Hope

It's something we never seem to lose, no matter how downtrodden we are, but it's nice to have more of it.

Today begins a long, hopeful journey for our nation. I believe that healing is possible.

Hopefully President Obama will pick up a copy of this book of letters from youngsters and follow the advice contained within:

“If I were president, I would help all nations, even Hawaii." -- Chad Timsing, age 9, Los Angeles

“I really hope you put America back together. No pressure though." -- Sheenie Shannon Yip, age 13, Seattle

"1. Fly to the White House in a helicopter. 2. Walk in. 3. Wipe feet. 4. Walk to the Oval Office. 5. Sit down in a chair. 6. Put hand sanitizer on hands. 7. Enjoy moment. 8. Get up. 9. Get in car. 10. Go to the dog pound." -- Chandler Browne, age 12, Chicago

And, while it wasn't advice, exactly, we thought this was worth sharing:

"You are just like a big me." -- Avante Price, age 7, Seattle

Thanks and have fun running the country!



Happy Inauguration Day!

Veteran's Day

Alejna emailed me yesterday and told me that she nominated a couple of my recent posts for October's Just Posts, a round-up of different posts from different bloggers that focus on social issues. Considering my feelings toward Prop 8, this is an honor for me.

You can see the list of posts here. I am so grateful to have been able to contribute something meaningful. Thank you, Alejna!



I haven't been writing about Prop 8 lately. But I have been reading, and I have been thinking. I've made some good solid attempts to understand where the supporters of Prop 8 are coming from. I don't believe in pointing fingers and hating others for their beliefs, no matter how much these beliefs have hurt and will continue to hurt others. I believe in being part of the solution. And I think the solution is to try to understand others, no matter how infuriating they can be.

I am not always successful; in fact, I rarely am. My good intentions are often clouded by anger and sadness. But here are a few things that I believe to be true. A yes vote on Prop 8 has nothing at all to do with gay people or same-sex marriage or sparing our poor innocent children from the abomination of gayness. It has everything to do with a belief system that does not look kindly upon same-sex marriage. It has to do with people who simply don't understand that homosexuals truly pose no threat to anyone's life, people who cannot escape the crippling power of what they believe.

In all the uproar over Prop 8, I forgot that I myself was raised Catholic, and that for years, the Church had immense power over me. I don't consider Catholicism (or any other religion, for that matter) to be the essence of evil, but I do know that when human beings get hold of anything, even the purest of the pure can turn ugly. We simply do not know how to not leave the taint of our humanity behind on anything we touch.

Prop 8 is the perfect example of how ugly things can become if we don't open our eyes and realize that we are all human beings. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: there are many paths up the same mountain. And we all want the same simple things: food, water, shelter, love. Why, oh why, do we continue to constantly divide ourselves?

I will continue to reach across the chasm that divides us. Because I need to believe that things can change. And things must change; otherwise there will be too many casualties in this civil rights war.

To all you past, present, and future veterans who are fighting the good fight, I salute you. Happy Veterans Day.

The God of Small Things

Good morning.

I think I might be almost ready to stop writing about political things on a daily basis. Yesterday was very emotional. Towards the end of the day, I asked Melinda an important question via email. While she voted No on Prop 8, she was conflicted about it. I asked her to explain to me the nature of her conflict. After she explained that a bit, I asked her how she reconciles the harsh judgments contained within the Bible (the one condemning homosexuality, for instance) with the existence of a loving and accepting God.

In all my years of private school, church, and Sunday school classes (and there were quite a few), this is something I was never able to figure out on my own. It is a contradiction that has always baffled me. (Because we all know you can't say something like "God is love" and then say "God hates fags" and expect it to make any sort of sense.) This is something that I'd really like to understand on a logical level. I will be interested to hear her response. And I may even share it here.

Truthfully, despite my anger at the passing of Prop 8, I just don't want to believe that 52% of the people in this state are bigots. I want to understand where they're coming from, to be honest. I want to know what it will take to break down these barriers of inequality. I need to believe it can be done.

