This election cycle here in the U.S. has certainly been an adventure down some of the nastiest halls of Human history. As before I still say educate yourself and choose who you believe in. Allow me to add a level of criteria for you however.
Being LGBT we have had many things thrown at us. Namely others in our community who claim to support a candidate or another. So with this back and forth of who to side with here are a few points for you to note.
If a candidate strolls out 3-4 people who claim to be LGBT that support them question it. Are their lesbians, LGBT parents, transgender, and proud bisexual people who stand with them as well? It is easy to find a few who will flock to one side or another but if it is not a wide support then question their motives toward you. People who truly care embrace all.
Remember we are like any other communities we have our rich and privileged elite, trouble makers, racists, and deluded like any community. Don't be swayed by them. Choose carefully. It only takes a few to undo years of work.
If a candidate promises things examine their history. Do they live up to their statements or are they here for the election and gone tomorrow? Choose a person who will stand with you today and tomorrow.
Like any community we all have special interests and needs. However, like any minority will tell you focus on the whole first. If we can not attain a place to stand then lesser promises mean little. We are and always have been equal. Never settle when it comes to Human rights!
Examine how a candidate treats other minorities. You will see how things will go with you as well. If they will mistreat one they will mistreat you. Even Hitler used the LGBT community in the early days and we saw how that ended, privileged or not.
Finally will a candidate stand with you? Will they visit LGBT centers, youth shelters, senior centers, and medical clinics to see what we need? Are we worth the time in their eyes?
As I said choose wisely and bear in mind some of the things I just mentioned. Scroll further down for more tips as well. Stand with those who care. Don't be fooled by idol promises and rhetoric.
Love is Never Wrong!
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Immoral Garbage
Recently I had the displeasure of reading a prominent minister proclaim people who are transgender and any policy that benefits them is immoral garbage. I sat and shook my head. Then I read the article to another who was appalled.
You know I have been trying to think about how I want to reply to this time and time again since it was written. Yes I could rip it apart with religious text, but why? Anyone who has already given up on free will and the welfare of another Human has already crossed to a dark place.
This to makes me sad. Dark places are not pleasant. Take it from me these sort of people make life Hell. Having walked path' pitch black I can only tell you no one is safe in those areas, even those of you who proclaim in righteous indignation.
So let me say simply and in dignity for all involved....
The rights of the one, the few, are equal to the rights of the whole or majority. You can not distinguish the two. You can not divide the two. Like it or not we are one, made up of many. Like the rainbow we take on many different hues.
When you dismiss one or any you have only achieved removing yourself form the whole. You have begun a path of inhumanity, you have become a beast. And yes think of that in spiritual terms.
Life is not always pleasant and life is not always grand but each and every person is. Every soul matters and every one deserves the freedom to be themselves in peace. Good men legislate the rights of all. Bad men legislate the removal of rights.
The righteous lift others up. The immoral judge and tear them down. Which are you? Can you disagree and grant another the freedom to be themselves? That is the point I do believe. Each of our lives is our own.
However we choose to live, however long we have, and in whatever way life is each of ours. I think if I were to phrase it in spiritual terms it would be God selected each soul and gave it life. He gave them free will. He set the rules and left it to you to decide. You were even instructed not to judge.
In all things, every soul, is free. Every soul must choose their path. It is not our place to hinder or hurt. The beauty of life is how it unfolds and blossoms in the morning light. Ripping out weeds, wild flowers and plants simply because it is not your design doesn't make it more perfect. It makes it your will.
In life it is our will, whenever we go beyond ourselves. Like drifting seeds upon the wind we are carried to far and different corners. We land and take root. The soil or rock from which we make our home nourishes us and the light above grants us energy and warmth. We blossom into our own.
You see I dislike the term garbage for I don't believe anyone should be thrown away no matter how much we have been hurt, don't agree, or understand. As for the immorality that is apparent. When you hurt, damage, or remove that precious seed that has taken root, God's seed, you have become immoral.
Don't get me wrong I am not a perfect person. I have lapse' and failings like any other. However, I try to respect all life, as best I can. I certainly don't agree with everyone but I never advocate for the removal of their rights to be themselves, even if it is difficult.
So now allow me to share a spiritual lesson. And yes it applies to those of you who do not believe in God.
The blessings of life are innate. All life is the same. We may be different colors, shapes, sizes, even textures but we live and we share an existence. Yes you have the freedom to deny that but it does not mean you are right.
