"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace."
Several years ago, I started a business which sold many
items bedecked with the six pride colors, signifying gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender freedom and acceptance.
I had a dream I dreamed that I went to a convention
of gay-pride-goods oriented businesses. All of a sudden, I was addressing everyone in the
convention hall. There was even a glass and pitcher of water on the podium
in front of me. It was water, but it was black. I looked to the audience,
then back to the pitcher. Now it was brown, fading to red....then yellow....then
to white. I looked to the crowd, cleared my throat and proclaimed,
With immediate clarity, I suddenly knew what to
say. Way off to one side of the hall, I noticed that
the walls had disappeared. The scene blended into the great outdoors. There
were flagpoles lining one side of a field, flying those new colors. There
was a rather stiff breeze blowing and several young people were tossing
Frisbees back and forth. I noticed and pointed out to the audience that
with the strong wind current, the tossers had to aim up-wind for the Frisbee
to land in the desired destination. I continued, “Displaying the six traditional
pride colors is all fine and well, but change is really taking hold; especially
with each new generation coming up, straight and gay is becoming more of
a non-issue. Red-Orange-Yellow-Green-Blue-Purple was adopted to proclaim
an alternate sexuality. If “the colors” stay up and the gay populace continues screaming and hollering, “We are here!....We need to be accepted...”....well, that is a wall which separates one faction from
another. Vigilance is still needed, but the reason for waving banners was
to get the attention of the world. A good amount of attention is now paid
and, although vigilance is still necessary, I think continuing to scream
about how we are different only serves to sustain a stronger wall between
people. The idea was to promote integration, not create separatism.” I guess this dream was a result of all the multiculturalism
we have been seeing in our world. Was it just a dream? See ya over coffee!
Website Manager:
- John Lennon
You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist. ~ Indira Gandhi
"If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another." - Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama quotes (Dalai Lama, b.1935)
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Jimi Hendrix
There is a fellow out of Kokomo, Indiana with whom I do not agree.
I don't need to ridicule or denigrate him; honestly, I feel his mis-guided
lack of substance, although likely heart-felt, does that well enough.
He recently wrote a piece, and "dicussed it with himself" on his radio show.
I responded, as entered below.
To be comprehensive in this matter, his "piece" IS posted here, following my response.
I do that so you may read it and use it as a reference but my point stands
well alone without it, I feel.
*********
“...people have to talk back to bigotry. Silence can imply approval sometimes, right or
wrong - and I believe most people are good and can recognize the truth, as long as the lies, mis-
information or incorrect data aren't the only thing they hear. ”
-rochestah
*********
Open comments to Peter Heck re: Why we're losing the 'gay' debate
(regarding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"....gays in the military)
Mr. Heck, you refer to The Biblical stance on issues.
Just because there is a strong population of Christians in our nation, you cannot, with any reason or accuracy, cite that our country should adhere to Christianity’s current interpretations of The Bible. Our country is populated by many creeds. That is upon what we were founded. Christianity was not the foundation of our country, regardless of the desire of “Christians” to claim that to be the case. We were founded on freedom of belief, breaking away from the tyranny of England.
As our people slowly are learning, there are other viewpoints throughout the world and many do not conform to Christianity’s current interpretation of spiritual and cosmic reality.
Given that our country is NOT a Christian-based country, regardless of your desire for that to be the case, we have come to actually forbid mangers on the court house lawns. Personally, I think that is ridiculous. I say that despite the fact that I am what you would label an agnostic. I think if a country’s people want to express their heartfelt beliefs, they should be able to do so...just move it over a bit to accommodate some space for other viewpoints’ icons.
Since we now have legal precedents set, we SHOULD be eliminating, from any legal arguments, ANY quoting from the Bible. “Because it states in the Bible...” is not a valid argument for ANYthing in our legal reasoning.
Times are changing. Bigots like you are trying to keep those inevitably dying embers of non-reason alive. You need to realize that the rest of the world should not be expected to think and believe as do you, regardless of the degree of your passion.
Your lopsided and bigoted stance is why so many people in our world are living lies everyday. They are not following THEIR dreams and passions, but rather hiding them in closets of their souls and minds. They are being forced into internal turmoil because of your intimidation.
And that intimidation is levied based on your chosen fantasies as to “how the universe works”.
You have chosen your own view to which you subscribe. And that is fine....for you. Please just keep it in your own circle of others like you who have also chosen that view. You have no Constitutional right to impose it on others.
In your first paragraph, you mention, “political correctness trumping common sense”.
It is more a political correctness for and within your religious community, not common sense that drives your assertion of your bigoted, religious opinions.
