the lavender pulpit

keeping busy

2007-04-04T15:50:00.000-04:00

Election Day is coming!

2006-11-06T19:36:00.000-05:00

Well, tomorrow is election day here in the good ol' U S of A and I am hoping for sweeping changes in the House and Senate.

Another crazy Evangelical closet case has been outed and ousted and time marches on. It was nice to see Diane Sawyer ask a female evangelical leader on the air today, with all of these men living closeted, double lives, why not just accept gay men and women and let gays and lesbians serve as ministers. It's about time a recognizable face essentially said to one of these people, come on, get with the program.

The holidays are just around the corner and I can already feel the insanity with my family springing forth. "Oh there's no place like home for the holidays."

Well, I guess I am back to blogging. I don't know how regularly I will post.

On Hiatus

2006-08-03T19:26:00.000-04:00

Is Anyone Listening?

2006-05-24T18:07:00.000-04:00

I don't know if it is the fact that I am getting older or what, but I find myself growing increasingly appalled by people's behavior. I am on vacation right now in Miami and while sitting by the pool today I watched as young men and women chattered away on their cell phones as if they were brokering million dollar deals. Instead, they were merely gossiping with friends. I know this because they felt compelled to hold their conversations at a volume which ensured everyone within earshot would know how self-important they truly are.
I have also seen so many people walking together yet each one is talking away on their respective cell phone and not to each other. Something is seriously wrong with people.
We have become a society so disconnected from each other and so puffed up by our own over-weaning egos that we no longer seem to care about the people around us. In fact, last week as I walked through a store in the city I overheard a young woman laughingly say to her companion, "Oh, who cares about other people?" Though I think this woman thought she was being funny, she was actually articulating what I think is occurring in our communities on a daily basis. We are so wrapped up in our own little dramas that we have utter disregard for the impact our actions have on those around us.
My sister and I have had talked about this behavior within our own familiy. Perhaps this is why I have been struggling so much with the decision of whether I should attend the wedding of my niece next month at her Southern homophobic church. These are members of my immediate family who have so little to do with my everyday life I resent the sense of famlilial obligation which dictates the right thing to do would be to attend this wedding.
But why should I drag my partner, who does not wish to attend this ceremony, to attend something to which we are categorically denied and now watching legislation being drawn up to discriminate against us.
I am sure it has never even once crossed the mind of many of the members of my family how difficult and awkward I find this whole situation. I am sure we will go, put on a happy face, and endure the affair. But I think when it is all over, I am going to send my sister a letter and explain just how difficult it was for me to decide to attend. Not just because of the church, but because she and her children have so obviously made the choice to distance themselves from me as a result of my sexual orientation. And that I now believe their distancing should relieve me from any sense of duty to them.
SIGH! Family, the people we love to hate!

Because I wouldn't sleep if I didn't write this..........

2006-05-15T22:45:00.000-04:00

It seems Paris Hilton has been the victim of another theft. This time someone supposedly sped "whizzed by" in a car and grab a $10,000 gift bag as a delivery person put it down for a secoond to ring the buzzer. The AP story say's Hilton spent 3-4 hours shopping to put this bag together. Then why the hell didn't she carry it home herself? And isn't the timing of the thieves convenient. Didn't she have her blackberry stolen last year? I think every time she has some bad press, for those of you unaware she goofed in a press conference releasing her own video game, there is some story spun like this by her press agency. Pity those poor souls. They are earning every penny. It seems we never seem to go a day without some Paris Hilton story. UGH! Just take your money and over weaning ego and return to the chateau!
And now we need the National Guard at the borders. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Why does no one do anything about the nonsense this administration is perpetrating????

check it out!

2006-05-02T22:07:00.000-04:00

more smoke and mirrors

2006-04-15T09:52:00.000-04:00

When all else fails, find something else to distract the people. Now all we hear about is illegal immigrants and their threat to the nation's economy and well-being. Can no one see this is just one more distraction from the realities of a war raged under false protests, the leaking of classified information, the knowledge of how devastating Katrina would be and still not preparing adequately, and the overall corruption and greed of this presidential administration? Honestly, what is the matter with the conscience of this nation? The similarities between this administration and the fascist regimes of history is becoming frighteningly real.

why?

