Sunday, July 30, 2006

YEEE-HAWWW.....Concert Time


Going to see Brad Paisley tonight at the Borgata. Can't wait to mix it up with the Country Boys & Girls.................YEEEEEEEEEEEE-HAWWWWWWWW!

Come On, It's 2006...Why Still The Negativity!

Today's Philadelphia Inquirer had a brief story in the "Newsmakers" section about Simon Cowell, the "mean" judge on American Idol and how Cowell, just a couple of years ago had to deal with rumors he was gay. It made me think: why is there still such a negative attitude when someone is gay? Why do people have to "deal" with rumors about being gay? Do people "deal" with rumors about being black? Do people "deal" with rumors about having blonde hair? (Some do if it's colored). Do people have to "deal" with having blue eyes? I mean what's the BIG "deal" anyway? So what if someone's gay! It's not their choice! Lance Bass, the singer with the group 'N Sync just admitted that he was gay, and it took an entire article in People Magazine. It just blows my mind! It's 2006! You would think that Americans would be able to handle the fact that someone is gay as it's just another part of a person's life. Do we make a big deal about someone being straight? So what's the big deal about being gay?

Monday, July 24, 2006

Bush Violating The Constitution? DUH!

An American Bar Association task force says George W. may be violating the US Constitution. Well, "no shit, Sherlock!" The report of this task force states that Bush may have overstepped his authority in attaching challenges to hundreds of new laws. Bush has added many "bill-signing statements" to many of the laws passed by Congress that Bush signs. These "statements" suggest the president will decline to enforce some laws, and not adhere to some parts of the law because it is in the nation's best interest to do so. I have never heard of such stipulations added to bills before by presidents, but I understand it is common practice. However the ABA says Bush may have gone a bit too far. What brilliance!

An illlegal war in Iraq. Overstepping his bounds to fight terrorists by illegally wiretapping. Keeping prisoners of war, but not having to obey the Geneva Convention rules! These are just a few of the ways George W. has violated the Constitution. I would even be willing to go a bit further and say perhaps George W. has committed war crimes against humanity. Not only is Bush guilty of killing hundreds of American soldiers, but how many innocent Iraqis has Bush slaughtered. It's about time somebody brings the fact that Bush has overstepped his authority to light.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

I'll Never Understand The Middle East

I have to admit it: I will never understand the Middle East. And maybe it's because I really don't try hard enough. Everytime I do attempt to figure it all out, things just too complicated and the history goes back way too far for me. I sound like a typical hick when I say, "All they know is how to fight each other. It's just how it's always been." But guess what? Ever since the beginning of time there has been war in the Middle East. One group denies the right of another group to exist. Every country in the Middle East thinks the other country is in their rightful territory. And on, and on, and on. Sadly, alot of this mess comes from religion.

Each Middle Eastern country and each Middle Eastern faith thinks they have the truth. Each party feels their God, or should I say, their perception of their God, is right. Christians in the US feel the same way, but at least they're not willing to die for their belief. To each of the parties in the Middle East, their land, and much more of it, was given to them by God. And each country does what ever it can to get back what is rightfully theirs. And as we all know, some of those believers also think dying for the cause will bring them eternity and rewards in Paradise. Strange thing is not all those countries in the Middle East can be right. But which ones are?

So when I try to figure out the current troubles between Israel and Hezbollah (Lebanon), it is hard to figure out who is right and who is wrong. Hezbollah, the military party in Lebanon, was democratically elected to a majority in Lebanon by the people. Good, right? Well, not for Israel since Hezbollah wants Israel destroyed and does not recognize Israel's right to exist. So Israel, in their opinion, was provoked and threatened has begun this conflict, or war as some might call it. But is Israel going too far? As I heard one critic say, instead of using a scaple to cut out this cancer (Hezbollah), Israel is using a chain saw.

When my mind tries to comprehend this mess and all the other messes that have happened in the Middle East over the years, I usually just stop and go back to my quiet little world. Just like when I get enough of the Middle East crisis on CNN, I turn on the Three Stooges. At least that's something I can understand....but why can't Moe just let the others have their own space. I don't understand!

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Get Going Again

It's been sometime since I have written anything. As a matter of fact, it was on my mother's birthday, 6/26 that I made my last post. My mother has been gone since 1985 when she left this world. Not sure if that put a "block" in my mind or exactly what happened to just keep me from spilling any of my unimportant thoughts.

My last post occured just after I had returned from NYC Gay Pride. But since then, gay marriage has taken a big hit. The New York State Court of Appeals ruled that gay marriage is not allowed in NY. In summary, the court ruled that the NY Constitution does not recognize marriage between members of the same sex. But angry New Yorkers continue to show their disdain at the Court's ruling. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, although voicing his support for gay marriage publically, Bloomberg fought a lower court ruling that favored gay marriage because he believed it would have resulted in a hodge podge of rulings across the state. Courts upheld anti-gay marriage initiatives in Nebraska and Tennessee. In Arizona, gay rights supporters have filed suit to keep a marriage amendment vote from placed on the November ballot. That's not to mention all the other states that have rulings or intitiatives against gay marriage. In good old NJ, a decision is still in the waitings for gay marriage, but recent polls in NJ show the majority favor marriage among gays. And on a positive note, Congress voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment just as did the Senate a few months ago. So the battle continues. Amazing that a civil rights issue would be left to voters. Imagine if States voted on which Blacks were free and which remained slaves?

Since I last wrote, the Middle East is erupting in violence. This in itself is nothing out of the ordinary, but this time it just feels different. As much as I try, I cannot take my eyes off CNN where I watch this "reality tv" just wondering what will happen. And only time will tell.

So, there's a few of my thoughts for now. Hopefully I will continue despite my lack of readers.