So I'm starting small - with one friend of mine who can perhaps help me to begin to grasp what's at work here.

And speaking of small things, I have fallen head over heels in love with pinhole photography. I've been hearing about this phenomenon for months now, but this past weekend, I decided to try it out myself. Luckily, I have an awesome husband who did all the dirty work, because I just don't trust myself with a drill. I was able to use one of my lens caps for my 50mm lens to make the pinhole. Next thing you know, I was taking some pretty rudimentary but wonderfully imperfect pictures.

Our bedroom window:



The kitchen faucet:



Partly eaten apple (with lovely light leaks):



Mao (with crazy cool light leaks):



Flowers from the cutest husband ever:



Peeling paint:



Grass:



Trees and sky (processed a bit more than the others):



The coolest stray cat ever:



These pictures are probably not impressive at all, and that is okay. They were fun to make. I should be using a tripod while doing this kind of work, because (obviously) things can get really blurry. I happen to love blurry photos (well, in certain contexts), because I get tired of "perfect" photos. Still, I'm hoping to get a tripod for Christmas so that I can take long-exposure shots without lots of camera shake.

I enjoy experimenting, and I hope this is only the beginning of a lot of photo-making experimentation for me.

Did we, really?

Proposition 8 has passed in California.



I am trying to reconcile the joy of Obama's victory and the sorrow of knowing that the majority of California has willingly voted to discriminate against a group of people. I feel like someone stomped on my heart. I am absolutely devastated.

I'm trying not to think hateful thoughts toward the Prop 8 supporters. We all have a right to our opinion. Unfortunately, some people cannot leave the Bible and Christianity out of the law. This is completely unfair to those of us who don't fit in exactly with the Christian mold. And I hope the supporters of Prop 8 realize that they have negatively impacted the lives of gay and lesbian people, along with the lives of their families and friends.

I am deeply ashamed of California (or at least 52% of it) right now. I am also deeply saddened to know that we took a gigantic step back today, even after taking a gigantic step forward last night. And it's nice to know that Prop 2 passed. It's interesting how we granted farm animals their rights (which I 100% support) but not a select group of people.

Despite all of this, I still have hope. I know that not all is lost. I'm hoping that Prop 8 will be overturned and recognized for the unconstitutional piece of garbage it is.

But as it stands right now, I have lost a lot of faith in the human race.

Yes, we did!

Wow, yesterday was quite a day. I was amazed and moved by the voter turnout. I had tears in my eyes during McCain's concession speech (I felt really sorry for him and even a bit for Palin as well). And I got chills when Obama spoke.

I am thrilled to have someone intelligent and passionate (and liberal) in the White House. I don't know what the future holds, but Obama has always managed to inspire hope in me. I hope his time as our President is fruitful.

My favorite memory from yesterday is refreshing my browser and seeing the page below. It was so unexpected to have the race called so early.



I was (and still am) completely awestruck by this wonderful turn of events. Today I am so proud to be an American - not just because my candidate of choice won, but because people let go of their apathy and let their voices be heard.

I do have to say, though, that these gay marriage bans that have passed in different states make me very, very sad. I can't believe we just voted Obama in as our new President but we can't let go of our fears and judgment about same-sex marriage. I will be waiting all day to hear the results of California's Prop 8.

Until then...

YES, WE DID!

Oh em gee, it's Election Day!

Holy crap! I thought this day would never get here.

I'm not sure if it's obvious, but I voted for Obama.



(Man, I look tired/chubby/pimply. Please ignore my face, and focus on my shirt!)

And I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some change.



But obviously John McCain has a lot to offer as well.



In addition to this monumental election, I get to leave work early for my three-month Lasik follow-up appointment, which means that afterward I get to come home and 1) take a nap and 2) obsess over the election.

I'd like to say that having eye surgery was some of the best money I've ever spent, mainly because I don't have to walk around looking like this guy:



And having good vision is a big plus, too.