2006-04-01T21:09:00.000-05:00

It is in the most intimate of moments in which we are truly able to glimpse into our souls. One of my dearest friends told me tonight his sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She is 43 years old and the mother of three. She was but a girl herself when her own mother died in her arms as a result of this disease. My heart breaking into a million little pieces as I hear the echoes of my friend's voice crack as he tries to fill me in on the details. My friend is a stoic man of great character. I have been blessed and fortunate to have shared many wonderful times with him and he has shouldered me through some very dark storms. I pray we will weather this one together and enjoy many more moments with his sister. I am afraid.

love one another

2006-03-29T06:08:00.000-05:00

I am concerned over the amount of animosity toward difference which seems to be growing in this country. Homophobic and anti-immigration legislation is just one of the methods which the hegemonic white culture is employing to keep themselves in power. Raising the fines on decency violations by network television is another. This, of course, is seen as protection of our children. A time worn tactic which is merely a smoke screen for censhorship. All of this is being done under the guise of democracy in action and the protection of freedom. I would honestly like Bush supporters to show me how our country has improved since he has taken office. These Christian conservative zealots believe his presidency has given them carte blanche to rule the country. Their aggressive grasp of the reigns of power and the reluctance of opposing ideologies to speak out against Bush and these conservatives makes me fearful of what lies ahead for our nation. The fervor with which the conservative coalition has been attacking the Constitution only makes the likelihood of violent civil unrest when the winds of change begin to blow, as they inevitably will, loom frighteningly large in the distance.

What Surprise?

2006-03-06T17:25:00.000-05:00

Anyone who claims to have been shocked at Crash winning the best picture Oscar last night was not paying attention to the leaks from Hollywood all last week. Every day there was another story about how Crash just might pull a surprise victory over Brokeback Mountain. So there was no surprise that Crash won and the gay community was once again left holding the bag. How tragic the Academy feels compelled to skirt controversy by not awarding best film to Brokeback Mountain. And giving the best original song Oscar to "Hard out here for a pimp." Puhleeze! What's up with that? I suppose if Eminem can win an Oscar anyone can.

the red carpet

2006-03-05T18:47:00.000-05:00

Why is Ryan Seacrest making millions of dollars from the "E" network to do their red carpet coverage but Isaac Mizrahi is actually doing the red carpet interviews? How the heck did either of these guys get this gig? Seacrest just stays up in the booth like some boring aloof second string anchor and Mizrahi, he doesn't know the first thing about interviewing these celebrities about anything. Bring back Joan Rivers!!! Neither of these guys has the nerve to speak the truth as Joan did. Take, for instance, Michelle Williams, that hideous mustard yellow dress. Joan would be yelling, "Where are the hot dogs to go with that?" And Paul Giamatti wearing an ill-fitting suit, it's the Oscars! Even David Strathairn who always looks a bit messy looks dashing tonight. Keira Knightley is stunning but needs a lesson in maintaining good posture.
Then on ABC is Billy Bush. We all know how he got his gig! UGH! I will take Mizrahi and Seacrest over Bush any day of the week.
Where are the movie stars?
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves walking the red carpet together, is there a "Speed 3" in the future?
Nicole Kidman looking radiant as always. Felicity Huffman wearing a dress so there is no mistaking she is a real woman. But there does not seem to be much glamour to this red carpet coverage.......Bring back Joan!

michelle kwan

2006-02-12T10:51:00.000-05:00

I was a bit saddened to learn this morning the Olympic skater Michelle Kwan has withdrawn from the games as a result of an injury. I have been a fan of hers for some time. I watched with millions of others as her hopes for gold were squashed in other years. Her valiant efforts over the last few years to remain in the game and go for the gold one more time are inspiring. It is amazing to consider the power of the dream. It drives us onward in spite of opposition and defeat. It has encouraged oppresed nations and peoples to rise up and it has fueled many inventors, politicians, and entertainers to reach their goals. As I sit and look out on the blanket of snow Mother Nature left while I slumbered I consider my own dreams. I have been blessed and fortunate in my life to witness the fulfillment of some and experienced the crushing heartbreak of others which were denied. All too often over the last few years I have thought I am getting too old to dream. The time for doing such things is passed. Hogwash! With Michelle Kwan as an example I shall continue to dream and to strive in spite of age, discrimination, or heartache. Sometimes the striving toward the dream provides the joy of everyday living.

Just a little ranting................

