21st Century Lesbian Trailer Trash

Refuse to Hate

Eight days ago, Californians passed the anti-gay marriage proposition by a narrow margin.  This saddens me but I am not surprised. 

It also disturbs me that many of the protest gatherings happening around the state are focused on the role of the Mormon church.  The church is very right wing and shockingly wealthy.

But I think it is a mistake to blame the Mormons.  My personal preference would be that we focus on our legislators and main street America.  If we pick one group to blame, I think we will miss the Freedom Train. 

Trading hate for hate, pointing the finger of blame, and declaring war on religious doctrine will likely backfire on us as a group.  Americans are very protective of their religious freedoms.  It's why this country was founded.

Recently, on my favorite lesbian message board, there has been some discussion about Prop 8.  I talked about forgiveness as a tool for moving through the strong emotions in order to carry on the cause.  A few have not been happy with that.

Once again, I will say here that forgiveness does not mean to lay down and die.  It means to see your opponent as a flawed human being, just like oneself, who has some ideas borne out of ignorance and misinformation.

What they need is information, example, and respect.  Not respect for their ideas but respect for their humanity.  Respect for their right to believe as they do.  And information to help them understand that this issue embodies the true meaning of the separation of Church and State; to understand that this is not an issue of religious doctrine but an issue of civil rights.

Thanks to Lori from Hahn at Home, I found this video from Refuse to Hate.  It is worth watching the entire video. 

 

Refuse to Hate from Refuse to Hate on Vimeo.

CBS Projects Obama Next US President

I am so thrilled to hear that Barak Obama appears to have swept the election.  America has reached heights about which I thought I could only dream. 

This is an exponential leap into the future.  It means, truly, that everyone has a voice.  It means that anyone who feels disenfranchised can have hope that America is a country for all of its citizens.

The man, I know, is just a man.  He will certainly prove at some point to have feet of clay.  But tonight, he is a symbol of possibility.

We have turned that intangible corner to become the nation that we were destined to become.

Most of all, I think of our Chinese nurse who recently received her citizenship, so proud to show me her "I voted" sticker from her very first United States election.

Thank you Martin, Bobby, and John.  Thank you Rosa Parks.  Thank you to the Mississippi Freedom Riders.  Thank you to all of the veterans of Vietnam who marched off to war without the support they deserved.  Thank you to all of the warriors of the past, peaceful and otherwise, who only cared to put their lives on the line for the greater good, whether or not we agreed with them.

Thank you to every young person, whatever their background, who have renewed my faith in our future.

And thank you to John McCain for his graceful and lovely concession speech. 

How I Amused Myself This Weekend

Learning how to use a movie maker.  This is a simple slide show with bits and pieces, most of which I have used here before.  I made a cool slide show of our halloween carnival also.  Sadly, because of privacy issues, I can't show it on the web.

 

 

Happy Halloween!

  This is what we did on Friday in my little corner of the world.

 

 

 

 

                                                      This is our canteen area where 2 nurses are relaxing with Pumpkin Dog.

 

 

This is Dracula fishing for goodies with one of the activity people.

 

                          

                                    

            

The Activity Department did an incredible job of decorating on a limited budget.

 

 

 

Pumpkin Dog is not happy in her costume.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The obligatory witch.