Wonderful Wednesday

Today I am over the moon happy about the Supreme Court's rulings on DOMA and Prop 8. FINALLY people can exercise their rights as married couples. the wrong from November 2008 is now righted. This does not directly affect my life right this moment, as I am not in any type of partnered relationship. What it does impact is the possibilities, the potential for happiness for me and many others. This allows children not even yet born to grow up in a world where they KNOW they are valued and protected. The "otherness" of being anything other than hetero cis gendered is decreased. I wish for us all love and happiness.

May your week be truly wonderful!

So Shines A Good Deed In A Weary World

Today a tiny bit of my faith in humanity was restored when Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Of course there are already appeals, which was expected regardless of the decision. This will end up at the U.S. Supreme Court, and it is a hopeful waiting game for which I now hunker down. I do wonder as well if the whole "Repeal the 14th Ammendment" folks are also hoping that they deny minority rights while they kick babies out of this country.

"May You Live In Interesting Times" could not be more descriptive.

After the election, I posted this and I hope we can continue to support our friends, family members, and members of our community - the human community.

(Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau)

Hypocrisy - Seriously NSFW

Warning - may not be safe for work:

I've read some of the feedback on this PSA and much of what is being missed is the intent to highlight the hypocrisy of using the bible as a justification for discrimination. Biblical scholars have pointed out that the bible contradicts itself, and it is the interpretation of scripture that causes much hand wringing, not to even mention the translations that have been wrong, and the MANY books intentionally left out of the bible - but that is a soapbox for another person, and another day.

Another Video by the same group, which will likely upset many people:

Again pointing to the hypocrisy of it all. The other criticism I've read is that these videos will only reach the people who already believe in civil rights for all. That may be true, but still worth addressing.

My issue is that this can be seen as less of an invitation to intelligent discussion, and more divisiveness among humans. I understand why there is anger behind each side, and would LOVE to see something bringing the sides together.

This one won't do that either, but I still like this singer, even if she is a train wreck.

Things that make me happy

This is today's:

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

I needed that bit of musical theater!

Today was fairly hum drum. I actually went into the office and had a nice visit with a fellow employee. Saw another one cleaning up and packing her office. She's out at the end of December. That's a bit of a bummer to watch. Was tired most of the day and yawning.

I did talk to sis this morning. She wanted to see Twilight tonight, but I'm without a car or a baby sitter, so no dice, though I told her I'd go on Sunday.

It's about Love

I watched this last night, and my first thought was that I really haven't given Olbermann a fair shake. I don't watch his show, and the only exposure I'd had was clips on The Soup, so I wasn't rushing to watch. Now I'll be setting my TiVo for 2 hours each night to catch both Keith and Rachel Maddow (who I do watch).

Thank-you Keith Olbermann for voicing what we already knew - this is about Love. Even though this was masked under lots of other things like religion and lies, you get it and I hope others who watch the clip will too.

Disappointed

I am disappointed in my state of California. This is the "sunshine" state, and home to MANY rainbow flags, yet there is a slim majority of people in this great state who believe that an existing right must be taken away from our citizens.

Proposition 8
It is not about what is taught in school.
It is not about religion.
It is not about forcing anyone to do anything.

Proposition 8 supporters managed to convince people that there should be fear about gays and lesbians. That their lives and the lives of their children would be taken over by the so called "gay agenda". They are wrong, and what they are teaching their children about love and tolerance and acceptance is wrong.

My continuing hope is that all people be treated with love and care, and that who you love will not cause persecution. I want my own children to be free to marry who they love. I want the children of intolerant people to know that they are not alone, and they are loved as well. I really do not want to see us going back to a time when teenagers thought it was appropriate to commit suicide, rather than be who they are.

The teen years are difficult enough, without the knowledge that your own government does not protect your rights.

Shame on California, shame on all of us.

Bittersweet

Today I am Happy, and I am anxious. I am proud to be an American because we finally got our collective shit together and elected a Black Man as our President. I am hopeful about the future of our country as we all struggle to survive the current financial crisis, and improve our name in the World at large. We will need to continue to work together, harder than ever, to ensure we can all see this through. Now is the time for change for the better, of healing old, deep and gangrenous wounds. Now is the time to serve our country in the ways we can, by reaching out to our neighbors and collectively lifting us all up to a better place. We have done this before, and we can do it again.

We are America, and we are survivors.

I am also anxious today because a fundamental right may be striped from a minority population in my state of California. I'm talking about Proposition 8, an insidious, hateful proposition that places people into secondary citizenship because of love, and in the name of tradition and religion. I am waiting for the final vote tally, as mine is one of the absentee ballots that could swing this whole thing around.

I am proud of America, and hopeful for California.