Queer Liberty and Justice

Wow...it's been that long since posting?

2011-03-14T14:10:00.002-04:00

I totally forgot about my blog. My mind is like jello after the brain surgery. It's been almost a year.

News-
1. Dad had cancer surgery...OK for now.
2. Lost health insurance...got it back this January.
3. Migraine headaches have gotten much more intense.
4. The world is going to pieces...nothing I can do about it!

Believe, just believe!

Mudger

Pondering Life

2009-05-04T09:08:00.002-04:00

Well... another day wondering what life is going to be like.

Still struggling with my health. The brain surgery is long over, but the after effects remain. I guess they will remain forever. I can replace hormones, but it's not the same as having the real stuff being made by my body.

I'm thinking (never a good idea) that the mental stress of this is taking its toll. From the outside I look fine, much heavier, but OK. I sound good when I talk for the most part. The hard part I'm learning now wasn't the surgery, it's the stuff that comes after.

I've had other surgeries and I guess somehow this would be the same. It's not.

Yes, the body heals itself. However, all body parts are not created equal! Some just don't repair themselves, even with help.

Ah, enough of the bitching. I complain at times, but it's hard to do when I know how worse off I could have been.

Peace and joy,
Mudger

...all men are created equal.

2009-02-12T23:57:00.002-05:00

Abraham Lincoln's words seem to be floating around the news channels today, on this, the 200th anniversary of this birthday. President Obama spoke tonight using Lincoln's words as he addressed our country's troubles.

I hope that in time the words of equality come to fruition for all Americans. LGBT Americans are still waiting to be included in this statement.

Mudger

Hmmmmmmm...way too long not to have posted

2008-03-08T08:03:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been over a year now since brain surgery. I'm not going back to teaching at this point, possibly never, which is a scary thought.

Life's OK these days. Struggling with after effects of the surgery. It messed up my hormonal system as well as my brain's frontal lobe.

I'm in the process of doing all this disability paperwork stuff. What a pain! But, I need to do it.

What does the future hold? I don't have a clue. I guess I'll just have to "keep on, keeping on" one day at a time.

Peace,
Mudger

The After Surgery Blues

2007-08-02T15:24:00.000-04:00

Dealing with the after affects of brain surgery ain't fun! I'm feeling half human these days. I can't do a lot of things, but my "mind" is telling me I should be. I'm riding an emotional roller coaster. And the ride is starting to freak me out!

Up to now I've been OK financially, but that is coming to an end. I can't go back to work the way I am, but I have to survive. The bills roll in whether I have money or not. I went to my place of work and got nothing but frustrated! Thank goodness I have a Union. I was able to get answers from the Union Secretary.

I have to remember to breath deep, let go of anxiety, and have faith that everything will be fine in the end.

Peace my friends,
Mudger

Ten years sober

2007-07-29T14:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, the 28th, was my ten year anniversary of being sober. At times I wonder where all the time went.

It's amazing to be sober after all the BS I've been through. Two totally major surgeries, in which I could have easily died, but came out very well. Struggling with the after effects of brain surgery, and wondering how life will be now.

The loss of Brian my very closest friend and first love. Walking through all his medical struggles with him as his health care proxy, having to call 911 knowing it would probably be the last time he would be home, dealing with his mind going because of the cancer, hearing the last words he said to me be "I hate you!", and finally holding his hand as he took his last breath.

Having to tell a man I spent years with I could no longer be his partner. Losing a huge part of my life in the process, but putting sobriety first.

Facing my past and all the ucky things that come with it.

I don't know where the path leads from this point on, but I trust the Creator will guide me along whatever comes.

Peace an joy,
Mudger

"Always on my Mind" or Ouch, brain sugery sucks

2007-05-30T20:25:00.000-04:00

Hey, it's been quite a while since I've written. A few weeks after my last post I had brain surgery. There was a tumor (benign thank goodness) about three inches directly back from my eyes. The surgeon says he got all of it. I hope so, I wouldn't like to have them go back in there again.

Recovery time is getting pretty frustrating. My body has lots of fatigue, as well as pains and aches. I need to remember to be grateful since I made it through alive and well for the most part. My eyesight is back to "normal". I finally have permission to drive. My memory seems to be coming back, as well as my thinking processes.

I have felt love from people from all over. I could actually feel it tingling on my skin when I spoke about it. I had prayers going on all across the USA (and Canada too).

