Life: A Never Ending Battle

OK............Let me get philosophical on you.

The other day while driving to work after the torrential rain and damaging winds we experienced, I noticed a guy cleaning up along the road. I thought to myself that this man is cleaning up, only to have to do it again after the next storm comes along. Then I thought about some of my plants I just planted in pots on my patio that were damaged. I may have to replace them. And the bird's nest that blew off the beam, and the poor birds that would have to find a new home. Then I remembered the typhoon that hit Myanmar; all that loss. Then came the earthquake in China and the thousands killed and even more left homeless. I also thought about the many wars that have been fought throughout history, and the many more that will no doubtedly come in the future. Life really is one battle after another.

Is it nature's way? Survival of the fittest? There is this constant fight for existence. Nature fights to exist, and humankind fights to exist. There always seems to be something or someone that tries to stop everything. Some fight disease. Some fight literal wars. Some battle survival in other ways, but we all face the struggle of just keeping it together and life going on. And in the end, what's it all for?

The struggle to survive is done for what purpose? To leave it to our children? For what? To better our world? For what? To see our names in lights? Only to be forgotten?

And The Winner Is.....

When I watched Barack Obama's acceptance speech after the North Carolina democratic primary, it felt as if the "acceptance" was for much more than the primary in NC. Obama's speech was more of an "acceptance" of the Democratic nomination to battle John McCain in November. Obama appeared to be calling on all democrats to leave differences behind and join together to defeat the Republicans in Novemeber. I felt excited at Obama's words, as I have during many of his speeches, but this one seemed even more energetic to me. As one writer put it, Obama seemed to be "re-tooling" for the general November election, and I felt it too. Ever since that May 6th NC primary, Obama has seemed to totally ignore Hillary Clinton and move forward with his November presidential campaign. And I gotta say, "I LIKE IT!"

Nine more super delegates have come to Obama's side, including some who had already declared their support for Clinton. The tide is turning to Obama. I, like many others, now feel it. I have stated before that in the February NJ Primary I did vote for Clinton, but if the NJ primary were held in June, as in previous years, I too would be supporting Obama. Obama is planning his strategy against McCain as the democratic primary process moves on. Will Clinton continue to stand in the way?

Many argue that Obama will not be able to defeat McCain. Honestly, I wonder also if America is really ready for an African-American president. Let's face reality: there are some in America that simply will not vote for a black man. But then there are some, keeping it real, that would simply not vote for a woman. I believe that when Obama focuses on McCain, when Obama can really show the differences between himself and McCain's continued Bush agenda, the voters will rally behind Obama. I also believe, and still have faith in Hillary Clinton, that she, her husband, and the rest of the democratic bigwigs will encourage all democrats to support Obama in November. GO BARACK OBAMA!

New Jersey: On The Brink of Gay Marriage

I attended a Garden State Equality Neighborhood Action Summit tonight in Margate. These meetings are happening all over the State the next few weeks, as action is taken to push NJ over the brink and into gay marriage. NJ is on the verge of legalizing gay marriage, with just a few assemblymen and senators left to come on board. Governor Jon Corzine has stated previously that he will sign a marriage equality bill if it crosses his desk, but the governor does not want this issue to sidetrack the presidential election so the governor wants the bill to wait until after the November presidential election.


Tonight's action summit was designed to call legislative leadership to thank them for supporting the gay rights, but encouraging a marriage bill by the end of this year. Letters were also written to local legislators encouraging their support as well. NJ will become the 2nd state in the country to legalize gay marriage in the very near future.

Just across the river in Pennsylvania, a proposed constitutional amendment that would bar same-sex marriage and civil unions passed a key committee on Monday and is now headed for a full vote on the Senate floor. Hopefully this will be defeated when it gets to a full Pennsylvania Senate vote.

A Gas Holiday?

What difference does it really make what McCain, Clinton, or Obama think about a gas tax holiday from Memorial Day to Labor Day? After all, none of them will be President during the summer!

Personally, I have to agree with Obama; it is a political ploy that really will not help anything. It will only save the public a few dollars. It will only encourage more use of gasoline when alternatives to gas should be encouraged. It will not help one iota with our dependence on foreign oil, but it will only make that dependence even stronger.

Funny I Understood Obama's Controversial Comments

It's funny. I understood Barack Obama's words when he said, "...And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Obama was referring to the small-town voters in Pennsylvania.

