christmas time in the city

It's Christmas time in the city...that city being Washington DC. City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, those in front of the Capitol and the White House. People laughing, people passing dressed in holiday cheer, if you are a Republican Senator or Congress Person. Everyone else, well the Grinch just stole your Christmas, that is unless you are in the upper 1% of the wealthy class in the US, a Lobbyist, a CEO in the Financial, Health and Oil Cartels.

The Democrat President, scolded all of us who have been waiting for change we could believe in, at least change that made an attempt to balance the wealth gap... for wanting too much. The Democrat President told us we were all going to be held as hostages and even though he doesn't normally like to deal with hostage takers, he did and he gave them all they wanted and they in turn... gave a crumb or two. The Democrat President threatened those nasty Republican hostage takers that if they pick a fight NEXT time, he will, NEXT time stand his ground and make it royal rumble. "Let's get ready to rummmmmmmmble"!

Don't bother to ask the Senators about fair and equal, they won't tell America they are bigots this term, they will all celebrate the Christmas holiday, letting Gay and Lesbian service people share the trenches, the showers, the sleeping quarters until the new Congress is sworn in and then they will raise their hands to Jesus and say they will make things right.

For the next thirteen months those lazy UnAmerican-ish, unemployed will delight in their hefty socialistic government funded checks buying such extravagant items as food, rent and maybe a doctors visit or two. Their Christmas shopping may be more of a stop over at a city sponsored Mission for dinner and the 99 cent store, while the Congress folk vacation and enjoy a hefty paycheck sponsored by the Government. But wait, 13 months will come sooner than you think and by Christmas of next year all those UnAmerican-ish deadbeats may finally be sent to some island to talk amongst themselves.

It's Christmas time not only in the city, but in Alaska where in Sarah Palin's Alaska she shoots moose, well for the fun of it, and because she, well she can. Makes you wonder how many takes did Discovery Cable need to get the right shot, literally and physically for Sharpshooter Sister Sarah to shoot the moose or was it mooses?

I am Jewish and ever since my days in the 50's at Linden Public School in Pittsburgh, in Miss Marie Cyphers music class where every day in December we learned Christmas carols in preparation for the Christmas pageant, I have had an appreciation for Christmas. I realize that sadly for many of my Christian friends the holiday celebrated publicly might as well be one more Hallmark celebration so trying to force Christmas as just as natural as apple pie, the flag and baseball gives me little concern.

But for many Christmas is a time for miracles, for kindness, for peace, for something great. So as it is Christmas time in the city I am saddened for those who thought perhaps those who tout Christianity as the right way to live a life, do business, care for your brother, those politicians we elected would find the Christmas spirit. But I think for many all they will receive this holiday is a lump of coal.

It's Christmas time in the city...

because they can

I remember, living in Pittsburgh in the early 50's, how my parents and neighbors wondered out loud why would Negro's want to move into our neighborhood, a very white middle to upper class Jewish kind of neighborhood. After all they would mutter, why move to a place you were not welcomed or for that matter wanted? I also remember the same group of Jewish folk lamenting the fact that there was another neighborhood, the first really upscale suburban neighborhood right outside of Pittsburgh where the deed restrictions made it clear no Negro's Catholics or Jews were welcomed. And in unison this same group could not understand why a very rich resident of my neighborhood a predominant Jew was tempting to move. Leave well enough alone they shuddered.

I remember when most of the schools in the various neighborhoods of Pittsburgh were either all White or all Black with the exception of the token children of a janitor attending the school his or her parent worked. I remember the talk that we should leave the schools as they are because thats how they always were, and its worked that way in the past and why make unnecessary changes now. Blacks were not welcome in White schools and for sure Whites were never wanted in Black schools.

I grew up in elementary school then middle school thinking that why would or should anyone make waves, want changes, change the status quo when in fact it was assumed the status quo worked. Then the late sixties happened and I became more involved in the world other than my intermediate world. I met more people not exactly like me, more people who had more ideas, more thoughts and more life experiences than I ever imagined.

