It seems that every other day I am reading a story about some hetero mother or father who has murdered their children. Often in very horrific ways. The story linked above is even more horrible than usual because it involved child molestation and incest as well.
What is it about these heteros that they do not know how to take care of their children? Gay couples treat their kids as if they were gifts from heaven (which they are). We pamper and spoil them, dote on them constantly. We guard and protect them 24 hours a day.
Could it be that the het set takes these children for granted? Maybe it is because they come so easily to them. One drunken night and the next thing they know they are having a baby. They do not have to go through the hoops and minefields that gays must (mostly) do in order to become parents. Somehow children have become a cheap commodity to these hets.
Maybe they should make straights go through all that we do in order to reproduce. Make them go through evaluations at least to see if they are fit to breed. Judging from all of the news stories, that just might save a lot of young lives.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Thursday, June 09, 2005
The Fallacy of Ronald Reagan
Last week US News and World Report had Reagan on the cover, remembering his D-Day, 1984 speech in Europe. Does anyone remember his speech - except Republican stalwarts? Where do they get this stuff about him being a great president? I guess the Republicans are really grasping at straws trying to find a great Republican president to lionize. After all there have been only two, Teddy Roosevelt (who was hated by most Republicans of his day) and Abraham Lincoln.
What were Reagan's accomplishments exactly? He did make us feel better about ourselves, and he gave very moving speeches. He was a trained actor after all, so I am sure he saw it as just another B-movie part.
Did Reagan help end the Cold War? That is a stretch. There were only two people without whom the Cold War would not have ended, Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II. Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech was a joke. How many other presidents had said the same thing. And the Star Wars defense project, if the Soviets had any Intelligence at all, they had to know it did not work (and still doesn't).
He did manage to do in eight years what had taken 200 years to do before, and that is - double the deficit. He did bring us trickle down economics, which we still have with GB the 2nd. Yes, if we just let those rich folks make more money, some of it will eventually trickle down to us. Are you wet yet? I know I'm not.
He did manage to ignore AIDS for most of his presidency. Within three years of Clinton taking office we had a viable treatment for HIV Disease. With Reagan we had mostly silence.
I think GB the 1st had greater accomplishments and did what the country needed in spite of the political costs. Something Reagan never did. He only thought about the here and now, not what was best for the country in the long run. Sound familiar?
This is what Merriam-Webster Online had to say about him:
One entry found for Reagan. Main Entry: Rea·gan
Pronunciation: 'rA-g&n
Function: biographical name
Ronald Wilson 1911- American actor & politician; 40th president of the U.S. (1981-89); achieved a significantly lower rate of inflation; lowered personal income taxes; greatly increased defense spending while reducing expenditures on social programs
I forgot about the inflation thing. You have to give him credit for that. Even if he had to double the deficit to do it.
What were Reagan's accomplishments exactly? He did make us feel better about ourselves, and he gave very moving speeches. He was a trained actor after all, so I am sure he saw it as just another B-movie part.
Did Reagan help end the Cold War? That is a stretch. There were only two people without whom the Cold War would not have ended, Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II. Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech was a joke. How many other presidents had said the same thing. And the Star Wars defense project, if the Soviets had any Intelligence at all, they had to know it did not work (and still doesn't).
He did manage to do in eight years what had taken 200 years to do before, and that is - double the deficit. He did bring us trickle down economics, which we still have with GB the 2nd. Yes, if we just let those rich folks make more money, some of it will eventually trickle down to us. Are you wet yet? I know I'm not.
He did manage to ignore AIDS for most of his presidency. Within three years of Clinton taking office we had a viable treatment for HIV Disease. With Reagan we had mostly silence.
I think GB the 1st had greater accomplishments and did what the country needed in spite of the political costs. Something Reagan never did. He only thought about the here and now, not what was best for the country in the long run. Sound familiar?
This is what Merriam-Webster Online had to say about him:
One entry found for Reagan. Main Entry: Rea·gan
Pronunciation: 'rA-g&n
Function: biographical name
Ronald Wilson 1911- American actor & politician; 40th president of the U.S. (1981-89); achieved a significantly lower rate of inflation; lowered personal income taxes; greatly increased defense spending while reducing expenditures on social programs
I forgot about the inflation thing. You have to give him credit for that. Even if he had to double the deficit to do it.
Saturday, June 04, 2005
California Dreamin'
Well, we almost made it to the Promised Land this week. The California Assembly came within four votes of legalizing gay marriage in the nation's largest state.
