Political Morsels and Other Droppings

Three Little Words… if you count the acronym… which I am

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 06:00:55 +0000

DADT is over. These are three little words that come with so much meaning. I only started taking a more proactive role to see the end of DADT in January of last year. Before then, I tried to keep my head down and avoid confrontation. However, something changed. I came to realize that as a person who believes that action must be taken in order for change to occur, I could not sit at the sidelines. So I took a chance and I reached out to whomever I could to make my interest known. I did not have a lot of time between work and school, but I still managed to lobby on a couple occasions, putting my beliefs into action. I started writing about it on my small blog so that my audience of five people might feel compelled to reach out to their congressmen and let them know that a change needed to be made. Of course, I also blanketed a certain social network site with my thoughts as well as articles, hoping that it would prompt a few more folks to contact their congressmen and to further the discussion with others. My role is small in comparison to some wonderful people who have dedicated the past few years of their lives to make a change.

I remember when the Bill was signed in December. I watched the ceremony on a friend’s phone and I could not hold back the tears. I know what that signature meant. Yet, there was one more step to take, and that happened when the clock struck midnight, just a couple hours ago from when I composed this. I realize that while my experiences in the military were a walk in the park compared to so many fellow vets who I have grown to know over the course of this past year and a half, I was still affected. For some members of the military, they have only had to switch the pronouns of their loved ones to the opposite sex when in conversation. Others have had to dodge witch-hunts. For a great number of veterans, their service came to an end by being thrown out because they refused to lie about their sexual orientation. My heart goes out to those folks the most. To lose one’s livelihood over so something so petty is absolutely ridiculous. I’m so fortunate to have made it through my enlistment and to have ended it on my own terms.

Tonight, I found myself in conversations with quite a few folks who still put on the uniform, who continue to support and defend the Constitution and who have had to hide what they are in order to continue to serve this great nation. When the clock struck midnight, I paid attention to a couple of those people and noticed this sense of relief that was quite visible on their faces. For some of those folks, the realization of what has just happened will not hit until they put on their uniforms and head off to report to work. I did ask a couple people if they were going to come out or change anything. Guess what? I don’t believe any disco balls are going to drop from the ceiling with “YMCA” blasting in the background. Desks will not be filled with a ton of rainbows. If they are, someone please send me some pictures. For the most part, many will carry on their business as usual, but for one small difference: The worry will diminish. I know some folks will probably (or already have) shout their sexual orientation from the rooftops, but I believe that will be in the great minority.

What strikes me the most, and is something that I have discussed with a few folks over the course of the week is that of those new recruits reporting to basic training, who happen to be gay/lesbian/or bi. These new members of the military will not have to lie about their sexual orientation. They can be themselves, as long as they follow the rules and regulations of the military. Most importantly, those who enter into the service today will not know what it is like to serve under DADT. That is something that I find to be truly astounding.

I not only want to thank those who have worked so hard for the past few years, but for those who served this great nation and whose DD-214s should be modified to respect their service. I also want to thank the amazing people who I have forged amazing friendships with during the course of the past year and a half. Thank you to those of you who have continued to serve under DADT and who now serve in a post-DADT military. Lastly, I thank the members of the straight community who have taken the time to write, to call and to discuss this issue. This horrible policy could not have been repealed without your open minds and your open hearts. You all inspire me.

Welcome Back, Rep. Giffords

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:09:50 +0000

Who knew it would take her presence for a truly bipartisan action: Welcoming Rep Giffords back to the Hill.

The Last Second

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:17:55 +0000

You know, this waiting until the last second to pass legislation that will keep this country from coming to a screeching halt is starting to get a bit redundant. First it was with passing the budget and now it has happened again with raising the debt limit. I’m tired of the “business generators,” who have yet to generate more business, getting off while the rest of us are paying for it. What also gets me is how Social Security keeps coming up on the chopping block. Social Security should not be something that should be dipped into like a rainy day fund. It is a form of insurance and should not have been touched in the first place. Call me crazy, but I get annoyed at the fact that something that I’m paying into, which is to help those who are retired, keeps getting dipped into. It also annoys me that I will probably not see a return on my investment, as I will be shocked if Social Security even exists when I retire and can start collecting. Medicare is another thing that keeps getting messed with. You know, I’m surprised education hasn’t come up on the chopping block during these debt limit pissing contests. After all, if we’re going to fuck with the elderly, why don’t we just keep giving children the shaft while we’re at it? I mean there must be some room even after ‘No Child Left Behind’.

