Coming Soon--A New Kind of Travel Document

Travelogue

Coming soon--A new kind of travel document.  This may look like a book.  In fact it is, an e-book currently, but soon to be published as a real hold it in your hand kind of book that we intend to pass around to those interested in taking a bold new journey, one that requires packing a few things you never expected to need, and also to unpack things no one needs, and likely never did--like a set of assumptions, a parcel of beliefs, and perhaps a fresh look at one of the most fulfilling destinations available to anyone--Marriage, and its unique status in modern society.  This travelogue may require you to discard your old, well-worn baggage, and replace it with a new, sturdier, nearly tamper-proof matching set that will itself distinguish you as a seasoned, knowledgeable traveler.  

The book is titled 1138 Reasons Why Marriage=Everyone.  Why the number?  You'll have to ask your travel agent, or the author.  Here's a hint: If you're already married, you already have this number of ------, so don't worry.  If you're not yet married, the number represents a reason marriage is so important in modern life, and why it must be made available to everyone.  The book will be here soon, copies sold on Amazon, and through the author (that's me) for the asking.  Price should be in the $10.00 range, with proceeds going to the struggle for equal marriage rights across the land, the great country we all travel every day.

Winter Fades

Winter Begins to Fade...

At last, Winter begins to dissipate, and Spring flowers take the place of frosty branch and bough.  And today we have a new beginning as well in our nation's approach to those left out in the cold without proper health care insurance.  Thanks to President Barack Obama, and courageous Democrats, who have put the needs of the American people first, we progress to a new era, an age when everyone has access to affordable, decent, useful, meaningful health insurance.  No more will any American be left out in the wintertime chill simply because they lack the financial wherewithal to see a doctor when they're ill, or have to bear chronic pain and suffering when a simple clinic visit may alleviate that pain.  It's a new Spring in America, a new age when those who choose to divide and conquer to achieve their goals have been defeated...for now.  

Next, the disposal of the ill-conceived, ridiculous, massively misguided law--Don't Ask Don't Tell.   DADT is a shameful reminder of a hopefully fast-fading anachronism, homophobia, and it must go, sooner than later.  By Spring, DADT must be sad, long-discarded part of our history.

Religion and Same-Sex Relationships

  

Response to Religious Questionnaire

 This is in response to a question a good friend had concerning my feelings today about my religious background, specifically, whether my views have changed over time.

My question is the same as it might have been at age twelve: If you preach all this love, acceptance, forgiveness, then why do you not practice it in your daily life?  No one said it would be easy to follow Christ’s mandate to love each other.  No one ever said it was simple to see the beauty in everyone, to find the humanity in someone who looks different, speaks differently, dresses in odd ways, believes other than we do, or loves someone in ways we don’t understand.  But here’s the thing: If we call ourselves Christians, and we witness two people who love and cherish each other, and who want to commit their lives to each other, then we are required--demanded--to not only accept those people, but to celebrate that relationship. We have it exactly backward: Homosexuality is not the aberration; preaching love and acceptance on conditional terms is the aberration.  Condemning people for who they love is the aberration.  Denying people the right to commit to each other is the aberration.  Restricting marriage to people who qualify only by gender, regardless of financial ability, maturity, ability to contribute to society, even disregarding whether they love each other or not--that’s the aberration. 
    We’re not talking about tolerance here; tolerance is an arrogant, dismissive term.  It says, alright, be who you are if you must, I will allow that.  That’s ridiculous.  The key is acceptance, and love, and yes, celebration of the fact that two other human beings have found the person who is right for them.  It’s time to stop condemning love, and start celebrating it. 
    So, yes, my views have shifted.  Instead of church participants continuing their spurious protection of marriage, it’s time they begin living the creed they espouse.  It’s time they get past the fear and judgement that clouds their ability to accept the message they were given, to simply love one another, as He loved us.  He never once said it would be easy.  He just said we must do it, and my guess is it will become easy.  Besides, it’s the right thing to do.  

Marriage Equality

L-O-V-E=L-O-V-E=L-O-V-E=

The picture above is of two people in love.  How can we determine the gender of these two gentle, caring people?  How do we figure out which one is male, which one female?  The one on the left appears to be male, though the lips are somewhat feminine.  On the right, the ear seems to belong to a female, or perhaps not.  Why is this so difficult?  Are we as adults, and reasonably smart, intuitive, alert people pretty good at picking out gender markers, characteristics and profiles?  Of course we are.  Then why the trouble with this picture?  I'm sure those eyebrows belong to a female, right?  And the hairline on the right is definitely male, true?  Why is this so hard?

And why does it matter?  Do lips and eyebrows and ears and hairlines fall in love and share that loving sensation with each other? No.  People fall in love, and people share all that love represents, whether it's a whispered affirmation, an eyebrow raised in greeting from across a crowded room, a brush of lips against each others' in the dim half-light of evening, or the bending of an ear to a lover, to capture every sense and nuance of what they tell us.

If we have trouble determining genders and characteristics of two people in love, perhaps it doesn't matter?  All that any of us want is to be one of those two people, and to share that kind of love with another person.

Spring 2010

SPRING!!!!!!!!

The picture was taken just outside my window, today, at five pm.  It is about 50 degrees F as I write this.  Winter isn't over, officially or otherwise, but it's quickly losing its grip on us once again, and soon Spring will take over.  Is there something you need to renew or replenish?  If so, this is a great time to look into it, to make 2010 the best year ever.  Twenty-gazillion daffodils can't be wrong!