I don't know which is worse, if they had voted it in, and then there was a national backlash, or they didn't vote it in and we still don't have gay marriage in any state (that was not court ordered).
How people cannot see that this is just a question of basic civil rights is beyond me. The one argument the right wing always goes to first is that this could lead to group marriage, marrying your dog, etc. They can never just stick with the issue itself. Two adults of the same gender entering into a holy/civil union. That's probably because their argument is far weaker if they just stick to the issue. Two people, together forever (more or less).
They complain about the promiscuity of gay men, and then deny us the one thing that would help us all to settle down into well ordered lives. Not that that is for everyone, I understand that. There are plenty of folks, gay and straight, who think monogamy is unnatural and not in the least bit desirable. But for the rest of us, it gives us the one thing we long for, stability.
Study after study has shown that married folks live longer (not necessarily happier) lives. Having all the hundreds of rights that come along with marriage, not to mention the social supports for our relationships, would go a long way toward putting us all on an equal footing. The love that dare not speak its name would be the same as any other love.
I don't know how long it will be before America comes to it senses and stops thinking that heterosexual love is better than any other. We are all equal here, that is the point of this great experiment we call America.
I don't know which is worse, if they had voted it in, and then there was a national backlash, or they didn't vote it in and we still don't have gay marriage in any state (that was not court ordered).
How people cannot see that this is just a question of basic civil rights is beyond me. The one argument the right wing always goes to first is that this could lead to group marriage, marrying your dog, etc. They can never just stick with the issue itself. Two adults of the same gender entering into a holy/civil union. That's probably because their argument is far weaker if they just stick to the issue. Two people, together forever (more or less).
They complain about the promiscuity of gay men, and then deny us the one thing that would help us all to settle down into well ordered lives. Not that that is for everyone, I understand that. There are plenty of folks, gay and straight, who think monogamy is unnatural and not in the least bit desirable. But for the rest of us, it gives us the one thing we long for, stability.
Study after study has shown that married folks live longer (not necessarily happier) lives. Having all the hundreds of rights that come along with marriage, not to mention the social supports for our relationships, would go a long way toward putting us all on an equal footing. The love that dare not speak its name would be the same as any other love.
I don't know how long it will be before America comes to it senses and stops thinking that heterosexual love is better than any other. We are all equal here, that is the point of this great experiment we call America.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
We Will Remember
I visited the cemetery this weekend. Buried in the family plot among my grandparents (from both sides of the family) is a great uncle who died in France in 1918. He was barely twenty. I think of all that my grandparents were able to do with their lives and how that promise was cut short for my great uncle Frank.
Then I think about all the war dead, gay and straight. I think about all those who are dying in Iraq, needlessly. In a war whose justification did not exist. I think of all the other countries that could use our help as well, and I am torn. I want to see freedom in the Middle East, but I don't know if our role is to be the world's policeman. But I digress...
We must all appreciate those who have suffered and died for our country. In wars that were popular and not. They knew that we were all depending on them. They gave - that last full measure of devotion, as Lincoln so famously put it.
Without sounding too preachy, let's do all we can to see that the vets who are still around are honored and taken care of. I know Republican patriotism doesn't usually extend to the taking care part, but we must let the folks in Congress know that these vets should not be shortchanged. Before we give another millionaire a tax break, let's think about how much more important it is that we spend that money on our vets. To let them know that we are here for them too.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
George Gray
Friday, May 20, 2005
Gays, the New Commies
Just look at the news from around the country and you will see story after story about how the right wing is demonizing gays. Trying to ban books that contain gay content or ones that are written by gay authors. Trying to block gays from being foster parents (forgetting that it was the child's abusive straight parents who made them foster children to begin with). And most of all, trying to keep those damn gays from marrying each other. Don't they know that straights are the superior beings???
At every turn we see that gays are truly to blame for what's wrong with America today. We all know that they have destroyed the American family by causing all those divorces. Oh wait, those are caused by straights. Gays are truly to blame for record amounts of child abuse and neglect. Oh wait, that's caused by straights too. Maybe gays are to blame for record levels of spousal abuse. Oh, not that either. I'm sure we can find some direct correlation between the rise of gay acceptance and the mess that the modern American Family is in.
If all these so called Christian groups would start focusing their money and attention on what's really wrong with this country instead of wasting it all on trying to oppress gays, we might actually see some improvement in the plight of the family.
The arrogance of heterosexuals to think that only they have a love that is worth celebrating (and accepting).
