Indepen-Dance

Free from the influence, guidance, or control of another or others-Independence.

 As we watch the parade of politicians pontificate and promise, many an American has decided that he/she no longer wants to identify with one of the two major political parties in this country. Proudly and making a point many an American has decided that he/she should not be taken for granted any longer and if a politician wants their vote that politician had better earn it. And as we watch this presidential campaign run amuck we are told more often than not that the Independent voter WILL be the the key to electing our next president.

I think being independent has it merits. If people want to be free in how they select their candidate or cast their vote; free from the pressures of the mechanics and machinations of party leaders, then by all means identifying as a Dem or Rep makes sense. If people want to take from both parties the good and leave the bad I also believe that democracy does have the potential to survive.

But in this political year, it seems that those running for office (an overwhelmingly large majority of whom call themselves Republican/Tea Party) from Mayor to Governor to President, have introduced a plan to diminish the rights and freedoms of some, the potential for fair and equal for others, and a lack of respect for the lives of minorities. In this political year it would seem to me that the vote cast should not be for a party affiliation, but for a candidate who believes in justice for good and not bad for inclusion and not exclusion.

With the huge amount of anti Women, anti Gay, anti Black, anti Poor, anti Old Person, anti Labor, anti Education laws and proposed bills brought to the fore by the Republicans/Tea Party and the continued lack of support for the Middle Class, how can one even consider that being an Independent voter makes sense. We read that the polls demonstrate a close race due to the Independent voter. Really, should we suppose that Independents have little respect for civil rights, rights stated in the Constitution, equal rights and STILL have not seen who cares about the many and who chooses the few?

Being and Independent empowers the American voter to be free of the rules and regulations the two political parties insist upon. But the tricky thing, the ugly thing is that by voting for the Republican/Tea Party this year is voting for a party that wants to restrict and remove independence for millions of Americans. Is that what  being independence is all about? 

truth to lies

When the truth is found to be lies

And all the joy within you dies

Don't you want somebody to love

Don't you need somebody to love

Wouldn't you love somebody to love

You better find somebody to love (“Don’t You Want Somebody To Love”, Jefferson Airplane)

Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) of Tennessee recently spoke out against a measure related to bullying, saying that kids -- who had committed suicide -- didn't do so because of bullying, but rather because they were not instilled with proper principles.

"We can’t continue to legislate everything," he said in his speech. "We’ve had some horrible things happen in America and in our state, and there’s children that have actually committed suicide, but I will submit to you today that they did not commit suicide because of somebody bullying them. They committed suicide because they were not instilled the proper principles of where their self-esteem came from at home." (OpposingViews)

And as easy as one-two-three-A-B-C, ‘presto/chango’ the truth is no longer told and lies are used to subvert any ounce of fact into pure tons of fiction.If the truth contains too much responsibility with it then always deride the truth and filter it with the story the way you wished it really happened. Take blame away from yourself and the laws you support and place the finger of fault to anyone else but yourself. Don’t recognize the real issue but pepper your cause of resistance with false prophesies and phony claims.

Proper principles so says Rep. Jeremy Faison (R) of Tennessee, if only the parents of kids who found suicide easier then the stress and strain of being found different did a better job of parenting. Kids did not commit suicide because they were constantly called FAG, UGLY, FAT, QUEER, WEIRD and constantly being spit upon,hit upon, antagonized, chastised, shouted at, singled out... says Rep. Jeremy Faison (R) of Tennessee, no they came from homes where all their parents provided them no love or no comfort. Had those kids been better loved they would have brushed off the terrible torment they faced each and every day.

Rep. Jeremy Faison, an elected politician who thinks Gay Bashing, Homophobia, Bullying is exaggeration and wasted excitement over nothing wants to change the truth into a form of a lie that makes his own bigotry palatable. He wants to rewind the conversation and remove any participation he may have had via, home, church or other bigoted politicians regarding bullying thus move ahead with a clear conscience. Deny the core of the issue and destroy the truth, defy the truth as bogus, and replace it with anything that might help dissolve the cancer growing. Avoidance to save your own miserable behaviors.

If you hate Gays, then certainly other people who hate them who are just like you can not and must not be found guilty of the same hate you profess. Remove your own bias from the mix by adjusting the truth. Adjust the reason, makes you feel much better.

Have enough people around you who have never questioned why they hate, but just hate on command. Have all of them on your side and rewriting history comes quite easily. Place the blame on others and cleanse your soul from any responsibility. Who me, never!

Don't you want somebody to love

Don't you need somebody to love

Wouldn't you love somebody to love

You better find somebody to love

Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his

But in your head baby I'm afraid you don't know where it is (“Don’t You Want Somebody To Love”, Jefferson Airplane)

How come it is always the Mommas and Daddy’s of the victims who don’t know much about parenting, yet somehow the Mommas and the Daddy’s of the bully’s are doing one hell of a job raising their kids in the eyes of Rep, Jeremy (R) of Tennessee? How come?

fair

What is fair about hate? When the facts are listed why do those who deny the truth refuse to admit to being the creators of their own hate? Why do those who solicit hate run away from the blaze once they set the fire? Why is it that God is always the culprit for introducing the hate and those who spew it are only doing God’s bidding?

Once again, the Republican/Tea Party politicians and pundits are running away from their responsibility for establishing a variety of discriminatory decisions put into law against women. Women it seems are not too bright, not too smart and not equal in this nation so the MEN must be the deciders. Many of these motions limiting the rights and freedoms are based on the Bible and ignore the Constitution, but there is only one law and that belongs to God.

