Well, Cosmopolitan Magazine has finally come out with its cover story on "sex tips for lesbians"-- aren't we all proud of that barrier being broken? What does it mean when a popular women's magazine (sic) actually begins to acknowledge their hitherto held stereotype of all women everywhere just might be incomplete -- by inference.
Soon we should all be following handbooks, tantric guides, and television-inspired listings on "how to succeed in our sex lives!" Could I have that on DVD please? Or perhaps "on demand?" Or maybe
"on my Pinterest page?" Yikes.
Sex is now deemed to be so "unnatural" that it cannot be left to mere instinct; desire, love, intimacy --- are no longer enough!!! It's time to get out the big guns -- we have health and fitness guides from every celebrity alive, why not "sex guides" from the same people? Why aren't we asking Harrison Ford how he "gets it on" in his 70's? Who better that Meryl Streep to guide us in our love/sex problems? Or maybe Barbara Streisand for all the closeted among us? Or Matt Lauer? Or ... or ... or?
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Sex and Non-Clerical Celibacy
More and more people are alone -- they have chosen not to marry, not to have a partner, to subsist on occasional sex-capades, and to remain -- in effect -- celibate!
Some of the Baby Boomer crowd become "cat people" (crazy old ladies with cats or crazy old men with cats/dogs); some just drift into a solipsistic kind of lifestyle. Some of the younger (men and women in their late 20's or early 30's) just get frustrated by the burned-out dating pool existent nowadays and deem themselves asexual, or non-functioning sexual, or "alone by choice;" some others actually live with someone -- apparently to have an excuse to kvetch and carp, or to remain alone while together, or to simply wait for "make-up sex" (see sex-capades above).
The only group still "doing it" are high schoolers (where the "drama" fits their lifestyles) or senior citizens (after all, who can stop them now?).
What's wrong with sex? What's wrong with us? Are relationships that impossible to maintain? (No wonder birth rates are falling in the US!)
Some of the Baby Boomer crowd become "cat people" (crazy old ladies with cats or crazy old men with cats/dogs); some just drift into a solipsistic kind of lifestyle. Some of the younger (men and women in their late 20's or early 30's) just get frustrated by the burned-out dating pool existent nowadays and deem themselves asexual, or non-functioning sexual, or "alone by choice;" some others actually live with someone -- apparently to have an excuse to kvetch and carp, or to remain alone while together, or to simply wait for "make-up sex" (see sex-capades above).
The only group still "doing it" are high schoolers (where the "drama" fits their lifestyles) or senior citizens (after all, who can stop them now?).
What's wrong with sex? What's wrong with us? Are relationships that impossible to maintain? (No wonder birth rates are falling in the US!)
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Uncertainty
? Not being sure? Being unsure? Being lost? Being alone? Being confused? Being near the end? Just starting and not knowing? Being left out? Being unappreciated? Being without ... hope? Being without...love? Being without? Being outside? Not knowing the endgame? Not appreciating the process? Not seeing the forest...nor the trees?
Being single? Being singular? Being in doubt? Living on ... anyway? Seeking the truth? Doubting? Trusting in the depths that are human character? Asking the wrong questions? Asking the wrong person? Asking the unaskable? Never appreciating the simplicity of the answers? Wanting more? Failing to heed one's own warnings? Failing to see the signs? Working in the wrong direction? Working for the wrong purpose? For the wrong people? For the wrong ideals? For the wrong man?
For the wrong woman? For the wrong god? ???
Being single? Being singular? Being in doubt? Living on ... anyway? Seeking the truth? Doubting? Trusting in the depths that are human character? Asking the wrong questions? Asking the wrong person? Asking the unaskable? Never appreciating the simplicity of the answers? Wanting more? Failing to heed one's own warnings? Failing to see the signs? Working in the wrong direction? Working for the wrong purpose? For the wrong people? For the wrong ideals? For the wrong man?
For the wrong woman? For the wrong god? ???
Monday, July 28, 2014
Why Men Give Up!