2006-02-01T19:47:00.000-05:00

No time to post! So many things going on at once, I don't have time to post. I wish I did. So many things on which I would like to comment.
Oprah who raised James Frey only to shame him back into disgrace. He has now lost his agent as a result of her bringing him on her show to lambast him. Is she happy? She did this to protect her own "brand." Her show used to be about healing, facing the harsh realities of life and coming to terms with them in love. That was when she was Oprah Winfrey. Now she is just Oprah. So he fabricated some of the details of his memoir. Not the first, not the last. Reporters fabricate entire newstories and receive lucrative book deals and have films made about their lives.
The President urges confidence in his leadership. What the &%$@!!!!! What leadership? An administration built on lies and half-truths which will not allow us to see for ourselves the destruction his war has wrought and we are supposed to follow! There is no freedom of the press in this country anymore.
"Brokeback Mountain" gains critical acclaim and Oscar buzz while gays and lesbians are still denied equal protection under the law in this country. The film is preaching to the choir. The people who really need to see it are not going. Just like Michael Moore's "Farenheit 9/11."
Master P was finally voted off "Dancing with the Stars." Thank God! His disrespect for the art form, the other contestants, and, especially, his partner Ashley was so frustrating to witness. Who the %$#@ does he think he is?
Just a few of the recent events which I felt a need to address.............oh, and "American Idol" returns, ugh!
Hey, LP, I love you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2005-12-31T17:29:00.000-05:00

Where does the time go? The years seem to be flying anymore. I recall a New Year's eve from childhood when my mother wondered the same thing. The pace of the world seems to be much faster now than it ever has been before. Why, it feels like only yesterday there was so much concern over Y2K and now here we are entering 2006. The march of time just keeps on. As we leave 2005 behind us, and the many tragedies it rendered across the globe, let us look to 2006 with hope for the promise of renewal. May you be blessed with abundant good health, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year!

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

It is so easy for us to be swept up in the commercial tide that washes over America during this holiday season. In this time of birth and renewal, take a moment to reflect on the many blessings you have received during the last year. This may not be easy for some, like me, who are driven to perfection and use a ridiculously large yard stick to measure the world. But I try, as Christmas comes every year, to remember how truly blessed and fortunate I am. In my mind I hear a phrase my mother has used since I was a child, "As long as you have your health you have everything!" Empty words to a child, so meaningful to an adult who has watched loved ones weather health crises. May you be blessed with love, peace, joy, and, especially, good health, not just during the holidays but always.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Take a moment today to tell someone you love them!

Be Careful.........the walls have ears!

2005-12-20T07:55:00.000-05:00

It never ceases to amaze me how ignorant people can be. Why are so many people saying the media is biased and out to get the Republican party? Where have these people been? Until recently, W and his cronies were completely above reproach in the media. The man ordered a war to serve his own purpose and ordered the illegal wiretapping of American citizens. He and his administration have done more to violate our rights than anyone. Yet people believe it is the media that is out to get him. PLEASE!!! Bill Clinton was skewered and brought up on charges of impeachment for lying about a personal affair. Meanwhile, his administration brought the country out of debt and into enourmous surplus. With W in office, violating our rights, we are now in debt deeper than ever. Of course W, Cheney, and their cronies are now enjoying financial success as a result of this war----and the natural disaster relief efforts here at home. Somebody needs to wake the citizens of this country up.

'Tis the season...

2005-12-16T17:12:00.000-05:00

Well, I know it's been over a month since I posted to this blog, but I have been swamped with end of the semester work. There have been so many things that happened during the past month I would have liked to have commented on, but just never seemed to find the time to log in and write. Oh well! As the holidays rapidly approach, I will make every endeavor to please my audience. Ciao for now!

VETERAN'S DAY

2005-11-11T19:40:00.000-05:00

To all the brave men and women who serve(d) this country I say salute you today. Often used as pawns in the debate over war, these men and women are heroes, placing their lives on the line for my liberties. It humbles me. I am not allowed to openly serve in the military. Nor do I wish to, but I am grateful to those who do. Thank you. God Bless America.