Why is it that when the Republican/Tea Party politicians are called to task for their venom and vile they cower in the corner acting like victims? Why is it that women are now the embattled demographic but when they declare there is a war on their bodies and rights the Republican/Tea Party look them right in the eye and say “not us”! Why are those who respect women, who respect equality, who respect the human condition seem much more silent then the bully who respects nothing but his/her own hate?

Once again the female who wishes to control her own body is a blasphemous bitch whose only goal in the world is to spit in the eye of God?  Once again SHE is doing the Devil’s work and those who cast the first stone always brag about knowing what is best for HER. Once again the facts are right there in our face, but disputed and denied as true:

Republican proposals restricting contraception; cutting off Planned Parenthood; requiring state-mandated, medically-unnecessary transvaginal ultrasounds; forcing physicians to lie to patients about abortion and breast cancer; or fighting equal-pay laws.

What is fair about that?

What is fair about hate? What real facts is hate based upon? Why does God always have to be used as the scapegoat for unloading hate? Why are those who hate so cavalier and callous in their hatred? Why is it okay to pray to God and in the same prayer curse those who God seemingly has told you to hate? What is fair?

Once again, and again and again for the bigots, it matters not who the person is, if that person among the millions of other things in his/her life happens to be Gay. What have the millions of Gay men and women done to the lives of those who eagerly discriminate and divide? And where are the voices of those who could care less about the Gay, who see the person not his/her sexual preference, who actually believe in a God who created all men and women equally? 

Why is it that the more negative voice has been the louder voice in American culture? Why is it that those who think, reason, have conscience, concern are never heard, but the homophobes harangue reigns supreme? And why does the Constitution of the United States seem to be a useless document anymore?

Once again the bad guy/gal is the Gay and once again it is OKAY with the blessings of God, the Flag and Motherhood to bash them and hate them:

Ron Brown, University Of Nebraska Assistant Football Coach: Being Fired For Anti-Gay Views Would An 'Honor'

Dominic Sheahan-Stahl, Michigan High School Graduation Speaker, Disinvited Because He Is Gay

Gay Mom upset after dismissal by Boy Scouts

What is fair about that?

Fair? What has happened to America and fairness? When did we become a nation where the ugly is bold, the hypocrite the hero and the lie the truth? Fair? When did separate but equal become a slogan for politics? When did the divide in church and state cease? When did those who hate grow so loud that reason and rhyme have been silenced? When do those who believe in fair become the leaders? Fair?

let them eat beans

Everyman Sean Hannity was absolutely flabbergasted on his radio show yesterday when a caller dared to suggest that Mitt Romney's wealth made him unrelatable. "When was the last time he went to bed, or woke up, hungry?" the communist asked. Choosing to take the comment very literally, Hannity argued that poverty and hunger are not linked; even the poorest Americans, he argued, have freezers, televisions, and DVDs. "They just don't have the best and the latest," he said. "I never went to bed hungry in my life, ever." (New York News and Features)

So, I first screamed, second I laughed and then third I began to worry. Sean Hannity is an ego maniac blowhard paid big bucks for eliciting hate and loathing. He has and will say whatever is necessary to keep the divide wide and in the real world he might be considered an idiot comic but not in the world of the United States of America in 2012. He is in fact a very successful scare monger relying on the bias, bigotry and bogus of individuals who would rather face a lie then embrace the truth. And as has been the success of the Right Wing Conservative “talking heads”, Sean Hannity is able to make a statement throw in meaningless innuendo and without any hesitation the fiction becomes the fact.

So once again, as has been the plot and ploy of the very smart (but dishonest), the victims are the bully and the bully is innocent. If you say you are hungry don’t buy expensive appliances or the latest gadgets make sure you don’t confuse poverty with hunger and by the way both are your creations thus your fault.

Then Hannity added: I don't believe people are going to bed hungry. ... For, instance I have friends of mine who eat rice and beans all the time. Beans protein, rice. Inexpensive. You can make a big pot of this for a week for negligible amounts of money and you can feed your whole family.

Look, you should have vegetables and fruit in there as well, but if you need to survive you can survive off it. It's not ideal but you could get some cheap meat and throw in there as well for protein. There are ways to live really, really cheaply. (New York News and Features)

I cringed, yelled, moaned and then got really sick. Now there was a menu  recipe for everyone to eat as if they all had money. Now there was a cure for the so called disease of hunger and poverty. Now all we needed was beans and rice and great pot to cook them in. Don’t want beans and rice then you can claim you are hungry but you would be a liar who is just too choosy as to what you eat. Hannity who earns $10 million a year and his buddies chow down to beans and rice so what is wrong with eating like millionaires? 

This country has a horrible habit of never wanting to solve problems but rather blame someone for the problem. This country has a horrible habit of creating we vs they with no plan to ever create an all of us. This country has a horrible habit of saying but seldom doing.

If it was just Sean Hannity trying to generate ratings for his hour of propaganda his statement about ‘...letting them eat beans... similar to letting them eat cake... I could look the other way be sarcastic to the idiocy of the thought and just laugh it off. But in America 2012 the lemming lost in his/her own distress is seeking any excuse for their failures but themselves. In America 2012 as long as the fingers are pointed away from self to some anonymous other and the fingers lay claim they did this to me, the lemming feels empowered. In America 2012 there are those who have little backbone or conscience and they worship at the heels of false prophets who love to keep the dumb dumber.

When Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Riley, Sarah Palin speak too many people ready to hate listen. When these entertainers make loose and useless statements millions of mindless Americans absorb the words. When liars lie and the lie fits the need to find fault the eager to deny are already calling names. 