While I was working as Associate Director of Hospice Savannah Foundation, an esteemed Board Member and contributor to Hospice lost his wife of many years to cancer. He was an architect/developer and quite wealthy. Since his personal situation mirrored mine only a few years later I watched as he carefully poured himself back into work, avoided the many females who wanted to "comfort" him, and reimagined his life as one of service and success.
I had done the same -- even though due to different circumstances, I had tried to date. Tried and failed -- because I either "picked people" for the wrong reasons (they were empathetic or I knew them to be kind), or I was convinced that a relationship "again" would be the answer. Now I think, after several years, I see and know the answer. Men give up on women because later in life women have already given up on men! They have lived without them for long enough, or substituted small furry animals for them (see previous post), that they know longer think they need them. They opt instead of images of satisfaction and/or mechanical ones.
Love forsaken is love forsworn! Love forsworn is the natural outcome of love forsaken!
I had done the same -- even though due to different circumstances, I had tried to date. Tried and failed -- because I either "picked people" for the wrong reasons (they were empathetic or I knew them to be kind), or I was convinced that a relationship "again" would be the answer. Now I think, after several years, I see and know the answer. Men give up on women because later in life women have already given up on men! They have lived without them for long enough, or substituted small furry animals for them (see previous post), that they know longer think they need them. They opt instead of images of satisfaction and/or mechanical ones.
Love forsaken is love forsworn! Love forsworn is the natural outcome of love forsaken!
Crazy Old Cat Ladies
Women with cats -- often equals women without men. Why? Perhaps the indefinable mystery that lies at the root of a cat's brain simulates that of a reluctant man? Perhaps the cat's seeming independence, odd behavior, and merciless "running around at night" -- recalls the similar behaviors in a male.Whatever!
All I know is that as a widower the two women I have dated in their 50's are both "cat ladies" and both have strayed so far from what I would consider normal behavior as human beings, that they have infringed upon the time-honored image of "crazy old ladies with cats." I remember as a young newspaperboy delivering the Milwaukee Sentinel more than a half century ago that there was a woman on my route like that -- except that she had many, many cats. Most of them were orange tabbies and most of them resided on her front porch for three seasons of the year, and then cried unremittingly indoors during the wintry months. These cats were inscrutable, seemingly malevolent, and downright scary. As was the woman!
Cats perhaps "do that" to women without normal gender connections!
All I know is that as a widower the two women I have dated in their 50's are both "cat ladies" and both have strayed so far from what I would consider normal behavior as human beings, that they have infringed upon the time-honored image of "crazy old ladies with cats." I remember as a young newspaperboy delivering the Milwaukee Sentinel more than a half century ago that there was a woman on my route like that -- except that she had many, many cats. Most of them were orange tabbies and most of them resided on her front porch for three seasons of the year, and then cried unremittingly indoors during the wintry months. These cats were inscrutable, seemingly malevolent, and downright scary. As was the woman!
Cats perhaps "do that" to women without normal gender connections!
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Humbled by Knowledge
Every time I learn, I grow and diminish at the same time. I grow in understanding, information, and even in making connections between/among facts, people, things, etc. I diminish in my strength of mind to grasp it all -- to put everything in its place -- to comprehend and see the meaning in everything.
I am human -- and am limited in being humbly and stupidly finite. I am small where even largeness would succumb to despair at its place in the "more and more largeness" of structures beyond myself.
I am at least large enough to know that I am not the largest, and small enough to grasp that I must and can still grow larger.
I am human -- and am limited in being humbly and stupidly finite. I am small where even largeness would succumb to despair at its place in the "more and more largeness" of structures beyond myself.
I am at least large enough to know that I am not the largest, and small enough to grasp that I must and can still grow larger.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Finding a Job
Just interviewed a "young professional" today as a possible new teacher at STC. Since he was on staff already in another area I was letting him know about the contents of this course he might be asked to teach (EMPL 1000).
I had to give him his cover letter and his resume/CV back because both contained major errors: the cover letter was actually to another person at another school for a different position, the CV had a major error misnaming where he was working now (which happened to be the name of our institution). Yikes.