Love to all,

MUDGER

"Ex-gay & Ex-Straight "

2007-02-04T07:47:00.000-05:00

After reading recently about members of the ex-gay movement trying to get their message into the public schools, I wondered where the ex-straight movement members are? I know so many of them, you'd think they'd be organized.

I'm not sure of the numbers of folks in the ex-gay movement, but I have a inkling it's not a huge population. It seems every time I read about a group speaking out there are a couple "ex-gays" and a bunch of straight folks. A minuscule percentage of the (ex?) homosexual population is getting all the press and recognition possible. One look behind the faces of the few to the real power structure and you see straight conservative religious organizations. The money and legal assistance that flows into the ex-gay movement is driven by religious zealotry.

I believe I can explain why "ex-gays" are ex-gays. They were never gay to begin with! Dare I say the word that many on both sides of the sexual orientation issue would rather ignore? I shall, it's BISEXUAL.

Being an ex-straight I understand the issue clearly. I dated women, loved women, and even married one, but there was always something missing. It had to do with men. How in the world could I love women and enjoy sexual relations with them and be gay? It didn't make any sense to me for many years. However, I finally understood how this could be. For me, and many ex-straights, it had to do with the depths of the emotional, spiritual, and physical bonds I could reach with a man, that I could never reach with a woman. So many folks get caught up in the sex (ex-gays for example). Here's a clue. IT'S NOT THE SEX!

Being bisexual is difficult. I know people who are just totally straight or totally gay. The thought of loving someone of the same sex never enters their mind. Society would like bisexual folks to fit neatly in these two categories. We don't. We have to navigate the storm of love to find where our hearts beat true.

Ex-straights tried the heterosexual way and found it lacking. They put on all the trappings of a heterosexual, but could not at their core accept it. Ex-gays found being homosexual did not fulfill there deepest needs. They want to place blame on the "homosexual lifestyle", but those are just the words mouthed by the fanatics behind the scenes.

Maybe if we spend time explaining sexuality to youth in a more realistic way, there wouldn't be an "ex-anything". I think it's time for "ex-straights" to speak out so their "ex-gay" brothers and sisters can see how they are being used for nefarious purposes.

Mudger

The Catholic Question

2006-11-19T11:22:00.000-05:00

Catholicism and homosexuality?????

Looks like the Vatican has gotten closer to the edge when it comes to gay folks!

Mudger

GSA Sex Club?

2006-08-16T14:03:00.000-04:00

I don't know why I let it shock me. The Rowan-Salisbury School District in North Carolina has forbidden a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) to form in the district. The school board says they don't allow clubs based on sex. I guess the Orgy Club and the We Do It In Leather Club aren't going to be able to meet as well. What in the world are these folks thinking?

"The Board of Education voted unanimously to bar what it called sex-based clubs at the school and to declare the Alliance fit that criterion.

The move followed a April decision by the board to block the club pending an examination of the issue by the board's attorney. The recommendation to amend the policy and define the GSA as a sex club was based on the school district's existing mandate for abstinence-only sex education."

GSA's are formed to create a safe learning environment for all students, and to be an educational group discussing sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is understanding and knowing the gender of the person you can form a loving bond with. It may be with someone of the same gender, or someone of the opposite gender. A GSA provides a place for students to find common ground.

Being a person with a same gender orientation is not easy in our society. It is not illegal for a person to be gay or lesbian, however there are many people who would wish it so. The only way our children will be able to understand each other in this diverse society is through knowledge. Hiding things "In the closet" won't help anyone. A public school shouldn't choose ignorance as a means of educating on difficult issues.

It seems the school board decided to skip over the rules of decision making concerning policy.

This week the board members voted to forgo the usual two readings of a policy change before taking a final vote to have the new policy in place for the fall term.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why they would forgo the two readings. I wonder if they thought they could just slide it in under the rug, so to speak? I bet they didn't really understand the ramifications of their decision. I hope the board and the lawyer who gave the advice is ready to deal with what comes next.

Mudger

Chicken Little Theology

2006-05-06T08:49:00.000-04:00

Chicken Little Theocracy

In the words of the famous prophet of our times, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!” Turn on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, or any other fundamentalist evangelical media and you will hear from any number of the Chicken Little Ministers of God that the end is near.

