The Lifetime channel has approved the taping of the Houston Family Chronicles, designed to follow surviving family members of Whitney Houston. According to recent reports, the show will star Whitney's sister-in-law and manager Pat Houston and Pat's daughter Rayah, as well as Whitney's Houston's brother Gary, daughter Bobbi Kristina and mother Cissy Houston.
While some producers claim the show's content will be aimed at showing the healing process of the family since Whitney's death by following their daily routine of continuing grief and reveal how the are growing and moving along as a family.
Interestingly, Whitney's mother, Cissy, gave the green light to proceed with the project, expressing a concern for Whitney's daughter Bobbi Kristina and her upcoming singing career. Pat Houston has said the show was in the works while Whitney was alive - perhaps a take-off on the failed reality show where Whitney and her husband at the time, Bobby Brown, exposed the debased lifestyles of both of the entertainers in the every day lives.
So this is what entertainment has come to . . . voyeurism and stalking. A person reaches super star status and her family is left to wonder what will become of them now that there is void too big to fill any other way than with their own fame and fortune found vicariously through the death of their meal ticket.
So, careers may be launched and talents may be discovered that may not have been realized without the death of Whitney Houston. The benefits are far reaching even beyond the grave.
Perhaps a DNA Ancestry test could prove that I was sired by someone famous and now that I have realized that fact cameras should follow me around to see how I deal with my new found grief.
After all, I just released a CD last November at 57 years-of-age and could use a boost to convince people to go to my music website at http://Rainbows-Angels.com and appreciate the music because I am the survivor of somebody who was once famous. My dad was a super star, bigger than Elvis, bigger than the Beatles, bigger than Dylan and Hendrix - I just don't know who he was. But that shouldn't matter. I should be successful anyway because he was my father.
Well, I have to go now. I am working on another CD and need to work on the songs before all the cameras and paparazzi arrive to follow my every move.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Bachmann Turncoat Overdrive
Well, Michelle Bachmann not only ran for the office of President of the United States while holding a dual citizenship to Switzerland, home of the world's most sexually liberal and homeland to her husband, but she called for an investigation of Congress to see who was Unamerican. The woman who believes you can scare the homosexuality out of someone and took government subsidies to prove it, was, since 1978, through marriage, a citizen of Switzerland. She made it official this week when she and her husband announced their marriage to the Swiss consulate. Should Ms. Bachmann choose to visit her other country, she would find there are many bars, clubs, cafes, restaurants, saunas and organizations specifically dedicated to the GBLT population. And she would find universal healthcare, although universal healthcare would by definition men covering every living entity in the universe - no country can cover that, even with the best of intentions.
Earlier this week, Bachmann announced that she had become a citizen of Switzerland a month earlier, using her husband’s dual U.S.- Swiss nationality to secure fast-track naturalization. She added that the couple’s three youngest children were also now Swiss citizens. In an interview with Swiss TV, Bachmann explained that her family often visits Switzerland — in particular the picturesque region of Thurgau where her husband’s ancestors came from. “Our family loves it when we come because everyone brings home a big bag of chocolate, and everyone’s very happy,” she told reporters in Switzerland. She added “it’s tough to find a place not to like in Switzerland.” Evidently, she didn't find her way to Zurich or Geneva, where these establishments abound.
Now - she's not. She denounced her Swiss citizenship amongst a backlash of criticism from the right, the Tea Party and late night talk show hosts. But the Swiss have not lodged a complaint - no word on her children yet. After all, this is the woman who gave us: "Literally, if we took away the minimum wage—if conceivably it was gone—we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level."
"I look at the Scripture and I read it and I take it for what it is. I give more credence in the Scripture as being kind of a timeless word of God to mankind, and I take it for what it is. And I don't think I give as much credence to my own mind, because I see myself as being very limited and very flawed, and lacking in knowledge, and wisdom and understanding. So, I just take the Bible for what it is, I guess, and recognize that I am not a scientist, not trained to be a scientist. I'm not a deep thinker on all of this. I wish I was. I wish I was more knowledgeable, but I'm not a scientist."