At every turn we see that gays are truly to blame for what's wrong with America today. We all know that they have destroyed the American family by causing all those divorces. Oh wait, those are caused by straights. Gays are truly to blame for record amounts of child abuse and neglect. Oh wait, that's caused by straights too. Maybe gays are to blame for record levels of spousal abuse. Oh, not that either. I'm sure we can find some direct correlation between the rise of gay acceptance and the mess that the modern American Family is in.
If all these so called Christian groups would start focusing their money and attention on what's really wrong with this country instead of wasting it all on trying to oppress gays, we might actually see some improvement in the plight of the family.
The arrogance of heterosexuals to think that only they have a love that is worth celebrating (and accepting).
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
The Filibuster
I sure hope that TCM runs "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" in the next few days. Nothing can better show the power of the filibuster to fight for a just but unpopular stand. The filibuster hasn't always been used for good, but this time it will be.
Just what is this separation of powers that people keep going on about? Could it be that we need to have at least one branch of government not under the power of the Republic(ans)? Soon to be called The Empire. If the Senate falls to these power mad hypocrites, then the judiciary is certainly next. It seems that the Emperor wants to control all he sees.
Interesting how Hollywood can tell us so much about ourselves. If only someone were paying attention.
Just what is this separation of powers that people keep going on about? Could it be that we need to have at least one branch of government not under the power of the Republic(ans)? Soon to be called The Empire. If the Senate falls to these power mad hypocrites, then the judiciary is certainly next. It seems that the Emperor wants to control all he sees.
Interesting how Hollywood can tell us so much about ourselves. If only someone were paying attention.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Darkness Falls
I don't know if any of you have ever had to deal with depression. I know I didn't see it coming, didn't know what it was when it hit me. I wasn't sad exactly, I knew that I just wasn't happy.
I did all the right things to correct the problem. Talk therapy, pills, more talk. It seems to have worked, for the most part. I'm still not the person I was before depression hit me. But I am better.
You're probably wondering "why the true confessions"? It's just that sometimes I see the glimpses of joy I once enjoyed on a regular basis, and I get more depressed (what a vicious cycle).
Aging does not help the problem. You have to deal with all the mid-life and end-of-life issues that you never thought about as a young person. You never had (or wanted) to deal with your own mortality then. Now it is your constant companion.
Yet time keeps passing, relentlessly. You definitely can't go home again.
I did all the right things to correct the problem. Talk therapy, pills, more talk. It seems to have worked, for the most part. I'm still not the person I was before depression hit me. But I am better.
You're probably wondering "why the true confessions"? It's just that sometimes I see the glimpses of joy I once enjoyed on a regular basis, and I get more depressed (what a vicious cycle).
Aging does not help the problem. You have to deal with all the mid-life and end-of-life issues that you never thought about as a young person. You never had (or wanted) to deal with your own mortality then. Now it is your constant companion.
Yet time keeps passing, relentlessly. You definitely can't go home again.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Church People
I read in the news the other day about the preacher down South (where else) who has forced out members of his congregation who do not support President Bush. This is wrong on so many levels I don't even know where to begin.
First let's talk about the legal issues. A tax-exempt church forcing its political views on its congregants???
Second, Bush is not even running for office. So what is this all about? Signing a loyalty oath? Swearing our allegiance to our fearless leader?
I know most Christian Coalition types think the Constitution is, at best, a nuisance, and at worst, the devil's work. They firmly believe that they have all the answers, know the one absolute truth. And as Al Franken says, "that's the kind of thinking that flies planes into tall buildings".
The framers built a wall between church and state because they saw what could happen when the two were combined. Long before the Taliban, there was a thing called the Inquisition. There were religious wars upon religious wars. There were the believers and the un-believers.
Oddly enough, our country must start looking back if we are ever to have a future. We must learn from past mistakes and move forward, not back. We must fulfill our promise for a better world, where we all belong.
First let's talk about the legal issues. A tax-exempt church forcing its political views on its congregants???
Second, Bush is not even running for office. So what is this all about? Signing a loyalty oath? Swearing our allegiance to our fearless leader?
I know most Christian Coalition types think the Constitution is, at best, a nuisance, and at worst, the devil's work. They firmly believe that they have all the answers, know the one absolute truth. And as Al Franken says, "that's the kind of thinking that flies planes into tall buildings".
The framers built a wall between church and state because they saw what could happen when the two were combined. Long before the Taliban, there was a thing called the Inquisition. There were religious wars upon religious wars. There were the believers and the un-believers.
Oddly enough, our country must start looking back if we are ever to have a future. We must learn from past mistakes and move forward, not back. We must fulfill our promise for a better world, where we all belong.
