hgf

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Santayana, if only we knew how right he was,  we MIGHT stop making the same damn mistakes over and over.

A century ago we found ourselves in the throes of corporate takeover.  They owned towns, stores, in essence people, and no one thought it inappropriate.  Until they got too greedy that is. (my research tells me company towns are not outlawed, and the way things are going I expect to see Verizonville any day now. P.S. in 2010speak it's called privatization, we'll have covenants restricting who can live where again if the trend continues.)

Does that sound familiar?

Corporations are doing it again.  They're getting too greedy, they don't want more, they want it all.  If they can't get their money one way, they'll find a way to get it another.  Look at credit card companies, (mine incidentally, is a paragon of virtue, they haven't gouged me at all during any of the recent changes, well the one I still have that is, the other one tried to fee me into the poor house. they got paid off and cut loose I'll take the credit hit.)  they lose the ability to charge a certain fee, and they raise an existing fee or create a new one. Phone companies, as though they didn't learn the lesson the first time, charge you for calling to ask a question.  Wall Street gets a crackdown, they raise fees across the board on 401k's. 

It's coming, maybe not soon, and maybe not as swiftly as it should, but the backlash is coming, the people will rise up and demand it be stopped.  That they be protected from the usury they invited in the first place.

There is no such thing as Shangri-La, but if we keep inviting disaster in the form of corporate malfeasance we're courting the exact opposite.

We get the government we deserve.

And so it goes:

What you put out there

It's funny, when you put stuff out into the universe and it answers. It's not always going to say, "Hey! Great idea, here's some stuff with which to accomplish that goal." Sometimes it'll tell you to sit still and keep your mouth shut, but that isn't my experience.

The universe has a tendency to tell me to move, to explore, to create. Sometimes I listen. And when I do it usually rewards me with rich experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

Yes, there are aggravations, there are moments when I think it would have been oh so much better to stay at home in my comfy little apartment and not dealt with the hassle, but I'm wrong, it's always worth the trouble.

Sometimes, as one gets older and a little less afraid of the world one feels like exploring a little further afield, and sometimes the universe encourages that.

So I highly recommend that you put your dreams out there, that you stretch a bit, and make yourself a little uncomfortable. The rewards you'll get are immeasurable, and the friendships that carry you through these adventures are priceless.

Say it! Say it out loud, write it on your blog, put a note on your fridge, make it your screensaver, whatever it takes, just let the universe know you're ready and willing to take the next scary and exploratory step. I bet it brings you some interesting news.

And so it goes:

hgf

wanderlust and the lure of security

Being a Gemini is a bane and a boon.  We love that there are myriad things to do because we get bored, that's why we have to have two jobs usually.  We love the infinite variety  of things that comes our way, and the posibilities that are endless in this life.  (we aren't speaking of ourselves in the third person, but rather in the fashion of a gemini since there are two of us.)

However!

I'm not getting younger and I'm pretty comfortable here in my little apartment. Besides some new opportunities are about to present themselves I think...more on that when/if it happens.

I want to go places and live in other cultures but I am loathe to give up my creature comforts. A notion I know is silly, because I've filled place after place with completely new furnishings and started over more times than I care to count.  So I know that it can be done, I've just grown attached to some of these things, they came from people who have passed through my life and I want them around. But can they be safely stored and retrieved at a later time?

For instance, I'd let all this furniture go if necessary. Let's say I got one of those jobs I've been courting in another country and I had to go.  I'm not taking all this stuff!  Besides i am NOT a fan of this living room furniture, so it'd definitely go.  The dining room stuff, though i like it, could go, and though I love the bedroom furniture and would prefer to keep it, I've had it for 15 years and it would be a fond memory, so yes I'd let it go too. There's the matter of a pottery wheel and some equipment, but I've come to look at that stuff as a commodity worth money that would help with a relocation rather than necessities.

So here's the list:

Artwork, books,Cd's, clock (inherited), electronics, bedroom furniture if possible, China, keepsake box,  a few baubles like the crystal bowl and vases and the vase of Buddy's ashes.