"No one that I know disagrees with natural selection — that you can take various breeds of dogs ... breed them, you get different kinds of dogs," she said. "It's just a fact of life. ... Where there's controversy is (at the question) 'Where do we say that a cell became a blade of grass, which became a starfish, which became a cat, which became a donkey, which became a human being?' There’s a real lack of evidence from change from actual species to a different type of species. That's where it's difficult to prove."
“I am so proud to be from the state of Minnesota. We're the workingest state in the country, and the reason why we are, we have more people that are working longer hours, we have people that are working two jobs, we have more women in the workforce than any other state.”
I could go on, but I need a carbonated drink. This person ran for President of the United States and got at least one vote - now that's scary.
I wonder if any of the press is going to ask her if she believes her children should retain their dual citizenship. Probably not, especially those liberal, attacking media.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Earlier this week, Bachmann announced that she had become a citizen of Switzerland a month earlier, using her husband’s dual U.S.- Swiss nationality to secure fast-track naturalization. She added that the couple’s three youngest children were also now Swiss citizens. In an interview with Swiss TV, Bachmann explained that her family often visits Switzerland — in particular the picturesque region of Thurgau where her husband’s ancestors came from. “Our family loves it when we come because everyone brings home a big bag of chocolate, and everyone’s very happy,” she told reporters in Switzerland. She added “it’s tough to find a place not to like in Switzerland.” Evidently, she didn't find her way to Zurich or Geneva, where these establishments abound.
Now - she's not. She denounced her Swiss citizenship amongst a backlash of criticism from the right, the Tea Party and late night talk show hosts. But the Swiss have not lodged a complaint - no word on her children yet. After all, this is the woman who gave us: "Literally, if we took away the minimum wage—if conceivably it was gone—we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level."
"I look at the Scripture and I read it and I take it for what it is. I give more credence in the Scripture as being kind of a timeless word of God to mankind, and I take it for what it is. And I don't think I give as much credence to my own mind, because I see myself as being very limited and very flawed, and lacking in knowledge, and wisdom and understanding. So, I just take the Bible for what it is, I guess, and recognize that I am not a scientist, not trained to be a scientist. I'm not a deep thinker on all of this. I wish I was. I wish I was more knowledgeable, but I'm not a scientist."
"No one that I know disagrees with natural selection — that you can take various breeds of dogs ... breed them, you get different kinds of dogs," she said. "It's just a fact of life. ... Where there's controversy is (at the question) 'Where do we say that a cell became a blade of grass, which became a starfish, which became a cat, which became a donkey, which became a human being?' There’s a real lack of evidence from change from actual species to a different type of species. That's where it's difficult to prove."
“I am so proud to be from the state of Minnesota. We're the workingest state in the country, and the reason why we are, we have more people that are working longer hours, we have people that are working two jobs, we have more women in the workforce than any other state.”
I could go on, but I need a carbonated drink. This person ran for President of the United States and got at least one vote - now that's scary.
I wonder if any of the press is going to ask her if she believes her children should retain their dual citizenship. Probably not, especially those liberal, attacking media.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Voice
Just finished watching the results for The Voice. Enjoyed most of the show - could have done without the Justin Bieber sort of rap song, but was blown away by Lady Antebellum - seems all they can do is write and perform hits. Jermaine Paul was definitely the best performer on the show throughout, although Chris Mann may have had the best voice. It seems that at the end of every show my wife and I watched, we ended up talking about the judges, either the rambling from CeeLo, the pausing from Adam, the team support from Blake or the outfits of Christina. Much like the judges on American Idol, the personalities get caught up in their own egos and tend to distract from the show. At least on The Voice we avoid the words "dude" and "pitchy" and advice about the song not mattering and yet the song was "the wrong choice."