I keep hearing that America is great and wonderful, that we have the best military, etc, etc. However, with the way we have cut programs, the way we have spent some of our money on wasted projects, I don’t know if we will be able to continue to be a world leader in many aspects. As is, we are losing ground on education, industry, and I do think that at some point, our military will be dwarfed by China. Then what are we going to do? We need to get rid of this bullshit Tea Party mantra. We do need taxes in order to function. We also need to invest…. in ourselves. But first thing is first: These little pissing contests on Capitol Hill need to stop. Yes, there are opposing parties, but there is a middle ground. Why don’t we start meeting there for a change? Just a thought.

Accountability. It’s a Very Good Thing!

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 04:19:15 +0000

I am not a religious person. My beliefs and morals are not derived from any holy book out there, yet I am a very principled person. I learned the difference between right and wrong from my mom. She also instilled in me that if I make a promise, I better keep it. To this day, I do not throw the word around very often because I believe in the strength of a promise. I find it disappointing when others make a promise and never keep it, but it happens frequently in this day and age. I also have manners. Yes, I cuss like a sailor, but it depends on where I am at and who is around. I also will hold the door for others, say “please” and “thank you”, and will even excuse myself from the table. I also believe in accountability. I have always had a huge conscience and whenever I have done something wrong, I have always felt pretty bad within a matter of time. I have also owned up to my actions. I believe it is important to do so. In recent times, I have noticed just how many people do not take accountability for their actions. It absolutely drives me crazy. I also cannot stand excuses. In fact, excuses are like assholes, everyone has one. This evening, however, something happened that touched me and I figured that I should share this.

A few years ago, I was driving home from work to try and get home before the freezing rain showed up. When I was just a quarter mile from my house, the freezing rain started to stick to the road. In the meantime, I had someone behind me crawling up my tailpipe. Right as I was getting ready to turn into my subdivision, I slid and made sweet love to a curb. I managed to get my car into my subdivision and then stopped. The car behind me also stopped and the driver proceeded to get out and scream at me, as if making sweet love to the curb was not jarring enough. I noticed, within a matter of days from the incident, that the screamer happened to live on my street. Over time, as he walked his dog passed me, he would greet me. In fact, whenever he sees me, he always says, “Hello, Dear!”

Tonight, he came up to me with his dog as I was working on cleaning a headlight… mind out of the gutter; I’m talking about my car. After a bit of small talk, he then proceeded to say that there had been something weighing on him. Apparently a year ago, he realized that I was the driver of the car in front of him who he had screamed at and he had felt terrible about it. He proceeded to apologize by telling me that he should never have been driving so close to me in the first place and because of that incident, he has actually become a more patient and more mellowed out driver. I knew even as he uncomfortably went into the subject what he was talking about. I have the memory of an elephant, and remember every detail of that incident. He went on about it for a bit and I responded letting him know that everything is okay and to not beat himself up over it. He thanked me, and then we worked as a team to get rid of a solicitor who was going door to door as there are signs at the entrance to my subdivision stating that solicitations were not allowed… not very many people read or take heed. The guy then walked on with his dog, thanking me for allowing him to get rid of his guilt. I could tell that a weight had been lifted from his shoulders and I was happy to oblige.

We have all done things that we are not proud of. I know I have wronged others and I have always tried to apologize for my actions. When I lived with my grandmother, I did wrong her and while I always had the intention of making it right, I was not able to do so before she died. That is something that will always stay with me. Whether we adopt a religious philosophy, or have a parent who teaches us right from wrong, we do know when we have messed up. Yet, how many of us actually own up to it? I have learned never to expect an apology from others when I have felt that I have been wronged. So when it happened today, I was touched by it. I guess the point that I’m trying to make is that it is important for us to be accountable for our actions, no matter the length of time that has passed. It is better to ask for one’s forgiveness five years later than to wait until it is too late. By taking accountability, we not only are doing the right thing, but we set an example for others to hopefully do the right thing as well. As someone who was on the other end, I can vouch that no matter how long, it helped me to mentally finalize that incident. To know that some good came out of it turned it into a better story for my memory bank.

Accountability. It’s a very good thing. Give it a shot.