Obama is getting all kinds of flack for what he said. It has been perceived as an elitist attitude. But just think back to the 2004 presidential election. Wasn't it Ohio that pushed George W. over to win another term? Ohio, a place where a wealthy Bush could do nothing for them at all. Bush's promises of keeping everyone safe in the wake of 9-11, and his Christian right cohorts convinced Ohio, a middle class state with alot of unemployment, to support him. Obama is right when he said people who get bitter cling to guns or religion.

People need to stop worrying about words and look at what's meant by those words. What did Obama really mean as opposed to what he actually said!

Urgent Message From GARDEN STATE EQUALITY

The following is an urgent message from Garden State Equality:

"URGENT ACTION ALERT FROM GARDEN STATE EQUALITY -- WITH SHORT NOTICE BEFORE OUR PROTEST THIS TUESDAY NIGHT, APRIL 15, PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL ASAP TO YOUR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND LIST SERVS. PLEASE HELP US GET THE WORD OUT QUICKLY.
To protest a public official's equating being LGBT with pedophilia, please join us this Tuesday night, April 15, 2008 at 7:00 pm, Long Branch City Hall, 344 Broadway, 2nd floor. See below for a full briefing.
Long Branch is about 10 minutes from the Monmouth Mall and just 20 minutes north of Asbury Park. At the last Planning Board meeting in Long Branch, there was an exchange between Planning Board vice chair Edward Thomas and an attorney present to oppose a new building for a very popular, heavily trafficked ice cream shop in a more residential part of the city. Here's what happened, verbatim, as we just heard on the audiotape of the meeting:
Planning board vice chair Edward Thomas told the attorney: “Before you start, I would like to remind you that is an application for a child’s desert shop, and your commentary, if you could please refrain from making any statements extending from your own possibly inappropriate sexual 'preferences' in this matter.”

The attorney said, “I don’t know what inappropriate sexual 'preferences' are.”

Edward Thomas said, “Keep your pedophilia to yourself, and talk to the facts.”

The crowd gasped in horror.

We haven't a clue as to whether the attorney is LGBT or not. Regardless, Edward Thomas' comments were an outrageous homophobic slander on all LGBT people in our state. Garden State Equality has a zero-tolerance policy for homophobia and transphobia in New Jersey. Please join us Tuesday night to tell Edward Thomas he has to resign.

It's such short notice, won't you help us spread the word by forwarding this email asap to your friends, collleagues and list servs? Most of all, please come to our protest Tuesday night and bring others with you.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to be in touch.

Thank you from all of us at Garden State Equality.

Best,
Steven Goldstein
Chair, Garden State Equality"

You Should Be Crying, Mr. Bush

For the 4,000+ Americans dead, many, many more Iraqis, and the thousands injured due to your lies, distortions, and miscalculations. Hope you sleep well at night!

Illegals The New Devil

Let me start off by stating that the illegal immigration problem in this country is immense and needs addressing. It is, however, a very daunting task when one realizes the number of illegals in this country and the tremendous amount of time and effort it would take to “remove” them all. What do you do with all the children of illegals, just let them live alone when the parents are caught and deported?

Illegal immigrants in this country are now the Devil. All of America’s woes seem to be the fault of illegal immigrants. The US economy is going down the crapper because of the illegals. They steal jobs from American citizens, and burden the “system” and the US economy is now suffering because of the illegals. High unemployment is the fault of the illegals. They have stolen the jobs from Americans and now the US faces such unemployment rates as haven’t been seen in awhile. Why even the high gas prices can be attributed to the illegal immigrants if you ask some Americans.

It seems Americans always have to have someone to blame. If it’s not the Blacks, it’s the Hispanics. If it’s not the Hispanics, it’s the Asians. There is always a minority group that the average white American has to blame for the faults and problems of the US society. Before the fall of the Soviet Union, the communists were the Great Satan. Today, it is the illegal aliens in this country who are destroying it.

Oh How I Love Spring!

I have got to say that Spring is my favorite time of the year. Although April usually signals the start of my seasonal allergies, lasting only through June, I love Springtime! The weather warms and the days are longer, and the color starts to appear all around.

For whatever reason, I woke 6:45AM Saturday morning and could not go back to sleep. I decided to get up and realizing how warm it was outside (around 60), I got dressed in my sweats and did my walk/jog routine. It had rained Friday night and the ground was a little wet, but what a beautiful day it was going to be. I travelled down the bike path close to my place, a few bikers and walkers also with the same thing in mind, but pretty much alone, enjoying the sounds of nature and enjoying the smell of the wet wood around me. I had a great deal of energy and the jog wasn't that bad. After, I felt a tremendous rush of peace....and energy for the day.

Today is not as nice. It has been raining, but not to worry. The rain will only make the flowers and the colors more vibrant when the sun returns! Oh how I love Spring!