Yes, Please, and Thank You

2005-11-07T21:20:00.000-05:00

Something I have noticed lately is the absence of polite customer service. This evening, for example, I approached the snack stand at school and there was a young woman sitting behind the counter leaning against the window eating. When I approached she did not even bother to acknowledge my presence. I asked if anyone was working, to which she replied yes. I asked if she was working, she replied yes again, all the while still sitting and chewing. She acted as if it was unimaginable that I would want her to get up and get me something, despite the fact that she was being paid to do just that.
This is nothing new. I have noticed more and more lazy, impolite clerks working in customer service positions. Grim-faced and appearing as if performing their job tasks are an imposition, I have witnessed this behavior in convenience stores, grocery stores, and video stores. I believe the rise of the super-sized national chain stores replacing the mom-and-pop stores of the past are the culprit in this rise of surliness.
One of my particular pet peeves is the phrase, "Have a nice day," replacing, "Thank you." Though being wished a nice day is quite lovely, I would prefer hearing appreciation for my patronage more than that. It is just as easy for me to spend my money somewhere else. And quite often, if I am subjected to outright rudeness, I do just that. I refuse to darken the door of such establishments, but with the rise of poor customer service I may not have many options left.
What has happened to our society? Why is it so difficult to people the cash registers of stores with polite customer servers? I know all about customer service. I did it for years, in a number of capacities. As a result I know how nasty some of the general public can be, but part of your job is being polite. Maybe that's the real problem. No one really knows anymore how to be polite. We witnessed a generation of people who came to believe it was "cool" to behave nasty. More and more it becomes clearer and clearer, "It's tough to find good help these days."

A Brief Respite

2005-11-04T15:42:00.000-05:00

I am overwhelmed at the moment. I have been researching three vastly different projects for school which has numbed my mind beyond any reckoning. Of course only one of the topics really sparks my interest. The heterosexism/homophobia which still subjects our youth to bullying, harassment, and self-loathing. It makes me seethe to think that this is still going on. This afternoon as I read the statistics on the number of kids who skip class or school altogether, I remembered my own years in school where I lived in fear of being exposed, bullyed, or harassed. I got my doctor to write a permission slip for me to be permanently excused from gym class. He was a very kind, sensitive man. I think now that perhaps he knew why I wanted that slip and willingly obliged. Thank you, Dr. Tillger.
My friend Vanessa is getting married tomorrow. I am very happy for her. She has wanted to be a wife and mother for as long as I have known her. I pray that she and Henry are blessed with a life of happiness and good health.
If you are reading this, and you know who you are, I love you! Just bare with me a little while longer. Thanks.

BUSY BUSY

2005-10-20T23:31:00.000-04:00

The world keeps spinning like the propoganda machine in DC and I am overwhelmed with the amount of work I need to accomplish in the next few weeks. Posts may be sporadic.

Katrina, Rita, Kyoto, and George

2005-09-23T18:39:00.000-04:00

It seems that the weather is the primary focus of the country right now. Mr. Bush: Kyoto Protocol!!!
Other than that, not much to say. I have been back in school now for over a month and it seems all my energy and focus is on that. It's exhausting. I have a great deal of work this semester and not a great deal of motivation. I know I will find the energy, but when?
On a completely different note, I love the new MARTHA. It is so refreshing to see her laughing and enjoying her guests rather than the overly produced perfected performance of her old show. Though I did enjoy that as well. She looks amazing. It is hard to believe she is a woman in her sixties.
Lest I forget, I have noticed the absence of the president throughout much of the news broadcasts over the past week or so. Not that I really want to see his face, but,some leader, huh?

"If you had a friend like Ben..."

2005-09-09T23:13:00.000-04:00

The recent events have saddened me a great deal, but the finger pointing and name calling makes me even sadder. A tragedy has struck, lives were lost, homes destroyed, and spirits broken. There is no way to turn back the clock and undo the damage that's been done. So let us try to move forward in peace and unity. I know it will be difficult because the administration has done such a wonderful job of dividing the nation into red states and blue states and making us forget that we are supposed to be the UNITED states. During this critical time in our nation's history remember the words of Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of this country, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall hang separately."