Happy Election Day, everyone! And don't forget: "Live your values. Love your country. Vote."

Last Words on Prop H8

Only one more day until this three-ring circus is over. I, for one, can't wait. I will, of course, be glued to the computer to find out the results of the election. I am particularly worried about Prop 8, if that hasn't already been made obvious. But instead of writing another emotional post about why I'm against it, I wanted to share what a couple of other people have written.



First, the ever articulate WeeMo has listed her eight reasons to vote no on Prop 8. This is an excellent and very logical read. It's worth checking out, especially those of you who plan to vote yes. (I also stole the above graphic from WeeMo - thank you very much. :)

Second, I found this, and I think it is also a very compelling argument:

8 reasons I oppose Proposition 8 – by Rev.
Molly Vetter, First United Methodist Church, San Diego

On our November ballot here in California, we will be asked whether we support a proposition that would remove the right of same-sex couples to enter into legal marriage. As a heterosexual, married, Christian woman, I oppose this proposition for many reasons. Whether you agree with me or not, I would be honored if you'd consider these 8 reasons why I'm voting against it. In my mind, any one of them is enough reason to vote against this proposal.

1. This is a matter of legal rights, not a referendum on how religious people should interpret marriage. As a part of a nation built on ideals like justice and equality, I see no reason to restrict the legal rights of people to enter into the marriage contract with one another. I would like to live in a California that affords rights, not one that adds clauses into its Constitution to deny them.

2. This proposition has nothing to do with the rights of homosexual people to have children. Regardless of marital status, gay and lesbian people are already raising children. I would contend that it does our society good to have children being raised by people who are married--that the commitments made in marriage tend to help create home environments that are more stable, especially because of the way the community beyond the couple understands what it means to be married. Allowing same-sex couples to continue to marry in California will give greater stability to families, not less.

3. Heterosexual marriage does not need protection from same-sex marriage. I do believe that heterosexual marriage needs work in our culture--too many marriages end in divorce. It is a challenge to succeed in marriage--I struggle with the difficulty of separation during deployment, with my own independence, and much more. My marriage is not, however, threatened by the marriages of same-gender couples.

I wonder what we believe we're protecting marriage from?

4. Our understanding of marriage, in the church and under the law, has been continuously evolving. I celebrate that, as a woman, I enjoy rights to choose my own spouse (as well as the right to choose not to have a spouse and still own property) that have not always been available to women--certainly not always in our biblical tradition. I also celebrate that marriage does not exist only for the purpose of having children. I give thanks for the love shared between couples that have chosen not to have children, and between couples that have been unable to have children. I delight in couples far beyond their child-bearing years who are able to marry. There is not an unchanged understanding of marriage stretching back through the Bible, nor through our nation's history. The Supreme Court's decision to extend the rights of marriage to same-sex couples is another change in this evolving history. There is no one "original" understanding of marriage that we can preserve.

5. I have been blessed and enriched by same-gendered couples. Both as domestic partners and as married couples, they have shown me what mutually-life-giving, committed relationships can look like. Often persevering through immense challenges, they have demonstrated how married couples can care for each other and strengthen one another. These couples have been a blessing to our communities, too. I welcome ways that we can do more to honor committed relationships and let them be an asset to our communities.

6. Opposing this proposition does not mean that clergy are required to perform same-sex marriages. As a pastor, I always have the right to refuse to marry a couple. Opposing the proposition does not compel churches to change their definitions of marriage. Already, many churches have requirements for marriage in that church--such as requiring both spouses to be members of the church. Churches can continue to define their own rules for marriage, even without this proposition.

7. This restriction of rights does not belong in our Constitution. In my mind, a Constitution exists to provide rights, not take them away.