How can you teach a course in being professional when you yourself are not same? How indeed?
I had to give him his cover letter and his resume/CV back because both contained major errors: the cover letter was actually to another person at another school for a different position, the CV had a major error misnaming where he was working now (which happened to be the name of our institution). Yikes.
How can you teach a course in being professional when you yourself are not same? How indeed?
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Time Sucks Life
Paris Hilton doesn't look the same anymore; I don't look the same anymore; no one looks the same anymore. Time really does "suck the life" out of us all. Our looks change; our reaction time lengthens; all of our abilities, to some degree, degrade!
That is the temporal condition -- those of us stuck in time, as creatures of mass and energy, will all degrade until we lose that mass and perhaps even that energy. We will be transformed, somehow, into something we don't know about yet. Some among us have "faith" that it will be a more-refined kind of earth; others of us believe in an "after-life" so esoteric or happily-faith-centered that it is unintelligible to most of us, given our present state of human understanding (and confusion).
So, gravity will rule our bodies. Our cells will begin to function badly, if at all. Our blood pressure will seriously change and for some, implode. For others our ways of knowing and our actual knowledge will both diminish -- and we will end, unwillingly, bereft of most of what we have grown to expect of ourselves. Age will become a slowly ebbing tide rushing out to a vast uncaring sea. Can we conquer or at least attune ourselves to this process? I think we can.
That is the temporal condition -- those of us stuck in time, as creatures of mass and energy, will all degrade until we lose that mass and perhaps even that energy. We will be transformed, somehow, into something we don't know about yet. Some among us have "faith" that it will be a more-refined kind of earth; others of us believe in an "after-life" so esoteric or happily-faith-centered that it is unintelligible to most of us, given our present state of human understanding (and confusion).
So, gravity will rule our bodies. Our cells will begin to function badly, if at all. Our blood pressure will seriously change and for some, implode. For others our ways of knowing and our actual knowledge will both diminish -- and we will end, unwillingly, bereft of most of what we have grown to expect of ourselves. Age will become a slowly ebbing tide rushing out to a vast uncaring sea. Can we conquer or at least attune ourselves to this process? I think we can.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Happy Departure
Robert Smith, (aka "Bob Smith"), is leaving STC today. Bob has been a respected and contributing adjunct "reading" professor here in Savannah for a long time. He is leaving to finally finish a Doctorate from North Dakota in his chosen field, and will eventually a "degreed expert" in an area where he is already a practical one.
Bob is a former banker -- with a strong and abiding interest in his students, their struggles in completing their educations, and the whole process of uplifting lives through basic education. Bob will find North Dakota winters hard, but the people warm and friendly. Because of the shale-oil boom there will be a diverse population up there responding to a booming state and local economy. Hope it all works out for Bob-- I for one will miss him. Ave atque vale!
Bob is a former banker -- with a strong and abiding interest in his students, their struggles in completing their educations, and the whole process of uplifting lives through basic education. Bob will find North Dakota winters hard, but the people warm and friendly. Because of the shale-oil boom there will be a diverse population up there responding to a booming state and local economy. Hope it all works out for Bob-- I for one will miss him. Ave atque vale!
Friday, July 18, 2014
Settling Down...
At a certain time in every one's life they yearn to "settle down" and let their lives take their natural course. I "settled down" first when I came to grips with my dyslexia, learning difficulties, reading, and school in general at a very young age. Years later I "settled down" and realized I could not overcome this "sexual awakening thing" and that it might take a lifetime to understand my own and other people's sexual desires, wants, etc. That turned out to be true indeed.
In eighth grade I "settled down" and aimed myself for the best private high school in the state of Wisconsin -- Marquette University High School. Took the admissions test; earned the money for the first year of tuition; got there/did that. I then "settled down" in college and decided I would pursue all my interests: English, Math, Languages, Morality, and anything new that came along. A stay in Italy and exposure to deep Jesuit pedagogy meant that Theatre and Philosophy both came along. I double majored/double minored to include all my interests. I took advanced seminars when I should probably have been taking basic courses (my Advisor at Marquette didn't care; he had a part-time job as a game show host [no, seriously]). I "settled down" and made connections among all my fields of endeavor.