On Idol, we are drawn to Steven Tyler's androgynous outfits and J-Lo's skirt length and Randy's dedication to a lack of fashion. On The Voice the main distraction is Chrisitna Aguilera's wardrobe or lack-there-of. Tonight was the most amazing - from the waist up, Aguilera looks out of sorts - plenty of cake, but a white shirt buttoned up to hide her amazing and usually exposed cleavage. Then, she struts to the stage to console her artist and reveals her bottom, clad in some very expensive looking set of designer Depends. From that moment on, the show became anticlimactic - and there were still the other three contestants left. I just couldn't wait for the cameras to focus back on her butt. I mean, I wanted Jermaine to win and thought I would be excited about the finish, but I just kept hoping to get another long look at that underwear.
What was she thinking? Didn't any of the other judges care enough about her to tell her - OMG! What are you wearing? Do you know we're on television? Do you know this is a singing contest? At least J-Lo keeps her trunk junk mostly covered.
How sad that Jermain was upstaged on his big night by a fanny pack. I hope he goes on to record wonderful songs and is a great success. I'm not sure the producers were thinking straight when they asked him to perform again at the end of the show while crying with and hugging his family members who were brought on stage. Juliett Simms seemed surprised that she didn't win. I was surprised she made it that far. Each of her performances has moments of brilliance combined with moments of flatness. If she can control her pitch problems, she may have a future in the industry. Chris was technically the best voice, but limited in his song selection. Tony Luca shined and has a future in the business with the right band and songs.
I still feel Idol has a better selection of singers this year. I believe Phillip will go on to a magical mystery tour, Jessica will hit the cabaret, Holly will receive a Tony in her future and Joshua will win the Idol finale. Hopefully, he will record and revive a bunch of James Brown tunes. maybe someone will take one of those too-tight jackets off of him while he performs before it is over.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
On Idol, we are drawn to Steven Tyler's androgynous outfits and J-Lo's skirt length and Randy's dedication to a lack of fashion. On The Voice the main distraction is Chrisitna Aguilera's wardrobe or lack-there-of. Tonight was the most amazing - from the waist up, Aguilera looks out of sorts - plenty of cake, but a white shirt buttoned up to hide her amazing and usually exposed cleavage. Then, she struts to the stage to console her artist and reveals her bottom, clad in some very expensive looking set of designer Depends. From that moment on, the show became anticlimactic - and there were still the other three contestants left. I just couldn't wait for the cameras to focus back on her butt. I mean, I wanted Jermaine to win and thought I would be excited about the finish, but I just kept hoping to get another long look at that underwear.
What was she thinking? Didn't any of the other judges care enough about her to tell her - OMG! What are you wearing? Do you know we're on television? Do you know this is a singing contest? At least J-Lo keeps her trunk junk mostly covered.
How sad that Jermain was upstaged on his big night by a fanny pack. I hope he goes on to record wonderful songs and is a great success. I'm not sure the producers were thinking straight when they asked him to perform again at the end of the show while crying with and hugging his family members who were brought on stage. Juliett Simms seemed surprised that she didn't win. I was surprised she made it that far. Each of her performances has moments of brilliance combined with moments of flatness. If she can control her pitch problems, she may have a future in the industry. Chris was technically the best voice, but limited in his song selection. Tony Luca shined and has a future in the business with the right band and songs.
I still feel Idol has a better selection of singers this year. I believe Phillip will go on to a magical mystery tour, Jessica will hit the cabaret, Holly will receive a Tony in her future and Joshua will win the Idol finale. Hopefully, he will record and revive a bunch of James Brown tunes. maybe someone will take one of those too-tight jackets off of him while he performs before it is over.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Too Fat To Write
Okay, according to hospitals in Texas, I can't work there. My BMI, whatever the heck that is, is not within the acceptable range for me to even push a broom down the hallways of Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, Texas. So, rather than bring me in and use me as an example, helping me to lose weight and be in better health, they refuse to consider my application altogether. Following their regulation that an employee's appearance “should fit with a representational image or specific mental projection of the job of a health care professional,” including an appearance “free from distraction,” I will be sending myself a pink slip. Not being a fan of pink, I may send myself a slip of another color with the same intent. I am not fit to write for my own paper, the Sedona Excentric.
