season for honest

We have approached the time of year when those who find faith in religion are ready to celebrate miracles. Those who believe in the power of nature realize the beauty of the winter’s solstice. And those who find the strength of the human soul the source of good and evil perhaps some vacation time to contemplate their thoughts.

For most, this December potpourri of holidays, weather patterns, shades of pinks and light blues in the sky complimented by the rainbow of bulbs strewn on the chimneys and frames of homes can be a time of reflective honesty. And if honesty is prioritized, promoted because “Santa” is making a list of who is naughty or nice, or the flames on the Hanukah menorah glow bright due to perseverance and promise, or the seven principles of Kwanza are being honored or merely the logs on the fire place emit warm heart felt feelings it does not matter What matters is that to be honest is to deny falsehood and lies. What matters to admit your fears your bias, your bigotry and stop disguising them as anything else but human frailty.

Curious how we are told, (we Americans) who happen to have attributes other than just being GLBT btw, that equality does not hold true when it comes to “same sex marriage” laws in this country as written for the heterosexual, or “opposite sex couples”. We are constantly preached to that the demise of the sacred Institution of Marriage, (the one held so high and esteemed by the hetero community), will surely happen if the LGBT community is allowed to participate. For science if not God’s word, has shown that “gays” can not love unconditionally, can not remain monogamous, and can not fulfill the covenant of marriage.

Ask Jenny Sanford, (wife of the Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford) who recently filed for divorce. She told reporters “His (Mark) far more egregious offenses were committed against God, the institutions of marriage and family.” Seems the Governor felt the wanderlust, the intrigue, the pursuit of another woman were priorities needing tending to and that since he was a man of God, a heterosexual, the tenants of the Institution of Marriage could be ignored.

Funny how Governor Sanford, Senator Ensign, Senator McCain, Governor Spitzer, House Speaker Gingrich, Mayor Giuliani’s adulterous, affairs are over looked as injurious to the Institution of Marriage. They are only minor discretions and surely since they are heterosexual discretions God, who established the whole man marrying woman rule will pardon them.

Amazing how those save marriage groupies swear it has nothing to do with the homosexual thing, just a matter of principles that add to make the Institution of Marriage strong, and of course, strong for the children.

And then the Catholic Church always to the rescue of the righteous, or at least their definition of the righteous, just can’t seem to overlook the sin of same sex marriage. It is a recipe for evil and ungodly like behavior. Seems what is righteous and what they make righteous is debated when it comes to their own priests. Once again, most recently this time with Irish priests, the issue of child molestation has reared its ungodly hat.

Dublin Archbishop Diarmund Martin who handled over more than 60,000 previously secret files to the three-year investigation of Irish priests, said he felt deep shame and sorrow for how previous archbishops presided over endemic child abuse-yet claimed afterward not to understand the gravity of their sins. Martin added-they (the archbishops) must have understood that priests molestation and rape of boys and girls “was a crime in both civil and canon law.”

Yet the Catholic Church has not missed a beat in exclaiming how sinful how much of a crime it is for “same sex couples in love to marry. Hide the rape and molestation of kids, but scream from the Vatican about how wrong it is when people loving one another are loving one another within the same gender.

And the Church of Ladder day Saints, big on many of the say no to “gay marriage” propositions in the U.S; have howled long and loud from their divine Temples about the evils of homosexuality. And have sworn, when they even admit to aiding and abiding the anti “gay marriage” groupies, they do what they do only to keep the Institution of Marriage alive and well. The LDS take a supposedly “understanding and compassionate view of homosexuality by stating that (homosexuality is caused by dysfunctional parenting, typically by an overbearing mother and emotionally distant father. So dysfunctional people marrying would only place a strain on the Institution of Marriage.

The LDS Church has had its share of theology changes in the past. They temporarily suspended Polygyny in 1890, and reversed their racist policies against African-Americans in 1978. Both multiple marriages and racism were apparently Gods word, but in the LDS religious community Gods influence can change and thus allow for traditions once considered God’s word to be altered.

But according to Harold Brown LDS official spokesman “no amount of press coverage is going to influence God to change the rules about homosexuality. Who knew God even read the newspapers or watch CNN.

This is a season for many who believe in the Catholic Church, the Church of Ladder Day Saints, the Evangelical Protestant Churches, belief systems to honor the birth of a Savior. It is a season where many parishioners are asked to “come clean”, to be honest, to look to the Lord with pure heart.

