancy. Then, with hypocritical, fuzzy logic,Mary dissed Dobson and stated: "This is a blessing from God. It is not a political statement. It is not a prop to be used in a debate by people on either side of an issue."
Well Dan Savage in his blog, SLOG, couldn't have said it better. Like him I have no sympathy for the Cheneys at all. They started this debate by campaigning to ruin the lives of lesbian and gay citizens in this country. In many states they have been successful in enshrining hatred in the form of anti-same-sex marriage amendments to state constitutions. They enabled anti-gay/lesbian laws such as the one in Virginia (Mary Cheney's state of residence by the way) forbidding any contractual agreements between unmarried couples of any gender. This means that Mary's partner, Heather Poe, will have no rights to the child they are having as adoption is forbidden and she would not be able to inherit from Mary or have any legal responsibility for their child. Very ironic.
I agree with Dan also in that Mary put herself in the middle of the debate by working with Repbulicans and allowing the Christianist right-wingers to take over their party. She getting it from both sides. Most people in the gay community are furious at her. She's seen as worse than Bush himself because she is a traitor to us. I feel really sorry for her baby, first being born into that awful family and having to grow up in the nasty environment that his/her mother and grandparents have created for us all. I'd hate to have to explain to this child the role that his family played in making sure that his mothers have no rights toward each other and one mother toward the child. Fostering hate like this has only made it easier for the redneck world to harass, bash and even kill gay/lesbian people. Nothing feels worse than having "faggot" shouted at you or being openly discriminated against. Matthew Sheperd died because of this environment of hatred.
I'm normally a very polite and reserved person but I agree whole-heartedly with EVERY word of Dan Savage's scathing article. Mary Cheney, I blame you especially for being a second-class citizen in my own country. Shame on you for what you've done to our community. I'm sorry your child has to suffer, but you and your family have reaped what you've sewn. You made your bed, now you'll have to lie in it.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Can't we all just get along?
I saw the best bumper sticker today:
"I like your Christ.
I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." ~ Ghandi
I never saw that one before and it is at once both humorous and wise. Mahatma Ghandi never minced his words. I've experienced those words myself. Even before I came out I remember being recipient of the ABUNDANCE of "unconditional love" (insert sarcasm here) that is the legacy of Christianity. Many a Sabbath day I sat in Sunday school listening to teachers tell me that we should always practice unconditional love and charity. I grew older and saw what that really meant to self-described "Christians". Unwed, pregnant teenagers are shunned. Young people choosing not to fulfill the inevitable priesthood calling ,military service or marriage are judged, outcasts. Divorced couples are lepers. Those questioning church teachings are disfellowshipped or excommunicated. How does a church authority figure of human origin become the decider of who God severs contact with? I'm not knocking people's beliefs, if that is what they want to believe and it brings them fulfillment. As for myself I took less and less of the things I was taught at face value and I examined them for myself. Being told I was "scum" by a "nice" man of the church after I came out as a gay man didn't help either. It was then that I knew you can only tell a man by his deeds and not by his words.
I remember once watching a neighbor in my home town, a man of seniority and respect in the church, go out and savagely beat the family dog who was barking. The poor creature,largely ignored by his family, was chained to a far corner of their property once he was no longer a cute puppy. Thankfully that dog was adopted by some of the finest Christians that I know who have always given unconditional love. Their example is few and far between. In our nation today I see lots of the former example rather than the latter who are so involved with telling everyone else how they should live while they themselves have a lot to answer for. Their priorities are skewed. They insert themselves in end-of-life decisions that are deeply private family matters. They attempt to force church doctrine into public schools, insisting that their brand of religious belief is correct for everyone. They obtain public funding for charity outreach but turn away those they feel do not fit their ideology. Meanwhile we have real problems in this country that they are abundantly qualified to help: poverty, homelessness, abused families, people with untreated mental health issues and children becoming involved in gang violence, to name just a few. It is much more important to these churches to demand compliance of everyone to their religious beliefs. If someone doesn't like gay marriage then they shouldn't marry someone of the same gender. If abortion is objectionable, don't have one and give children the tools to make good decisions to prevent them in the first place. If embryonic stem-cell research bothers, then address the people making thousands of frozen embryos, only to use one or two and discarding the rest . Many of these fertility patients I might add are members of the very churches that are fighting this issue. Meanwhile I'd like to hear a good explanation why someone who is dying, sick or disabled must suffer as research is literally thrown in the trash can. I'm one of those disabled by the way. I'm partially hearing impaired because of auditory nerve damage due to an illness as an infant. Research on the regeneration of auditory nerves has been halted because of this interference.