This latest of harangues is not so spontaneous but a deep rooted plan to lead the lemming to the cliff and have them shatter their heads. Let them eat beans...

a name

“They stick you with those names, those labels -- ‘rebel’ or whatever; whatever they like to use. Because they need a label; they need a name. They need something to put the price tag on the back of.”” (Johnny Depp)

In the 50’s I remember being told there are bachelors and then there are BACHELORS. The fore being a man who was dating and most likely any month might get married, someone who was introduced to your sister. The latter was a man, say the older uncle, cousin neighbor who NEVER ever was married and someone you should NEVER ever ask if he intends to be married. Everyone had a best friend who was a bachelor, but nobody ever wanted to be associated with a BACHELOR.

In the 60’s I remember learning that homosexuals were like having termites in the wooden frame of your house, once they invaded your private space, they gnawed away at the foundation leaving destruction in its wake. Homosexuality was like having Cancer, in the 60’s you only whispered the word for fear it would hear you and reek vengeance.  You knew Cancer existed but always wished it away.

In the 70’s there was pride and it was called Gay. It was never a pride everyone embraced but somehow if you did the disco, wore the latest in fashion trends, and believed in sexual freedoms being Gay was cool. Until, in the latter end of the 70’s, when Gay began to mean irresponsible, unnatural and death. And ALL those who identified as Gay and those who others deemed as Gay like became public enemy number one.

In the 80’s it was the Queers that decided power was everything, and exerting power and pronouncing you being different and loving it provided even more notice. Take back the streets, stop the bullies by becoming a bully yourself, ignore the the rules handed to you by the standard bears and make your own kind of regulations. Let them know you hate them more then they hate you.

In the 90’s a new demographic was identified calling themselves LGBT. It was a more inclusive  group who tried to showcase the wide variety of Americans. It was a demographic with hope of showcasing the commonalities between all of us and trying to educate all of us on what makes each of us unique. The LGBT community discovered the power of politics and lobbing and thought if you can’t fight the force, join them.

From the 50‘s to the 90‘s the names may have changed, BACHELORS, Homosexuals, Gay, Queer, LGBT but the fear, loathing, phobia, hate for anyone non heterosexual has never stopped. And somehow those ignorant of facts and the purveyors of fiction somehow think that non heterosexuals are stronger then their own God, mightier than the Constitution.

In the 2000’s there is a word which originally was muttered by men in white robes and masks, preachers filled with only fire and brimstone not grace and good, and bigots who find anyone not like them the reason for their own ills. The word is the F-word. It is a word which has more power as it is played out rather then said. It is insinuated slyly but forcibly placed into action. No same-Sex-Marriage...No Gay adoptions... if there is religious cause bullying of Gays is okay...no hospital visitations by Gay partners...revoke Don’t Ask Don’t Tell...Gays are sinners...no Gay boys or Gay parents of boys in the Boy Scouts...Don’t buy Girl Scout Cookies because it is an inclusive organization...

I was fearful of coming out and lied about my identity way too long. I even joined in the chorus of self hate by calling others Gay as a youth. I lost some friends (guess they never were friends) in coming out, I felt like I never fit in or fit in queerly. I thought I had no power as a Gay man. But now it seems that the BACHELORS, Homosexuals, Gays, Queers, LGBT, F-words, have so much power. We have the power to dissolve the Institution of Marriage to wreck the Catholic Church, to create the End of Days for the Evangelicals, to have the Torah turn into fire...to recruit heterosexuals into homosexuals...to turn Girl scouts into Lesbians and Boy Scouts into Queens. We can even start a nuclear holocaust if we so desire. 

Call us a name, except our first name and send the word out the Devil has descended. 

“In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst. (Ayn Rand)

adam's rib

I know it is the candidate himself we are supposed to vote for or against. I know that the spouse can be an additional reason for garnering our support. I know behind every great man supposedly is a greater women. But then we have Ann Romney, the person, Mitt Romney declares he gets advise from, regarding issues of concern to women and to whom he acquiesces when he finds himself foundering on policies about women and when accused of promoting a War on Women. I know all of the political pundits clammer that Ann is Mitt’s saving grace. I know Ann was supposedly insulted when she was accused of not ever working out of the house but JUST being a stay at home Mom (at least until she giggled with joy that she was accused). I know Ann IS not running for the job of president. But SOMEHOW, Ann is always in the spotlight ANYWAY, and when she is in the spotlight  Ann seems just as distant, uninvolved and so utterly anti women’s rights that we who love women, have women as our relatives and friends, or are a women might want to be a bit worried. If Ann is Mitt’s sounding board and mentor for anything women, ALL of us should stop and listen to just how Ann perceives the role of the American female.

At a meeting with the “Moms For Mitt” group yesterday outside Philadelphia, PA, Ann Romney was asked her opinion on Lilly Ledbetter and equal pay for equal work regarding women’s employment. Without hesitation she responded with another question that seemed to shock even the most staunch conservatives in the room.

“Why should women be paid equal to men? Men have been in the working world a lot longer and deserve to be paid at a higher rate. Heck, I’m a working mom and I’m not paid a dime. I depend on my husband to provide for me and my family, as should most women… and if a woman does work, she should be happy just to be out there in the working world and quit complaining that she’s not making as much as her male counterparts. I mean really, all this wanting to be equal nonsense is going to be detrimental to the future of women everywhere. Who’s going to want to hire a woman, or for that matter, even marry a woman who thinks she is the same, if not better than a man at any job. It’s almost laughable. C’mon now ladies, are you with me on this?”