I HATE BIG TRUCKS! (and I cannot lie)

2005-08-25T16:30:00.000-04:00

I know I cannot be the only one who misses a much happier and simpler time in this country. We are so divided and contentious that I find myself angry so much of the time over the most inane things. Take for instance the obnoxious driver in his super-sized truck today who was so desperate to make a turn across oncoming traffic that it didn't matter to him that there were six people attempting to rightfully cross that intersection as directed by the "WALK" sign. Arrogance seeping from his pores he drove at us with reckless abandon and hatefully stared at us as if we had intentionally blocked his path. I was so annoyed by his behavior I wanted to damage the pristine paint job on his new truck. Of course the reality is that the paint job will be destroyed soon enough when he chooses the wrong car to cut off and ends up in an accident. I can remember a time when I would have been able to step up on the sidewalk, think "asshole", and move on. Today that didn't happen. I am still annoyed by his behavior. It seems there is so much of similar behavior anymore. No one cares about obeying the laws of traffic let alone treating each other with common decency. The religious right thinks we are in a moral war in this country because gays and lesbians are being given a modicum of what are inherently human rights. The true moral dilemma in this country are the lies we display to our children by our actions. We spew forth hatred and violence rather than face our ignorance and educate ourselves. We excuse our own bad behavior but condemn the actions of others. We manipulate truth to serve our own advancement. I am so tired of so called religious people using the bible to condemn. Jesus himself said, "Stop judging others and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged" (Matthew 7:1-2) Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!

2005-08-21T22:39:00.000-04:00

Not much to say. School starts in a week and I am loooking forward to getting back to work. Of course I am anxious about what will happen in May when I graduate but for now I need to relax and enjoy. This picture is from a trip to New England this past month.

small stream of conciousness to alleviate stress

2005-08-16T18:40:00.000-04:00

Well, my anxiety level is rising as I prepare to head back to school for my last year as an undergrad. Lately I have been asking myself, "What the hell was I thinking when I agreed to go back to school at this age?" But more than that I have been doing some serious self-esteem bashing by asking, "What the hell have I been doing with the last twenty years of my life?" "How did I get myself so financially buried?" UGH!!! I suppose the reality is that everyone is in debt and wondering how the heck they are going to manage to make ends meet, let alone get ahead. I think a big part of my anxiety is also due to the realization that I need to take serious stock of myself and accept that some of my dreams of youth will not reach fruition. And in their place I need to come up with new ones if I am ever to be happy and achieve some level of success. I have been walking around with a chip on my shoulder lately that makes me uncomfortable. I can sit around feeling sorry for myself or I can look at all the blessings I have been given and move forward. I remember reading a quote of Marilu Henner's, "Success is how well you do with plan B?" I am beginning to think that couldn't be more accurate.

US at War! Pres Takes 5-Week Vacation!

2005-08-08T12:45:00.000-04:00

Since returning from a wonderful vacation in the midst of New England, better known as "The Blue States," I have been reading some political blogs and cannot believe how ignorant so many people can be. There are so many people out there who still believe "W" is doing a great job even as he spends five weeks vacationing. Meanwhile the troops who are out there on the front lines get no vacation. This outrages me beyond belief!!! What kind of commander-in-chief hides on his ranch in Texas while the "war on terror" still rages on? And how chicken-shit is he that he cannot even come out and face Cindy Sheehan but sent Hadley and Hagin to do his bidding? How can we continue to allow this to happen? Bill Clinton fooled around with some intern and impeachment proceedings were begun. This man has done irreparable damage to our economy, ignored traditional foreign policy, and caused the death of so many innocent people in search of non-existent WMD's and he gets a five week vacation. UGH!

Remember the Maine!

2005-07-29T08:11:00.000-04:00

The Christian Civic League in Maine is celebrating the fact they got enough signatures to halt anti-gay discrimination legislation in that state by making it a ballot issue for November. I cannot understand why people in this day and age would actively pursue blocking legislation that would provide protection for people in matters of employment, housing, education, and public accommodation. Can you imagine if an organization used religious convictions to actively pursue limiting protection and rights for women, or African-Americans, or Jews? The outcry would be so loud you could hear it on Mars. Yet these religious zealots march forth claiming they are God's soldiers. I suppose they have forgotten the fact that their savior, Jesus, walked the planet preaching love and acceptance for all people. I would guarantee that most of these people do not even know the history of persecution directed at Christians. If they did they would not be out actively engaging in persecuting others. They would be seeking to understand each other's differences and embrace the beauty of mankind. Thank God not all Christians are as misguided as these fanatics. On some level I actually feel sorry for these folks, how unhappy must their lives be to spend so much time and energy wallowed in hatred and fear. Living as they do in this darkness I pray they may one day see the light.