According to the Chicken Little Ministers the Rapture and Armageddon are nigh upon us. The signs are all around us, if we just look very closely. Just listen to them pick apart each word and phrase in the Bible. Their theology will allow them to add 1 plus 2 plus 3 and get 666.

With all this incessant pounding of the end times message you’d think they wouldn’t have time for anything else. What could be more important than getting their flock ready? Oh yes, the tithing that the flock must do!

I turned to TBN a few evenings last week and heard the message loud and clear. The Reverend Parsley, in his ever so gentle and loving way, was ranting on about folks giving up their money. Others just kept taking his place repeating the same message, “Give to us and you’ll be blessed.”

The concept is clear when joining the end times and tithing ideas together. You won’t need the cash anyways since your going away with the Rapture! Somehow they keep forgetting to say that only 144,000 folks, according to scripture, will be leaving us. I wonder how God is going to pick those people out of all the millions of Christians on the Earth. I would guess there are 144,000 ministers running around proclaiming this message, who all believe they are leaving in the Rapture. I have a funny feeling many of those folks listening to the Chicken Little Ministers are going to be missing out on the journey. They just might need their hard earned paychecks.

Jesus warned about deceivers and false prophets. Beware those who pronounce themselves the messengers of God. Chicken Little Ministers remind me of that boy who kept crying out “Wolf!” What motives truly lie underneath all the bluster?

Mudger

US is turning its face away

2006-03-24T21:55:00.000-05:00

My "Alliance of Evil" writing was a sarcastic look at US policy and queer folks. Little did I know that my thinking was correct. Our Armed Forces in Iraq are turning a blind eye as gay and lesbian Iraqis are being exterminated.

Read about it!
http://direland.typepad.com/direland/2006/03/shia_death_squa.html

Mudger

Tradition!Tradition!

2006-02-13T20:23:00.000-05:00

"When America's values are under attack, we need to act," Senator Frist said. "And on June 5 — and everybody note that on your calendar — when I bring the Marriage Protection Amendment to the Senate floor, we will act.”

I can hardly wait! June 5, 2006. The day before the anniversary of the D-Day landings in France during the Second World War. I wonder how many gay men died that day storming the beaches of Normandy? Our gallant soldiers, airmen, and sailors fighting and dying so that our world would be free from Facism. The blood, sweat, and tears of silent gay men marching with their buddies into the insanity of war. They fought for the values of liberty and equality. The fight continues today as our gay and lesbian servicemembers find themselves on battlefields with terrorists, and with a policy that would seek to deny them the right to fight for freedoms values.

America's values. What a very easy phrase to speak, and yet so slippery to grasp its full meaning. Are we speaking of the values stated in the Constitution of the United States and/or the Bill of Rights? Maybe these are religious values? (Which religion?)Are we speaking of Biblical values? (Which Testement? Which Bible?) Perhaps these values are those of the original inhabitants of North America, before European influence. Should we pick values from a particular time in our history? That might be difficult since "The good old days" weren't good for all Americans.

Which cultures values are we speaking of? Seeing as America is made up of many peoples. Whose values do we choose from? Do we pick by order of arrival on the continent? Maybe we should choose the values of the most "powerful" culture, or the most wealthy, or most "civilized," or the oldest culture.

I know what your thinking! Tradition! Yes, let's use our traditional values. Well, this might be inconvenient. You see our American tradition is to make changes in our traditions! The Puritans only wanted civil marriage, the religious trappings weren't necessary. Slaves and indians weren't marriage material. Heck, they weren't even fully human. Three fifths of a person if I remember correctly. However, that changed after the Civil War, and after the "savages" were "civilized."

We'd better not forget the more than half the population, our women folk. It seems they were property of the husband. I believe that tradition changed. Just ask divorce lawyers! The tradition of only marrying in your own culture and race no longer carries weight. Interracial and intercultural couples are flourishing. People don't even stick to marrying within their own religion. Roman Catholics marrying Jews, marrying Protestants, marrying Buddists! Talk about destroying tradition.

As you see, the American Tradition is to make new tradition! The United States was founded by "breaking" tradition. Our country changes and adapts to the needs and wants of its citizens. At every turning point and moment of change there were those who resisted. America however didn't stay still. We moved on, and adopted our new traditions. They felt uncomfortable at first, like new shoes not yet broken in. But as time went on these new traditions became fused with the old.