After Ann Romney finished speaking, there was an awkward silence in the air with a smattering of applause that seemed to come from a forced obligation to support their future party nominee’s wife (Free Wood Post)

If Ann Romney wants to be subservient to her husband in the privacy of her own home within her own marriage raising her own five sons, this IS America and she is free to do so. If Ann Romney feels that women should be grateful for anything her man provides her with, because after all she was created from his rib, she is a Mormon and she is free in this nation of division between church and state to follow her religion any way she wishes. If Ann Romney thinks this wanting to be equal nonsense to man is going to be detrimental for the future of women, God Bless her and God Bless her ability to accept limitations in her life. And if Ann Romney was just Elder Mitt’s chattel living in the isolative world of wealthy women who abhor anything or anyone different than they are I would still have a problem with that but would never call her out on it...because she was just Citizen Ann and not the potential First Lady...and not the person to whom Mitt confers in establishing his policies toward and for women.

I am amazed when Gay men and women say that they are Republicans because it is the economy that counts and nothing like equal rights to marry, to work or to adopt kids even come close. I am flabbergast when Gay men and women insist freedoms come second to finances. I am dizzied by the fact that Gay men and women say their buddies in the Republican Party have respect for them but can’t go public about it. And I am amazed that any women with any speck of self respect can even mutter Ann Romney’s name without wanting to convulse, throw up or have a full blown fit.  I am only a father, son, uncle, nephew, friend of women not a woman and I want to go crazy.

Ann Romney wants women to be second class citizens. She has made it very clear any woman who wants to succeed in her own life working parallel to her husband or even standing ahead of him is a bad woman. Ann Romney wants a second class citizenry for females in the United States. And Ann Romney is the person Mitt Romney uses as his model for any policy on women. This is nuts, utterly, and incomprehensibly nuts. 

Seemingly belittled by the lack of agreement, Ann Romney was ushered out of the banquet hall and driven back to where her husband was waiting for her. It is not known if the former Governor has heard this quote yet. However, I’m sure he will support it and tell anyone who doesn’t that they are waging a war on women everywhere. You know, because that makes total sense.

And to even imagine there are still people undecided on who should be the next president. I suppose those who even consider Romney the man to run this country and Ann the little woman to plan the menu and curtsey to the men who come to visit want to take a trip back to the 50’s when Blacks were segregated and considered animal like, Jews restricted to certain neighborhoods and hospitals to practice medicine, and Latinos were called Ricky Ricardo. And oh yeah Homosexuality could be cured. (Free Wood Post)

bandstand, bandstand

It was 1958, or was it 1959 or maybe even 1960, but at 4:00 pm in the living room of our house at 1618A Denniston from Monday through Friday, my older sisters Maxine and Bonnie would be standing in front of our one and only television watching in black and white “American Bandstand” with Dick Clark. My younger sister Francie and I had permission to sit on the sofa in the living room, but the moment our breathing was louder than the melodies being played on TV we were escorted out to any other room in the house. And my mother never intervened!

Whether it was Justin, Barbara, Denise, Vickie, Ricky or Charlene, my sisters would shout out loud if anyone wore their bangs differently, were dancing with a new partner, had a going steady ring around their neck or were not dancing in the spotlight. My sisters would comment, “...did you see that...love her hair...look who he is flirting with...they slow dance so well...” In those days, they actually played slow songs and teens, albeit at arms distance, danced to slow songs.

“American Bandstand” had black singers, (they were called “colored people” then), introduce R&B, and soul music and white kids actually danced to THAT music. In the late 50’s and early 60’s white kids dancing to “colored people’s” music was the closest thing to integration we had witnessed. Many a parent was warned or warned that just the fact that blacks and whites enjoyed the same anything, that perhaps BIG changes might be ahead for all of us...and were we prepared for those changes?

Most of the regulars on “American Bandstand had Italian sounding last names with many of them wearing a cross around their necks. But every now and then someone whose sir name had a Berg or a Stein at the end of it managed to get some camera time. And for us a Jewish family, we were all so proud...it could have been a relative of us or even better us! The few times my Grandmother ventured into the living room she would add do Jewish people listen to THAT music?

The times my Mother wandered into the living room and listened to some music, she would exclaim, (of course during a commercial break so as to never avert the attention of the TV from my sisters), “...that music now-a-days is just a bunch of noise with a bunch of lyrics having no real meaning...” However if you gave my Mother a close eye, she, at times would be moving to a certain rhythm and if you paid close attention she would add, “...I like Charlene’s new hair-do...”

When I reflect back to the late 50’s and early 60’s I amaze at how my family managed to face the day to day chores of living. We had six people, sleeping in three bedrooms two teenaged girls using lots of hairspray, combs and cosmetics, using one commode and shower. We all had our favorite television shows and one TV. We had one car and one driver (it was not a women’s job to drive back then, or so my Dad said), with six people having to go someplace at once. My Dad was a policeman making a very modest salary, but we were never without food or clothing. And no matter what at least once every night we had the folding chairs placed around our dining room table complete with two extensions for the table as two or three people joined us for dinner.

My sisters loved the sound of Dick Clark’s voice and loved the way he would place the microphone in front of those Bandstand Dancers known as regulars. My sisters watched Dick Clark religiously, and when my younger sister were forced inside due to weather so did we. There was something soothing knowing that “American Bandstand” was on television and no matter the worries of the world we could watch a line dance or have someone try and solve the name of the singer whose song was playing.

Time somehow moves so fast when you look behind you. While you are actually living it it can creep if promises are not kept, swagger if hope seems unlimited, or kind of meander when days sometimes just fade into another day. I can still listen to a few songs of the late 50’s and early 60’s close my eyes and see my sisters Maxine and Bonnie dancing in our living room, giggling or just swooning. I reflect on those days smile and remember the smells of dinner cooking, the sounds of neighborhood kids playing and how safe I felt in my home located at 1618A Denniston.