I am thankful that not all religions are conducted in this way. I was overjoyed yesterday to hear from a good friend who is follower of Wicca, a pagan religion that is older than Christianity by millennia. It was through him that I saw the deep love and respect that he and each of those in his circle had for nature, their fellow man and each other. Their marriage ceremony is called a hand-fasting and couples are bound together for one year and one day. Each day the couple is together after that is considered a blessing. I found that very moving. Though I don't practice Wicca myself, I do take away from it the profound sense of the interconnectedness of us all. Too much in this world is about "us" and "them". There is no us and them, only WE. It's amazing that after thousands of years of civilization, many of the human family have yet to learn that lesson. The United Church of Christ is a Christian denomination that does not set itself up as judge and gatekeeper. The Unitarian Universalist Church, while not following a set creed, does advocate the ability of each person to work out their own spiritual journey. I really don't believe there ever was a religion that fits every person. And, I'm glad for that. Having traveled in the world a little I've seen cultures that are very different from my own. They are not better or worse than any other culture, just different. I find that fascinating. Instead of focusing on the differences we have in our beliefs, can we focus on the similarities? Can we learn to share our world?
"I like your Christ.
I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." ~ Ghandi
I never saw that one before and it is at once both humorous and wise. Mahatma Ghandi never minced his words. I've experienced those words myself. Even before I came out I remember being recipient of the ABUNDANCE
I remember once watching a neighbor in my home town, a man of seniority and respect in the church, go out and savagely beat the family dog who was barking. The poor creature,largely ignored by his family, was chained to a far corner of their property once he was no longer a cute puppy. Thankfully that dog was adopted by some of the finest Christians that I know who have always given unconditional love. Their example is few and far between. In our nation today I see lots of the former example rather than the latter who are so involved with telling everyone else how they should live while they themselves have a lot to answer for. Their priorities are skewed. They insert themselves in end-of-life decisions that are deeply private family matters. They attempt to force church doctrine into public schools, insisting that their brand of religious belief is correct for everyone. They obtain public funding for charity outreach but turn away those they feel do not fit their ideology. Meanwhile we have real problems in this country that they are abundantly qualified to help: poverty, homelessness, abused families, people with untreated mental health issues and children becoming involved in gang violence, to name just a few. It is much more important to these churches to demand compliance of everyone to their religious beliefs. If someone doesn't like gay marriage then they shouldn't marry someone of the same gender. If abortion is objectionable, don't have one and give children the tools to make good decisions to prevent them in the first place. If embryonic stem-cell research bothers, then address the people making thousands of frozen embryos, only to use one or two and discarding the rest . Many of these fertility patients I might add are members of the very churches that are fighting this issue. Meanwhile I'd like to hear a good explanation why someone who is dying, sick or disabled must suffer as research is literally thrown in the trash can. I'm one of those disabled by the way. I'm partially hearing impaired because of auditory nerve damage due to an illness as an infant. Research on the regeneration of auditory nerves has been halted because of this interference.
