Do not be daunted ...

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.

The Talmud

Optimist or Sucker?

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that" 

 - Martin Luther King, Jr.

‎"In the face of a man's death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred"

- A statement released from the Vatican after the killing of Bin Laden

   I posted these quotes on my Face Book page after learning of the "celebrations" taking place after the killing of Bin Laden. The fact that I was not in the streets dancing and singing with glee did not mean that I was saddened by his death. It did not mean that I didn't feel for the family's and friends of the 9/11 victims. I choose to deal with it in another way. I am not a religious man. But I do believe in God. I believe that He is with in us all. I believe He is a very personal being that each of us has to manifest within ourselves to live our lives in a peaceful loving way. 


   I am tired of all the hate in the world. Either because of religious reasons, economic reasons, sexual orientation,etc. 

"People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? Can we get along? Can we stop making it, making it horrible for the older people and the kids?...It’s just not right. It’s not right. It’s not, it’s not going to change anything. We’ll, we’ll get our justice....They won the battle, but they haven't won the war....Please, we can get along here. We all can get along. I mean, we’re all stuck here for a while. Let’s try to work it out. Let’s try to beat it. Let’s try to beat it. Let’s try to work it out." 

- Rodney King

   I know Mr. King has been made fun of for his quote. But really ... its not far from the truth. We are all here for such a short time. All the time, effort and money that we put in to hate could be spent so much better for the good of humanity. 


   Yes, their has been evil people all through history. And they will continue to be here long after I'm gone. I understand the "need" to rid the world of evil. I understand the theory behind the need for fighting for that you believe in. But at times like these we need to look with in ourselves for peace. 


   If I am being completely honest I have to admit that yes, I am glad we have one less evil being in the world. Who knows how many innocents have been saved with his demise? I guess I am saddened by the fact that the world we live in even has such evil. 


What do they call someone who believes good?


Noun 1. optimist - a person disposed to take a favorable view of things


Or a sucker?


   I also want to make it known that as a son of a military man I have the up most respect for all the men and women in our military. I can not express the feelings I have for them as they put themselves in danger everyday. Either here at home or in countries around the world. They are the reason I have the freedom to write what I feel and think without fear of reprisal.

I got bored ... help us all !

So I "LIKED" the Donald Trump page on FaceBook. I know, I know ... just walk away. Let it go. Live and let live. Blah blah blah. Anyway ... I wanted to see what his "fans" had to say about him. Wow ... tough crowd. I just happened to find an article on one of many lawsuits he was involved in. So I posted it. 


"In 2006, Trump irritated some local residents when he raised a flag on an 80-foot pole, a height almost twice that allowed by town ordinances. He refused to take it down, and the Palm Beach city council charged him $1,250 a day for every day that it remained aloft. Trump countersued for $25 million, and the matter dragged on for six months. It was finally settled when he agreed to lower the flag 10 feet, move it away from the ocean and donate $100,000 to Iraqi War Veterans’ charities."


Fine, fly your flag. Just do it with in the law. I guess it had been a slow Donald week because he filed a lawsuit. Well, by the responses I got you would have thought I burned the flag and then tried to put it out by spitting on it. 


"Unamerican"
"Nazi"
"FREAK"
and my fav ... "Commie Scum"


So much for a debate. They didn't care that he was breaking the law. They didn't care that his neighbors considered it intrusive. No, they just thought he should be able to do what ever he wants as long as he's being "Patriotic" and has the money to back up his behavior. IF (huge IF) he decides to run and actually wins is this the way he will run the country?


"We are America and we have the big bucks to back up our bully behavior" 


Talk about "Ugly Americans" 


Now that I think about it ... isn't that the way it was 2001 - 2009 ? 


Please ... not again !

Diva or Duped ?

   As a young adult in the 80's I lived for music. I always had the radio on or a record playing (yes vinyl). Music was a very important part of my everyday life. I wanted to look like George Michael and dress as cool and confident as Boy George. Music in the 80's was ... happy (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun), hip (Rock Lobster) and freeing (I'm Coming Out). It made me feel good about myself. But it could also be dark (Ballad Of Lucy Jordan) and dramatic (How Can I Help You Say Good-bye). 