Dick Clark has passed away, my condolences to his family. But with his passing seems to be one more time of my life that will now be wrapped in cellophane to be reminded of but never lived again the same. I can remember, not sure if it was 1958, 1959, or 1960 when life in the Buncher house stood still for one hour and my sisters laughed, sang and danced with the greatest of glee and good times. It was “American Bandstand” music of a time of my life.

ann and mitt

Dear Mr. and Mrs Romney,

I want to take this chance and introduce myself to the two of you. I am among many attributes in my life a Gay man, and from all I have read and witnessed regarding your comments regarding Gay people, it seems you really know very little about me. As a matter of fact there seems to be many more misconceptions parlayed by the two of you about Gay people, like me, so I want to clarify any rumor, lie or innuendo so if in fact you have an open mind I can help you open it a bit more. Oh, yeah and if I may, I would like to call you Ann and Mitt, my name is Gerry. (Wow, look what we have in common already, a first name)!

I am Gay. I pay taxes ( at a higher per cent then the two of you, oh yeah my 2012 tax return is filed...my tax dollars stay in the United States not in the Cayman Islands, but I would like to visit) I work (I am 62 and sometimes worry that all those years of paying benefits may not buy me many years of retirement, how much does 20 million dollars get you in benefits) I raised two kids (you trump me with 5, but my wife and I realized that raising more then 2 would be difficult to support as a middle class household), I both have sex and make love (like you two I only make love to the one person who makes me happy) I make charitable contributions (now I don’t give to NOM like you do... because well heck I am Gay and they are homophobic, pretending God told them to be haters) I have a dog his name is Harley he is 15 years old (but I suppose you can call me old fashioned whenever we travel he is inside the car and not on top).

There is my introduction, and reading it over it seems we are similar in most of what defines us.

Now to be fair, Ann and Mitt, I am Jewish (I know the Mormons like to convert Jews who have died, so please make note when I die I want to remain Jewish) and know very little about the Church of Latter Day Saints. So I only have some preconceived ideas about your religion just as I assume you both have preconceived notions about Gay people. (And you know what they say about assume...makes and ass out of you and me), so I have a bunch of questions.

You two are the most high profile individuals of the Church of Latter Day Saints I know so my questions are based on witnessing your behaviors, your comments, and your actions, SO PLEASE correct me if I am wrong. (I am sure you have seen video on FOX News regarding those pesky Gays during Gay Pride...love the fair balanced spin they place on their news shows.)

Mitt, is lying about the truth, twisting the facts, omitting honesty a Mormon thing? You have been caught manipulating the truth and when caught respond in a very arrogant manner and say (even though it is either on video or audio, I never said that). As a Mormon, Mitt, are you taught to flip, flop, flip at an early stage? Are you taught in your Temple that acting as a chameleon to let the people think you agree with them is a sign of God like behavior (or do you just like to please yourself and get a kick out of patronizing everyone else?) Mitt, in the Book of Mormon are there passages that state poor people are less worthy, less equal? (It seems in all your speeches you say there are safety nets for the poor and then talk about how you plan on cutting those safety nets, you even called Moms on welfare lazy because among all the insane things they wanted was to stay home and raise their kids). And Ann are females in the Mormon Church permitted to make choices, think for themselves, act on their own behalf and not on the commands of the male church elders? (It seems you were silent on women’s rights to their own bodies, sexuality and health care. And you were nowhere to be seen or heard when your husband, Mitt called stay at home Moms on welfare lazy. You stayed at home, do the male elders of the Church of Latter Day Saints think you are lazy?)

I know how much you want to be president Mitt, why you and Ann even told Diane Sawyer in an interview it was your turn to move into the White House. (Is there a sign up sheet for that, cause I want my turn).

I am sure there are more questions Mitt and Ann but lets start with these. I am available to answer any questions you may have about the Gays, but I am sure you have easy access to those answers in you Book of Mormon.

Mitt if you are president will Gays, minorities, the poor be separate but equal or equal. And Ann, if you are first lady will you still be considered a stay at home Mom?

I am Gay and you are not, you are Mormon and I am not...but aren’t the three of us Americans living under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Constitution?

I look forward to your reply!

Gerry

war...whatever

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y’all (“War”, Edwin Starr)

The Republican/Tea Party politicians and their puppet masters are infuriated, irate and besides themselves that the Dems have the audacity to identify the denial of women’s equal rights as a war. Just because the Republican/Tea Party elected officials initiated laws restricting women’s choice of sexual practices, women’s reproductive rights and equal pay for equal work for women, the Republican/Tea Party finds calling all of this a WAR is an insult. After all some of their best friends are women.

But the Republican/Tea Party politicians and their puppet masters insist that imposing the theocracy of their particular Christian church in direct opposition to the definition of a Constitution that explicitly states separation of church and state IS a WAR on religion. They seem to think the imposition of their moral values, based on their biased interpretation of their Bible is a perfectly natural American response. They seem to think that denying civil rights, equal rights, Constitutionally based rights is the American way and anyone who opposes it is declaring WAR on religion.

We declared a War on Drugs. Nancy Reagan told us to “just say no”. People haven’t said no for at least four decades. And since no corporation has found a way to make a profit from selling illegal drugs, we insisted that this war be fought and won. Except that all we have done is fight the war and are not even close to a victory.

We declared a War on Terrorism. We thought we knew the enemy who brought destruction to this country on 9-11 and we went after them. But politics insisted that we create new enemies to keep the fear alive. Halliburton and other corporations found ways to create profits, lobbyists found ways to pay off politicians, FOX News opened their vaults of hate filled entertainers to provoke and provide the dumb with enough fodder to ignore their own welfare, but interfere with the well being of others.