Common sense would suggest that in a society of multiple spiritual disciplines, trying to legislate a preference of butterscotch over vanilla is a pointless and fruitless endeavor.
In your second paragraph, you “determine” FOR us, the “fact” that homosexuality is depraved.
Based on what?...The Bible?
The Bible is an opinion. And our country allows for that. But opinions are just that, opinions. They are not suitable for a legal system in a pluralistic society. Especially not when those opinions would deny many of its citizens the right to pursue happiness as they choose.
So now, we can speak of the realities of social norms, peer pressure and camaraderie on the battle field.
More and more of our troops, daily, are coming to the viewpoint that when push comes to shove, they don’t give a rat’s tail WHAT the guy (or girl) next to him (or her)
eats for dinner. All they want to know is how well the next person will perform his (or her) duties in covering his ass in a tight squeeze: WILL that soldier perform with a reverence to the LIVES with which they are tied or with a reverence to a book of parables?
If you had ANY real concept of how many troops serving in the armed forces are “gay”, you would dump a brick.
The reality of whom these people serve is not the President or Congress or the government. Whom they serve is The American People which includes more so and in a VERY committed way, their comrades on the field. Your Bible and your PREFERRED spiritual doctrine is where it belongs, back in their footlocker. It may guide them and strengthen them but the living, human spirit standing with them in the foxhole is their commitment. The more you weaken them by attempts to create a division among them only weakens their ability to perform their duties.
And you show your "un-awareness" of today's reality by having the nerve to sensationalize this topic with the fear of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. In today's world, I would have every BIT as much apprehension in receiving a transfusion from any NON-gay donor. Your homework seems to be short on facts and long on mis-guided emotions.
You said, “Even those who choose to abide by God's design for sex within the confines of a married, monogamous, man/woman relationship...is a choice.”.
BINGO! You, yourself, just said it. “Those who CHOOSE...”. Choosing one’s belief does not require that it be a mandate for everyone else.
“Pursuit of happiness” was a goal officially set by our country’s founders, no? A particular spiritual belief was NOT.
All of this can apply to the discussion of Gay Marriage, as well.
Political Correctness? I am not arguing for political correctness. I believe that Political Correctness is ridiculous, superficial and damaging. It removes the free ability to debate concepts and follow free will and Pursue Happiness.
We should ALL consider those around us and their feelings. If that is to be labeled “Political Correctness”, then I am being Politically Correct.
I say that we should give breathing room to those who decide to NOT thump a Bible every time they want to set a law into motion.
I rather consider it to be common decency and consideration of others.
I consider it to be a chevron of Reason and Freedom.
Yours in Brotherhood,
-Sumshee Kirken
***************
Peter Heck's article:
Why we're losing the 'gay' debate by Peter Heck
Last Friday, Democrats led the House of Representatives in passing legislation to allow the
open practice of homosexuality in the United States military for the first time in our history. This
is a catastrophic move that is coming as the result of political correctness trumping common sense.
It also demonstrates the extraordinary success of the rabid homosexual lobby that has, in a
matter of just a few decades, successfully altered the landscape of this and other debates
regarding depraved sexual conduct. Because of their ceaseless onslaught of propaganda, a
majority of Americans (some even within the church) have come to believe in the existence of a
group of people whose natural state is "homosexual." We now casually use this terminology,
assuming that there are "heterosexuals" and "homosexuals."
When we accept this baseline, we have detached ourselves from rational thinking. We have
allowed the debates over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," marriage rights, hospital visitation and other
legislative objectives like adoption privileges to become ones of civil rights and fairness. And
once those advancing homosexuality have successfully framed these debates in this way, those
holding to traditional morality are helpless. They are easily portrayed as cruel, discriminatory,
hateful bigots unwilling to extend the rights they want for themselves to others who are not like
them. Needless to say, this is all by design. It has been the stated strategy of the homosexual
agenda from the start.
Yet all it would take to undo this fraudulent charade is basic common sense – the greatest
enemy of political correctness. So here it is: all sexual behavior – married heterosexual conduct,
adulterous heterosexuality, bestiality, necrophilia, homosexuality, pedophilia, coprophilia,
polyamory...ALL of it – is chosen behavior. No one is compelled into any sexual conduct. Even
those who choose to abide by God's design for sex within the confines of a married,
monogamous, man/woman relationship, how, when and if they engage in sexual behavior, is a
choice. It has nothing to do with unalterable, unchangeable, immutable characteristics.
A person's natural state is that of male or female. From there, people choose what kind of
sexual behavior, if any, to participate in. They choose whether to conform to biblical standards,
societal standards, or no standards at all. But since what they do sexually is always chosen
behavior, it has nothing to do with their identity. Who a person is, is different than what a person
does.