At first thought on the subject of Gays in the military, I thought why would anyone Gay or Lesbian want to serve in the military when those in the armed service have little regard, respect and lots of reservations about who they are, who they sleep with and the prospect that whatever it is they do will lead them to a rosy road to hell. At first thought I thought how crazy is that for men and women who are homosexuals to want to serve this country when a bunch of heterosexuals don't want to be around them.

And then I realized as I did when I entered high school, that this is America, this is a land of freedom, a place of equality a home of the brave who made it safe for ALL Americans to strive, thrive and live. And I realized that this is a country where you can live where you choose, attend school where you choose, and serve your country as you choose. And this is a country I thought that YOU never had to lie, to do any of it. We are Americans living by a Constitution with inalienable rights for all entitling us to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

To all those who have family and neighbors who preach, (many who think it comes from God's ear to their mouth) that Gays should be happy lying, Gays are sinners thus not real Americans, Gays only serve in the armed services to see naked same gender men and women shower, or that gays should not serve in military because they are not welcomed its never been that way...they have no idea what being an American is all about! And for those who remain silent on not repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell because the military has always been a segregated Institution of this Nation and saying anything won't solve the issue, you are as guilty and dumb as those who run rampant at the mouth to keep the Gays from serving.

We all remained silent way too long in allowing people to live in neighborhoods they choose or attending schools they select. We shamelessly and painfully changed that. The gay community learned from the outbreak of AIDS that silence equaled death, and WE, YOU, US can no longer remain silent by tolerating hate, bigotry, lies and any kind of bias based on a false interpretation of God, racism and homophobia.

I don't undersand why Gays and Lesbians want to honor a Nation whose leaders only play at wanton and wasted politics. Whose leaders know little about honor and more about hate?Or whose leaders justify injustice. But Gays and Lesbians want to serve and this IS America and they have the right to do it openly and honestly!

Enough permitting anti American rhetoric, replace all America hope. Enough! Let's finally take back America.

in the meanwhile

In the meanwhile…

*Today in San Francisco the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing arguments regarding Prop 8, the Proposition in California which banned Same Sex Marriage. Once more Gay and Lesbians who just want to marry the person they love are waiting for a judicial debate, for some higher human power to discuss, dialogue and decide who has the right to love and marry in this country.

In the meanwhile... while at least 1000’s of Gay and Lesbian couples anxiously await a verdict as to the possibility of sharing the same equality as their opposite sex couple friends, the chance to wed…while 1000’s of wedded heterosexual couples are cheating on their spouses, committing adultery, pursuing infidelity…while 1000’s of heterosexual couples chip and tear apart the Institution of Marriage with their indiscretions, 1000’s of homosexual couples want to build some foundation and become a part of that Institution.

*The President may now compromise with the minority Republican/Tea Bag Party hoping to get much needed income for the 2 million unemployed in extending their unemployment checks.

In the meanwhile… compromise is necessary because somehow the Republican/Tea Bag politicians have little compassion for those with no income and too much compassion for those with expendable income. Seems having no money is un-American but being rich is the American way. The wealthy must keep living their lifestyle or else.

*The debate over coming out of a closet for the troops is still being bandied about. Homo- phobia wrapped in religious bigotry, covered in some tarnished red, white and blue patriotism trips off the tips of the tongues of those like John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint. The excuse currently to withhold equal rights is coming out during war will wreck havoc, the same excuse used to even create DADT while there were no wars raging.

In the meanwhile…the same evil closeted homosexuals are sleeping in the same quarters, showering in the same stalls, hunkering down in the same bunkers and the moral, the fortitude, the work of the Troops has not evaporated or gone to hell. The same guys and gals who are a part of the team, covering each and everyone’s back, sharing the load are still doing what they all enlisted to do.

*The START treaty was the perfect way to at least understand the complexities of how many and where nuclear arsenals were located. It fit well into the US trying to control the flow of illegal nuclear warheads, and was the perfect fit for the hard core hawks within the Republican (only we know how to protect America) mantra. That was when America first was not interrupted with the motto Republican’s first.