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for...

The rest of the lyrics state, “...absolutely nothing...” but not when defined by the politics of this nation. It seems if you declare a war you have no need after that to win it. Sound big, bold and brassy, swagger, sway point fingers and make sure you fill the weak minded with so much fear they feel they are smothering. Stand firm in your shout out of war. Proclaim the evils of your enemy, pontificate about the errors of their ways, BUT by all means never EVER offer a resolve for the problems. Call names, be defiant, make sure you keep the flames made of fire and brimstone cause fools love to be fooled with the colors of fire. And they never notice the coward standing in the corner who started the inferno.

Why is it usually those who declare war go unscathed, while everyone else seems to suffer the results.

War... whatever!

women who brunch

Here's To The Ladies Who Lunch,
Everybody laugh.
Lounging in their caftans and planning
a brunch, on their own behalf.

Off to the gym,
Then to a fitting, claiming they're fat.
And looking grim, 'cause they've been sitting,
Choosing a hat. (“The Ladies Who Lunch”, Stephen Sondheim)

When I was the Executive Director of a few communal centers I had the opportunity to meet with wealthy donors capable of providing substantial financial gifts to our agency. I was grateful for their charitable gifts and their priority in assisting in keeping our budget in the black. At first I found it difficult to “do the ask” for sums of money that I had neither ever earned myself or had never spent in my private life. But I realized that the greater good of the community was reason enough to learn how to ask and gratefully receive.

We had one event, a wine tasting day at Napa, and I would have the opportunity to meet and greet some new individuals in hopes of providing them with the story of my agency. I was mingling with some new people, who knew I was the Executive Director but in reality knew nothing more. It was our fourth glass of tasting wine, when two of the ladies commented how this winery reminded them a summer’s visit to a resort in Northern California. They looked at me and said you know the Blue Mountain Resort, you’ve been there Gerry, I am sure. I hadn’t but before I could answer, another women chimed in and said the Blue Mountain resort was okay for rooms running at $550 a night but for real luxury try the Northern California Inn, rooms are $750 but you are treated like a queen.

Then the two other ladies looked at me and said, have you been to either, and if you haven’t you should go at least once, you will come back for more.

My first response, to myself was REALLY, do you know my salary as a communal worker? Then I looked at the ladies who were now talking about decorating their second home as if everyone had a second home, and thought I suppose this is THEIR world and this is how they live it.Will they ever understand my world?

And here's to the girls who stay smart,
Aren't they a gas?
Rushing to their classes in optical art,
Wishing it would pass.

Another long, exhausting day.
Another thousand dollars!
A matinee, a Pinter play!
Perhaps a piece, of Mahler's!

I'll drink to that!
And one for Mahler... (“The Ladies Who Lunch”, Stephen Sondheim)

Ann Romney was called to task because she never worked and ONLY was a stay at home Mom. She was appalled first via Twitter, then via FOX News, that anyone would consider a stay at home Mom was not as hard working a Mom as a working mother.The Dems hate stay at home Moms, the Dems are elitists, the Dems have shown that THEY are waging a war against women, Ann on cue would answer and a sight tear tried to drip from her eye. And Ann’s husband, running for president, who confers to his wife Ann for all topics women, was totally insulted.

And then it was discovered during one of Romney’s flip-flops-flips, Mr. Romney said that food stamp women, women who are receiving welfare, should go to work to earn their money. They are not working when they stay at home. And yesterday, Ann Romney gleefully stated to a private meeting of high end donors, that this was the perfect birthday gift and she could be happier to be handed this attack for her staying at home.Don’t you just lov politics.

Ann Romney had 5 sons to take care of, a big job indeed, but Ann Romney did not have to worry about receiving welfare, food stamps or a monthly income enabling her to afford the good life for her 5 sons. Mr. Romney had no concern in telling his wife to go out and get a real job she wasn’t lazy. And now like some scripted outrage, the Republicans want Americans to think there is a war on stay at home Moms created by the Dems.

It seems the Romney’s have no idea of how the poor, unemployed, middle class women live or cope or survive. It’s a life style outside of their own experiences. There is nothing wrong with them being wealthy, but there is a whole lot wrong with people like Mitt Romney becoming president and not understanding terms like equal and fair.It is a scary thought for this man of privilege to create laws for those not in the same privileged society in which he and his stay at home wife, Ann lives.

How deeper of a divide do we want for this nation? How much greater the gap of we vs they do we deserve? How come real life for the wealthy is not real life for anyone else? And people still believe Mitt Romney is the right man for president, and Ann Romney the first lady!!!

Here's to the girls who play wife,
Aren't they too much?
Keeping house but clutching a copy of 'Life',
Just to keep in touch.
The ones who follow the rules,
And meet themselves at the schools,
Too busy to know that they're fools,
Aren't they a gem?
I'll drink to them.
Let's all drink to them (“The Ladies Who Lunch”, Stephen Sondheim)

my way

Last month a Christian, family-values lobbying group convinced Arizona lawmakers to kill an anti-bullying bill that it said carried a gay friendly agenda, according to the Arizona Daily Star. The state Senate's minority leader, David Schapira, blamed the president of the lobbying group for killing the bill, calling her a "legislative terrorist."

"Cathi Herrod, an unelected lobbyist, killed a bill that would protect all Arizona kids purely because of her intolerance of gay kids," he said.