Once we regain this rational baseline for our thinking, we soon realize how terribly (and
intentionally) skewed this debate over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has become. The ban that has
existed from the infancy of the American military until today has not been on any group of
people...it has been on the open practice of a chosen sexual behavior. Moreover, homosexuality is
but one of many sexual practices that has been banned by the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Even attempts of heterosexual adultery are forbidden. Is that discriminatory against
heterosexuals?
Therefore, the proper debate regarding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should not be held as one that will
determine whether certain people can serve. That is a false premise. The debate should be held
over whether or not those who do serve should be banned from participating in certain sexual
behaviors.
Since the Uniform Code of Military Justice seeks, "to promote the well-being, morale...and
good order and discipline" of our armed forces, we should be asking whether the open practice of
men having sex with men is dangerous to military cohesion.
We should be asking whether or not the devastating physical effects of men having sex with
men are conducive to a healthy and strong fighting force.
We should be asking if the preponderance of sexual transmitted diseases found in men
having sex with men represents any concerns with the necessity of battlefield blood transfusions.
We should be asking if the same reasons the military forbids men and women from sharing
barracks (avoiding sexual aggression, harassment and counterproductive distractions) should not
preclude the open acceptance of men having sex with men.
These are the rational grounds upon which this debate should be fought. Failing to
recognize, articulate and demand as much guarantees the outcome – one in which grounded and
clear thinking individuals are labeled bigots, and in which the most powerful military in world
history surrenders to its most dangerous foe...political correctness.
Peter Heck (peter@peterheck.com) hosts a two-hour, daily call-in radio program on
WIOU (1350 AM) in Kokomo, Indiana. "The Peter Heck Show" comments on social and political
issues -- and doesn't shy away from recognizing how faith influences politics.
CLICK HERE for Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry on The Ten Commandments....THEN HIT THE BACK BUTTON AND C'MON BACK
***************
That local crowd had no retail outlet from which to buy those items.
After a short time, I got to thinking aout how those colors were working
regarding their intended purpose.
I also considered the GLBT position in our society from several vantage
points of observation over the years: both from the outside and inside.
“Human Pride”
I started looking around to see what other folks were promoting in the way
of pride goods. There were flags, stickers, cups, t-shirts, jewelry....all
that usual stuff.
Then, I started noticing other things not usually in that realm:
music, strange looking musical instruments, tapestries, rugs, pottery....
very ethnic stuff. I started thinking that I had wandered into another “convention
hall”.
I looked back to where I had come in and couldn’t quite put my finger
on it.... something was different. What was it?
Wait a minute! The colors were different! Where was the red-orange-yellow-green-blue-purple?
Some were there but.....
I saw black, brown, red, yellow, white.
I saw a large lady with a cup of coffee in her hand who seemed to be scanning
around like she was surveying her estate...keeping an eye on things. I approached
and asked if she knew why the colors were different than I remembered.
She said her name was Selfa and that she knew me...from somewhere...didn’t
say where. But she told me that I knew the answer already. She said she
had to go change the music and then she was gone.
Dreams!
I kind of looked around for her but could only HEAR her.
“Think about it. Look to the past and the future...and logic.”
“I haaavve a dream!”.
Yeah, I sure do. One doozy of a dream. A man came toward me from off-stage.
He reached up and removed a multi-colored wig from my head.
It had the six gay-pride colors. Damn! I didn’t remember putting that
on!
“People have been buying the six colors from me for almost two years
now, but I see a problem!
Do you remember how, in the sixties, there were so many marches and such....riots,
even? Anyone yearning for integration had to scream and holler, just so
that blacks could eat in the same restaurant, use the same water fountain,
have the same jobs. There are still remnants of all that going on, but not
as much. The norm has changed. “Black” isn’t as much of
an issue as it was then.
Women don’t burn their bras any more to get attention to the fact
that they want THEIR equality. Vigilance is still needed, but again, it
isn’t as much of an issue.”
Times DO change.
ONE HUMAN FAMILY, the slogan of Key West, is the idea. And the basic human
colors are what?.... Black, brown, red, yellow and white? ‘Human Pride’.
I think a proclamation of unity is better than a proclamation of separatism.”
-Sumshee
Whatever you're thinking about is literally like planning a future event.
When you're worrying, you are planning.
When you are appreciating, you are planning...
What are you planning?
Sumshee Urszula Kirken
sumshee@sumshee.com
All material in this website (aside from the material which is obviously NOT mine)
is Copyright ©
by Sumshee Kirken