8. I am bothered by the fear-inducing tactics used by supporters of Proposition 8. The Gospel of Jesus Christ demands that we move past our fears to dare to include more of the world in God's love. I refuse to be convinced to restrict legal rights to members of our community because I am afraid. I do believe that there is real evil in the world, and that this campaign is distracting us from work is necessary for God's kingdom. Over and over, Jesus commanded us to care for the poor. Never once did Jesus speak about same-sex marriage. Proponents of this initiative are asking us to be afraid of the wrong thing. We have a lot of work to do if we want to follow Christ's example of love for our neighbors. This Proposition will not help us in that work.

These two ladies said it better than I ever could.

If you are planning on voting yes on Prop 8, please remember that it does not matter why you're doing it, only that the end result will be the denial of rights of a group of people who have done no harm to others. No matter how you justify it, this is never okay.

No on H8!

November begins.

November is a problematic month for me, because it marks the anniversary of two major life-changing events. It's impossible for me to enter into this month and not think about how these things have shaped the person I am today. However, I'm pretty proud of the person I've become, and I've learned that past events don't have to dictate my future.

That said, I am really excited about this November. I'm cautiously excited about the results of the election, but more than anything, I'm ready for the election roller coaster ride to be over. It has been a troubling and emotional time for us. I'm ready for things to settle down a bit, although I have a feeling that there will continue to be a major uproar even after Election Day. I feel strangely honored to be a part of such an important election, though. And having a sense of humor about things goes a long way!



I'm also thrilled about our new house. We got the keys last weekend and moved in most of our books and half of our storage unit. This weekend is devoted to moving the other half of our storage unit and most everything in our office at our current place. The big move will take place next weekend, but hopefully we'll only have to worry about getting our furniture over there. I'm ready to get in and get all settled.

I'm also very pleased to announce that we finally have a name for our little orange ball of adorableness. It's a name we thought of before we even met her, and we weren't sure if it was the right fit. One week later, we've decided that if anyone can take on this name, it's her.

She's not overly complicated, so she needed (something that could be shortened to) a one-syllable name. She's orange, so that needed to be taken into consideration. She's sneaky, another characteristic that she had to have in order to be christened....

Miss Agent Orange

Or Mao for short.



Another thing about our Mao: she farts. all. the. time. I have never met a kitten that farted as much as she does. Actually, to be honest, I really didn't think cats farted. But apparently Mao is half cat, half warfare tactic - so Agent Orange makes a whole lot of sense. (And then there are the obvious political references, but make of that what you will.)

So yeah, she can stink up a room like it's nobody's business, but she has really stolen our hearts with her never-ending cuteness. The other two cats are finally beginning to warm up to her; tonight will be the first night they all sleep together in the bathroom.

Here are some pictures of our little fartastic wonder playing with Roy this morning:













Obviously, when you've got something this cute to reckon with, flatulence doesn't seem like such a deal-breaker.

Lastly, it's NaBloPoMo! Let the posting frenzy begin!

I love this video.

Keeping up with my current tradition of either posting about kittens or politics, here's a video that I found to be very poignant.



Go, Obama!

(Thanks, Kari.)

A Perfect World

This morning I read this comment on this recent blog post. Of course, it was anonymous.

Gay marriage? Children being had? We may be preachimg to teh converted here, but please see the link >

http://about-orphans.blogspot.com

Many thanks.

Typos aside, I found this comment to be interesting because 1) I didn't really get the point behind it (at first), and 2) the link provided lead me to some places I'd never been before:

About orphans
People are giving away their children, without any accountability to them.
IVF/ART newborns at risk from inherited diseases.

The URL for last page I linked to is actually www.why-gays-are-unfit-parents.blogspot.com. Quite telling.

Each page contains a multitude of other links. I haven't clicked on all the links yet. I'm not sure if I will, to be honest. But I do like to be informed. I like to hear other points of view. Despite the blatant bigotry of the URL mentioned above, I'm still interested in what these links are telling me. I feel like I understand a little more about this article's point about birthright.

I'm not going to rehash the contents of the links I've provided above. I leave that to all of you if you're interested in reading them. But I do feel the need to respond to this anonymous commenter.


Anonymous:

We are not living in a perfect world. We are not perfect people. And there is no perfect answer for any issue. All we can do is our best.

