One Light in the Darkness

 There are many times in Human history when the actions of a few can change the very destiny of life. I do think one of those times is now. No one person or group has all the answers. However allow me to offer some clarity on a topic of note. 

Religious freedom is a very important value that should be upheld by law. It is a personal right, not a group one. This must be understood.

Any individual is entitled to follow the spiritual or religious views they hold dear. This right: however, extends only to you. The misguided belief that society must follow your belief is incorrect. We are a people made up of many.

The multitude of us may be of different ethnic, cultural, and religious origins.  There is enough room for all to be who they choose and follow their hearts. When we choose to serve only some we choose to deny others their freedom. 

I know there are many here in  the U.S. and around the world who seek to define their societies by religious views. Society is not a theocracy. Society is Human!  We are all different and we are all free. The first path into darkness is to take away the freedom of others. 

When you begin to deny others you begin to hurt. You begin to hurt others. You begin to hurt yourself.  Just as assuredly as you seek to bring your will across society you open up others to bring their will unto you. 

There is an old saying if you take an eye for an eye, soon enough the whole world is blind. We must value, lift up, and love all.  It is a sacred tenet.  Only then do we see others as equals. Only then do we see value. 

Religious freedom is and always has been personal. Freedom of religion must also include freedom from it. For all people must come to God on their own. If they choose not, that to is their choice. 

The argument that society is falling apart due to change is misguided. The truth is people have for to long become lax on their own principles. If you see failings first look upon yourself. We did not get here alone. 

The Human journey is about all of us. If you find value in your beliefs and you uphold them, live them, others may find value as well. Failing to embrace, maintain, and live a belief system is not an excuse to dictate to others. The only way to win religious freedom is to make it valuable.

If you do not value the whole you value no one. If you value no one I mourn you. Living in darkness is a painful and scary place. Good things and good people get lost. 

I find it funny just as in Lord of the Rings, the beacons must be lit. We stand against the darkness, each a beacon. I have raised my beacon this day. Will you honor the call? Will stand against religious hate. Will stand against atheist hate? Will you stand against groups and laws that hurt? 

We are all one regardless of how some tell you it is us vs. them. We are all valuable. We are all deserving of love. Gather in the light and tell your story. Only then do we see one another. Only then do we hear each other. 

One light now stands in the darkness. I know many others are out there. Let's see if we bring the world into day.

Love is Never Wrong!

Wanderings

 Hmmm...  U.S. Constitution,  Article 4, Section 2

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

 

 

 

The Greatest

 Someone reminded me maybe I should say something in the current times.  I am tired of our vivid colors being muted grey.  I am tired of senseless death, simply because we exist. I am tired of being told we are less than. 

No more! We are the greatest because of who we are. All people regardless of gender, color, ethnicity, and even identity are great. It is those who can not stand the colors who are not. I am a rainbow and I'm going to light up the sky. 

Even if I go grey I hope the diamond that is my soul splits the very Earth and the colors springs forth dazzling the world!

Love is Never Wrong!

Purges

The problem of purges is they never stop when you begin them. Somehow people always end up ashes.  It has happened before and may happen again.  Hopefully before that someone turns the lights back on.



Love is Never Wrong!

Pain

In this time I do not wish to dismiss anyone or reduce their needs. What I do want to say is while we are at it let's fix it all. Too much pain...

Sadly I could go on and on. Can we please stop hurting each other? Can we address issues when they arise with true justice? Could we protect one another like we should? Can we love, even when it hurts?



Love is Never Wrong!

Equality and Division

You know there are a lot of wrongs to right in the world.  There are a lot of people who need fairness and justice. We need equality.

I will not sit here and tell the stories that are already clear. What I do wish to add to our discussion is division. Equality does not mean erasure or forceful violation to achieve universal harmony.

The things that make us a great people are our differences. Our colors, shapes, identities, and very thoughts. Sometimes these clash and clash intensely. Books, movies, brands and even statues formed long ago can seem out of touch to us now.

This is fine. It is normal. We must look at such things with modern eyes. We must remove the pain they cause in our minds and hearts. But only there!

When you remove a book from library, tear down a statue, change a brand, or even censor a film you only become pat of what you protest against. We must hold on to and preserve the unpleasant and despicable. When we do not, we only ensure the future will repeat the past.

When you see a statue of a person who has done horrible things you should feel anger or rage and realize by example how far we have come. When you see a film or read a book from a different age when different thoughts were the norm, you are getting an insight to a different time. You have a comparison of progress and a remembrance of how things were.

In my eyes I want you to see a statue of a man who fought so hard for a slave nation so you remember what we overcame, not to honor him. I want you to go to a maintained concentration camp so you can envision the mass murder of millions. I want you to watch an old film and see the comical and side characterizations of minorities. Truth hurts. History hurts. Removing either only removes the pain and the rage. You are left with no reminders.

A world with no reminders is a world doomed to suffer time and again. Group after group. Person after person will suffer and die. Pain in our hearts and minds is a worthy sacrifice for the alternative.

The dangers of sterilizing division are to high. Creating equality by erasing, censoring, and legislating creates one people, one nation, one leader. Maybe we need to be reminded where this has lead us in the past.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/nazi_propaganda_gallery_03.shtml

Left or right, conservative or liberal the rebranding of a society can remove painful things but the question is should we? Should we erase those reminders? Should we lose touch with how far we have come, even if there is further to go.

For me I say we should keep them. We should hurt, mourn, and be angry at what has been done and leave with a sense of self and identity. We should feel history not just read about it. Only then does it become Human and tangible. Then it touches us.

I have written before about embracing the darkness in ourselves and acknowledging its place. We must sort such things and not bury them. Only through inspection and thought do we resolve. To do that the darkness must be there ready to examine. It won't be pleasant or kind. It may be a hell. But for those of us who have experienced the darkness turning on the light shrinks those horrible shadows and puts into place the crimes of men.

Equality only comes with respect. When we do not respect the past, even with its horrors and flaws we only bring forth that which has been buried. We have all walked enough in pain and darkness. Turn on the lights and look at that which has been done with clear eyes.

To me when I see one of those many things that remind us I stare back with dignity and say I survived you, I am still here, you were wrong, and now your monument is a testament to your cruelty not your brilliance. Let others look. Let others see. Tell your stories, share your heart. Then and only then are we equal.

Oh no I will not erase you. That would be to kind and foolish. Stand and be the what you were or are. You are your own testament.

In a world of confusion, narratives, and swirling dogmas the only truth is in our experiences and Humanity. Equality is innate. Division is good and bad.  Erasure is the tool of revisionists. Never forget! Never surrender your experiences!

Love should always win over hate. Even when things test the limits of our hearts and make it break. We are not one people, one nation, or have one leader.  We are are many in every shape, color, and variety. We celebrate our differences and thoughts. We freely exchange our thoughts and concerns.

We are Human, we love.




Love is Never Wrong!

No Surrender

Sometimes we have such rage and anger. We seek a battle cry or place for such emotions. Today I share  one of our LGBT rock icons.

Living your life with no surrender....



Love is Never Wrong!