Immorality does exist but no one is garbage. So what is immoral garbage? Immoral garbage is the idea you have right or place to judge and remove any other life. Maybe if you allowed that wild dandelion that landed in your garden to grow you would see its brilliant yellow bloom gaze back at you. Near its end you would see it transform into a lofty white plume that blows with the wind to land in another distant place.
All things are beautiful in the garden of life. You just have to stop and look at it. Love even what you do not plan, understand, or envision. Love people and things that choose shapes and colors that don't resonate with you. In the garden of mankind it is us, all of us. Love knows no bounds and love grows where it will.
It may not be your style, color, or choice but it is beautiful. Love!
Love is Never Wrong!
You know I have been trying to think about how I want to reply to this time and time again since it was written. Yes I could rip it apart with religious text, but why? Anyone who has already given up on free will and the welfare of another Human has already crossed to a dark place.
This to makes me sad. Dark places are not pleasant. Take it from me these sort of people make life Hell. Having walked path' pitch black I can only tell you no one is safe in those areas, even those of you who proclaim in righteous indignation.
So let me say simply and in dignity for all involved....
The rights of the one, the few, are equal to the rights of the whole or majority. You can not distinguish the two. You can not divide the two. Like it or not we are one, made up of many. Like the rainbow we take on many different hues.
When you dismiss one or any you have only achieved removing yourself form the whole. You have begun a path of inhumanity, you have become a beast. And yes think of that in spiritual terms.
Life is not always pleasant and life is not always grand but each and every person is. Every soul matters and every one deserves the freedom to be themselves in peace. Good men legislate the rights of all. Bad men legislate the removal of rights.
The righteous lift others up. The immoral judge and tear them down. Which are you? Can you disagree and grant another the freedom to be themselves? That is the point I do believe. Each of our lives is our own.
However we choose to live, however long we have, and in whatever way life is each of ours. I think if I were to phrase it in spiritual terms it would be God selected each soul and gave it life. He gave them free will. He set the rules and left it to you to decide. You were even instructed not to judge.
In all things, every soul, is free. Every soul must choose their path. It is not our place to hinder or hurt. The beauty of life is how it unfolds and blossoms in the morning light. Ripping out weeds, wild flowers and plants simply because it is not your design doesn't make it more perfect. It makes it your will.
In life it is our will, whenever we go beyond ourselves. Like drifting seeds upon the wind we are carried to far and different corners. We land and take root. The soil or rock from which we make our home nourishes us and the light above grants us energy and warmth. We blossom into our own.
You see I dislike the term garbage for I don't believe anyone should be thrown away no matter how much we have been hurt, don't agree, or understand. As for the immorality that is apparent. When you hurt, damage, or remove that precious seed that has taken root, God's seed, you have become immoral.
Don't get me wrong I am not a perfect person. I have lapse' and failings like any other. However, I try to respect all life, as best I can. I certainly don't agree with everyone but I never advocate for the removal of their rights to be themselves, even if it is difficult.
So now allow me to share a spiritual lesson. And yes it applies to those of you who do not believe in God.
The blessings of life are innate. All life is the same. We may be different colors, shapes, sizes, even textures but we live and we share an existence. Yes you have the freedom to deny that but it does not mean you are right.
Immorality does exist but no one is garbage. So what is immoral garbage? Immoral garbage is the idea you have right or place to judge and remove any other life. Maybe if you allowed that wild dandelion that landed in your garden to grow you would see its brilliant yellow bloom gaze back at you. Near its end you would see it transform into a lofty white plume that blows with the wind to land in another distant place.
All things are beautiful in the garden of life. You just have to stop and look at it. Love even what you do not plan, understand, or envision. Love people and things that choose shapes and colors that don't resonate with you. In the garden of mankind it is us, all of us. Love knows no bounds and love grows where it will.
It may not be your style, color, or choice but it is beautiful. Love!
Love is Never Wrong!
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Contempt
Lately I have repeatedly encountered contempt. Such a simple word that so many overlook or use poorly. A word that says so much but we seem to pass by on to bigger brighter topics. Contempt, the feeling with which a person regards anything mean, vile or worthless; disdain; scorn.
I try not to preach or lecture. My goal has always been to educate or present questions for you all to explore. As hard as it is on this one I shall try to stay true to that. So let's talk about contempt of late.
When you publicly disgrace a person for race, gender, sexuality, or really anything that fall into a trait of being you are contemptuous. When you post mean and hurtful words and meme' you are full of contempt. When you deny basic respect you are in contempt.
Before I hear the arguments of it's free speech, grow thicker skin, or any of the other ilk realize it's not about being politically correct. It is simply about Human decency. Society built all those social rules for thousands of years to lubricate interaction and foster communication amongst ourselves. yet in recent years we seek to toss away the old simply because we think it to heavy in ritual.