The values of committment, fidelity, and devotion are traditional in terms of marriage here in the United States. These are the values Same-sex couples share with all married persons. If we truely believe in "American Values" then they must apply to all of us. Same-sex couples will gain equality. It is the American tradition to allow our citizens the persuit of life, liberty, and happiness.

So bring on June 5th Senator Frist. America's tradition defies you!

Mudger

The Alliance of Evil

2006-01-30T22:44:00.000-05:00

The Alliance of Evil- a sarcastic view

This past week the United States of America joined the Alliance of Evil. The United States, with support of its brother members; Cameroon, China, Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, reached out with their tentacles of hate in the United Nations.

Gay rights “Iranian Style”. One of many approved forms of treatment of gays by the Alliance of Evil.

In an unusual and almost unprecedented move the Alliance of Evil, led by Iran, that bastion of liberty, voted to deny consultative status to the International Lesbian and Gay Association, and Landsforeningen for Bosser og Lesbiske, a Danish group. The vote was extreme as it did not allow for the groups to speak before the Committee.

In an effort to reach out to those nations disaffected by policies carried out by the United States, the US team at the United Nations boldly stood in solidarity, as they voted against a common enemy, gays and lesbians. It’s comforting to know that nations as varied as these can find common goals to work towards.

Although the current administration of the United States has done its best to reverse the gains made in equal rights for gay and lesbian persons, they still have a way to go in relation to their Alliance of Evil counterparts.

The Iranians have found a straight forward approach to gay and lesbian rights. The punishment for homosexuality is stoning to death, or hanging. In an example of openness Iran publicly showed its observance of "gay rights" late last year.

These teenagers (Mahmoud, 15 and Ayaz, 17) were held in prison for 14 months and severely beaten with 228 lashes. Their lives ended in a public hanging.

The other members of the Alliance of Evil have “gay and lesbian rights” which closely resemble Iran’s conscientious system. m In Cameroon, homosexuality is punishable with a penalty of 6 months to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to CFA 200.000. Senegal’s law states “an improper or unnatural act with a person of the same sex will be punished by imprisonment of between one and five years and by a fine of 100,000 to 1,500,000 francs.” Sudan closely resembles Iran in its views. Homosexual activity is illegal, punishable by 100 lashes or death. In Mozambique homosexual activity is illegal, punishable with a penalty of up to 3 years imprisonment in a "re-education institution" where hard labour is used to alter the prisoners "aberrant behaviour".

And finally, the United States partner in the “war on terror”, Pakistan. Pakistan’s look at gay rights fits in well with the views of the Alliance of Evil. Its law states homosexual activity is illegal, punishable with life in prison, and corporal punishment of 100 lashes, while Islamic law, which also can be enforced legally, calls for up to 100 lashes or death by stoning

The current administration of the United States, in joining this show of international cooperation, has given a clear sign that it finds the idea of gay rights abhorrent. One must wonder if our current leaders and their supporters long to create laws similar to those of the other member of the Alliance of Evil.

The Catholic Question

2006-01-10T23:33:00.000-05:00

The Catholic Question

This week Samuel Alito is responding to questions posed by the Senate Judiciary Committee concerning his nomination to the Supreme Court. I believe his views on judicial temperament and decision making as a Roman Catholic need to be brought to light.

During the campaign season for the 2004 election for President of the United States, bishops, clergy, and lay persons of the Roman Catholic Church infused religious doctrine into our nation’s politics. A Catholic politician who did not vote according to church teaching was in for serious consequences. They were being asked to make a choice between Catechism and Constitution. Would they be willing to lose “good standing” in the Roman Catholic Church when they chose the path of democracy?

Senator John Kerry was condemned for voting to uphold democratic values, and the separation of church and state. Bishop Burke of St. Louis openly declared Senator Kerry would be denied the Holy Eucharist if he were to attend church in his diocese. The “Catholic Right” and conservative media made it very clear where the Church stood on this issue. Senator Kerry’s values and morals were being questioned in a religious litmus test.

Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict IV, put out a statement regarding politicians and the sacraments. He commented, “In the case of abortion or euthanasia a Catholic politician manifests "formal cooperation" in those grave sins by "consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws." It also makes mention of who is excommunicated. Stated is, “those cases include people whom the church has declared excommunicated, as well as those who show "obstinate persistence in manifest grave sin."