I'd take the electronics and the bike if I could, but other than that I'm done with it.  I want to say sometimes "If it fits in the car it can go with, other than that it goes to the curb." (the bike of course, would get a carrier on the outside)

I know what this is.  I'm not chasing anything right now.  There is no goal that's tough to reach, and we're bored.  Poor us.

Ah wanderlust, it pulls like a tide.

And so it goes:

Update-

I wish I'd seen this first this morning I'd have ranted about not wanting to live in a country where some texan  who thinks we should all belong to corporations and is certainly in their pocket apologizes to the very people who hvae decimated the gulf coast of the United States with their greed and carelessness.

This isn't a pciture of the guy in question, but probably one of his relatives:

 hmmm- well on tp the story it's incredible that someone would say he doesn't want to live in a country that would make a company pay for their mistakes, Personally I don't want to live in a country that would allow this guy power of any kind, yet he's not in a minority, sad.

Well, that was fast. Barely 10 minutes into Thursday's landmark congressional testimony — where BP CEO Tony Hayward and other leading company executives are revisiting the Gulf Coast oil spill before a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee — the first controversial statement has entered the record.
And no, it didn't come from the gaffe-prone BP brass. Instead, GOP Rep. Joe Barton of Texas — the ranking member on the House Energy Committee — made a decisive splash in his opening remarks. A staunch conservative who has a long record of backing oil industry interests, Barton apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward for the "shakedown"  the Obama White House pulled on the company. (Barton has received more than $1.5 million in campaign donations from the oil industry, according to Open Secrets, a nonpartisan watchdog group.) You can watch the video here—the apology occurs at the 1:45 mark:
 

  "I'm not speaking for anybody in the House of Representatives but myself," Barton explained, "but I'm ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday. I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown. In this case a $20 billion shakedown."
[Photos: Obama meets with BP executives] 
Wrapping up, Barton said: "I apologize. I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong, is subject to some sort of political pressure that is, again, in my words — amounts to a shakedown, so I apologize."

msnbc.com

Oh Come on!

I think SOME political correctness is necessary. There are those who would just say stuff to be offensive if no one called them on it, like oh, say Rand Paul, or John McCain, who likely says it out of our earshot but certainly says it.

But!

It appears that there, as always, are people who think political correctness is license to take things to a ridiculous extreme.


For instance:
KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Kansas City greeting card giant Hallmark has been pressured to remove a " hoops&yoyo " greeting card after the NAACP found it politically incorrect.
The card, which has been sold for the past three years, features the witty duo in an astronomy themed setting. The printed text congratulating the graduate for an out of this world job well-done was fine. It was the audio recording inside the NAACP representatives found insensitive. hoops&yoyo recite the following:
“Hey World, we're officially putting you on notice. Yeah! You'd better watch out because this graduate here's kicking rear and taking names. This graduate's going to run the world, run the universe and run everything after that... whatever that is. And you black holes, you're so ominous. HA HA HA OHHH. Congratulations. YEA!!! Nothin' like taking over the world. And you planets, watch your back!”
The phrase “you black holes,” was thought to come off as “you black hoes,” a reference the NAACP said is demeaning to African American women.
Hallmark has pulled the card from retail stores and issued an apology, which reads in part:
“We believe that in the context of the outer space theme and the copy itself, the intent of the card is clear: that after graduation, there is a universe of opportunity, and this graduate is ready to take it on. However, when it became evident that there was confusion, we took steps to remove the card from stores shelves, an action we felt was in the best interest of our retail partners and of consumers who perceived our words in ways we never intended.”
Hallmark says the card has been out for three years and this was the first time they received a complaint.
The NAACP will hold its convention in Kansas City next month with some 10,000 attendees.

You've got to be fucking kidding me!

What do you want to bet if it'd sounded like they said fags, not a word would have been said by anyone. 

Does anyone else get sick of the double/triple standard? I certainly do.  Recently at work we received an application on which the applicant had obviously made a mistake, a hilarious one, but a mistake none the less.  Under the heading "What other skills do you possess" the applicant likely started to write that they were bilingual but forgot to finish the thought and wrote "I'm bi" this has illicited more than a few laughs at the office.