In the meanwhile…the same Republican Senators who preached we can save America, we know what is best for the safety of this country, we are not the wussy Dems, have a change of heart, and are stopping the START Treaty from being signed sealed and delivered. Perhaps displaying yet more signs of partisans’ over practicality, The Republican/Tea Bag party is risking the proliferation of nuclear weaponry over winning back the White House.

Talk is cheap in this country, probably one of the most inexpensive things around in 2010. Talk it seems has little relevance or nuance to solving much of anything and instead is usually the catalyst for causing everything. People like Palin, and Gingrich talk to FOX Pac but refuse to entertain the “lame street press”. People like Bush talk about their new books but never talk to you and I about what really happened in his 8 years as President. People like Beck talk about doom, gloom, communists and haters never once discussing truth.

And in the meanwhile…we still have division not consensus, we vs. they, them and us, and problems, issues that can not and will not be resolved. We seem to talk about how not to and in the meanwhile need to strive with how we can. I hate the meanwhile!

same but different

While in ninth grade I went out with a girl named Suzie, we dated for about a month. Being in ninth grade as much in love as you might think you are, it was more of an adolescent paramour experience with lots of mushy words and very little else. But Suzie felt after a month of Friday night dates I should meet her mother with whom Suzie had shared some information regarding me.

I lived in a very affluent Jewish neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Squirrel Hill, and last names held sway as to your status in the community. Suzie’s family was owner of a large paper company and some of the upper echelon within Squirrel Hill. My last name is Buncher and my father’s cousins were owners of such things as scrap steel and the property on which the Three Rovers Stadium was built.

I was poor, as my father was policeman, and although we were Bunchers we were the Bunchers from the other side of the track. But the last name of Buncher did open up many doors.

Suzie’s mom a very snobby woman was excited to meet me, and although Suzie and I both were in ninth grade her mom did envision a wedding made from status and one which might produce offspring from a paper company conglomerate and scrap steel. It took about five minutes for Suzie’s mom to ask the right questions hoping to confirm I was the right Buncher from the right part of the Buncher family. My grandfather had a brother Jack who was the original, owner of all the Buncher wealth, and Suzie’s mom asked how my grandfather Jack was feeling. I answered “…my grandfather’s name is Benjamin”. “Who is he”, asked Suzie’s mom? “My grandfather”! “Your grandfather is not Jack” she said. “Nope”! “Are you sure you are a Buncher” she said. “I am” I said, adding “my grandfather owns a tailor shop and my dad is a cop.”

The next day Suzie called with a very cold voice and a brief response saying she wants to date other people and good bye.

There are thousands of Gay men and Lesbians serving in the armed services. They are fighting with the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq risking their lives, doing the work to spread democracy, sharing living quarters, trenches, and field operations with their comrades in arms. Each man and woman is risking life and limb as they work in a cohesive manner with fellow troops and doing a patriot’s job in fighting two wars for this country.

Some homosexual troops are heroes like their heterosexual counterparts; some are unsung heroes like their heterosexual counterparts, and some just grunts doing their jobs like their heterosexual counterparts.

The main difference between the homosexual troops and the heterosexual troops is that the former must lie about who they might want to date or sleep with and the later can openly cheat on their spouses, hire prostitutes, flirt and wink wildly at the opposite sex. But both groups have enlisted to fight for this country, something not all Americans wish or want to do.

For 10 years this nation has been fighting wars, and for 10 years there have been, (under the wishy washy law called ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’), Gays in the military. In the past 10 years no heterosexual man or woman has been raped while showering, no sexual advances have been attempted between the home and the hetero, no Gay porno has been broadcast forcing the hetero community to watch. For 10 years aside from being outed by insecure religious zealots most of the Gays and Lesbians have performed the jobs they enlisted to do.

Now John McCain and his cronies of homophobes fear that by permitting the same group of men and women to serve openly will change all of that. Suddenly those who have held discretion, honor, and professionalism as priorities will hold circuit parties, orgies and same sex gang bangs while dodging bullets and terrorists. Suddenly what was a community of troops will become troops of Gays who sodomize and behave in sinister ways.

The same but different, I am not sure how that works.