But for the sake of keeping the dream alive, here's my vision.

In my perfect world, consenting adults would be able to marry each other. They would be able to form families. In this world, no child would be unwanted. There'd be no need for the foster system and the cycle of abuse it perpetuates. There'd be no need for abortion. Every child, whether conceived the traditional way or through ART, would be welcomed and enveloped in love.

None of us would ever be sick or have to suffer. But if we had to be sick, everyone who needed quality health care would have access to it. There would be no infertility, no cancer, no Alzheimer's. There would still be death, but it would be painless and peaceful.

We would all have enough money to pay our bills and take care of ourselves and go on at least one fun vacation a year. We'd all have access to a college education; we'd all be able to get a decent, fulfilling job. We'd all work hard to take care of our planet so that there would be a safe place for future generations to live.

In my perfect world, there would be no hatred. No selfishness. No judgment. There would be people of all races and religions and sexual orientations and philosophies. There would be no need for war. We'd be able to sit down and talk out our issues with other countries instead of dropping bombs.

We'd be able to walk down the street in the worst neighborhood without being afraid. We'd be able to see our similarities and embrace our differences. And we'd be able to really understand what it means to love and accept others.

Anonymous, if you're reading, you might be bewildered by all this. You may wonder how posting a simple link got me to this point. Well, I just want you to know that some of the arguments you linked to make an assumption that this is a perfect world. And while I love dreaming of a utopian fantasy, I also know that the literal translation of "utopia" is "no place." It just doesn't exist.

But that doesn't mean that the good things in the world need to be taken away. I understand where you're coming from, I think, but passing Prop 8 will needlessly make this world more imperfect than it already is. There is already so much injustice in the world; how can we knowingly contribute to it?

Aside from electing Barack Obama as our new President, voting no on Prop 8 is the best thing we can do right now for the future of this country. Yes, this is just my opinion, but I believe it is founded on the principles of compassion. I also believe that a yes vote on Prop 8 is ultimately rooted in bigotry.

I have said all this before. And I'm sorry to keep repeating myself. But I can't help myself - this is very much on my mind. Our world stands to change forever on Election Day.

I'd like to be proud of California for saying no to bigotry.

Just in case I haven't posted enough about Prop 8...

I stole from Kari again...

[sarcasm]

Here are some wonderful reasons to vote YES on Prop 8!

1. Homosexuality is not natural, much like eyeglasses, polyester, and birth control.

2. Heterosexual marriages are valid because they produce children. Infertile couples and old people can't legally get married because the world needs more children.

3. Obviously, gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

4. Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage is allowed, since Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage was meaningful.

5. Heterosexual marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are property, blacks can't marry whites, and divorce is illegal.

6. Gay marriage should be decided by people, not the courts, because the majority-elected legislatures, not courts, have historically protected the rights of the minorities.

7. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

8. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

9. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

10. Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why single parents are forbidden to raise children.

11. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and we could never adapt to new social norms because we haven't adapted to things like cars or longer lifespans.

12. Civil unions, providing most of the same benefits as marriage with a different name are better, because a "separate but equal" institution is always constitutional. Separate schools for African-Americans worked just as well as seperate marriages for gays and lesbians will.

[/sarcasm]

Thanks again, Kari.

That's what's up.

I saw this on Kari's blog and found that it was just what I needed after a long, overly emo week.

Family Values

Thanks to you all for your comments on my post on Prop 8. Amy rose to the occasion and linked to an article that does not use the Bible as a means to justify Prop 8. (Thank you, Amy! I appreciate it very much.) I've read the article several times, and I feel compelled to respond.

First of all, I grew up with the traditional notion of family being made up of a mother, a father, and kids. That's what I knew growing up, and that's what worked. But issues related to Prop 8 weren't in the forefront of my consciousness back then. During my undergrad days, I began my exploration of what family is and what it means to me. I took a class called Perspectives on Gender, and this was my very first introduction to different types of families. One of the professors who taught the class was bisexual, and her sexuality resulted in her having a very different family than what I had previously been exposed to. We spent one day discussing the notion of family, and honestly, it was the best class period of the whole quarter. I thought her family structure was very cool.