Yesterday the young man I work with was talking about it and mentioned that he had told his brother about it.  Brother, typically said, "Was it a chick?" Young man said, no, and brother said, "Did you throw it away?"  Young man said, "Yes! I mimicked like I was tossing it in the trash can! Dude, we're on the same wavelength!"

Now, in his defense he knew as the words came out of his mouth that he was insulting me by telling me, and it was way too late to stop.  So we both retreated to neutral corners for a few minutes and then changed the subject. 

I know where I stand with people almost always, and this guy is no exception.  beating that dead horse will produce no results and I know it. So were push to come to shove with this guy I'd lose because I'm gay.  Fair enough at least I know.

I could run to the boss about it and demand apologies and beat the political correctness drum, and what would come of it?  I'd be the bad guy.  There is a black woman at work who bullied her way into the office by playing the race card, and revealed  quite quickly that she was unable to do the job. She's pissed now that I'm in that position yet it has little to do with me.  She'd be mad about anyone that wasn't her in there.  What she doesn't see is that it isn't her race that took her out of the running it was her ability and willingness to do what the job requires.

But political correctness bullying is what got her in the door.

Perhaps what we need is to treat each other with civility and fairness ALL THE FUCKING TIME so we don't need to say "Hey! You excluded me because I'm gay-black-mexican-japanese-lesbian-bi-native american-whatthefuck ever" excuse we use to manipulate people into doing what we want.

Yesterday I read on Breaktheillusion.com a piece about the very real effects of this kind of exclusionary and dismissive thinking.  He says:

While researching yesterday’s talky blog, I came across an article written by Dr. John R. Diggs, Jr about “The Health Risks of Gay Sex” on the Catholic Education Resource Center’s (CERC) website. I was intrigued by the article’s disclaimer, which read as follows:

CERC will not publish articles which, in the opinion of the editor, expose gays and lesbians to hatred or intolerance.

The article basically makes the case against homosexuality based on gay men’s promiscuity, compromised physical health (increased likelihood of STDs), mental health (increased depression and suicide), decreased lifespan and inability to maintain monogamy.
By the end of the article, I was fuming. Here’s why.
Sure, some gay men are promiscuous. And some aren’t. Being gay doesn’t necessitate being a slut – as adults, each of us is able to make the choices about the sex lives that work for us. Furthermore, if someone does make the choice to have multiple sex partners, is that really something you can hold against them (let alone against an entire population of people)?
When it comes to physical health, the good doctor cites an increased risk of STDs due to the promiscuous lifestyles of gay men and women (yes, he’s against the lesbians, too!). I’m surprised he didn’t express the other stereotype that gay men are more physically fit than our apparently sex-starved straight counterparts.
When Dr. Diggs dug into mental health, I was in disbelief. He writes:

It is well established that there are high rates of psychiatric illnesses, including depression, drug abuse, and suicide attempts, among gays and lesbians.

No shit, Sherlock. But doesn’t he realize that gay people are more likely to be depressed or suicidal because people like him make it harder for us to be accepted in this world? When my ex-boyfriend’s parents rejected him for being gay, he tried to kill himself. It wasn’t because there is something dysfunctional about gay people – it’s because as a fragile and young human being, he didn’t know how else to react to his parent’s rejection. Dr. Diggs is doing nothing but fueling the flames of prejudice that ensure a more difficult and less-loving world for gay and lesbian people across this planet.
The doctor also cites shortened lifespans in his case against homosexuality. With the high number of suicides in the gay population coupled with high HIV rates, I don’t doubt that gay men die younger. But maybe the answer isn’t renouncing gay people for their sexual orientation. Maybe the answer is educating gay people on HIV, and providing support for rejected or depressed gay people. It seems more productive to help lift the lifespan of people that identify as gay, rather then hold it against us.
And don’t even get me started on monogamy. Straight men are just as polygamous as gay men, we just tend to be a bit more honest about it since polygamy is somewhat accepted in our community. I’m sure that just as many straight men have extramarital relations as gay men, they just aren’t as vocal about it. And not that there is anything wrong with polygamy, but maybe we’d be more inclined to monogamy if we were given the option to marry.
The doctor, holding that gays and lesbians should be treated with “respect, compassion and sensitivity,” concludes that:

Approving same-sex relationships is detrimental to employers, employees and society in general.