MAYBE IT'S LIKE THERAPY

2005-07-27T15:54:00.000-04:00

Maybe it's the heat. Maybe it's the lack of employment. Maybe it's both of them combined with the case of the blues I've been having. In any event, I haven't really felt much like posting lately. I know that one reason I am reluctant to post is that I am censoring myself, which I know is ridiculous since I think my boyfriend is the only person who reads this blog. However, that old demon, "What will people think of me," plays a part in my resistance to sitting at my laptop and "preaching."
It's that stubborn streak of perfectionism which keeps me thinking that whatever I publish here should be ready for standard publication and that I should only post when I have something deep and meaningful to say. How ridiculous is that? It's my blog and I can write about whatever I want. Who knows? Maybe if I just spew forth everything bubbling inside me I will start to feel better and more productive.
Maybe blogging is like therapy. It takes a few sessions to get comfortable. Then you start to test the waters and see what kind of reaction you will receive. Then you begin to put things out there to test the rejection factor. And finally, when you realize that there is nothing you could possibly say that would shock or surprise, you begin to be honest and share yourself. Maybe I am just beginning to get comfortable.
(Random thought: The Supreme Court justice trick worked for the "W" gang. Rove is no longer front page fodder.)
My recent relocation has brought to the surface "issues" I had buried. There is so much money and entitlement around me these days that as an adult who has returned to college full-time and is struggling to make ends meet I almost can't help but to feel "less than." I suppose my anxiety is further fueled by the fact that the career I planned to pursue with this return to college no longer seems as desirable. I thought by the time I was this old I would have a lot more figured out in this world. UGH!

They're Doing it AGAIN!

2005-07-19T15:41:00.000-04:00

As the white hot spotlight once again begins to shine into this "W" administration and its shady operation they are able to deflect attention from their questionable practices to avoid a true investigation. At the possibilty of finally catching one of these men in criminal activity, Bush has rushed to select a candidate for the Supreme Court so all eyes focus on that debate rather than the culpability of Karl Rove. And the country just goes blindly along. WAKE UP, AMERICA!!!

No More to Suffer in Silence

2005-07-10T23:35:00.000-04:00

I don't understand terrorism. It is unimagineable to me to kill people who simply live life in a different fashion than one's own. As a child I was teased and ridiculed by neighborhood bullies because they perceived me to be gay. Granted, they were correct in their assumption. I could never figure out what it was I had said or done that would make them treat me with such disdain and disgust. I minded my own business when I walked to school, but that did not stop them from yelling, "FAG!" at me. I avoided their kingdom of the ballfield in order to become a musician but they sought me out to let me know that I was a "band geek FAG" every chance they could find. I excelled at my school work and thus avoided being in classes with most of these yahoos but once outside the walls of the classroom I was ridiculed, jeered at, called names, and threatened. I do not know how I managed to survive those days because I cannot recall one person ever stepping forward to my defense. I only know that when the going got tough, I took a deep breath, said a little prayer, and walked on believing that a time would come when I would not have to face such hatred.
Those days are far behind me now but the world is still a place filled with ignorance, hatred, bigotry, and misunderstanding. We live in a country with a president who wants to change the Constitution of this country to limit our individual liberties. A man so convinced he has been divinely sent to lead us that he has arrogantly led us into a religious war domestically and abroad. Innocent people were killed in London this past week because someone else believes in their divine right to determine the fate of mankind. The world seems to be spinning out of control which is probably why I was so moved today at a rally for gay marriage in New Jersey. Held in the parish hall of an Episicopal church, the place was filled with gay and lesbian families who believe we all have the human right to marry the person we love. In these sometimes frightening days of the 21st century, to see the innocent faces on the children of those couples today made me wonder what their world is like. What voices do they hear as they walk to school? Are they called hate-filled names or are they called upon to round out a pick-up game of softball? And how do they respond?
I know I for one can no longer be shamed into silence by the bullies of this world. Just as London and New York have vowed to stand proud against the terrorists. I, too, refuse to allow some ignorant yahoo to tell me I am not deserving of the same rights as my neighbors and friends.

Justice ??????

2005-07-01T10:54:00.000-04:00

I am so upset right now. I just read online that Justice O'Connor is resigning. It is a tragic day for a lot of people in this country. "W" will perhaps now be appointing 2 judges to the supreme court if Rehnquist retires as well. How can so many people believe "W" is a good and decent human? The evidence is clear that he and his cronies manipulate the truth to fit their agenda. WAKE UP, AMERICA!!!! As we prepare to celebrate the independence of the nation this weekend please take a minute to think about how we are being led into an age of limited rights. The Patriot Act is not there to protect our rights but to limit them if the "W" brigade deems you a threat. The war in Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11 but people are buying the propoganda he spews because they don't want to believe they could be wrong for following him. I could go on and on. As history will prove, these are some sad days for the country.