Will Judge Alito find himself in conflict with Church teachings? Is he capable of, and willing to put the Constitution above Church Doctrine? Will he be asked to share his thoughts? If there is going to be a litmus test for Catholic politicians, it should work both ways.

I would love to have Senator Kennedy read these words from Pope John Paul II to Judge Alito and get his response.
“Christians, like all people of good will, are called upon under grave obligation of conscience not to cooperate formally in practices which, even if permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to God's law. Indeed, from the moral standpoint, it is never licit to cooperate formally in evil. Such cooperation occurs when an action, either by its very nature or by the form it takes in a concrete situation, can be defined as a direct participation in an act against innocent human life or a sharing in the immoral intention of the person committing it. This cooperation can never be justified either by invoking respect for the freedom of others or by appealing to the fact that civil law permits it or requires it. Those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a "grave and clear obligation to oppose" any law that attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them.”

Pope John Paul II
Evangelium Vitae - The Gospel of Life

I wonder how a non-answer could be spun out of this! And if by chance there is some questioning on Judge Alito’s part, Pope John Paul II had some other very appropriate words for him in this situation.

“The passing of unjust laws often raises difficult problems of conscience for morally upright people with regard to the issue of cooperation, since they have a right to demand not to be forced to take part in morally evil actions. Sometimes the choices which have to be made are difficult; they may require the sacrifice of prestigious professional positions or the relinquishing of reasonable hopes of career advancement.”

Pope John Paul II to the Bishops of Region V

Is the path to the Supreme Court the one Judge Alito should follow? Maybe this is one “prestigious professional position” he should sacrifice.

Conservative Dominionist Thought and Klansman's Words

2005-12-29T17:45:00.000-05:00

"We don't believe God's law should be perverted any more than it already has been," said Douglas Sadler, 41, who identified himself as the region's imperial klailiff. "We don't believe they have the right to marry," Sadler told the Associated Press. "In fact, we don't think they have the right to exist."

The AP, December 28, 2005

Sooner or later the thoughts and plans of the fundamentalist-dominionists (Dobson, Robertson, Hagee, etc) were going to sneak out. Little by little their ideas get floated about. Mind you, the words at first come out of the mouths of those most of us consider "crazy". Their ideas slither into public discourse through hooded remnants of evil. The words will get lots of media play. Ideas repeated over and over until they seem more common place than insane.

Look carefully at some of the fundamentalist-dominionist plans and how they are taking shape.

-First, they focused attention on the "destruction" same-sex marriage would bring, and to "protect" marriage they used religion as a political base to bring about changes in state constitutions prohibiting it. They are not finished with trying to amend the US Constitution.

-Second, is the move around the country to deny domestic partnership benefits because they are privileges of marriage. They told the public before the voting that's not what those words really meant that they added on the amendments, but now that it's law...

-Third is the use of the political system. They fun for office under the guise of conservatism and use our powerful government leaders to use federal rules to supersede local anti-discrimination policies, or remove sources of funding if they don't comply. Political offices are used to foster “right” character. Check out the article by Katherine Yurica, (Sept. 13, 2005).It gives some clarity to the wording used in this “Character Education” plan for the citizens of Ohio. www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/BlackwellsUnAmericanScheme.html. The views of the fundamental-dominionists are evident even in our political parties written documents, such as the Republican Party Of Texas’s 2004 Platform. We ignore these words at our peril.
www.texasgop.org/site/DocServer/RPTPlatform2004.pdf?docID=121. Take a look at page 10. It gives a very clear idea of what they think and want.

- Fourth, the judiciary is being and has been filled with persons who will use the law to reverse and/or deny rights to queer folks. The ruling in the State of Texas vs. Lawrence making sodomy laws unconstitutional wasn't won by a huge majority.

-Fifth is pouring millions of dollars into mass media by purchasing and funding businesses that will present news and programming according to their ideals. Noticed any gay characters on TV lately? Any idea how far reaching the 700 Club and TCN's world wide networks go?

And a new idea just bubbling to the surface is the linking of the Anti-Christ with homosexuality. The Fundamentalist-Dominionists are using the wording in the Book of Revelations to say that the Anti-Christ will be a gay man. The "son" of Satan will supposedly be gay. Gay right's, civil unions, same-sex marriage, diversity training in the workplace and school, and a host of other things are bringing Armageddon, the destruction of our world. Any thoughts about the path that thinking will lead?