Dr. Diggs is using facts to tell a story that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. His numbers may be right, but the picture he paints is far from accurate. Furthermore, he uses this narrative to make the case against homosexuality as if gay people have some viable alternative? Since we can’t turn straight, I suppose the alternative is celibacy (we know how that worked out for Catholic priests) or a closeted life of deception.
Dr. Diggs is an idiot. This isn’t a judgment. It’s a fact. And I will use this fact to tell my own narrative. Instead of expressing respect, compassion or sensitivity, Dr. Diggs has only made it harder for the gay men and women that are already up against so much. In the name of Christ’s love, Dr. Diggs is spewing hate. It’s repulsive, hypocritical and yes, it stings.

And he's right.  if we educated people, which we don't do as I regularly rant about here, they'd have some sense of right and wrong, and when they speak they'd think of their audience before they do.

Yesterday I was having a conversation with a friend about analyzing Shakespeare's Macbeth, and  he said "Macbeth is evil."  I disagree, but that's another post altogether,  what I said in return is that when looking at Mr and Mrs Macbeth one can't apply the common rules.  If you really want to find out what drives these two you can't approach their character with the notion in your head that they're evil.  I suppose the play is about murder but what do these two want so badly that they're willing to kill the king to get it.  That's the question.  Not their morality, that's obvious, not their sanity, that becomes obvious, but what do they want, and what are they willing to do to get it.

What do we really want, and what are we really willing to do to get it is the the question that should be posed to political correctness bullies. Looking at people for what they can do, for what they can bring to the table is the right thing to do, but we teach each other to hate on sight instead. Educating everyone that ability trumps everything, would answer so much of this. Yet we close schools and cut education budgets because we can't afford to make our populace smart. 




And so it goes:

Wasn't there something in there about graven images?

In the continuing effort to completely disregard the notion of what the United states of America is supposed to stand for we have yet another example of the "faithful" not following their own rules.


Touchdown Jesus has burned down.

The Ohio Daily News-


"The statue was constructed of wood and styrofoam over a steel framework that was anchored in concrete and covered with a fiberglass mat and resin exterior, according to the church. It was slated to undergo renovations this summer. Gathered along Union Road were Franklin twins and storm chasers Levi and Seth Walsh, who said they were out in the thunderstorm when they heard about the fire through a Facebook update. 'It sent goosebumps through my whole body because I am a believer,' said Levi Walsh, 29. 'Of all the things that could have been struck, I just think that that would be protected. ... It’s something that’s not supposed to happen, Jesus burning,' he said. 'I had to see it with my own eyes.' 'I can’t believe Jesus was struck,' said his brother, who noted the giant Hustler Hollywood sign for the adult store across the street was untouched. 'It’s the last thing I expected to happen.'"

Why isn't is supposed to happen?  What world does this guy live in? What Christian rule is it that immunizes Christian statuary from nature?


Now, I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to those nuns as they droned on about the rules and regulations at Positronics, er, Catholic school, but I'm pretty sure they, at one point, and likely several times thereafter, mentioned that there shouldn't be any graven images, or something to that effect.

Well, then I ask you, WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?

Have these rubes never heard of Exodus?

of course, this notion of Jesus as a bearded long haired white guy are everywhere,  there's the Cristo Redemtor in Rio, the Cristo de la Concordia in Bolivia, and of course the Charlie Brown Jesus in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. (the story i was told was that the FAA wouldn't let them build it any higher and they stopped there with the head rounded like Charlie Brown and put a red light on top, it's quite the sight.) 

And let us not forget the Sister Bertrille Jesus in Indonesia. (Indonesia?!?!)