Little did I know then that I would marry into another different sort of family in a few short years. As I discussed before, my husband's mother is a lesbian, and, together with her partner Cherie, they are raising Cherie's three grandchildren. The specifics of why my two mother-in-laws have custody of these kids are not really relevant to this, but I will say that the kids were not receiving adequate care from their parents.

But according to the article in question, "[every] child being raised by gay or lesbian couples will be denied his birthright to both parents who made him. Every single one. Moreover, losing that right will not be a consequence of something that at least most of us view as tragic, such as a marriage that didn't last, or an unexpected pregnancy where the father-to-be has no intention of sticking around. On the contrary, in the case of same-sex marriage and the children of those unions, it will be explained to everyone, including the children, that something wonderful has happened!"

Knowing what these kids went through at the hands of their own biological parents, and knowing how my two mother-in-laws rescued them from a very destructive and dysfunctional family life, the points made in this article piss me off. They piss me off more than anything else I've read on the issue. There is just so much that is wrong with what's being said here. And frankly, I take it personally.

And here's why: Prop 8 threatens my own family. Yes, I am a straight woman who is married to a straight man, and we plan to add to our own little "normal" family. But these kids, although they are not blood relations, are my family. And I love them. And I love my mother-in-laws for giving them a wonderful home, even though they are both in their 50s and should be planning for retirement. And actually, I would say that when these kids were adopted by my mother-in-laws, something wonderful did indeed happen. If, by being adopted by a gay couple, the kids are being denied their birthright (of abuse and neglect), then I say, "Screw birthright. Let's focus on love."

Besides all this touchy-feely stuff, what is this nonsense about marriage being designed for procreation? What century are we living in? What of those married couples who don't want to have children? Does this mean they shouldn't get married? What of those couples who suffer from infertility to the point where they may need donor eggs or sperm in order to have a child? Should they just forget their dreams of having children because they have a medical condition? After all, if they resort to using donor eggs and/or sperm, they might be denying their child his/her birthright! It's absolute rubbish.

As the author himself stated at the beginning of the article, "[marriage] as a human institution is constantly evolving, and many of its features vary across groups and cultures." And this is exactly right. Our notions of marriage and family have changed. My family is not threatening anyone else's family by being a little outside of the norm. But if Prop 8 passes, it will hurt my family. How is this fair or right? How can anyone justify this?

Bottom line: children primarily need love. We all do. It is simply not right to deny others the right to love and to have a family structure that reflects that love. I don't mean to belabor the point, but this is really an issue of human compassion and decency. I will lose so much faith in the human race if Prop 8 passes. It's just not right.

Proposition Eight, Proposition Hate

The second I heard about Prop 8 months back, I dismissed it as complete and utter nonsense. Last week I read this article (and the comments) and realized how much we stand to lose if Prop 8 passes. I know I must seem very naive that I didn't realize this before, but to me the very thought of Prop 8 is, was, and always has been ridiculous. And then I remembered that there are people in the world who are (for whatever reason) threatened by the idea of gay marriage. This is something that I truly don't understand.

Yes, I understand the fact that the Bible says that marriage is between a woman and a man. But honestly, the Bible doesn't mean jack to me. While I appreciate books and works of literature, I don't base my life on any one in particular. I understand that the Bible is supposed to hold more power and instill more reverence than the average book, but for me, it simply doesn't. This does not mean that I think that the Bible is worthless. Obviously it holds a lot of cultural and religious value, and I think there are some good things that are shared within its pages. But I don't believe it's the word of God. Inspired by God? Sure. But it definitely contains the word of men, those utterly fallible and judgmental beings.