The thought of questioning queer folks’ right to exist isn’t a big reach when the big picture opens up to view. What begins with a voice in the wilderness, with careful planning, can become common to the publics ears. If you think I’m off my rocker just keep an eye on Venezuela. Think about Pat Robertson’s comments about Mr. Chavez.

No marriage, no rights, no right to exist. It’s not difficult to harm those who are evil, and harm comes in many forms. I can hear the words of the fundamentalist-dominionists now, “It’s for the good of the person and the community to be rid of this evil!”

Mudger

Can't have it both ways

2005-12-20T21:38:00.000-05:00

You Can’t Have It Both Ways

Ok, so let me get this straight (no pun intended). According to some folks homosexuals choose to be as they are, and pick their “lifestyle”. Homosexual relationships should not be validated by society as life giving. Homosexuals who want to get the legal protections provided by the civil ceremony of marriage would be destroying the marriages of heterosexuals. A homosexual family would be destructive to the children within the family. Homosexuals marrying would interfere with heterosexuals conceiving children. Tradition says homosexual relationships are immoral, sinful, and unacceptable.

Therefore, any attempts by homosexuals (gays and lesbians to those of us who are) to create relationships should be vigorously discouraged by all of societies structures.
What reasons do some give for these statements? Well, here’s a few often thrown about. Gay and lesbian folks are promiscuous, non-committal in their relationships, participate in “unsafe sex”, get STD’s, at risk for contracting the AIDS virus, violent in relationships, mentally ill, and commit suicide more often.

Now, you might consider that our whole society since the 1960's has gone through the same cycle, but that might be too obvious. So let’s take a look at the trouble with these statements.
From an early age all children hear about homosexuals. Hold on, let me rephrase that. They hear about faggots. Which of course most children have no idea about other than they would rather be anything else than that. Then for some bizarre reason these children from stable church going families who’ve heard nothing but the joys of girlfriends and boyfriends start choosing to fall in love with members of the same sex.

The children want to start dating and doing the teenager “thing”, but it’s not with the right person. So, it’s gotta be a secret! Let’s not tell anyone. It would be a horrible thing to admit, and dangerous too! They’ll pretend they don’t think that way, but it won’t leave their minds. How do they deal with it? Ignore it, it will go away. And if by chance they do meet someone they like of the same gender, they’ll keep it physical because it won’t be emotionally serious that way (or so they think). It might even get violent. You do know that self hate is taken out on the ones closest to you.

Now that the children have tried every way they know possible to be heterosexual, especially talking with God, they still choose to be intrinsically evil, objectively disordered, immoral, sinful, abominations. Hey, I bet most people would choose to be someone who is ridiculed, threatened, abandoned, and made to feel as if they are a mistake (NOT!) If they didn’t commit suicide over it, or throw their lives into addictions to deaden the feelings and thoughts, they go off to start their lives. What a joyful way to enter adulthood.

Would you care to guess what kind of relationships are created? Maybe non-spiritual, non-committal, secret, hidden, promiscuous, and violent ones? How can anyone expect a person to create healthy relationships from that life? Well, they do! However, it often takes a lot of hard work to make it happen. Thank goodness there are positive messages in society that youth can see and hear today. Hopefully coming to accept one’s sexual orientation will take a much gentler path in the future.

You can’t blame the effect for the cause. Sorry, the tree did not fall down and cause the lightning to strike. If gay and lesbian folks are told over and over how horrible they are, don’t use the effect to say, “Told you so!” How can it be reasoned that these effects make same-sex marriage and/or relationships invalid?

If gay and lesbian youth are shown same-sex relationships to be healthy, positive, loving, respectful, intimate, committed, and God given, they will create new ideals for the future and their families. Hopefully those of us already in the struggle of life will be able to open up our lives to show the way.

Mudger

What in the world is going on?

2005-12-19T19:52:00.000-05:00

I look at the news all around me and wonder what in the world is happening to my country, to our world. My life at the moment basically sucks, but how can I be upset or even let myself feel bad when I see the hell going on around us.

Faces of children in pain, hunger, and fear. Faces from my neighborhood full of fear from guns and death. Faces from places across this planet who live in utter destruction from acts of nature, or acts of man.

Everywhere humans doing to other humans unspeakable acts of violence. Torture in the name of my country. Murder and terrorism in the name of religion. Beatings, imprisonment, "capitol punshiment", verbal abuse, and the denial of basic rights of those who love members of the same sex. Women whose spirits are being crushed under the weight of "customs" imposed upon them.