Stars Hollow
Do we ever really find a home as great as the ones that Hollywood can create for us? A place where we are loved, accepted, teased and generally understood by the community? A place where we belong?
That sense of community is something I think we are all looking for, whether we know it or not.
Even the most ardent loner must wish in their heart of hearts that they too were part of something larger than themselves. Something in and of themselves, but greater in its meaning and purpose.
Whether it is our place of work, our neighborhood, or even our town. These can all be communities where we feel we belong.
Losing that sense of belonging is one of the things that I think has gone wrong in our society. When we have no stake in the world around us, we find it easier to lash out, commit violent acts or heinous crimes.
Perhaps instead of spending all of our time trying to keep others out (gays, Arabs, anyone we don't feel we can understand) we might be better served by trying to bring more people into the fold. Give more folks that sense of belonging and acceptance. Thereby building a safe and happy place to live...
Just like Stars Hollow.
That sense of community is something I think we are all looking for, whether we know it or not.
Even the most ardent loner must wish in their heart of hearts that they too were part of something larger than themselves. Something in and of themselves, but greater in its meaning and purpose.
Whether it is our place of work, our neighborhood, or even our town. These can all be communities where we feel we belong.
Losing that sense of belonging is one of the things that I think has gone wrong in our society. When we have no stake in the world around us, we find it easier to lash out, commit violent acts or heinous crimes.
Perhaps instead of spending all of our time trying to keep others out (gays, Arabs, anyone we don't feel we can understand) we might be better served by trying to bring more people into the fold. Give more folks that sense of belonging and acceptance. Thereby building a safe and happy place to live...
Just like Stars Hollow.
FDR's Legacy
Listening to President Bush talk this week over in eastern Europe, I was taken aback by his apology for the division of Europe after WWII. Here is a man who can barely finish a sentence on his own, criticizing Franklin Roosevelt for the decisions made at Yalta.
Not only do we have to look at the fact that FDR was gravely ill, what about the fact that FDR knew that America was not ready to fight another war, this time against the Soviets. Most of us can only imagine the world as it stood at the end of disaster in Europe (not to mention the fact that we still had to fight a war in the Pacific).
I agree that it was not a great agreement, but it was the best that Churchill and FDR could get past Stalin. How does someone as lame as Bush criticize (60 years hence) a decision that was made based on so many factors that we still don't know why it happened? First Bush attacks social security, and now end of war decisions. What next?
That's Scotty's rant for the week.
Not only do we have to look at the fact that FDR was gravely ill, what about the fact that FDR knew that America was not ready to fight another war, this time against the Soviets. Most of us can only imagine the world as it stood at the end of disaster in Europe (not to mention the fact that we still had to fight a war in the Pacific).
I agree that it was not a great agreement, but it was the best that Churchill and FDR could get past Stalin. How does someone as lame as Bush criticize (60 years hence) a decision that was made based on so many factors that we still don't know why it happened? First Bush attacks social security, and now end of war decisions. What next?
That's Scotty's rant for the week.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
May Day
I spent the afternoon with my family today. They are all wonderful people, but I don't always enjoy their company. Today we had a good time, eating and laughing. Two of my favorite things.
My folks are both turning 80 this year, and I always enjoy being with them. I do worry about them though. I know what a lot of my friends have had to go through, taking care of elderly parents. My folks still live in the same house they bought in 1955 and have quite active lives. Luckily they are very involved in their church, which keeps them very busy.
Still, I know what's coming. I try to live in the here and now, but I keep seeing the future (and the past). All this sage advice people give us is not always very easy to live with.
I don't even know what to wish for, for my parents' future. Die suddenly, live a long time in a nursing home, or in home care? What would I want for myself? To live forever is the only thing I can come up with.
All I can do for now is hold them close and let them know how much I love them. I hope that's enough.
My folks are both turning 80 this year, and I always enjoy being with them. I do worry about them though. I know what a lot of my friends have had to go through, taking care of elderly parents. My folks still live in the same house they bought in 1955 and have quite active lives. Luckily they are very involved in their church, which keeps them very busy.
Still, I know what's coming. I try to live in the here and now, but I keep seeing the future (and the past). All this sage advice people give us is not always very easy to live with.
I don't even know what to wish for, for my parents' future. Die suddenly, live a long time in a nursing home, or in home care? What would I want for myself? To live forever is the only thing I can come up with.
All I can do for now is hold them close and let them know how much I love them. I hope that's enough.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Republican Majority
For years people have been saying that if the Republicans ever had total control of the government, they would try to turn this country into a theocracy. Well, guess what, they are now on the march.