Like it or not we are all here. We are all equal. We all deserve basic respect.
Contempt is not always bad. But it's use must be proper and sincere. It is fine to mock or make fun of an idea or ideology. It is not ok to make fun of people or things they can not help. Communicate in decency and respect. Else it is you who who become mean, vile, or worthless, not your target.
We as a people have come so far. Don't throw it all away because you find structure and ritual to be limiting. Realize we are all the architect' of civil discourse. The structure is that which we decorate and live within. Express yourself all vivid nature within those confines. Live greatly or in a hushed murmur.
Whoever you are however you so choose to live do so without pulling down a central support of society else soon enough you will see the roof collapse upon you. We have lost enough people to structural failures. Please let us preserve what we have built, for it shelters us all in equal respect and abundance.
Love begins in respect.
Love is Never Wrong!
I try not to preach or lecture. My goal has always been to educate or present questions for you all to explore. As hard as it is on this one I shall try to stay true to that. So let's talk about contempt of late.
When you publicly disgrace a person for race, gender, sexuality, or really anything that fall into a trait of being you are contemptuous. When you post mean and hurtful words and meme' you are full of contempt. When you deny basic respect you are in contempt.
Before I hear the arguments of it's free speech, grow thicker skin, or any of the other ilk realize it's not about being politically correct. It is simply about Human decency. Society built all those social rules for thousands of years to lubricate interaction and foster communication amongst ourselves. yet in recent years we seek to toss away the old simply because we think it to heavy in ritual.
Like it or not we are all here. We are all equal. We all deserve basic respect.
Contempt is not always bad. But it's use must be proper and sincere. It is fine to mock or make fun of an idea or ideology. It is not ok to make fun of people or things they can not help. Communicate in decency and respect. Else it is you who who become mean, vile, or worthless, not your target.
We as a people have come so far. Don't throw it all away because you find structure and ritual to be limiting. Realize we are all the architect' of civil discourse. The structure is that which we decorate and live within. Express yourself all vivid nature within those confines. Live greatly or in a hushed murmur.
Whoever you are however you so choose to live do so without pulling down a central support of society else soon enough you will see the roof collapse upon you. We have lost enough people to structural failures. Please let us preserve what we have built, for it shelters us all in equal respect and abundance.
Love begins in respect.
Love is Never Wrong!
Thursday, September 22, 2016
The Cost
Today I would like to talk about the cost of all things. To many times we see people charge ahead without regard to cost. They rush in with ideas, designs, and goals. They only seek the end ignoring the cost to get there.
Imagine a teacher who drives their students to succeed, always pushing. Students burn out, lose control, and desire. Some may even commit suicide. Is success worth those we lose?
Think about a politician who may rightly point out faults but charges ahead toward their goal ignoring dissent and forcing their will upon others. People get hurt, lost, or die. Is the goal more important than Human life?
Contemplate a research Dr. They seek a cure to a nasty disease but they cut corners testing on Humans and combine things that were never meant to be. Is mutation, disregard of will, and death worthwhile?
All of these examples and many more have a common thread. That would be ignoring the cost to achieve your goal. There are many people in life who believe the end justifies the means to get there.
This is not true.
The path to whatever your destination matters on how you get there. It matters that you stop and take in all that you are doing at every step. It matters to observe the concerns and objections of others. We all share this world and as such we each matter and we each have a voice in how it is ruled and used.
Some may say this is a revolutionary thought. I however say it is not. It is respect of the cost. When we talk about Human life it is always more valuable than a goal or idea. When we barter Human life, welfare, and happiness for a destination we have already failed. We have already paid to high a price.
The cost, whatever progress, teaching, desire, or goal is never worth more than a Human life. When you disregard or play with such then you are little more than a monster. You have already written off Human life and as such that makes you inhuman.
I know all to well some will debate this till they are blue in the face but I dare you to sit and live each of those lives you wreck, tear apart, or kill. Maybe you would see just how your progress impacts people.
With this we come to personal sacrifice. This one is more tricky. However the cost must still be weighed but the one thing that separates it is that it's the choice of one, over themselves. It may impact others but it is their determination.
All this being said there are many things in life worth the cost of a goal. However those things usually take into account the welfare of all involved. Disregard that and you will find your ledgers in the red.
Never barter, trade, use, or even disregard Human life and welfare. The cost is to precious. Even considering it treads upon a darkness that is catastrophic. You can justify whatever you want in your own mind but let's be honest anything beyond you is us, all of us.