The Arrogance Continues

The picture of the three who got us into the quagmire of Iraq! War criminals if ever there were any! Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld all should be held accountable for crimes against humanity! That is my opinion and has been since the beginning of the Iraq war 5 years ago. Time has proven me correct! Time has proven all those who opposed the war correct!

This weekend, Mickey Edwards, a Congressman from 1977 to 1993, wrote, "For at least six years, as I've become increasingly frustrated by the Bush administration's repeated betrayal of constitutional — and conservative — principles, I have defended Vice President Cheney, a man I've known for decades and with whom I served and made common cause in Congress. No longer." Edwards cites Cheney's recent interview with ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz. When Raddatz reminded Cheney of America's overwhelming dislike for the war, Cheney's response was, "So?" Oh the arrogance! Isn't government "For the People, by the People"? Guess not in the Bush Administration.

Over the weekend I watched a television show documenting the rationale for war with Iraq. Rumsfeld insisted without a shadow of a doubt that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. It wasn't that Iraq may have weapons of mass destruction, but they did, and the US knew where they were. Five years later, how wrong Rumsfeld was.

And Bush! He insists to this day that we are making progress in Iraq. Last week, when the Iraq government began its new offensive against rebel forces, we were again told it is a defining point for Iraq. How many defining points have there been?

Lies, lies, lies! All lies and distortions! And many bought it! Many didn't but today we can see where it has gotten the US. It has totally ruined us. Not only 4,000 dead, but look at our economy. Any relationship to Iraq? I would say so. This war, started by Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld has led the US down a spiralling hole. I only hope Bush's successor can get us out of it.

Obama's Foreign Policy Overhaul

"When Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama met in California for the Jan. 31 debate, their back-and-forth resembled their many previous encounters, with the Democratic presidential hopefuls scrambling for the small policy yardage between them. And then Obama said something about the Iraq War that wasn't incremental at all. "I don't want to just end the war," he said, "but I want to end the mind-set that got us into war in the first place.""

This quote was in an interesting article I read in The American Prospect, Liberal Intelligence. I think anyone who is still debating in his/her own mind which presidential candidate would make a better President should read what The American Prospect article has to say. To sum it up, Obama is the only presidential candidate that not only wants to stop the Iraq war, but also change the American mindset when dealing with other nations. Obama wants to restore America's global leadership and protect America by cooperating with other nations, not simply insisting other nations do as the US says because we're the US. The article discusses the advisors that a President Obama would use to accomplish his sweeping foreign policy change.

If you're for peace, real peace in the world, read the article. Is Obama the man that brings the world to a more evolved state of thinking when it comes to world peace?

Mehdi Kazemi Update

Just to update you on the status of Mehdi Kazemi, the Iranian teen who faces deportation from the UK back to Iran where he faces death for being gay. British authorities have temporarily halted the deportation of a gay Iranian teen while they review his case. British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced Mar 13 that Kazemi would be granted a temporary reprieve from deportation. On Mar 13, the European Parliament passed a resolution asking the Netherlands and the UK to "find a common solution to ensure that Mehdi Kazemi is granted asylum or protection on EU soil and not sent back to Iran, where he would be executed." This issue is still not resolved, but things look a little better for Kazemi.

Hillary Dodges Sniper Bullets?

I will admit that I voted for Hillary Clinton in NJ's Primary in February. If the primary were held in June, as has been in the past, I am not so sure my vote would have been the same. I was faced with the dilemma most were: vote for the new guy who speaks well, but maybe doesn't have the experience necessary to lead our nation, or vote for the woman who has more experience and has been around Washington alot longer, knowing the "ropes" and how Washington works? The other hesitation I had in deciding was the Hillary that plays politics to the max. Obama does not do that to the extent Hillary does. Again, would this be a benefit for Hillary or a hindrance? Would understanding Washington allow one to maneuver better to forward an agenda?

Today, Hillary admitted to "misspeaking" about her visit to Bosnia 12 years ago as First Lady. She admitted she exaggerated the whole experience. Hillary had previously cited landing under sniper fire, having to run with her head down to safety. When responding to a reporter who had video footage of the landing, not as dangerous as Hillary said, Hillary responded by saying "I say a lot of things -- millions of words a day -- so if I misspoke, that was just a misstatement." And there's my problem. When Hillary gets caught in a "misstatement" she always has an excuse. She's always playing politics!

Just like the now famous 3am telephone commercial. It must have worked because people bought it. But really, has Hillary ever had to answer the phone at 3am for a major disaster? I doubt it! So which one, Hillary or Obama, would handle it best? That remains to be seen.