I was Gerry Buncher the kid dating Suzie. Suzie had fun with me, we laughed did what ninth graders do. But then I was Gerry Buncher grandson of Benjamin, not Jack the same was now different. Gays and Lesbians serving in the military fighting dying, risking their lives. But when they don’t have to lie and suddenly the moral, the ethics the honor of the armed services will diminish and die... the same changed and now it is different.

Is it that the perceived facts change but the truth is still the same that make a difference? Is it that suppositions have changed so that makes a difference? Is it that bias’s change so that makes a difference? I was the same person, the Gays and Lesbians in the military are the same people, so why the difference?

When do we as a collective move forward, forge ahead face our fears? I am never sure how same but different really works?

who are we?

I have two burning questions which seem to race around my mind in unrelenting sequences. “Who are these people” and “Who do they think they are”?

Who are these people, the current crop of Republican/Tea Bag politicians who seem more concerned about their own jobs and less concerned with jobs for most Americans? Who are these people who say we can’t afford to pay extended benefits to the unemployed while arrogantly stating that the wealthy (at an estimated cost to the deficit of 7 billion dollars) must continue to receive tax cuts. Who are these rogues and hooligans who unlike Robin Hood steal from the poor and give to the rich?

Who are these small minded lemmings like creatures that proudly boast about less government but never say a word about poverty, unemployment, homelessness? Who are these self proclaimed patriots who carry tea bags paid for by millionaires but who carry little responsibility to help the greater good? Who are these people draped in the flag who resent, hate; despise anyone that tries to make a better life for themselves?

Who are these people the majority of Democrats elected who have lost their backbone, their conscience, their balls permitting a minority to bully them, allowing them to dictate the rules of the game? Who are these people living in the White House who make grandiose statements of what is right and good and allow the bully to kick sand in their faces? Who are these people (the Dems) trying to find compromise with a band of goons (the Republicans/Tea Baggers) who lie about their intentions to mediate never wanting consensus but grabbing at concessions?

“Who are these people” who quietly ring their fingers hoping that the boogie man will evaporate, disappear, and stop disparaging the true democracy of this Nation? Who are these people who sat home not voting because all politicians are idiots all politicians are the same, all politicians are out for themselves? Who are these people who voted the bums out after two years permitting the old bums to be voted back into power? Who are these people who allow the party of “No” to keep saying “No” and not engaging with outrage and backlash?

And “who do these people think they are”? We have people crying less government but denying rights for Gays to marry or serve in the military, deny children of illegal aliens to find a path to citizenship, defuse the START Treaty with Russia making the world less safe and more profuse in nuclear weapons, deny a women’s right to seek an abortion, denying freedom of religion, denying Health care for all, refusing to accept any rules or regulations for the Financial markets, saying that God promised Noah he would never destroy human life thus refusing to believe there is global warming, apologizing to BP for calling them on the carpet for their insidious and careless concern for safety?

And “who are these people”, who permit wealthy millionaires to write their scripts, pay their bills, lobby those we elect, advance the rift between the haves and the not’s to such a degree that the middle class will soon no longer exist? “Who are these people” wrapped in the flag with New testament Bibles draped around their collars, calling every one who dresses different then they, pray differently then they, love differently then they, speak differently then they, un American, Communist, Socialist, Terrorist, Enemy?

And after I ask these questions over and over a third question comes jumping in my head…”Who are WE, to permit this to happen”?

on the list

Lists have always been an American tradition. Lists were made to show things special, things not so special, and things especially mentioned as good or bad, right from wrong, the same or different.

In the 50's Eugene McCarthy had his of "commies", Nixon had his list of enemies. Kathy Griffin has the "D" List, Logo gives the ultimate gay list the "A" List, Football writers give us the AP List of top college football teams, and David Letterman dredges up his "Top 10" list.

And now for the over two million unemployed Americans, (who for most are unemployed because of the inept, self serving laws enforced by the Bush/Cheney Dictatorship with help from the Republican Congress People), there is a new list brought to America by the Republican/Tea Baggers. It is the Not Good Enough To Be An American List.