Last week I got an email from my brother.  I always qualify these statements about my brothers faith by saying how much i love my brother, and i do.  He's been quite the brother these many centuries and though I think I'm incredibly lucky to have him in my life,(since it wasn't an accident of birth) there's the matter of his faith. The email was a forward from someone he knows at work and she had sent this email to people she knows.  It quoted a bible verse 1 kings 8:23, and then said "don't ask questions, just forward to eight good people and TRUST GOD!" and then below that had this symbol (8) eight times.  These were said to be money bags and the reader was exhorted to send them to eight good people.  I, of course, sent them to the eight most evil people I know.

Point being, do these people actually read what is written in that book they think is so holy?  They sure dont' act like they do. I'd swear i read something about money-changers being cast out, and graven images and such.

Besides, how do they know their Jesus was a bearded long haired white guy? He didn't live in a white neighborhood.


I'd also swear that there is mention that we're created in his image, which yet again goes to our assumption of what "God" looks like.  With that as the template, and considering where he lived, wouldn't it seem that this is a better notion of their god?

Not that I object, it just seems historically inaccurate, oh wait..history/inaccuracy, I get it now...


And so it goes:

understanding =unemployment

If we understood socialism all of our current politicians would be unemployed.  Socialism in Norway apparently means integrity, patriotism, fiscal responsibility, and following the golden rule. 

None of which, of  course applies here.

Understandably Norwegians don't want us to start emigrating in droves, they don't dislike Americans, but living with them...well, would you if you had a choice?

They have no debt, if you get sick you just walk into the hospital and they care for you, a budget surplus, oh, and their economy grew the last two years...did yours?

Contrary to popular belief, it is not cold all the time, day and night do get fucked with due to it's location, but you can't have everything. 

There are also 25 days of vacation each year, and everyone gets a pension. Plus 10 national holidays.

What the fuck are we so afraid of socialism for? 

Because our education system keeps us stupid.  If we really understood the benefits of socialism, and that IT IS NOT COMMUNISM, we'd be clamoring at the gates for it, and booting these greedy bastards we've got in office out in the streets. 

So see, it's really not in their best interest to educate us properly. 

I read this weekend that there are people going to jail for non-payment of credit card debt.  That's not exactly correct.  What's happening is that these people are apparently being sued by their credit card companies, or the collector, or someone, and they fail to show up for a court date, which generates a warrant for the arrest of their dumb asses.  THEN they go to jail and the bail is coincidentally the amount they owe. 

It's usury, it's debtor's prison, and we've effectively returned to the 19th century, but we asked for it.  We gave control of the country to the corporations and now we' get the government we deserve.

I don't dislike Barack Obama because he's black, or because he's  heterosexual, not even because he hasn't done much on gay rights.  I dislike Barack Obama because he's ineffectual. 

He has accomplished NOTHING.  The only thing I can think of that could possibly prevent him from being a one-term President, is if the Republicans do something nutso like run Sarah Palin against him next time.  THAT would not only bring the Democrats out in droves, but it'd bring tons of Republicans over to the Democratic ticket in an effort to prevent HER from being in charge...can you imagine? 

Well, it's apparently our job to figure out what kind of government we want, and it's our job to see to it that it's installed in the hallowed halls to our benefit.  Now the question is, are we smart enough to do it?

And so it goes:

Thoughts on programming and HGS

Not much to say this week really, so I've abstained from blogging and spent more time in the real world instead. 

Last night I came across a not so unique study, I'm afraid, in regard to gay men who are programmed to fail because they think they're not worthy.

The ex wants to get back together, it's quite plain.  But the minute the prospect reared it's head he went to a dark place and now is difficult to get along with, makes snide comments, and is generally disagreeable, which is of course repugnant to me and makes me withdraw.  At the outset of this I made the conscious decision to make a real effort to include someone in my life, I've been functioning by myself a while and knew I had to be aware that someone else wanted to be around.  So I called several times that week and made sure we spent time together.  Then I got sick on birthday week and laid around recuperating.  At the end of that week I thought, "Well let's just let it sit a while and see what happens."  He has not called me once. When we started this little experiment he said "Where do we go from here?" and I said, "Whatever we do we should do it very slowly if we're smart." I didn't mean we should use smoke signals to communicate.