So then why not admit that those who oppose “same sex marriage” oppose it because they fear, loathe, are uneducated about homosexuals. Why not admit it’s not the Institution we are protecting, it is our bigotry we allow to lead our judgment. If that bit of honesty was admitted, then both sides of the “same sex argument might be able to talk to find consensus. If they leave God out of the issue, as they have left him out when it comes to “opposite-sex” divorce, protecting child molesting priests, dysfunctional parenting, then we could address this issue like humans, man to man, woman to woman.

wishing

Wishes… while sitting on Santa’s lap, little homilies of how good I have been, and promises of how much better I can be.

Wishes… as we choose 6 numbers and that mega digit, of how the bills, the debt the dinginess of not enough dollars could, would be made into bouquets of Benjamin’s

WISHES… as we watch a co-worker laid off, losing his/her job, watching their face as their heart sinks deeper into their gut, hoping they are alright of course but silently praying not me, not me.

WISHES… as a new test may be needed for that cough that lingers, hoping the newest round of medical wonders don’t mean one more loan or the total on the charge card growing like the numbers on the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

WISHES… wanting for the man I love, to be more than a domestic partner, or a partner in a civil union, wanting to call him my wedded bliss, but waiting for the majority of Americans to recognize my equality.

WISHES… hearing the harangues of heatless self serving politicians who once elected by the people, avoid the people and pursue personal pleasures, wondering when does the bad guy grovel and beg, declare his indecency?

WISHES…that facts presented as truth stop turning out to be fiction. That a person’s word is worth more than the fee paid for a speechwriter. That the outcome decided upon is one for the good of the greater and not for the greedier.

It is almost Hanukah, a festival within the calendar of history and hearsay for many people Jewish. It is a festival of lights, remembering that a great miracle happened here; an eight day celebration of promise, strength, belief and resilience.

It is also a time for WISHES to be made, some floating like helium, some trudging the earth as a beached whale, and some like a GPS map with destination declared and found.

There is so much to WISH for this year, there was so much from the prior year to be WISHED away.

WISHES…WISHING they all have the power of conviction, the force of genuine, and the rational of righteous.

Happy Hanukah WISHES.

pick and choose

We pick and choose.

Say what we will when we want and walk away from our words when those same words are found to be fraught with fable and fiction.

No foundation of fact is necessary.

We just pontificate as we please, assuming anyone who feels the same as we do will not question the intent of the speech, even if the speech is false; lies live well when they proclaim messages of hate and bigotry. And if someone else is saying, out loud what we feel inside, afraid to mention ourselves, then hallelujah, I can be justified in my own biases.

We pick and choose.

Justification about injustice many times comes as a cause for others while the impact of these words results in consequences for many more.

Choruses of “it’s for the children” are sung as adults claim it’s not about the homosexual’s they dislike, but homosexuals marrying would lessen the chances of straight kids participating in the Institution of Marriage. (oh the power of Gays and Lesbians).

The Institution of Marriage would become broken and bent, less relevant and meaningless because the LGBT community defy the definition of what marriage is as stated from God’s own intention.

It’s not God like, (homosexuals marrying), so denying “same sex couples” the right to marry can not be prejudicial or biased, because God is not a bigot. So the words used to deny equality come from a higher power. And that being the case all humans are off the hook for their hate because all they are doing is interpreting God’s law.

Pick and choose.

Sarah “the maverick” Palin, chooses her statements, and then walks away from any responsibility of speech when the meaning behind the statement is challenged for factuality and reason. She feels no obligation to back up her story with facts, but will defend her right to say what she feels based on home made fiction.

Sarah picks words to incite and invoke, but chooses to walk away once the riot and chaos begin. No responsibilities for misinformation, after all they are only words and this IS America, ever hear of free speech. No obligation for honesty and certainly no honor in claiming to be dishonest.

Pick and choose.

The anti Health Reform Care politicians who rant and rave about how creating reform will discombobulate the entire fair market practice of American capitalism, create another Government run catastrophic agency, allow for abortion clinics, and death panels to arise murdering and killing in a unstoppable rampage, never find the words to say what they will do to stop the outrageous practices of the Health Care Industry.

They are careful to speak about the inequities befalling the corporate owners of out health care, they are diligent in dividing the have’s as better people than the have not’s, and they are outstanding in keeping the lobbyists happy and continuing to receive rebates for their roadblocks.

The anti Health Care Reform politicians choose not come up with a plan for the underinsured, the not insured, the sick, the aged, the American unemployed, those with pre-existing conditions, and dance around any relief for the average individual. Their words of divide and conquer are greater than any words of comfort or care.