Perhaps if I could learn to write while walking, I could shed some of these unwanted pounds. I did lose a bunch of weight not long ago, but that was due to diverticulitis. I lost a couple of pounds when fasting for my colonoscopy also. Funny, I watch friends of mine consume fatty, unhealthy, sugary foods and never gain a pound. i walk by the bakery section of a grocery store and can feel my belt tightening. I have reduced the amount of alcohol, sugar, carbs, red meat, and increased my exercise routine just to maintain the weight I carry now. If I break that chain, I gain. Living the lifestyle that I choose now and knowing that I could be refused employment really chafes my chaps.
Weight discrimination is not illegal in 49 of the 50 states in America. That's correct. You can be gay, republican, black and female and be protected, but not fat. So, if you are a gay, black, female republican and fat, you had better shed some pounds if looking for work in Texas. In a country that finds itself populated by obese citizens, America is going to have to take a long look in a wide mirror and rewrite some of its anti-discriminatory laws. Take Mr. X as an example. Mr. X get screwed by his state government who fired him because they refused to take federal stimulus funding. After collecting unemployment and being depressed for nearly a year and sitting around eating Twinkies and drinking Yoo-Hoos, Mr. X gains enough weight to tilt his BMI (body mass index) to the point of being declared unemployable because he's now too fat to work, making him more depressed and sending him to the store for Twinkies and Yoo-Hoos. Now Mr. X has had his insurance cancelled because his employer paid program has expired and so has his Cobra plan. Having to get insurance on his own will be near impossible if the Supreme Court decides the new American Health Plan is unconstitutional, since he will have a pre-existing condition of obesity.
I haven't eaten fast food in years and have switched to soy burgers and sweet potato fries baked in the oven and yet I am going to have to fire myself. It feels like I gained a couple of ounces just sitting here writing this blog. I hope I give myself a second chance and, if I show that I'm trying even harder to lose weight and tighten my mass, I will hire myself back - at least on a part-time basis. Of course, the benefits include living with the boss' wife. If I lose that perk, I may have to sue myself. See me in court?
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Perhaps if I could learn to write while walking, I could shed some of these unwanted pounds. I did lose a bunch of weight not long ago, but that was due to diverticulitis. I lost a couple of pounds when fasting for my colonoscopy also. Funny, I watch friends of mine consume fatty, unhealthy, sugary foods and never gain a pound. i walk by the bakery section of a grocery store and can feel my belt tightening. I have reduced the amount of alcohol, sugar, carbs, red meat, and increased my exercise routine just to maintain the weight I carry now. If I break that chain, I gain. Living the lifestyle that I choose now and knowing that I could be refused employment really chafes my chaps.
Weight discrimination is not illegal in 49 of the 50 states in America. That's correct. You can be gay, republican, black and female and be protected, but not fat. So, if you are a gay, black, female republican and fat, you had better shed some pounds if looking for work in Texas. In a country that finds itself populated by obese citizens, America is going to have to take a long look in a wide mirror and rewrite some of its anti-discriminatory laws. Take Mr. X as an example. Mr. X get screwed by his state government who fired him because they refused to take federal stimulus funding. After collecting unemployment and being depressed for nearly a year and sitting around eating Twinkies and drinking Yoo-Hoos, Mr. X gains enough weight to tilt his BMI (body mass index) to the point of being declared unemployable because he's now too fat to work, making him more depressed and sending him to the store for Twinkies and Yoo-Hoos. Now Mr. X has had his insurance cancelled because his employer paid program has expired and so has his Cobra plan. Having to get insurance on his own will be near impossible if the Supreme Court decides the new American Health Plan is unconstitutional, since he will have a pre-existing condition of obesity.
I haven't eaten fast food in years and have switched to soy burgers and sweet potato fries baked in the oven and yet I am going to have to fire myself. It feels like I gained a couple of ounces just sitting here writing this blog. I hope I give myself a second chance and, if I show that I'm trying even harder to lose weight and tighten my mass, I will hire myself back - at least on a part-time basis. Of course, the benefits include living with the boss' wife. If I lose that perk, I may have to sue myself. See me in court?
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Friday, March 23, 2012
Enough . . .