Now, I've been alone a long time and I'm used to it.  In fact I prefer it.  But disagreeableness is not something I'm going to invite into my life.  I carry enough heaviness, I don't need more.  I want someone who makes me smile when I think of them, who most importantly makes me laugh.  The ex does none of those things, suppose it's a sign?  Duh!

The other study is my best friend who is in a relationship that's lasted almost a decade. his partner is attempting to start a new business, which requires him to be the center of attention for a while during the very stressful process of getting the business up and running.   He's not getting that from my best friend, he's getting shit because he doesn't have a job.  This is straining the relationship.

What the fuck is wrong with people?  Shut the fuck up and support your partner!  Shut the fuck up and be nice to the guy you profess to love! In fact just shut the fuck up!

I have to wonder if it's not a gay men thing in which we're programmed not to be happy.  Are we so conditioned to fail that when we have a situation right in front of us that has the potential not only to benefit us materially, but emotionally and inevitably spiritually as well, that we are compelled to destroy it? 

Best friend is totally relationship oriented, can't function without being in one.  And yet here he is IN one, one that's rich in layers, rich in commitment, rich in so many of the things that people profess to desire, and he's messing with it's core by withdrawing his support at a critical time. Every material thing that best  friends partner has brought to the relationship has in some way benefited best friend. There's no reason to think this will be any different.

I realize I'm looking to assign blame here, and these people are sabotaging their own lives in stupid and destructive ways, and at their advanced age it's their responsibility. But what we're taught as we grow figures largely into our behavior as adults.  And when we're told we're worthless, that we shouldn't love, and that we don't deserve to be happy which we're told all the time in ways big and small, we, just like anyone else, start to believe the lie because it's been repeated often enough we think it truth.

Watch what you teach, make it positive, make sure the lessons you give are positive, and take care of those you love.

And since I spaced it out completely here's HGS

And so it goes:

Spring!

It's a beautiful day to make pots!  I'll be in the studio all day.

And so it goes:

I just wanna make pots

Hating this summer, it's too full of work.  I may have to make some changes to my living situation so i can live the way I want.  Not getting done what I need to.

There isn't a lot of time today to work in the studio, but I'm going to trim a few pots just to be in there awhile.
Still looking for a new situation in a new town/country/city/anyplace offering more than here.

And so it goes:

Whodunit

Chris Brown can't bite anybody in the UK, but Joran van der Sloot goes about killing willy-nilly.

I'm no advocate of Chris Brown, I think he's a spoiled little child who acted hatefully to someone he professed to love, and he deserves what he gets. Not to mention that no one should be buying his records let alone attending his concerts.

But!

Why do you suppose that no one seemed to notice that Joran van der Sloot was capable of murder? Not once, but twice.

I mean, doesn't it suggest that someone somewhere wasn't paying attention? Or perhaps they were. I don't know it just puzzles me that no one came to the conclusion that he bore watching since he was already well suspected in killing one woman. But no, he was free to roam the planet killing whomever he deemed needed it. Odd, that.

Certainly there are odd people roaming the streets, there's no shortage of them, but those that are obviously over the top surely give clues, little hints to the possibilities that lurk in their dark minds. Maybe not, as I get older and think I've lived long enough to see everything I get proven oh so wrong.


I haven't read the whole article today yet, it's akin to watching a train wreck in my mind. We know we shouldn't look, but we're compelled. Not one, but two people had to die before someone somewhere finally said, "Hey, having this guy on the loose is NOT a good idea."

Two! Is that what money and influence can still buy?

Well, it's too bad, he's obviously intelligent, and talented at something however dubious, and as youngsters go he's quite handsome, and now he'll likely spend the rest of his life in a Peruvian prison.

I suppose what really interests me here is, WHAT could be going on in his mind? It's obviously a mess, and he apparently can't distinguish right from wrong, but is it organic? Is it something that was nurtured into him? What?

It's a puzzle really. And as far as his father's influence is concerned, it was apparent that it came to bear on the Aruba situation, but does Daddy's influence extend to Peru?

Brown's prison is somewhat more public.

I don't have to wonder which is worse.

Maybe we should ask O.J.