More and more, my leaning is toward Obama. I believe he is more electable against John McCain. More Independents and even some Republicans, who would never, never vote for another Clinton, would vote for Obama. Sounds like I'm making up my mind......at least for today! Either Hillary or Obama will have my support in November to stop the Republican devils is all I know.

Stop With The BS That Guns Don't Kill

The following letter was found in the Voice of the People in Today's PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY:

We don't blame
cars; why guns?
Once again, recent letters about firearms focus on the wrong element - firearms - and not people.
Firearms are inanimate objects, useless tools without a human. They don't jump up in the middle of the night and go on a shooting spree without a person behind them. No one blames the car in a drunken driving accident - they blame the driver. Cars kill hundreds of times more people than firearms do in the United States every day, and you don't hear people clamoring to ban those deadly cars, do you?
It is already illegal to carry a firearm. Why would an additional ban stop someone who is already breaking the law? Enforce the 20,000 other gun laws on the books already and punish the offenders. Bans only punish the innocent.

MICHAEL AYLWIN
Egg Harbor City


I am so sick and tired of this rationale: "Guns don't kill people; people kill people!" To equate a gun with a car is one of the most moronic comparisons I can think of. Guns were made for one purpose, and one purpose only, TO KILL! One can argue all he wants that using a gun is sport, but KILL is a gun's only reason for existence. One target shoots to better his aim to better his shot to KILL! One hunts, in today's world, not to put food on the table, but to KILL! Don't for a moment tell me hunters do not get a thrill out of killing! (I did not say I am against hunting, but come on with the excuses)! A car's intent is not to kill, but unfortunately because of human error death is sometimes the result!

There is no reason I can think of for the legal purchase of some of the guns we have in society. Nobody target shoots or hunts with some of the weaponry around today, so stop with the BS excuses and rationale about why guns are good!

Has It Been Worth The Price?

Thousands dead? Many more injured and maimed? Trillions of dollars? The WMD were not there! The war has not paid for itself! Electricity and oil DO NOT flow! What have we gained?

So What's The Big Deal?

So what's the big deal about what Rep. Sally Kern(R-Oklahoma) said about gays and lesbians being more of a threat to America than terrorists? After all, like any American, Kern is entitled to her opinion, right? Does she have to be politically correct in all that she says or does? Well I'll tell you why it matters to me.

Sally Kern is a public figure, a leader in her state of Oklahoma. What leaders say has a big impact upon what their followers believe and do. When a leader makes derogatory comments about a group of individuals, such as Kern's, which in reality makes gays and lesbians the enemy, those followers get downright defensive. For people who can't think for themselves, just think about the impact the words of leaders has (Jim Jones, Adolf Hitler, the Church). Some of those followers then believe it is OK to do whatever they have to do to eliminate the "enemy." Thus, the killings of others!

Public leaders should be encouraging the positive and creating an atmosphere of harmony between people, not dividing and causing hatred. Kern continues to do this. She has every right to believe what she wants, but she should keep it to herself. My only hope is that by publically vocalizing her inner feelings, the public will be so outrage that they will realize this is not the leader for them, and Kern will be booted out. A YouTube audio clip of Kern's creed against gays and lesbians has indeed outraged gay activists. Hopefully not too much damage is done in the meantime.

Iranian Teen, Part 2

British authorities have halted the extradition of Mehdi Kazemi, the gay Iranian teen that faces execution if sent back to Iran, while the case is reviewed. Kazemi requested asylum in the UK, but when his application was turned down, he fled to the Netherlands. Dutch authorities examined his case and decided to send him back to the UK. Why has the US not weighed in on this injustice? Why doesn't Condi or George W. express outrage? Who knows. By the way, I haven't heard any of the presidential candidates make a statement either. Is it that the US does not really care? Maybe it's too controversial? Well, I'm sure there are plenty of Americans, as well as others around the world, expressing their disgust!

Just When You Think The World Has Changed!

Just when you think the world has changed and peoples' attitude toward gays, lesbians, and transgendered individuals may have become just a bit more positive, a news story pops up that reminds me that some people still HATE! The picture, not a recent incident, is of 2 young gay men hanging in Iran, their only crime was they were gay. Just today it was reported that A 19-year-old gay man from Iran who was refused asylum in Britain and fled to Holland will be deported back to the UK to face an extradition hearing that could send him back to Iran, where he too will face imprisonment, torture, and possible execution. Mehdi Kazemi fled Iran following the execution of his partner after being found guilty of sodomy. Kazemi hoped to find a safe haven in England. "What would you expect from Iran?" you might ask. However, I'm not sure the attitude toward gays, lesbians, and transgendered individual is much better in the US.