Materials on the Center for Arizona Policy site tell Christian parents that their children have the responsibility to share their faith with others, and Herrod, the center's president, wrote in a statement that she opposed the anti-bullying bill in Arizona because it encouraged LGBT tolerance. (Huff Post)

For some who identify as Christians, the God they worship, does not prefer tolerance for all and seems to insist that the correct Christian way is to exclude those deemed the Devil. For some of those Christians who claim to be Americans, they believe the teachings in their Bible usurps the teachings found in the U.S. Constitution. This group of bigots using their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as their reason for bigotry, want to impose their Christian value system in a country that supposedly has a division between Church and State. And when Americans who value the U.S. Constitution as the truth argue that intolerance is Un-American, suddenly there is a war on religion.

Focus on the Family is planning to counter the "Day of Silence," an annual event to protest LGBT bullying set for April 20, with its own “Day of Dialogue”. The evangelical organization's aim is to muffle an effort that "crosses the line in a lot of ways beyond bullying into indoctrination, just promoting homosexuality and transgenderism."

The group has been advocating an anti-anti-bullying message for years. When a California school adopted an anti-bullying rule that mentioned gays and lesbians in 2010, backlash ensued. (Huff Post)

A group of Christians who insist they know the teachings of Jesus and who insist that his Bible has more power than the Constitution, want to define who can get bullied and who should be bullied because they happen to be LGBT. This group who only focuses on the kind of families they believe Jesus Christ intended to establish on this earth, has little trouble maligning families not fitting their mold. They say they are doing this to save America. From what however the freedoms and equality established in the Constitution or the biased words written by hateful humans found in the Bible.

Most of these so called Christians can not yell loud enough against the theocratic governments in the Middle East whose indoctrination is you must believe in Allah or die. Most of these so called Christians protest the governments run by Communists whose strong arm keeps its populations from believing in anything but the Party. Most of these so called Christians adorn themselves with the flag, and carry pocket sized versions of Constitution (for show and tell) but only believe their perverted version of the Bible.

And now as the Christian Conservative Right declare a War on Religion, (as the aggressors of that war), the current crop of politicians in office acquiesce for fear that having a backbone, taking a stand abiding by the Constitution will remove them from office. And as rights and freedoms are being destroyed many of us sit back and say this is not important it is about jobs and the economy.

Suddenly it is the Bible, the New Testament that is the law of the land and all else is secondary. And just as suddenly a majority of Americans either support this or look the other way or say lets just concentrate on the Economy.

When did we permit this country become the United States of Jesus My Way or Else? When did this country become MY Interpretation of the Bible or Else? When did this country become run by small minded bigots with no soul or values? When did we decide the Bible is the final authority of law in the United States? A War on Religion, my ass. More like a war on freedoms and rights and just one more Christian Crusade.

like brunch

Independents. Yep Am-eerie-ca has a new group of voters. Suddenly the Independents are the key demographic to selecting the next man to become President of these here United States of Am-eerie-ca. They are like the word brunch in a way, as Homer Simpson of the “The Simpson’s” likes to say, “...its not quite breakfast and its not quite lunch, its brunch...” but it is still a meal nonetheless. The Independents are not quite Repubs and not quite Dems, but Indies, are still voters we are told.

Now these Indies need to vet the presidential candidates even closer and with more intelligence we are told. They are Indies because, well because they are not quite Repubs or not quite Dems. They are suddenly bestowed with wisdom and insight too shallow for the Dem voter or too lacking in the Rep voter. These Indies can see deeper into the souls of Am-eerie-can politicians and won’t be fooled by any silly party affiliation. No they will cut to the chase, they will slice the core, they will decipher the code and get to the heart of the matter.

But somehow a majority of these Indies don’t seem to be bothered with lack of freedoms bandied about by the Republicans. These Indies don’t seem to think denying the LGBT community the right to marry, adopt children is of special concern. These Indies don’t seem to think infringement of a woman’s right to use contraceptives, seek an abortion, use the health services of Planned Parenthood is a problem. These Indies somehow overlook the Am-eerie-can Constitution stating a strong separation between Church and State kind of scary. Nope they are Indies and somehow being an Indie means equality, freedom and choice for fellow Am-eerie-cans are not strong enough issues to stop being an Indie.

We are told that none of that touchy-feely thing like equality or freedom is on the minds of Indies. Nope it is Jobs, the Economy, Jobs, the Economy silly that is what makes these Indies, well an Indie. All those social issues are secondary. So if women are treated like chattel, Gays like a second race, poor as being invisible, the elderly as losers, and people of color as uppities a true Indie will say those are party line issues, I am an Indie because my vote goes beyond all of that petty shit.Petty Shit????!!!!

I don’t get it! Equal rights, civil rights is being tested in this nation and one political party, (The Republican/Tea Party) is doing everything in its political power to move Am-eerie-ca back to a time of segregation and the Indies are not bothered? One party (The Republican/Tea Party) favors separate but equal and the Indies are not moved by this? So, we have a better economy but a two tier system of Am-eerie-can population, the Royalty and the Serf, and that is okay?

I am glad we have this group of people who are trying to make a difference in the political cesspool that is Am-eerie-can politics, but before you pretend that both parties are useless and meaningless, look closer at how each party treats all Am-eerie-cans. Look closer at the respect, the equality, the inclusion or lack of.

Living the good life is only good when all people have a fair share at living it. Independence is the right to live a life filled with choice, not the denial of.

Motherhood America

I stand for Motherhood,
America,
And a hot lunch for orphans
Take off your hat, sir
While your country's flag is passing
Do you see him
On the hill at Gettysburg
'Neath that great triumphal arch?
If you see him as he's trampling through the grapes of wrath
Stand up and march, march, march! (“Motherhood March”, Jerry Herman)

On, Wednesday, April 12, a bit of tit for tat was expressed via a CNN political television show and Twitter, between Hilary Rosen, a nationally recognized democrat political strategist, and Ann Romney, the wife of Mitt Romney. The exchange focused on motherhood and a definition of who and what is a mother.