Graduate school came with a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, lots of offers in lots of fields, and Research and Teaching Assistantships first in Philosophy (Ethics, Logic, Aesthetics) then in Theatre at a second graduate school (University of Wisconsin - Madison) (Acting, Acting Styles, Stagecraft, Directing). I had "settled down" to be an academic bonus baby. Lots of offers came with that too -- some good, most of them a bit corrupt ("carry coffee for me and I'll make you a star").
There is more "settling down" in future posts. I will stop right here now.
In eighth grade I "settled down" and aimed myself for the best private high school in the state of Wisconsin -- Marquette University High School. Took the admissions test; earned the money for the first year of tuition; got there/did that. I then "settled down" in college and decided I would pursue all my interests: English, Math, Languages, Morality, and anything new that came along. A stay in Italy and exposure to deep Jesuit pedagogy meant that Theatre and Philosophy both came along. I double majored/double minored to include all my interests. I took advanced seminars when I should probably have been taking basic courses (my Advisor at Marquette didn't care; he had a part-time job as a game show host [no, seriously]). I "settled down" and made connections among all my fields of endeavor.
Graduate school came with a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, lots of offers in lots of fields, and Research and Teaching Assistantships first in Philosophy (Ethics, Logic, Aesthetics) then in Theatre at a second graduate school (University of Wisconsin - Madison) (Acting, Acting Styles, Stagecraft, Directing). I had "settled down" to be an academic bonus baby. Lots of offers came with that too -- some good, most of them a bit corrupt ("carry coffee for me and I'll make you a star").
There is more "settling down" in future posts. I will stop right here now.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
The Feminine Mystique
What does it mean to be a female? (From a male's point of view -- this is a tremendous mystery). Aside from anatomical differences, and hormonal differences to support the anatomical -- there are elemental "value" differences that leave male observers breathless, perplexed, and stunned into silence.
Body image, beauty, weight, skin clarity, health -- these issues are the concern of both genders, but not the "same" concern. Men won't react to their own "bad skin" unless it is peopled with things that look like cancer or move about on their own. Men routinely develop the "pot belly" of middle age and, though trying mightily to wish it away, rarely go to the extremes of "vacuuming the fat cells off" or serious lifestyle (diet and exercise) changes. Why? Not because they don't wish for a slimmer body -- but because they truly can't do it -- too many obstacles: work, time, energy, etc. And simply -- they don't see the need for it!
That makes men vain in a curiously ironic way; or stupid, in a predictably lazy way; or just plain simple. Men try to live "in the moment" but often don't clearly see the moment they are in. Yikes.
Blinded by the light of their own brilliantly momentary confusion!
Body image, beauty, weight, skin clarity, health -- these issues are the concern of both genders, but not the "same" concern. Men won't react to their own "bad skin" unless it is peopled with things that look like cancer or move about on their own. Men routinely develop the "pot belly" of middle age and, though trying mightily to wish it away, rarely go to the extremes of "vacuuming the fat cells off" or serious lifestyle (diet and exercise) changes. Why? Not because they don't wish for a slimmer body -- but because they truly can't do it -- too many obstacles: work, time, energy, etc. And simply -- they don't see the need for it!
That makes men vain in a curiously ironic way; or stupid, in a predictably lazy way; or just plain simple. Men try to live "in the moment" but often don't clearly see the moment they are in. Yikes.
Blinded by the light of their own brilliantly momentary confusion!
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
On the Day I Die
The world won't weep. Some people might. My enemies, if there are any; will rejoice. My friends will wonder. Some will ask "why?" Others won't care a whit.
I will wonder "what was it all for?" I will learn the truth about heaven and hell. I will not have regrets. I will try to be at peace. I will forgive everyone. Many will not forgive me. All the time I spent trying to do positive things will be remembered, but not by me. And I will choose to "go on" into whatever comes after.
