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!

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!!!

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. 

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! 

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!

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. 

Thanks for Birthday Wishes

For Linda -- thank you for being there. For Tosha -- just "thank you." For my Gemini "friend" -- also thanks.