In the last year alone, young gay people have died at the hands of straight friends in central Florida, been beaten to death after leaving a bar in Greenville, S.C., and assassinated in an eighth grade classroom in California. Last weekend in Athens, Ga., a 17-year old gay man carrying a purse was beaten and verbally gay-bashed by three boys he knew. Then we have a Congresswoman, Sally Kern, who should be promoting civil rights, bash gays, saying they are a worse threat to the US than terrorists!

When are people going to just let people be who God made them to be? A person has a right to not like it! Someone can have a hard time understanding it! Some may not even accept it! But does that give them the right to kill or infringe on someone else's right? Maybe the US isn't any better than Iran!

Rep. Sally Kern's Anti-Gay Comments

Hear what Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern (R) has to say about gays and lesbians.......And then write to her to give her your point of view!

A Tale Of Two Manilas

In January MyGuy and I took a trip to the Philippines and Hong Kong. We visited friends in the Manila area and toured the sights in and around Manila. It was the most eye-opening experience of my life so far. I can only describe the visit to Manila as "interesting." Firstly let me say I had a great time, and the Filipino people are the most polite, hospitable people I have ever met. "Sir" was my name most places I went. (My friends joked that primarily because I was a white American, we always received special attention whenever I was present. Whatever the reason, it was great). Secondly, the Philippines has many great resort area and the cost of living is cheap there by US standards. A nice meal for four in a restaurant ran only about $30.00US. While in the hotel I had a 90 minute Hilot massage, which is a Filipino deep tissue massage, and that only cost me about $55.00US. In the US you spend at least $1.00/minute for any professional massage. When not at our friends' house, we stayed at the Peninsula Manila hotel, a five-star hotel, costing about $185.00US/night, a hotel that in the US would probably run between $300-500.00/night.

The reason I described my trip as "interesting" is mainly because of the dichotomy of life in the Philippines. There are many malls, ranging from new malls with high-end stores such as Gucci and Louis Vittan, to smaller malls with markets. The malls are packed! Because it is a tropical climate, and very warm, the temperature while we were there ranging most days from 85-95 degrees Fahrenheit with much humidity (and this was the cool season, November-January), and because most Filipino homes do not have central AC (AC in the bedrooms only if that), the people congregate in the malls in the evenings to spend time with friends and family and to eat meals, and quite honestly, to keep cool. When I explained that most Americans get done work, go home, eat dinner, and relax at home most weeknights, our Filipino friends said, "How boring!" The malls on the weeknights in Manila looked like our malls on a weekend at Christmas time in the US. The malls also have several food courts lined with traditional Filipino food as well as McDonald's, KFC, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and the likes, and the people are feasting! The money certainly flows in the malls. (One of the pictures above is in Makati, the financial district of Manila). The "interesting" thing is the poverty that is just outside those malls, and the lack of money a great deal of Filipinos have.

I expected to see poverty, but not to the extent I did. Villages like the one above exist all over! Not just in certain areas outside the city. We would be standing next to a modern, very nice building and just a few feet away were shacks and squatter villages where people lived. People sold things they made and tried to make a living anyway they could. (I realize this occurs in other places in the world, and even in the US, but I had never experienced it for myself). It was sad to see how some people have to exist! It really is just like I have seen on TV where the poor search for food to eat. The second day I was there, this actually put a tear in my eye. (I have since been inspired to donate to UNICEF/PHILIPPINES and to sponsor a child through Children International).

Manila and the area has a great deal of history, unfortunately most of it is occupation by foreign lands. The Philippines was first colonized by the Spanish, and the Dominicans (Catholics) remained in the Philippines for 500-600 years. The Spanish influence can be seen throughout the Philippines. So can the Catholic Church's influence. I wondered while I was there was the Catholic Church coming to the Philippines a good thing or a bad. Many of the hospitals and schools were founded by the Catholic Church so I guess that's good. But what if the Catholic Church never came, would the people be better off now? The Filipinos, although influenced tremendously by the Catholic Church, also incorporate alot of cultural rituals/beliefs into their religion. For many, I believe the only hope they have is that God and the Catholic Church will help them. I did not see much of that help while there, I must admit. After gaining independence from the Spanish, the Philippines was again occupied during WWII by the Japanese, who were vicious. The US eventually liberated the Philippines from the Japanese.

Much more to come about my trip to the Philippines as there is just too much to write here. I can say this will not be my last trip to the Philippines.