Workers all over the world. Living from paycheck to paycheck, or from day to day. Some workers chained in locked rooms to work unbearable hours. Other workers being laid off or forced into taking massive pay cuts because "they make too much". Workers being told "The foreign workers can live on 3 dollars a day, you should be able to". Hey just don't worry that the cost of living here makes it impossible. Living in a Walmart world where "made in the cheapest place possible" labels are fashionable.

Airplane companies now are in the private security business. Why not hire a former soldier from Peru to go to Iraq and pay them 35 dollars a day, when the company gets 300 dollars a day from the government for their position. It's only fair the company should make the profit on my taxes, and not the actual person doing the work. Companies and government work together to create "Clear Skies" and "Healty Forests" initiatives, just rape with a different package name.

No longer do those in government power pretend they're not favoring the wealthy. It's out in the open, but they use words and ideas to confuse and manipulate the mind. The population of our country is being abused, and like those abused, we are believing irrational things. We are told "If we don't give these tax cuts to the rich it will be a tax increase on us all." So a tax increase is when we don't give a tax cut to those who don't need it? How does that compute?

With all this how can I mire in self pity? I want to scream out and say how crappy my life is, but my voice becomes hollow and the sound indescript as the surrounding world closes in.

Mudger

We the (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) People of the United States...

2005-12-17T18:42:00.000-05:00

“We the (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender) People of the United States…”

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Declaration of Independence.

As American citizens we have the right to choose how we live our lives. It is Nature’s life which has been given to us by a Creator, which is not necessarily another’s Creator. Acceptance of a particular version of “Creator” is not required. The conditions of liberty are our birthright. Liberty is the natural state of being, given to all without merit or chance. It is the freedom and triumph of the individual over those persons or institutions who would deny such rights. We are free to construct a world of our choosing where joy and contentment reign, as long as our version of happiness does not deny the opportunity for others. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons seek justice and equality as they build their lives.

The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

-The United States Constitution, Amendment IX of the Bill of Rights.

The Constitution of the United States of America is a document filled with the aspirations and hopes of countless Americans. “We the people” has changed and adapted over our country’s lifetime. It has come to include people whom the writers and delegates to the Constitutional Convention would have been hard pressed to have imagined as citizens. Many millions of ‘The People” are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT). We seem to be the last group to seek recognition of our rights under the law. The framers of the Constitution knew they didn’t have it all correct. They understood that humans and governments are flawed. The Ninth Amendment contained in the Bill of Rights plainly points the way to justice for GLBT persons. The Constitution didn’t mention homosexuals, domestic partnership benefits, civil unions, or same-sex marriage, but it didn’t have to! The government may not deny us as law abiding citizens, these unalienable rights. Unalienable rights of our choosing, not of the governments.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

-President Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

President Abraham Lincoln found words to attempt to ease the wounds of a country gripped in the claws of a civil war. The blood of thousands of courageous men soaked the soil of Pennsylvania for beliefs. Two beliefs so closely intertwined with each other, yet so totally incompatible. “We the People” was put to the test. Could a group of Americans decide to use the words of the Constitution to forge a new country, focusing on the rights of the individual and state, ignoring the basic proposition “that all men are created equal”? The courage of their convictions raised to its height as General Pickett led that valiant and fateful charge.

Would the rest of “The People” and the Government of the United States be able to let them go? Could those who had been given power by “The People” protect the Constitution from being shredded by slavery, racism, and economic servitude? Who would “We the People” be? A nation birthed in the cries of liberty once again rose up to fight injustice. Its face shown in the likes Colonel Patrick O’Rourke and his Rochester men as they charged unhesitantly over the edge of Little Round Top, unloaded guns and all, into a rain of lead.

Once again the nation faces a crisis over who “We the People” are. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizens are demanding to be heard. Our country “conceived in liberty” and baptized in the blood needed to break the chains of bondage, knows where to stand. All citizens are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” It may feel uncomfortable for some, or even downright unpleasant, but freedom for us is not negotiable.

CE. Mudger

December 17, 2005

Equality

2005-12-17T18:15:00.000-05:00

I started this in an attempt to create conversation and dialogue. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are standing up for justice and freedom. The backlash against the fight for equality is tremendous. Maybe we can convince those on the edges of the debate to join us.

Mudger