Pick and choose.

It is all so easy to be exclusive, so easy to deny, so easy to avoid. So easy to pick and choose what we say and walk away with no responsibility for any or all the words spoken.

got argument?

All kind of compromises are being jostled about, about Health Insurance, Health Coverage, and the quality of human life.

We just can’t afford to allow all Americans to have a universal health package, not now, just not the right thing to do, what with the jobless rate increasing, the recession on Main Street still recessing.

This is America; we can’t disallow big corporations to stop making huge profits. Not fair to the Capitalistic nature of what makes this country great. Start interfering with the Health Biz Cartel, and we will all become a socialist, commie country. You got to maintain the upper class, the wealthy class from other classes otherwise there would be no motivation to work, work hard and hire those to pay less.

And most of the people who are obese, sickly-ish, not covered with health insurance, underinsured brought that on themselves. Hell, I worked hard and can afford to pay through the ceiling I might add, for my Health Coverage. I had some pre-existing health conditions, but no one ever found out about them--- yet, so I am okay.

Americans are equal, damn it, at least the ones not having babies out of wedlock. The ones who try and find a job, the ones who pay taxes just like me, the ones who believe in my God. Those are the ones who have no complaints about their Health Insurance.

This is America; we do have distinctions of class in this country for necessity. And those social distinctions separate “us” from having to share what is our God given right to have, to keep, from “them.” Like Health Care!

All you Fatties, Unemployed, Terminally Ill, Poor, Bastard Children and their immoral Mothers, if you don’t like the current Health Care in MY country, just leave, go!

I am content with my coverage, nothing is going to happen to me as long as I work, and pay, and stay—well, HEALTY.

ALL those Republican Senators and those God fearing Blue Dog Dems, are doing the right thing fighting this Obama Care “slight of hand” voodoo. Even though all those ELECTED OFFICIALS have excellent Health Insurance, round the clock care, extended benefits for their family, a Government run Health Care Plan, they know that they deserve it, and don’t want to give the same coverage to just any American. Those ELECTED OFFICIALS work hard with the Lobbyists from the Health Insurance Cartel, and Big Pharma to keep those corporations greedy. It certainly is no easy task to try and do the bidding of their constituents as well as be a lemming for the men and women who put money in their political coffers. Running for office is no cheap experience.

It is time to stop the debate, just say NO, and just draw a line in the sand on Capitol Hill. Those who should have health Coverage WILL, it is just that simple. This IS America.

Imagine just how far America would have NEVER moved if all we listened to was selfish, self serving, politicians and citizens. Perhaps had we followed the route of what is good for ME is all that matters, we would never have become sophisticated enough to realize we ALL need Health Care Reform.

How many more Americans will die earlier in their life, live a very painful and sick life, suffer and find more despair as they choose, food or medical care, rent or prescriptions, while we debate the issue of Health Care?

How many and when will the fickle no health coverage finger of fate point in your direction?

a quiz

Time for a Multiple Choice Quiz. Instead of waiting for the questions, the answers come first. If you get 100% then you, like the cowardly lion, scarecrow, and tin man, (who finally confront the scary but phony wizard finding him to be brave while hidden and to be nothing but a blubbering idiot, when confronted) have COURAGE, a BRAIN and a HEART.

If you get less than 100% then you apparently believe that FOX NEWS IS "fair and balanced", Sarah Palin COULD see Russia from her house, Larry Craig DOES have a wide stance, tax cuts for the extremely wealthy DO work, Dick Cheney IS NOT a war criminal, hate IS Gods way of making you more religious, we NEVER put a man on the moon, and OJ Simpson WAS framed.

Now the answers to the Multiple Choice Quiz.

a.) "its for the children." b.) the liberal media is out to get me." c.) "any connection to MY negative comments or MY negative actions to ME are offensive." d.) "death panels" e.) I know Jesus and you don't." f.) "I don't need facts to prove a point." g.) "he's not born in America." h.) you've misquoted me." i.) "no!" j.) "they are taking away my freedom of speech." k.) so what if I receive money from the health insurance industry." l.) "let them eat cake" m.)are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?" n.) "the Jewish problem." "in God we trust, not just any God, my God." o.)"separate not equal." p.) "God hates Fags" q.) women were made to be chattel and service a man.' r.)"no child left behind." s.) adultery and infidelity do not wreck the Institution as great as homosexuality" t.) if I was having an affair I would resign from office." u.) "Osama Obama, same difference." v.) "he killed an abortionist, he is God's hero." w.) "weapons of mass destruction" x.) "mission accomplished" y.) "Valerie Plame is a spy" z.) the Holocaust is a lie."