If "nothing" comes after; so be it. If another life comes after; so be it. If punishment or reward comes after; I can do nothing to change it at all. The metaphysics of my life would then be complete.
What are we to believe when we can know nothing of these things?
I will wonder "what was it all for?" I will learn the truth about heaven and hell. I will not have regrets. I will try to be at peace. I will forgive everyone. Many will not forgive me. All the time I spent trying to do positive things will be remembered, but not by me. And I will choose to "go on" into whatever comes after.
If "nothing" comes after; so be it. If another life comes after; so be it. If punishment or reward comes after; I can do nothing to change it at all. The metaphysics of my life would then be complete.
What are we to believe when we can know nothing of these things?
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Sex Tape
How many of you out there have wanted to star in your own sex tape? The recent new movie starring Cameron Diaz underlies that question. Why would anyone want to "be in" a sex tape? To preserve pictures of their finest moments perhaps, or scenes when their bodies were at their best? To remind and reinforce the fact that they "still have it?" Just to "show off?"
Why a sex tape? Why did Paris Hilton do a sex tape? Why do countless unnamed boy/girl friend combinations do a sex tape? Is it thrilling? Is it a high point in their sensual lives? Do they relive the erotic and sensual feelings every time they watch it? Why? Why not? Do they really want others to see the tape --- and enjoy it?
Will this "tape" then follow you throughout your career -- keeping you from future employment maybe, or a future relationship, or a future "teaching job" now that your "reputation has been compromised?" Why does sexual activity, especially legal sexual activity, compromise one's ability to work with kids, or college students, or anyone for that matter? Why is the world hung up on sex and totally disenfranchised when sex is accessed?
Why a sex tape? Why did Paris Hilton do a sex tape? Why do countless unnamed boy/girl friend combinations do a sex tape? Is it thrilling? Is it a high point in their sensual lives? Do they relive the erotic and sensual feelings every time they watch it? Why? Why not? Do they really want others to see the tape --- and enjoy it?
Will this "tape" then follow you throughout your career -- keeping you from future employment maybe, or a future relationship, or a future "teaching job" now that your "reputation has been compromised?" Why does sexual activity, especially legal sexual activity, compromise one's ability to work with kids, or college students, or anyone for that matter? Why is the world hung up on sex and totally disenfranchised when sex is accessed?
Monday, July 14, 2014
Priests, Pedophiles, the Catholic Church, and Celibacy
Pope Francis is a courageous man; and some would argue a traitorous Pope! Why? Admitting that there are pedophiles in the celibate priesthood, is tantamount to being a traitor to the lie that has held together Catholic "sexual policy" for the past two hundred years.
It is a known fact that Americans as a whole, are more Puritan than open about sex. Americans loathe real honesty about sexuality -- because then they might have to admit their addictions to porn, infidelity, birth control, etc. in the face of tremendous pressure to preserve the family, sex-only-inside-marriage, and other fictions. There are families of course -- but they do not gleam like the 1950's All Electric Kitchen, nor do they cross all facets of sexual persuasion each time like "Modern Family."
American families are just normal, messy, sometimes-screwed-up, sometimes-unfaithful, always interesting groupings of people under pressure -- people in love -- people who lust.
Even worse than the ironic American view of sex, is the Catholic Church's absolutely mythic view of sex by rubric; sex ex cathedra, sex without compassion, sex without understanding. How does the Catholic Church deal with those who are born different (hermaphrodites, or those "wired" gay facing a straight dictum, or those who are duly attracted to both sexes?). The answer is simple: "not very well."
If you happen to be an American Catholic, like I was for so long -- you are truly confused and ashamed about just about everything you understand and don't understand about sex. You must find your own way -- neither the Church nor your American upbringing can be your guide!
It is a known fact that Americans as a whole, are more Puritan than open about sex. Americans loathe real honesty about sexuality -- because then they might have to admit their addictions to porn, infidelity, birth control, etc. in the face of tremendous pressure to preserve the family, sex-only-inside-marriage, and other fictions. There are families of course -- but they do not gleam like the 1950's All Electric Kitchen, nor do they cross all facets of sexual persuasion each time like "Modern Family."