I hope and pray you all consider the cost of things in your life. Realize the value of what have and seek. Some things you can never replace. People can not be replaced. New ones may appear but there is always a hole with those we lose.
Be frugal with your goal and life. Know when to invest and when to withdraw. Sometimes the price is to high. Barter and trade in love for it only grows and returns dividends that are priceless. Realize wealth is vested in the welfare of all.
Pay in love! Progress in love! Celebrate in love!
Love is Never Wrong!
Imagine a teacher who drives their students to succeed, always pushing. Students burn out, lose control, and desire. Some may even commit suicide. Is success worth those we lose?
Think about a politician who may rightly point out faults but charges ahead toward their goal ignoring dissent and forcing their will upon others. People get hurt, lost, or die. Is the goal more important than Human life?
Contemplate a research Dr. They seek a cure to a nasty disease but they cut corners testing on Humans and combine things that were never meant to be. Is mutation, disregard of will, and death worthwhile?
All of these examples and many more have a common thread. That would be ignoring the cost to achieve your goal. There are many people in life who believe the end justifies the means to get there.
This is not true.
The path to whatever your destination matters on how you get there. It matters that you stop and take in all that you are doing at every step. It matters to observe the concerns and objections of others. We all share this world and as such we each matter and we each have a voice in how it is ruled and used.
Some may say this is a revolutionary thought. I however say it is not. It is respect of the cost. When we talk about Human life it is always more valuable than a goal or idea. When we barter Human life, welfare, and happiness for a destination we have already failed. We have already paid to high a price.
The cost, whatever progress, teaching, desire, or goal is never worth more than a Human life. When you disregard or play with such then you are little more than a monster. You have already written off Human life and as such that makes you inhuman.
I know all to well some will debate this till they are blue in the face but I dare you to sit and live each of those lives you wreck, tear apart, or kill. Maybe you would see just how your progress impacts people.
With this we come to personal sacrifice. This one is more tricky. However the cost must still be weighed but the one thing that separates it is that it's the choice of one, over themselves. It may impact others but it is their determination.
All this being said there are many things in life worth the cost of a goal. However those things usually take into account the welfare of all involved. Disregard that and you will find your ledgers in the red.
Never barter, trade, use, or even disregard Human life and welfare. The cost is to precious. Even considering it treads upon a darkness that is catastrophic. You can justify whatever you want in your own mind but let's be honest anything beyond you is us, all of us.
I hope and pray you all consider the cost of things in your life. Realize the value of what have and seek. Some things you can never replace. People can not be replaced. New ones may appear but there is always a hole with those we lose.
Be frugal with your goal and life. Know when to invest and when to withdraw. Sometimes the price is to high. Barter and trade in love for it only grows and returns dividends that are priceless. Realize wealth is vested in the welfare of all.
Pay in love! Progress in love! Celebrate in love!
Love is Never Wrong!
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Always Question!
Sometimes we forget we must always explore and vet events and people around us. Just as terrorism seems more prevalent now days maybe we should question it. What would history teach us on that?
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005686
Always question! If you do not you will never see anything except what some may want you to see. Sometimes it may just be the surface event others much deeper. Either way be sure for the road to darkness is built on ignorance and fear. I think the world has enough of that. Let's love a bit more.
Love is Never Wrong!
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005686
Always question! If you do not you will never see anything except what some may want you to see. Sometimes it may just be the surface event others much deeper. Either way be sure for the road to darkness is built on ignorance and fear. I think the world has enough of that. Let's love a bit more.
Love is Never Wrong!
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Being You
Today I would like to talk about being you. I know so many people have different perspectives on it and even you may not know who you are yet. It's ok because you are an ever changing rose. Your bloom may change colors or shades depending on the day, weather, and nutrients you take in. What matters most however is you.
I'm not going to sit here and tell you who you are or how to get to being who you want to be. Each of our journey's is our own. We have been given so many tools to grow and blossom. But there is one truth. You and and you alone must be you. No one and I mean no one has a right to define you.
Now this is where society and family tends to go wrong. There is a fine line between help, instruction, care, and faith. At some point you begin to oppress and hurt in your efforts. Maybe your goal is well intentioned, maybe not.
It's very difficult for people to not want to mold the world to their thoughts and beliefs. By proxy they sometimes go beyond the physical into the realm of the living. Our lives! Being LGBT I don't think I can relay just how much this is true. I think some people would be utterly shocked just how much this impacts our lives.
The Human trait to ignore what does not apply to them can be strong. People may not see the insults, denials of existence, safety, and even legitimacy of life. Would some be surprised that Lesbians are raped in some places because "they just need a man to correct them?" Would people be surprised at the hateful jokes, words, insults... you can hear in one day, all aimed at your existence?