So I don't understand when people constantly turn to the Bible as a way of explaining away their bigotry in connection with Prop 8. I am really trying to understand how, if Prop 8 doesn't pass, that it will threaten the institution of marriage and the family. I want someone to tell me in words that have nothing to do with the Bible, because in all reality, the Bible is supposed to have nothing to do with this. What is so horrible about gay marriage? (This isn't a rhetorical question. I honestly want to know what you think. Tell me in the comments or through email. But please, leave the Bible out of it. It simply doesn't hold any weight with me.)

I'm lucky enough to have two mother-in-laws, and together they are raising three young children (my nephews and niece). They have a happy home. Is it normal? Well, as my husband likes to say, "normal is a setting on my dryer." And I tend to agree. Why are we so quick to put labels on things? Why is "normal" considered good and anything other than that considered bad? What does "normal" mean, anyway?

There's a theorist I like by the name of Jacques Derrida. When I can actually understand what Derrida is saying, he makes sense (on some issues). One of my favorite quotes of his is "the center is not the center." Derrida is big on the deconstruction of binaries (white/black, straight/gay, sacred/profane, etc.). While many would (and do) say that homosexuality is inherently wrong (based on the the Bible and the teachings of the Church), Derrida points out that there is nothing inherent about this belief at all. An institution has decided for us that homosexuality is a sin, in much the same way that it was decided that a table is a table and not a chair.

And this is where the power of "the center is not the center" comes in. If you really think about what Derrida is saying, you may come to the conclusion that none of these judgments is handed down by God but that society has decided what is wrong and what is right. Thus, the being we have always perceived as the center is really not the center.

It's definitely something to think about.

Yesterday I read this blog entry and found that it really spoke to me on this issue. And through the author's experience, I realized, just as she did, that there's a whole lot at stake here. We are all human beings. How can anyone with any sort of respect for the human race want to deny someone the right to happiness and the right to have his/her own family? Homosexuality is not a problem to be solved, but our treatment of it definitely needs to change. Homosexuality is not going away, people. And there's no reason why it should. We love who we love. End of story.

Vote NO on Prop 8. Vote NO on hate.

Vote/Don't Vote

I actually don't like this video, but I like the message. So here it is. Vote, people!



We don't have TV channels at home (gasp!), but we still managed to watch part of the VP debate at a friend's house last night. Wow. Palin is a very unintelligent person. I shudder to think about McCain getting elected and then dying in office, thereby leaving the fate of the US in the hands of that woman. A woman who winks in the middle of a debate!

I'm scared of what the future holds for this country. This last month before the election is going to be very interesting.

I guess I have more to talk about than I thought...

Happy Friday!

I haven't written in a couple of days, and I can really tell the difference. Truthfully, I have much to say but not much that I want to say. So instead, here are some interesting things I've discovered on the interwebz lately.

I got the below picture from boing boing and find it devastatingly sad.



I'm not sure where I got these other pictures...

...but this one is a soap ad.



And these are old-school Marlboro ads. Babies and cigarettes - what a combination.



And my sister-in-law sent me an awesome set of pictures from an anti-Palin rally held in Alaska. I've tried to watch several videos of Palin lately and am always overwhelmed by what an idiot she is. She may be a woman, but she sure as hell doesn't speak for me. As a matter of fact, I think I should be the VP nominee instead of her. I'm definitely more intelligent, and I probably have more experience.

Anyway, if you don't want me to be the VP nominee, by all means please vote for WeeMo.





Gawd help our country if McCain gets elected.

And not to leave things on a totally shitty note...



That cracks me up every time.

A more substantial post will come later. Thanks for all for your advice on my school situation (I decided to take the class) and your thoughtful and kind comments on our testing (I am feeling much better now).

See you soon!

Now I really AM going to vomit.

Received this in an email today:



Needless to say, I didn't laugh.

a resounding hellz yeah!

Yes, we can. And yes, we did! Go, Obama!



I posted this video back on Super Tuesday, but it really needs to be posted again. It's just that awesome.

In other (non-political) news, guess who Mandy and I are going to see in October?



We rule. So, so excited.

Yes, we can.

Super Tuesday