American families are just normal, messy, sometimes-screwed-up, sometimes-unfaithful, always interesting groupings of people under pressure -- people in love -- people who lust.
Even worse than the ironic American view of sex, is the Catholic Church's absolutely mythic view of sex by rubric; sex ex cathedra, sex without compassion, sex without understanding. How does the Catholic Church deal with those who are born different (hermaphrodites, or those "wired" gay facing a straight dictum, or those who are duly attracted to both sexes?). The answer is simple: "not very well."
If you happen to be an American Catholic, like I was for so long -- you are truly confused and ashamed about just about everything you understand and don't understand about sex. You must find your own way -- neither the Church nor your American upbringing can be your guide!
Friday, July 11, 2014
Does Anger Really Motivate?
"I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore! I'm mad as hell and I'm simply not going to take it anymore! I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" The screaming mantra from the iconic film "Network" was the harbinger for the modern age.
We now routinely utter those words -- not just about television programming, but everything: politics, religion, stupid government officials, stupid religious officials, people in authority anywhere, teachers, ministers, friends, lovers, children, parents, siblings, all stupid people, selfish people, bartenders, waitresses, etc. etc. etc. The list is the list of everything and everybody!
Everything and everybody makes us "mad" -- and we can't do anything about it, which makes us "madder still." Could all this anger possible motivate each of us, as a kind of individual protest, to try to be the outlier, the difference-maker, the odd-guy-out, who could begin the process of changing the entire system? Is that possible? I'll do my part if you will!!!
We now routinely utter those words -- not just about television programming, but everything: politics, religion, stupid government officials, stupid religious officials, people in authority anywhere, teachers, ministers, friends, lovers, children, parents, siblings, all stupid people, selfish people, bartenders, waitresses, etc. etc. etc. The list is the list of everything and everybody!
Everything and everybody makes us "mad" -- and we can't do anything about it, which makes us "madder still." Could all this anger possible motivate each of us, as a kind of individual protest, to try to be the outlier, the difference-maker, the odd-guy-out, who could begin the process of changing the entire system? Is that possible? I'll do my part if you will!!!
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
What I Miss...
Sleep. Energy. Knowledge about what I should be doing. Knowledge about what I am doing. Certain lovers. My wife Sheila. My sister Linda. My daughter Tosha. A sense of completion. Joy.
A good night's sleep. A better night's sex. A peaceful moment with no worries. No worries. Being happy for others. A sense that "all is right with the world." Sincerity. Truth. The right to be listened to. Speaking that accomplishes what it seeks. Friends in different places. Family, also in different places. People whom I love. People who love me. The touch of real affection. Kindness. Compassion.
Someone to be compassionate about. Someone to be good to.
A life of meaning. A life without administrivia. A joyous laugh. An expression from someone without irony, without hypocrisy, without lies. A kiss that means something. Holding hands. Giving out gifts to others. A healthy day. A happy day. A rested day. Sleep.
A good night's sleep. A better night's sex. A peaceful moment with no worries. No worries. Being happy for others. A sense that "all is right with the world." Sincerity. Truth. The right to be listened to. Speaking that accomplishes what it seeks. Friends in different places. Family, also in different places. People whom I love. People who love me. The touch of real affection. Kindness. Compassion.
Someone to be compassionate about. Someone to be good to.
A life of meaning. A life without administrivia. A joyous laugh. An expression from someone without irony, without hypocrisy, without lies. A kiss that means something. Holding hands. Giving out gifts to others. A healthy day. A happy day. A rested day. Sleep.
Monday, July 7, 2014
On the Death of Death
I would like to be able to declare the "death of death" right here, right now! Why does the end of mere "life" have such a truncating effect on us, cutting off rational thought; making inquiry so seemingly useless?
I declare that "death is DEAD" by virtue of it simple unimportance, accept at its moment of acceptance, its moment of actuation. When we die; then we can worry about death! Before that moment all we can do is live to it!