I am thankful that not all religions are conducted in this way. I was overjoyed yesterday to hear from a good friend who is follower of Wicca, a pagan religion that is older than Christianity by millennia. It was through him that I saw the deep love and respect that he and each of those in his circle had for nature, their fellow man and each other. Their marriage ceremony is called a hand-fasting and couples are bound together for one year and one day. Each day the couple is together after that is considered a blessing. I found that very moving. Though I don't practice Wicca myself, I do take away from it the profound sense of the interconnectedness of us all. Too much in this world is about "us" and "them". There is no us and them, only WE. It's amazing that after thousands of years of civilization, many of the human family have yet to learn that lesson. The United Church of Christ is a Christian denomination that does not set itself up as judge and gatekeeper. The Unitarian Universalist Church, while not following a set creed, does advocate the ability of each person to work out their own spiritual journey. I really don't believe there ever was a religion that fits every person. And, I'm glad for that. Having traveled in the world a little I've seen cultures that are very different from my own. They are not better or worse than any other culture, just different. I find that fascinating. Instead of focusing on the differences we have in our beliefs, can we focus on the similarities? Can we learn to share our world?
Monday, January 29, 2007
Citizen Second-Class
I have to stop myself from getting too negative when I read the news. I read stories like this and I wonder if I'll ever be a full citizen in this country. People everywhere seem hell-bent on ensuring that I remain a second class citizen. They argue over rights/liberties that don't affect them. Whenever talking-heads of the media debate same-sex marriage or equal protection under the law for gay citizens I almost never hear real questions that need to be asked. Many on the right say they need to "defend marriage". My question is, defend it from what? After our wedding a few years ago I checked in with our next door neighbors, a heterosexual couple. I asked them if our getting married affected their marriage in any way? They said absolutely not. I asked them if same-sex marriage had been legal in the USA at the time of their wedding, would they have had second thoughts about getting married themselves? Their replied again, absolutely not. There have been no divorces among the neighbors that we know since our wedding. In fact, the son of one couple down the street married last summer. He married in Paris to a French woman. I don't know, maybe he felt he needed to get married in France because the proximity to us would be detrimental to his own relationship? I doubt it.
This young man's French marriage is valid in America, yet our Canadian marriage is not. Most people, I think, don't understand that it's not just a piece of paper. Legal, civil marriage comes with rights and responsibilities. If my spouse (heaven forbid!) fell ill and rushed to the hospital, I have no right to see him. We pay more taxes because we have to file as single people. A 50% inheritance tax would be imposed because we are not related by marriage. Involvement in a law-suit by one of us, means that the other could be compelled to testify against him. And the list goes on and on. Over 1000 rights and responsibilities come with marriage. You can learn more about the issue here.
Leaving all the legal, civil rights and religious stuff aside for a moment, I would love to hear a journalist ask the rabid Christian-right spokespeople: How does this issue affect you personally besides being against your religious beliefs? After all, those of us truly affected live in your neighborhoods now, our children learn in the same schools as yours, and we shop along side you in the grocery store every day. A civil marriage contracts between two people and nobody else. I would certainly never tell the neighbor couple next door that they should not be able to see each other in the hospital or provide health insurance benefits for the other because I don't like their relationship. That idea is ludicrous!
Meanwhile convicted felons marry and I can't. Britney Spears marries in Las Vegas on a lark for 55 hours and then dissolves it. Donald Trump can get married once, twice even three times. Newt Gingrich, the former congressman and "Family Values" Republican gets married, announces divorce to his first wife while she undergoes cancer treatment in hospital, marries again only to divorce his second wife and remarry a third time to a woman rumored to be his lover in an on-going extra-marital affair. Yeah, making me a second-class citizen is very important so we can "defend" the "sacred" institution of marriage.
This young man's French marriage is valid in America, yet our Canadian marriage is not. Most people, I think, don't understand that it's not just a piece of paper. Legal, civil marriage comes with rights and responsibilities. If my spouse (heaven forbid!) fell ill and rushed to the hospital, I have no right to see him. We pay more taxes because we have to file as single people. A 50% inheritance tax would be imposed because we are not related by marriage. Involvement in a law-suit by one of us, means that the other could be compelled to testify against him. And the list goes on and on. Over 1000 rights and responsibilities come with marriage. You can learn more about the issue here.