Why Do We Care?

2005-06-27T10:09:00.000-04:00

Oprah was not allowed into Hermes in Paris after the store was apparently closed. Why do we care? I know I for one have approached a store after they were closed and not allowed entry. Why should it be different for Oprah? Is it because, as some have said, Oprah would have spent a lot of money in Hermes? Is that what is most important in our society? Unfortunately, I suppose it is. It seems that as a culture we have come to believe that if you have celebrity or an obscene amount of wealth you are entitled to preferential treatment. Oprah, who rose to enormous fame in this country as a result of her seemingly everywoman quality, has appeared to me to have lost touch over the last several years with the everyday reality experienced by the fans who provided her with the ability to shop at stores like Hermes. Perhaps this experience will remind her of what life is like for most of her fans.
Tom Cruise is claiming to be thrilled with his new love and wants the world to know. Why should we care? Erratic behavior on Oprah, attacking Brooke Shields' character, and a hostile interview with Matt Lauer are not the symptoms of a man happily in love but rather someone in a crisis. Denials that any of this media blitz has anything to do with the upcoming release of his new film are futile.
Yesterday was gay pride in NYC and my boyfriend and I were there to celebrate it. It was the first time he had ever been to the parade and while we were watching the festivities Dan and Steve, the "gay guys" from "The Next Food Network TV Star", walked by. They would be celebrating more pride even later when they won the competition. Congratulations, guys! They were not the only celebritites at the parade. In this election year the likes of Al Sharpton marched in the parade, surprising some of us in the crowd, but as the saying goes, "Politics makes strange bedfellows."
I am thrilled that the Supreme Court finished their session without any resignations. The idea that the Bush administration, which has succeeded in dividing this country, would be one step closer to stripping the rights of people even further is something I think we all should care about. Why are so many blind to the use of religious fear by the Bush administration as their weapon to beat people into submission? It is frightening to me that in the days and years that followed the tragedy of 9/11 we have not become "one nation . . . indivisible," but rather a nation of factions with one side claiming they are "right." We need to enlighten the administration to the fact that their legacy will not be one of great things. They will be remembered for tearing the country apart, taking us from a budget surplus to insurmountable debt, and for the bloodshed of our young men and women in an unnecessary war. Why should care about this? Because one of the most frightening leaders in recent history rose to power by manipulating the masses through fear and began murdering anyone who did not fit into his idea of an ideal society.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

2005-06-10T18:16:00.000-04:00

Hi There!
I have no idea where this journey will take me. I only know I had to begin it. I am so tired of being forced to swallow the rhetoric being spewed by politicians, conservatives, christians, loyalists and anyone else that is merely perpetuating fear, ignorance, and hatred in this world. The age of political correctness is obviously over and the election(hmm) of W was the first indication of this and a harbinger of things to come. Now intolerance is the theme of the times and it is being justified with reference to the bible. The so called word of god gives some permission to condemn others while exalting themselves. What we seem to forget is that the bible was written by men. A book, some say a work of fiction, written by mere mortals like you and me. Just as the Quran and the Torah, the bible is merely written by men inspired by their faith. Did any of these men have a direct line to a higher power? Would you believe someone today who wrote these same books? Better yet, would you agree to follow blindly a man who suggested you forsake your material possesions, your SUV's, your cell phones, and credit cards to join with him and live a simple life of service to those afflicted with disease, to those whom society rejects, to the misguided lost in addiction? Forgive my cynicism, but I think most of you would think such a person insane and turn the other way rather than the other cheek. I think it is time to address the real social issues with which we are plagued: millions of people living without adequate healthcare in what is called the richest country in the world, children left to fend for themselves while their parents are forced to work jobs which leave them barely making ends meet, and a society riddled with addiction to fill the void left by parents themselves riddled with addiction. Instead of these dilemmas the Republicans would have us believe gay marriages, abortion and abortion rights activists, and any anti-war sentiment are the cause of the woes in this country. They suggest the bible be your guide in decision making and the basis for your relationships. I think if you want to use the bible as your compass in your life and human relations you revisit the passage in which Jesus says, "Let ye with no sin cast the first stone."