A woman I didn't even know except by sight; a fellow-faculty person here at Savannah Technical College -- is dying this very day in Hospice Savannah -- of a head injury and subsequent operation several days ago. In her mind, where I am sure she mostly resides now -- death is coming, but it is not yet here. Death is dead to her until she must accept it -- when life gives up its post to death. What is beyond only "death" can say!
I declare that "death is DEAD" by virtue of it simple unimportance, accept at its moment of acceptance, its moment of actuation. When we die; then we can worry about death! Before that moment all we can do is live to it!
A woman I didn't even know except by sight; a fellow-faculty person here at Savannah Technical College -- is dying this very day in Hospice Savannah -- of a head injury and subsequent operation several days ago. In her mind, where I am sure she mostly resides now -- death is coming, but it is not yet here. Death is dead to her until she must accept it -- when life gives up its post to death. What is beyond only "death" can say!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Wild World
We live in a wild world. Changes have accelerated over the past several years -- sides have been polarized between and among major religions; and positions have also been polarized within major religions. The issues are startlingly clear: the rights of women and children; women's rights to their own bodies; the rights of the unborn; the idea and fact of gender dominance; religious war and/or "fatwah's" for nearly any/every reason; inequality between peoples, tribes, generations, economic castes, sexes, and every other significant dividing factor you can name.
Hell has broken loose -- our entertainment on television, on You Tube, and in films reflects those same intransigent divisions back in our faces! It seems we cannot escape conflict in any phase of our lives: in what we have faith in, in our families, in the values held by our country, in our own values.
Even the US Supreme Court litters the landscape of truth with the exaggerated political mottoes of closely-held views. Statesmanship, honor, and mutual respect seem to have fallen away.
The world no longer honors honesty, or idealism, or compassion. It instead roots itself only in economic perfectibility built by capitalism --- the "bottom line" is now the only line you will ever hear expressed. God bless America!
Hell has broken loose -- our entertainment on television, on You Tube, and in films reflects those same intransigent divisions back in our faces! It seems we cannot escape conflict in any phase of our lives: in what we have faith in, in our families, in the values held by our country, in our own values.
Even the US Supreme Court litters the landscape of truth with the exaggerated political mottoes of closely-held views. Statesmanship, honor, and mutual respect seem to have fallen away.
The world no longer honors honesty, or idealism, or compassion. It instead roots itself only in economic perfectibility built by capitalism --- the "bottom line" is now the only line you will ever hear expressed. God bless America!
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
A Short Sweet Rant to an Unnamed Lover
Remember --- I am not that horrible brother, I am not your father, I am not Doug, I am not Dave, I am not anyone else -- just me!
Life to me is always to be lived fully --- to be used up, to the very last drop! That doesn't mean I will spend my time on the world's most aggressive bucket list; nor will I continue to continue with every kind of habit and repeating detail. I will change; I can change. But I always hope to change for the better, for the clearer, for the smarter, for the more useful. I owe my life to something greater than me -- I do believe that the something is there, and is a part of my future, but it also does not determine my future. I am free. Free to screw up; free to make mistakes; free to triumph!
Always remember -- as long as I live I intend to be the kind of person that makes decisions that make me proud. I intend to remain as unselfish as possible, and as careful. I intend to live fully.
Life to me is always to be lived fully --- to be used up, to the very last drop! That doesn't mean I will spend my time on the world's most aggressive bucket list; nor will I continue to continue with every kind of habit and repeating detail. I will change; I can change. But I always hope to change for the better, for the clearer, for the smarter, for the more useful. I owe my life to something greater than me -- I do believe that the something is there, and is a part of my future, but it also does not determine my future. I am free. Free to screw up; free to make mistakes; free to triumph!
Always remember -- as long as I live I intend to be the kind of person that makes decisions that make me proud. I intend to remain as unselfish as possible, and as careful. I intend to live fully.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Thanks for Birthday Wishes
For Linda -- thank you for being there. For Tosha -- just "thank you." For my Gemini "friend" -- also thanks.
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