Society....people...families need to understand everyone deserves the right to be themselves. Just because something is not your belief or way does not mean it is not valid. I know many get caught up in tradition and faith when it comes to our community but you need to understand an important fact.
We are here. We have always been here. Think about that. Your tradition is based on history. Look and you will find us there staring back at you. Your faith is based on belief. Observe us, we worship just as you. We create families and have children. We are in every profession and every city. We are your friends, neighbors, teachers, leaders... We are!
There is no greater crime than to deny a person the right to be themselves. There is no greater crime than to deny yourself. It always begins with a lie. I recently talked about truth maybe you should scan down and view that before going further.
Lies are all around us. Sometimes we wrap ourselves in them. However, even that is a lie. We may not be able to control the actions of others but we can control ourselves. So let us begin by telling our self the truth, our truth.
When you have begun to tell yourself the truth then and only then can you focus on being you. I can't tell you who that may be but I'm sure your flower will be a sight of beauty. I can't tell you others won't hurt you but I can tell you, telling your truth stops you from hurting you.
Be you. Be happy you are you. If you have to completely switch genders, uproot your lives, or even abandoned those closest to you then be you. Truth is the beginning, acceptance is the struggle, and love is the conclusion. Just like the rose you will grow and blossom and like it's thorns your vigilance will deter those who wish to pluck your brilliance.
Being you is a journey of love. It is a lot of work and you must navigate the thorns but the sight is precious. If I have lost you then let me say this. Let the truth be your fertilizer.
To borrow a line from a song:
"Just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed that with the sun's love,
In the spring becomes the rose"
I'm not going to sit here and tell you who you are or how to get to being who you want to be. Each of our journey's is our own. We have been given so many tools to grow and blossom. But there is one truth. You and and you alone must be you. No one and I mean no one has a right to define you.
Now this is where society and family tends to go wrong. There is a fine line between help, instruction, care, and faith. At some point you begin to oppress and hurt in your efforts. Maybe your goal is well intentioned, maybe not.
It's very difficult for people to not want to mold the world to their thoughts and beliefs. By proxy they sometimes go beyond the physical into the realm of the living. Our lives! Being LGBT I don't think I can relay just how much this is true. I think some people would be utterly shocked just how much this impacts our lives.
The Human trait to ignore what does not apply to them can be strong. People may not see the insults, denials of existence, safety, and even legitimacy of life. Would some be surprised that Lesbians are raped in some places because "they just need a man to correct them?" Would people be surprised at the hateful jokes, words, insults... you can hear in one day, all aimed at your existence?
Society....people...families need to understand everyone deserves the right to be themselves. Just because something is not your belief or way does not mean it is not valid. I know many get caught up in tradition and faith when it comes to our community but you need to understand an important fact.
We are here. We have always been here. Think about that. Your tradition is based on history. Look and you will find us there staring back at you. Your faith is based on belief. Observe us, we worship just as you. We create families and have children. We are in every profession and every city. We are your friends, neighbors, teachers, leaders... We are!
There is no greater crime than to deny a person the right to be themselves. There is no greater crime than to deny yourself. It always begins with a lie. I recently talked about truth maybe you should scan down and view that before going further.
Lies are all around us. Sometimes we wrap ourselves in them. However, even that is a lie. We may not be able to control the actions of others but we can control ourselves. So let us begin by telling our self the truth, our truth.
When you have begun to tell yourself the truth then and only then can you focus on being you. I can't tell you who that may be but I'm sure your flower will be a sight of beauty. I can't tell you others won't hurt you but I can tell you, telling your truth stops you from hurting you.
Be you. Be happy you are you. If you have to completely switch genders, uproot your lives, or even abandoned those closest to you then be you. Truth is the beginning, acceptance is the struggle, and love is the conclusion. Just like the rose you will grow and blossom and like it's thorns your vigilance will deter those who wish to pluck your brilliance.
Being you is a journey of love. It is a lot of work and you must navigate the thorns but the sight is precious. If I have lost you then let me say this. Let the truth be your fertilizer.
To borrow a line from a song:
"Just remember in the winter
far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed that with the sun's love,
In the spring becomes the rose"
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
The Greatest
Not long ago one strand decided to rip out forty-nine others in a horrific way. We were left with holes and strains on many others. Human spirit and potential was lost. The artist, Sia, decided to honor the fallen. Let us all remember what we lost and to ensure it never occurs again.
Love is Never Wrong!
Love is Never Wrong!
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