World Cup and Women

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:03:35 +0000

So Japan has won the Women’s World Cup. Yes I was rooting for the United States, but if the US had to lose to someone, I’m glad that it was Japan. That country has suffered quite a bit in the course of the past few months, and let’s face it, they really did need something to feel good about. While the US lost, it’s nothing to shake one’s stick at. The women’s team did far better than the men’s did in their World Cup. Not to mention, it did seem to gain more fans. Women’s sports have always been behind men’s. Well, perhaps figure skating and gymnastics are the one caveat. Still, while women are not seen as being physical equals to men, women are pretty tough and pretty resilient. How many men do you know would be able to go through the hell of childbirth and actually do it again? That’s what I thought.

Women are important to society and more than just to help churn out more children or to clean. Women took over factory jobs when men went to war, and also had to maintain the home. Women have donned flight jackets and climbed into the position of test pilots. Women also put on the uniform and ball cap and provided entertainment on the ball field, also during war. Women have typically had to wear more than one hat at a time, such as nurturer, maid, cook, and the rock. While the roles of gender stratification are slowly blurring in our society, women still have a ways to go before we are a level playing field with men. However, having a good part of the country watching and rooting for the US women’s team brings us one step closer.

Tell Me Again… What’s Being Protected?

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 05:46:50 +0000

I read an article yesterday about how Doug Hutchison of “The Green Mile” married a 16 year-old girl in Nevada. Marriage of minors is allowed in 39 states. So, a 51 year-old guy can marry someone who is young enough to still be in high school. That’s 39 states that see no issue with children whose brains have not fully developed to make (what aren’t always) life long commitments to another person of the opposite sex. Yet, 44 states in this country do not allow same-sex marriage. Six states (New York included) and D.C. allow same-sex marriage. That’s it. Is there something wrong with this picture? Okay, even the state I live in, which is pretty liberal could not pass a same-sex marriage bill, but it is one of the states that allow 16 year-olds to get married with parental consent. My state also allows first cousins to marry. Apparently all of that is fine and dandy, but God forbid that two consenting adults who just happen to be of the same sex want to tie the knot.

Traditional marriage is supposedly under attack, but if what is considered to be “traditional marriage” allows teenagers and first cousins to marry, what is it that is in so much danger by adding same-sex marriages to the table? Alfred Kinsey found that about 50% of men and 26% of women had sex outside of their marriages at one point in time. That means, out of this institution that somehow needs protection, a large percentage of spouses are stepping out on each other. So, we have teenagers and cousins who can get married, have their marriages recognized throughout the country, then can step out on each other. (Even in states that do not allow the marriages to originate, they must recognize them. i.e. first cousins cannot get married in WV, so they have to hop the border to MD or VA, get hitched, and then it can be recognized back in WV.) Yet, I cannot have a valid marriage to another woman recognized in my state or in other states unless it’s one of the six. The interstate rule against this is because of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). I repeat: What is being defended?

It seems to me that there are far bigger fish to fry than to ensure that a certain population cannot marry due to not being able to naturally procreate. That leads me to another thing; I have heard the line that marriage is needed in order for procreation. If procreation is the stipulator, what about married couples who never have children? I mean, what’s the point of their union?

Just a little food for thought.

Bachmann, Murdoch… Yikes.

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:50:44 +0000

I’m baaaaaccccckkkkkkk!!!! I know, I’m like herpes: You think you can get rid of me and just when you think I’m gone, TADAAA!!!! I show back up. Okay, so I actually finished my undergrad a couple weeks ago. Conferral happens within the next month and I’m already getting things in motion to start on my Master’s either in August or September. Sickening isn’t it? The bad news is that I am not going to be able to post as often as I wish I had the time to do, but the good news is that I will be done with my Master’s in two years. Of course, I have a feeling that with this election starting to gear up, I will make the time to post. After all, I would not be doing the name of this site any justice if I did not.

Now, speaking of elections… I believe it is safe to assume that when we all thought Palin was the craziest bitch in politics, someone had to prove that one wrong. Enter, Michelle Bachmann. Yes, we know she considers herself the leader of the teabaggers, but damn is this woman out there. First of all, signing an agreement stating that, among other things, African-American families would have been better off if they were still enslaved is not something a candidate for any public office should agree to. To top it off with her and her husband believing that gays can become straight is really out there. I would dive into her husband, but Jon Stewart did a very good piece on him.

Now, being that I am one of those subhuman gay people… I think Marcus Bachmann compared my peeps to barbarians… I do have to take a moment and bring you to my gay corner for a little gay chat.