The Question: What do PEOPLE say who HAPPEN to be bigots, religious zealots, self loathing, love to follow the lemmings, need others to be a scapegoat, never admit to the truth, politicians, neo -cons, self delusional, and losers?

Enjoy the quiz.

once again, AGAIN

Once again, I a Gay man have been denied my rights this time in the state of New York. The legislature voted not to debate, vote or support Gay Marriage.

Once again like the Slaves owned by the White ruling class in the South I have to ask my Master if he/she will be kind enough to allow me to live a life equal but separate from them.

Once again, like the Blacks in the South I have to drink from a separate water fountain, or stand in the back of the bus because the good seats are reserved for the Caucasians.

Once again, like the interracial couple of the early decade of America, I need to ask permission to marry, support and pronounce “until death do we part”, from the white couples who marry, divorce, cheat and plan adulterous affairs.

Once again, I have to ask my husband if I can work, if I can have the power to be who I wish to be, if I can vote, because as a woman I have no equal rights as a man.

Once again I have to ask my husband if I can have any control over my body, not have sex when he wishes, and not stay at home 24 hours a day. I have to ask not to be considered property, but his partner, his equal.

Once again I have to listen to false statements that this is not a religious dogmatic stance, to deny the LGBT community the right to marry, but a practical Constitutional matter. It is a matter to sustain the INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE. It has nothing to do with personal fear, personal bias, personal bigotry, but with stabilizing a wholesome “opposite sex”, obligation which provides safety, nourishment, and stability for the children. That divorce, infidelity, adultery, lying, cheating in a heterosexual marriage, may happen, but a homosexual marriage would make all the “straight” marriages even more vulnerable and less desirable.

Once again I have to listen while my rights under OUR Constitution are chiseled away. While those who don’t know me, those who were taught to hate me, those whose self esteem is so low they need to feel empowered to find a scapegoat, THOSE Americans live an equal but separate existence from me.

Once again, I am supposed to buy this B. S. and tuck my tail under my legs and hear, “…well at least you have civil unions; at least you have domestic partnerships…” Once again I am supposed be told, there is so much else to concentrate on in this country, why make marriage such a priority. Once again I am told YOU ARE NOT LIKE US.

I am so tired of ONCE AGAIN. When do we stop this insidious, unfair, inhuman, and UNAMERICAN treatment? When?

fox and hen

If we ask the Tobacco Conglomerates to tell us about the health and safety of their products, and use their testimony, their factual checks, their scientific surveys to express the truth about cigarettes what kind of answer do we expect to get?

If we ask the American auto makers to tell us about why we don't have safer cars, better miles per gallon, and cars made to last longer than a few years, and use their engineer studies, their industry research, their study of facts to explain the truth about American made cars, what kind of answer do we expect to get?

If we ask the Coal and Oil Industry to tell us about fossil fuel pollution, about green house effects, about depleting the resources of the ocean and the hillsides and receive their input, their outcomes, their reviews what kind of answer do we expect?

If we ask our ELECTED OFFICIALS who receive Government run Health Care, cash on the side from Health Care Cartels/Pharma-Conglomerate Lobbyists, direction from religious based dogma, to reform the Health Care Insurance for the average American what kind of answer will we receive? If those same ELECTED OFFICIALS turn to the Health Care Cartel to propose change, what kind of change will we receive?

If we ask the Banks and the Wall Street CEO's why they had no checks and balances in place during the latest American economic disaster, why there were no stop gaps into lending practices, why the bottom line of personal salaries triumphed over the need for oversight what kind of answer do we expect? When we now allow the CEO's of Wall Street and the Banking Industry to pave the way for caps or no caps on salaries, for establishing standards for finances, for changing old rules and creating new regulations what kind of reform do we expect to receive?

If we ask those who created the problem, those who benefit financially, those who can and do look the other way, because change does not affect them, what do we expect in return?

When do we look at our history of trusting the Fox to guard the Henhouse and discover that in his guarding the poultry, the wise old FOX has eaten the birds? When do we stop allowing the aggressor free reign to remain greedy and gluttonous? When does common sense get called upon instead of senseless waste and want?

Where are the smart people? Where are the wise men and women? Where does the madness end and the mindful begin? How many more lessons learned from the past, will just go up in smoke? So damn frustrating!