It's sad that we have trouble having an honest dialogue in this country when it comes to gun ownership. Never mind the vast number of injuries and deaths caused by children playing with their parents' guns that weren't properly stored and the number of guns children use to purposefully take the lives of other children or the domestic arguments that end up with someone using a gun; let's talk about lobbyists.
I wonder how many people know what a lobbyist actually does. They roam the legislative halls and wine and dine politicians or their aides or family members disguised as experts in their field. You see, most politicians are just like us - they don't have a clue about most topics - they rely on others to educate them and inform them to allow them to display the appearance that they know why they voted yea or nay on any given piece of legislation. And, if they are on a committee, why they offered a piece of legislation. While the majority of legislators are former attorneys, they are still not versed well enough on issues to render an intelligent opinion until one is given to them.
Before we get to the National Rifle Association, let's look at another lobby - Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. It is no accident that the legal blood alcohol level was lowered nationally from .1 to .08. It wasn't proposed by the collective conscience of Congress. MADD members are out to outlaw alcohol. If they were sincere about removing people who have had too much to drink from driving, they would have worked for a law that would force people to be given a ride when they reach a point of driving inhibition. If bars and restaurants are going to make a profit from selling alcohol, they should be prepared to get their customer home safely. But no legislation has even entertained that prospect.
People will continue to drink and bars and restaurants will continue to be driving distances away from the consumer. Perhaps one answer is a bar on every corner. People who imbibed in the recent past, used to live in apartments in the city within walking distance or a short cab ride from their favorite watering hole. Heck, some people had apartments above the bars they frequented. Then came the suburbs. What makes MADD so powerful? Numbers! MADD can threaten the term of any politician. The threat of a campaign lauched with the goal of ending the career of a politician and, if your numbers are large enough, you've got their vote.
Numbers! It's what can make Unions powerful - that's why governors around the country are trying to bust them. They couldn't care less about the money union members make or the benefits the have. They care about the massive voting power. Numbers! Numbers is the reason politicos have been pitting poor Blacks in America against poor Hispanics. Imagine the voting power of those two groups of Americans united behind one politician or another. Polarization is purposeful. There is strength in unity. Civil rights laws and laws protecting and respecting women and minorities only came about because of unity. The NAACP at the time of civil stuggles in America in the fifties and sixties was made up of many white folk - many of them Jewish. Civil rights laws were based on voting rights issues. Women's rights laws were based on voting rights issues. Those in power, usually white men, did everything they could to retain that power - the power to write the laws and enforce them.
Power, politics, white men - enter the National Rifle Association. They would have you believe by their name alone that they represent hunters and those who choose to defend themselves and their families with some type of rifle. After all, they are a rifle association. But look at some of the laws they convince legislators to write and pass - state to state (even that is not national). They worked on laws to allow guns in schools, guns in bars, concealed weapons without special permits, Stand Your Ground right to kill laws. Perhaps they should change their name . . . Allow Cop Killing Bullets Association; Twenty-Bullet Clips Automatic Handgun Association; Fun With Assault Rifles Association. A lobby by any other name . . .
Groups with a recognizable membership wield recognizable power. Imagine a group with so many members they can effect any and every political outcome being infused with cash from groups with boatloads of money and you understand America's political system in a nutshell. In a nutshell, how appropriate. If Americans don't unite, corporations and groups of single-minded memberships will continue to run the country, from City Hall to Congress. People have seen how powerless the office of President of the Unted States can be when the goal of Congress is to see the President fail - even at the recession of a nation.
Now, we have a situation in Florida where a law, possibly ghost-written by lobbyists for the NRA, has been used to influence police decisions immediately following the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager. The shooter was allowed to remain free and retain his weapon and never given an alcohol or drug test, while the responding officers tested the dead man. One has to wonder what the motivation was behind those decisions and lack of actions of those police officers. It's not the job of police officers to determine guilt or innocence, but that's what they became. There are many players involved in this tragedy.