Luckily the American people are starting to take notice. No, you can't bend the rules (on an ethics committee no less) to protect your unsavory leader. Yes, you can still be a Christian and support the judicial filibuster. Every day there is a new right wing agenda item coming up in Congress.
Where will it all end? So far they have managed to change the bankruptcy law to suit the credit card companies (not even exempting people who went broke because of a medical emergency), voted to dig in the Alaskan reserve, and even managed to pass a bill today that won't let someone get an abortion in a neighboring state if the state they come from did not allow it. Who knew that our state laws should travel with us wherever we go.
Wondering where we're headed? Looks like the American Taliban is trying to take over.
Luckily the American people are starting to take notice. No, you can't bend the rules (on an ethics committee no less) to protect your unsavory leader. Yes, you can still be a Christian and support the judicial filibuster. Every day there is a new right wing agenda item coming up in Congress.
Where will it all end? So far they have managed to change the bankruptcy law to suit the credit card companies (not even exempting people who went broke because of a medical emergency), voted to dig in the Alaskan reserve, and even managed to pass a bill today that won't let someone get an abortion in a neighboring state if the state they come from did not allow it. Who knew that our state laws should travel with us wherever we go.
Wondering where we're headed? Looks like the American Taliban is trying to take over.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
It Can't Happen Here
The news all over Rochester Hills today is the story of a 15 year old boy who stabbed his mother to death. She was a divorced hypno-therapist whose license plate read LOVE4U. By all accounts she doted on her son, who most folks say was just a typical teenager.
How do people come to this? How does an ordinary high school freshman one day reach for a knife and stab his own mother (111 times)?
Is it the culture we live in? The culture of violent video games and movies, where slicing someone up is considered fun and entertaining. Do our children become desensitized to violence because it is such a large part of their everyday (entertainment) experience?
All I can do is react in sadness and dismay. Two lives totally destroyed, the promise of the future brought to nothing.
How do people come to this? How does an ordinary high school freshman one day reach for a knife and stab his own mother (111 times)?
Is it the culture we live in? The culture of violent video games and movies, where slicing someone up is considered fun and entertaining. Do our children become desensitized to violence because it is such a large part of their everyday (entertainment) experience?
All I can do is react in sadness and dismay. Two lives totally destroyed, the promise of the future brought to nothing.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Losing a Loved One
Heidi Siw
They say you shouldn't be too sad when a pet dies. After all, she was only a dog. But, I am finding that the sadness continues longer than I expected. I was surprised at the number of sympathy cards I received and the number of friends who emailed to say how sorry they were.
As I watched her suffer the night she died, I remember thinking that I could not end the suffering of a loved one, if they were human. I would just have to watch them struggle in fear and pain. Luckily I could take my dog to the vet and end her suffering, painlessly and without fear.
Then you put yourself in their place. That makes it all too painful and frightening. I hope there are more Dr. Kevorkians out there when my time comes.
Helping Others
I think I find my greatest joy when I am helping someone. Especially someone who can't help themself. But I wonder am I doing it just because it makes me feel good, maybe even lucky that I am not that person?
We should be wanting to do things for others because it is the right thing to do, not for purely selfish reasons. Maybe I do it for both reasons?
Today's lesson children is Know Thyself. That's probably one of the hardest things to do. There's the you that you think you know, then the other side that comes out occasionally. Which is the real you? It's all about the motivation. Why are you doing what you're doing. That's where the real you lies.
We should be wanting to do things for others because it is the right thing to do, not for purely selfish reasons. Maybe I do it for both reasons?
Today's lesson children is Know Thyself. That's probably one of the hardest things to do. There's the you that you think you know, then the other side that comes out occasionally. Which is the real you? It's all about the motivation. Why are you doing what you're doing. That's where the real you lies.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Why Go On?
You have to wonder, at least every once in a while, why in the heck we are here. If you have a strong religious faith, maybe you already know. If you don't, maybe you don't care. But what if you are in between???
That's my dilemma.
As you grow older, you begin to see the end of life's journey, you see friends dying, even in their forties and fifties. You wonder, am I next. It's all about me...
How sad if that's true.
I was brought up to believe that we are all here to do good works, to help others. I still feel that way. Mostly...
That's my dilemma.
As you grow older, you begin to see the end of life's journey, you see friends dying, even in their forties and fifties. You wonder, am I next. It's all about me...
How sad if that's true.
I was brought up to believe that we are all here to do good works, to help others. I still feel that way. Mostly...
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