   The 80's was full of Divas too. Donna, Whitney, Tina, and of course Cher. We welcomed them into our bedrooms on a nightly basis. Singing about the boy that will never love us or the boy that loved another. They become our best friends, our sisters and confidants. They opened up their hearts to us and we loved them for it. We had our first and sometimes only female relationship with them. We loved and trusted them to keep all of our secrets. 


   Then we grew up and realized they were people just like us. They got older, had problems, divorces and opinions. And sometimes their opinions didn't match ours. And our world was shattered. How could they turn on us? How could they have lied to us all those years? 


   Years ago I learned one of my "Divas" did just that. Her whole public persona was a lie. She was not one of "our" biggest supporters. She did not believe that I was entitled to the same rights as her. My world crumbled. Dramatic? Yes, but I felt as if I had lost my best friend. 


   I stopped listening to her music, did not watch any show she was a guest on. I cut her from my life. Again, dramatic? Yes. Childish? Maybe. But I was hurt. Beyond repair. That's how strong my "relationship" was with her. 


   She had made me believe that I was special. To this day I think about her. I miss our time together. I miss our "talks". I miss her voice. 


I miss my friend. 

Moments ...

At times I get moments of complete clarity. Moments when all is right with the world. Problems are not problems but challenges. 


Moments when my relationship is perfect, or at least I see a way to make it perfect, fix it. Moments when time with my family is all warm and fuzzy. 


Moments when lyrics to songs make so much more sense. 


Moments when being away from my partner brings tears to my eyes and an ache to my heart. Moments when my feelings are so close to the surface you can see them as the hairs on my arms rise. 


Moments of complete happiness. Like a drug, so happy that once again I have tears in my eyes. A joy about life, almost a spooky feeling, and in the back of my head I have an unsettling fear. 


That it will end. 


And when I finally get back to reality I think to myself "I should have enjoyed that moment more" 

Once a killer always a killer?

Tilikum is back. Don't know who, or what, that is? Remember back on the 24th of February 2010?   

ORLANDO, Fla. — A SeaWorld killer whale snatched a trainer from a poolside platform Wednesday in its jaws and thrashed the woman around underwater, killing her in front of a horrified audience. It marked the third time the animal had been involved in a human death.

The 3rd time ? The first two deaths weren't enough to close down the park? And now Tilikum is back .... what ? for a 4th kill? I'm not putting the blame on Tikikum. Its a wild animal, no matter what we think, no matter how many tricks he does, he's wild. And being wild they will sometimes revert to wild behavior. 


I really can't believe its being allowed back. Hey Sea World ! What's the magic number ? 4 ? 5 ? 6 ? I think Tilikum is trying to tell you something ... 

Ignorance is bliss

I remember not so long ago I didn't have ANY idea what the hell was going on in the world outside of MY world. 


And I liked it that way. The world went about its business and I went about mine.


Liquid lunches with friends, Saturday nights bar hoping in a black limo. Spending money on designer clothes, shoes and bags. Dinners that cost more then my rent. 


Then I grew up. I learned that there was a world beyond my eye sight. But this time I didn't like it that way. I learned people had problems. People died. People suffered. Animals became homeless, abused and killed. 


I learned people could be mean, violent and hateful. Neighbors stole and cheated. Co-workers stabbed you in the back whenever given the chance. The company you gave your all for could replace you in the blink of an eye without as much as a thank you. 


I guess the inter-net is mostly to blame for my "awakening". Hardly a day goes by when I'm not googling or blinging something or someone. Who am I kidding ... hardly and hour goes by ! 


Today was a particularly harsh news day. The Supreme Court sided with a bunch of sick-low-life-hateful-pathetic excuse for human beings. And a state wants to pass a bill that says someone is good enough to clean their toilets but other wise they don't need them. I paraphrase, but you get the idea. 


So is ignorance really bliss? Yes, sometimes. But most of the time I'm glad of this new grown up me. I (we) need to know what's going on in the world beyond our backyard. We need to be there and speak up for the injustice in the world. We need to fight for the weak. We need to stand up and say "NO, that's not right!". We need to know what's going on in the world so we can make a difference. 


Because if we don't who will? Them?