This Not Good Enough To Be An American List (NGETBAA) has a long list of perceived enemies of the state. With the help of the Evangelical Christians those proclaiming God speaks to them directly, FOX Pac the we make up news as we go along group, Tea Baggers funded by millionaires, and spineless soulless Republicans and Neo Cons this list is full of scapegoats, villains and cause for the shortcomings of the losers who create these lists.

Uppity Blacks, Homosexuals, Non-Uppity Blacks, Muslims, Aliens, Aliens who are illegal, Mexicans, the ones who chop off heads in the deserts of Arizona, Gays serving in the military, the ones who dare wear a uniform and dress in drag when they can and patrol the shower stalls, Unions, those communists like folk who want a fair salary, University grads especially if they graduated from an uppity Ivy League University, Non Evangelical Christians Catholics maybe Mormons but then again Glenn Beck is a Mormon, Jews unless they all want to move to Israel so the second coming can already come, women the ones who want equal pay for equal work, abortion clinics, abortion doctors are already on the NGETBAA List. And now with the carelessness and callousness of the Republican/Tea Baggers in Congress Unemployed Americans who want to have their unemployment benefits extended are new additions to the evil doers and demons.

As some Congress people have stated..."unemployment checks keep people from looking for work... unemployed people use their up to $300 a week to take vacations...if an unemployed person wants to work he/she can find a job"... and the best response is that extending paying the at least two million unemployed their unemployment check will add to the deficit and hurt the economy for our children and grandchildren.(Never worry that the children and grandchildren of the unemployed are severely suffering now). (But the Republican/Tea Baggers never mention that not eliminating the Bush Tax Cuts for the upper echelon of millionaires and billionaires will add over seven billion dollars of deficit and did nothing for the past 8 years to spur hiring.)

The Republican/Tea Bagger List of NGETBAA is full of boogie men scarier than any Hollywood film studio could envision. It is full of scorn and hate for anyone wanting the American dream. It is full of folks so necessary to be the fall guys/gals for the incompetent selfish lying bastards who only serve in public service to serve themselves.

Lists... throughout this country we have relied on Lists to keep some fenced in and some fenced out, to keep we from they to keep us from ever finding common ground.

Welcome to the NGETBAA List the six million unemployed Americans for now you have taken the weight of hate off my back as a Jewish Gay man. At least for the time being there are 'worser', wrong doers than I.

hanukah

Tonight is the first night of Hanukah. It has always been one of those holidays that emits energy and family. Whether it is the story of heros, or the tales of hope or just one more reason for a Hallmark card, Hanukah is a celebration for me that elicits excitement and a sense of belonging.

I would like to share my Hanukah greetings with my friends on Facebook, both Jewish and any other religion or non religion they may be.

Miracles, so we are told, are a magical part of life. They are sudden in arrival but lying in wait for the exact moment to appear. Miracles so we are told are figments of an imagination. They are incarnations of wishes and wants that happen because consciously or unconsciously we manifest the actions we desire. Miracles so we are told are scattered and haphazard. They follow no pattern, follow no route but arrive just in the nick of time.

Is it us? Is it a greater power? Is it just the way of life that we receive or do not receive miracles? Are we so excited about the unexpected that when the good news arrives we are so overwhelmed we celebrate with wonder and awe, never questioning how but thankful for how come? Are we so relieved with the chance to move ahead, the choices to move forward, the consequences of not getting our wishes diminished that we shout out loud, jump for joy, and scream a mighty amen. Are we forever in amazement that the second chance has dismantled the failure of the first chance?

For many the winter season brings with it the traditions of Hanukah and great miracles of light, might and insight as to the greater good. It showcases the power of determination, will and fortitude no matter how harsh the moment. For many it is one more reason to persevere, to believe to hope.

We find ourselves with an abundant amount of miracles or a dire and dreadful famine of bad luck. We find ourselves with a cup half full or emptied by disillusionment and disappointment. We find ourselves helpless or hopeful. But we find ourselves craving the next flicker of magic, the next monumental moment, and the next miracle…self made or heaven sent.

I wish for you, your own miracle made especially by and for you.

Happy Hanukah,