Leaving all the legal, civil rights and religious stuff aside for a moment, I would love to hear a journalist ask the rabid Christian-right spokespeople: How does this issue affect you personally besides being against your religious beliefs? After all, those of us truly affected live in your neighborhoods now, our children learn in the same schools as yours, and we shop along side you in the grocery store every day. A civil marriage contracts between two people and nobody else. I would certainly never tell the neighbor couple next door that they should not be able to see each other in the hospital or provide health insurance benefits for the other because I don't like their relationship. That idea is ludicrous!
Meanwhile convicted felons marry and I can't. Britney Spears marries in Las Vegas on a lark for 55 hours and then dissolves it. Donald Trump can get married once, twice even three times. Newt Gingrich, the former congressman and "Family Values" Republican gets married, announces divorce to his first wife while she undergoes cancer treatment in hospital, marries again only to divorce his second wife and remarry a third time to a woman rumored to be his lover in an on-going extra-marital affair. Yeah, making me a second-class citizen is very important so we can "defend" the "sacred" institution of marriage.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
In the beginning...
Here is where it all begins. I've decided to start this blog to express my own unique point of view on issues very important to me. Number one on that list would be same-sex marriage. It's fitting that I begin the blog now because it was 4 years ago almost to the day that I met my husband. We were married in Vancouver, B.C., Canada a little over 2 1/2 years ago and we currently reside in Portland, Oregon. I've become more and more dissatisfied with the mainstream media (or MSM) coverage of same-sex marriage. You hear a lot of noise and clamor from the right wing opposition and a little here and there from various same-sex marriage activists in the community. You don't hear much from people like me, the ones who this issue really effects, living ordinary lives in extraordinary times.
I've also become appalled at the coverage of the Christianist movement that keeps growing in our country and even in the international community. This movement is also called Dominianism. Click on the links and you'll be taken to good definitions of both. Having come from a fairly religious background and a Christian tradition, I understand a lot more about what Christians feel about their world than they understand how those of us in the gay community feel about ours. Perhaps, in my own humble little way I can enlighten them and they can enlighten me, because, in reality, we all share the same world. Will those I'm talking about even read this blog? Who knows, but I hope so.
Being an avid watcher of current events and a political news junky, you'll probably hear me comment from time to time on those things. I don't want to turn this into a purely political blog as there are some great ones out there already whom you can link to on the right. I'd like to have open comments on my posts so that people can discuss their views as they read mine. I think healthy, honest debate is sorely needed in our democratic republic. Fascism grows in darkness, behind closed doors, flourishing in confusion and does not question our leaders. Healthy debate is good and opposing views are great, however those comments that are threatening or abusive will not be tolerated. Passion is one thing, being a jerk is another.
As I go along I hope to learn and grow. That growth may be reflected in the blog and may change the direction I'm heading. I'll reserve the right to make changes as I go along.
I've also become appalled at the coverage of the Christianist movement that keeps growing in our country and even in the international community. This movement is also called Dominianism. Click on the links and you'll be taken to good definitions of both. Having come from a fairly religious background and a Christian tradition, I understand a lot more about what Christians feel about their world than they understand how those of us in the gay community feel about ours. Perhaps, in my own humble little way I can enlighten them and they can enlighten me, because, in reality, we all share the same world. Will those I'm talking about even read this blog? Who knows, but I hope so.
Being an avid watcher of current events and a political news junky, you'll probably hear me comment from time to time on those things. I don't want to turn this into a purely political blog as there are some great ones out there already whom you can link to on the right. I'd like to have open comments on my posts so that people can discuss their views as they read mine. I think healthy, honest debate is sorely needed in our democratic republic. Fascism grows in darkness, behind closed doors, flourishing in confusion and does not question our leaders. Healthy debate is good and opposing views are great, however those comments that are threatening or abusive will not be tolerated. Passion is one thing, being a jerk is another.
As I go along I hope to learn and grow. That growth may be reflected in the blog and may change the direction I'm heading. I'll reserve the right to make changes as I go along.
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