And so it goes:

Shame Pride and everything in between

Pride is underway. The term is ironic in my life, I went to a Catholic School as a youth and one of the first days at our high school the principal met us all in the gym and gave a little pep talk to encourage us, I guess, on our new and scary journey. The upshot of which was to exhort us with a slogan.


"We're from ***** and we couldn't be prouder."


You perhaps can see the amusing irony between my very Catholic upbringing and my very gay adulthood.


I purposely went in search of articles extolling the virtues of Pride, and announcing to the world how fabulous this years parades were for this post. There was a noticeable dearth of them.


Instead I found a plethora of articles, blogs and wall posts talking about the number of married couples there were.


I'd say it's a welcome change from the parading twinks in speedos, but it's really not. Homogenization isn't a goal I think we should aspire to.


Alas, the best posts, in my opinion, were the ones from older guys who'd "been there." Those of us who survived the Punic Wars and were still around to tell about it.


One guy mentioned the fact that he rarely goes to dance clubs anymore, becaus he has arthritis and it hurts to dance.


I laughed out loud.


A friend posted something this weekend on his facebook page about Pride vs. Shame. He's right in a lot of ways, Pride sprouted out of the seed of the shame which our ancestors were forced to endure. But it perhaps doesn't really apply anymore.

I'm not ashamed of being gay, quite the contrary, but what I think I'm proudest of is the difference. I'm different, in many ways more than my sexuality, and that's what I choose to celebrate in June. My friend K is different, he chooses to live on an island in paradise. My friend A is a lesbian who lives in Arkansas and works for Wal-mart. My friend and ex E is a blue-collar worker who celebrates his gayness to anyone within earshot. My old friend P teaches kids about Shakespeare as an edu-tainer, which I'm certain he's incredibly good at now that someone finally gave him a real shot. My friends K&J are property owners, and landlords, and entrepreneurs in what I call the old-tradition. My friend J in Sausalito is a travel writer and poet. My friend J in New York is a humanitaran fund-raiser. My friend B in Cleveland is a devoted partner and writer. My friend of the Pride/Shame post is a musician and free-thinker involved in a relationship.


I could go on and on, but you get the idea. We're everywhere and everyone and we don't need a day or a month or a parade to celebrate our existence. We carry it with us every day of our lives. It's as much a part of who we are as having blue eyes or curly hair. Yes we're different, but it's not who we love that makes us that way. It's our choice to live our lives in our own personal way expressing who we are and what we need to be happy that we celebrate.


Incidentally, I love them all deeply for their indifference to their difference.


I include the following antithetical statement by Chris Dodd observing LGBT Pride month because we don't really do enough to recognize that though he's a fringe guy, Chris Dodd is really our friend.

Thanks Senator, we shouldn't need you, but I'm glad you're around, at least for a while longer.

(Connecticutplus.com-)

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) released the following statement today in observance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. “Every June, as we remember the demonstrations at Stonewall, we also recognize the continuing struggle towards equality for LGBT Americans.


“In the last two years, Congress has passed hate crime legislation, renewed the Ryan White CARE Act, and continued our fight to finally end the military’s discriminatory policy of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ - but the journey continues.


“Every day, our friends and loved ones in the LGBT community face injustice, discrimination, and inequality. This month – and every day – we must never forget our history and never give up on our fight to ensure equality for all Americans.”


Throughout his career, Senator Dodd has fought for the civil rights of the members of the LGBT community. Dodd is a supporter of legalizing same-sex marriages. He is also a cosponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010, which would repeal the U.S. Department of Defense’s current policy concerning homosexuality in the military. The bill was passed out of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House of Representatives last week.


Additionally, Dodd is an original cosponsor of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, which was signed into law last year as part of the Department of Defense Authorization bill. The measure expands existing law to cover hate crimes involving sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. It will also enable the Department of Justice to provide its non-federal partners with assistance to support hate crimes enforcement efforts.


Dodd also co-authored the Ryan White CARE Act reauthorization, which was signed into law last year. The Act provides funding for direct assistance to individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS, including primary care, medications, support services, dental care, medical transportation, and many other services.



And please celebrate the difference, it's what makes you unique and worth loving.


And so it goes:

hgf