Seems Ms Rosen stated correctly that Ann Romney raised five boys, and never worked a day outside of the home. Seems Ms Rosen’s delivery however sounded as if just raising 5 boys was not really considered work. Seems Mrs. Romney at the behest of those men and women running the sound bytes for the Romney campaign alerted her followers she was upset and emotionally distraught that anyone would assume raising kids was not work. Seems Mrs. Romney at the urging of the PR boys and girls for the Romney campaign, decided that there was a war on women, and this time the war was against non-working mother-women.

Seems once again a discussion on the lives of women has been twisted and mangled into nothing more then name calling, with each side rather calling names then discussing the real issue at hand.

We all know that any stay at home parent raising one to a dozen kids is as difficult a job as any. For any parent who has stayed at home raising kids this job is filled with emotion, stress, joy, difficulty, and pleasure. It is more of a 24 hour/7 day a week job. When Hilary Rosen stated all Ann Romney did was stay at home raising her sons, Ms. Rosen should have added the following: Ann Romney was lucky enough to have had not to seek employment... was lucky enough to be wealthy enough that raising her sons included paid help...was lucky enough to not have to make that dreadful decision of how much time do I give to outside work and my stay at home duties.

Ann Romney was correct in stating raising kids as a stay at home mom is tough work and should have added the following: but I was lucky enough not have had to worry a teeny, weeny bit about the finances in making this decision...that because of the lack of financial worries being a stay at home mom was an easier choice to have made...that being wealthy enough to have all kinds of assistance and aid from paid staff eased the burden a bit.

Then both women should have started the discussion of the real issues which plague women who stay at home who don’t have a choice, who must jiggle work and home issues, how having financial stability help make the raising of any kids easier.

And instead of creating a derisive issue between, both women could come together to find a consensus for something so relevant.

I stand for motherhood,
America,
And a hot lunch for orphans
Take off your hat, sir
There's a tear-stained eagle passing
Do you see him
On the field at Waterloo
'Neath that great triumphal arch? (“Motherhood March”, Jerry Herman)

Not to let any water under the bridge escape, the Catholic Church had to chime in that Mrs. Romney a heterosexual female gave birth to her 5 sons, the way God intended via heterosexual intercourse. Ms. Rosen, a Lesbian, only adopted her two sons, something in the eyes of the Catholic Church which is considered a sin. Then the Republican National Committee came to the rescue of Ms Rosen, and said adoption by loving people should not be shunned. Then after realizing that many of the religious bigoted voters who vote Republican don’t like Gays or Lesbians as parents, the same Republican National Committee, amended their defense of Ms Rosen buy adding adoption is okay, but not if Gays or Lesbians do it.

And once again the war of words has escalated. And once again, the welfare of the single mom, heterosexual or homosexual is being ignored.Those women who want to just raise a family, be financially able to raise that family, would just like to have her kids receive a fair share of the American dream are not the talking points waiting for resolve. Once again the bull shit used to exploit the voter is being discussed while the attempt to solve the real problem is ignored.

I stand for Motherhood America, but with the politics of America in 2012, one would have no idea what any of that means.

bootstraps

We are lectured to by the leadership from within the Republican/Tea Party that gratification and success are bred from less government involvement in our lives and more effort as individuals to “pull ourselves up from our own bootstraps.”

The less government regulation of course is for a cleaner environment, less rules and regulations regarding the banking and finance complexes, no intervention on matters of health insurance and absolutely no infringement on the so called job creators who for the last 8 years did little to create the jobs. All of this lack of involvement by government is a standard bearer assisting with the bottom lines of the corporations and the wealthy, with a false premise of the trickle down effect. If history can be believed just review it.

The Republicans/Tea Party-ers of course create a line in the sand for government involvement however when it comes to the personal lives of Americans. The freedom to marry, the freedom of control of your own body, the freedom for fair wages, the freedom to worship or not to worship as you please are intimidating and defined as cracks in sustaining the Constitution. In cases of human dignity the Republican/Tea Party feel an overwhelming desire to dictate your decision.

We are told that all of us, at least all of us without an earned income of $1million a year must sacrifice, and that sacrifice is a cleanser of souls, and a disinfectant of a lazy loser life. We are told that self esteem can only come to fruition when you suffer. Being given medicaid, food stamps, retirement benefits, scholarships for college, unemployment benefits weakens the backbone and most importantly causes an ugly cancer called Un-American. Don’t be envious of the wealthy, be just like them. “Pull yourself up from your own bootstraps!”

But I wonder how we even consider buying those bootstraps when most of them are made overseas? How do we have time to try on those bootstraps when our days are filled with seeking employment? How could we even afford those bootstraps when first we must pay the rent, purchase food, try and keep our families healthy? And after the indulgence by the 1% are there any bootstraps that fit even available?

I am amazed how gullible some Americans seem to be, thinking that the wealthy donors supporting the Republican/Tea Party candidates, who also are wealthy have any intention to provide any of us with bootstraps. (That is unless we must pay to lease them while using them.) I am disappointed how biased, bigoted and stupid some Americans are to permit their hate for minorities and women to sway their decisions. How they will vote against their own good based on hate for others. ( No one will get to wear bootstraps) I am saddened that somehow welfare for all is usurped by welfare for me first.

We are lectured to by the Republican/Tea Party that sacrifice is good, but not necessarily sacrifice for all. We are now being told by the Republican/Tea Party that suffering causes character. We are being told by the Republican/Tea Party don’t hate us because we are rich, but don’t give us more reason to hate you because you are poor.