I think it’s great that we have another election coming down the pike next year. Too bad we can’t push off dealing with the candidates until three months prior… just a thought. Yet, what irritates me is that instead of focusing being federalist or anti-federalist, we have to throw in personal issues such as admonishing gays by signing stupid pledges. Is the gay community in this country such a threat to the ideals of democracy? Does it really get in the way of Americans living freely? Does anyone else find it a bit ironic that the party that is supposed to be about staying out of the lives of everyday people seems to be really focused on doing just the opposite by dictating that certain individuals are now allowed the same rights and protections due to what happens in the bedroom? Okay, I just wanted to be sure that it wasn’t just me.

Now, onto other stuff that has no sexual orientation… so to speak.

One event that I do find to be quite interesting is the Rupert Murdoch scandal. Being that he owns everything Fox, I do wonder if more people will finally realize that Fox News is unfair and imbalanced. Granted, with Glenn Beck off the air, Fox News is a better place, but I still consider it one of the three horsemen when it comes to News. I do wonder how the conservative crowd who has typically looked at the station for picking the most ignorant candidates will take Fox News will do. By the way, I have heard that Glenn Beck is moving to Texas. If there was ever a time to make that state a country, now’s the time!

Shameless Plug For a Friend

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 04:22:38 +0000

A friend of mine from back in Kansas City has finally created a blog with recipes. However, it’s more than just that. She shares her food experiments. She keeps it pretty entertaining as well. She has a youngin’ who she also creates meals for so that the little tyke gets proper meals and still pretty cheaply. Please check her page out: Foodie Patoodie!

Memorial Day

Mon, 30 May 2011 05:23:07 +0000

If you pay attention to the commercials, Memorial Day is about the sales. As a side note, it is due to these sales that I did not receive coupons in my paper this weekend. Seriously, that was the excuse by the subscription service line. Apparently people clip coupons and rush on over to the grocery stores right after. Now that I got that one off my chest, back to the reason why I’m actually posting for once… bear with me… one more month to go.

I believe I have posted about this in the past, but Memorial Day has great meaning to me. It is a day that we take pause to honor and thank those who died while serving this country. No, I do not have any family who died while serving. All three generations of us made it through our time in the military. Nonetheless, some of our brothers and sisters in uniform were no so fortunate and they gave their lives to fight causes for this country. Granted, we might not always agree with certain wars or conflicts, but we should support those who took the oath to support and defend the Constitution… to support and protect our way of life. So, between shopping for that discounted mattress and firing up the coals for a nice cookout, please take some time to give thanks for those who gave their lives so that you could get a deal on a queen size bed and enjoy a nice juicy steak. There are thousands upon thousands of Americans who no longer have that luxury due to what they did for this grateful nation.

Happy Memorial Day!

Eyes on Japan

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:57:40 +0000

It was just around this time last week that I started thinking about the Cherry Blossom Festival and how it isn’t that far away. In the past few years I have made it a habit to surround myself with tourists and take in the beauty of the blossoms. Btw, I thank you tourists who visit my area. You are good for the economy. I then started to think about how to work my course work in order to make the time to go check out the cherry blossoms. I’m not sure if you have been able to tell, but I’ve sort of been up to my eyes in alligators with classes. It seems like the craziness that is my life and the different stressors that I deal with are minimal in comparison to something else. That something is what we all woke up to last Friday, Japan. Here’s a nation with the world’s third largest economy that has been crippled in a way that makes many of the more recent natural disasters look like a walk in the park in comparison. Don’t get me wrong, lives have been forever altered in Haiti, Chile, and in New Zealand. However, Japan as a nation is crippled. It dealt with an earthquake, a tsunami, and now, the potential of a nuclear disaster that could affect millions of people, depending on which way the winds blow. You have stress, I have stress, we all have stress. However, what we have in our lives is totally trivial in comparison to over a million lives that have been affected without warning. I know times are tough, but if you can, please take a few moments to consider donating even just a dollar or two to one of the charities listed here from the MSNBC website. Your money will go to help support the victims in Japan who are just trying to survive. If the Red Cross has pissed you off, there are a couple other charities listed that you can consider. In the meantime, please keep those whose futures are unknown, in your thoughts.

I will make my way to the Cherry Blossom Festival again this year. I have a feeling that the tone will be a bit different than in past years. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t dream about being anywhere else, especially when one of this country’s greatest allies is in need of our support.