So, let's not let the slaying of Trayvon Martin be used as just another polarizing racial issue, but rather as a way of bringing us all together to stop the infused hatred, paranoia and distrust being perpetuated by those in powerful positions. We need to stop using the word WAR so loosely and instead recognize the source behind all the suppression and negativity and take away their power - with our voting power.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
I wonder how many people know what a lobbyist actually does. They roam the legislative halls and wine and dine politicians or their aides or family members disguised as experts in their field. You see, most politicians are just like us - they don't have a clue about most topics - they rely on others to educate them and inform them to allow them to display the appearance that they know why they voted yea or nay on any given piece of legislation. And, if they are on a committee, why they offered a piece of legislation. While the majority of legislators are former attorneys, they are still not versed well enough on issues to render an intelligent opinion until one is given to them.
Before we get to the National Rifle Association, let's look at another lobby - Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. It is no accident that the legal blood alcohol level was lowered nationally from .1 to .08. It wasn't proposed by the collective conscience of Congress. MADD members are out to outlaw alcohol. If they were sincere about removing people who have had too much to drink from driving, they would have worked for a law that would force people to be given a ride when they reach a point of driving inhibition. If bars and restaurants are going to make a profit from selling alcohol, they should be prepared to get their customer home safely. But no legislation has even entertained that prospect.
People will continue to drink and bars and restaurants will continue to be driving distances away from the consumer. Perhaps one answer is a bar on every corner. People who imbibed in the recent past, used to live in apartments in the city within walking distance or a short cab ride from their favorite watering hole. Heck, some people had apartments above the bars they frequented. Then came the suburbs. What makes MADD so powerful? Numbers! MADD can threaten the term of any politician. The threat of a campaign lauched with the goal of ending the career of a politician and, if your numbers are large enough, you've got their vote.
Numbers! It's what can make Unions powerful - that's why governors around the country are trying to bust them. They couldn't care less about the money union members make or the benefits the have. They care about the massive voting power. Numbers! Numbers is the reason politicos have been pitting poor Blacks in America against poor Hispanics. Imagine the voting power of those two groups of Americans united behind one politician or another. Polarization is purposeful. There is strength in unity. Civil rights laws and laws protecting and respecting women and minorities only came about because of unity. The NAACP at the time of civil stuggles in America in the fifties and sixties was made up of many white folk - many of them Jewish. Civil rights laws were based on voting rights issues. Women's rights laws were based on voting rights issues. Those in power, usually white men, did everything they could to retain that power - the power to write the laws and enforce them.
Power, politics, white men - enter the National Rifle Association. They would have you believe by their name alone that they represent hunters and those who choose to defend themselves and their families with some type of rifle. After all, they are a rifle association. But look at some of the laws they convince legislators to write and pass - state to state (even that is not national). They worked on laws to allow guns in schools, guns in bars, concealed weapons without special permits, Stand Your Ground right to kill laws. Perhaps they should change their name . . . Allow Cop Killing Bullets Association; Twenty-Bullet Clips Automatic Handgun Association; Fun With Assault Rifles Association. A lobby by any other name . . .
Groups with a recognizable membership wield recognizable power. Imagine a group with so many members they can effect any and every political outcome being infused with cash from groups with boatloads of money and you understand America's political system in a nutshell. In a nutshell, how appropriate. If Americans don't unite, corporations and groups of single-minded memberships will continue to run the country, from City Hall to Congress. People have seen how powerless the office of President of the Unted States can be when the goal of Congress is to see the President fail - even at the recession of a nation.
Now, we have a situation in Florida where a law, possibly ghost-written by lobbyists for the NRA, has been used to influence police decisions immediately following the shooting and killing of an unarmed teenager. The shooter was allowed to remain free and retain his weapon and never given an alcohol or drug test, while the responding officers tested the dead man. One has to wonder what the motivation was behind those decisions and lack of actions of those police officers. It's not the job of police officers to determine guilt or innocence, but that's what they became. There are many players involved in this tragedy.
So, let's not let the slaying of Trayvon Martin be used as just another polarizing racial issue, but rather as a way of bringing us all together to stop the infused hatred, paranoia and distrust being perpetuated by those in powerful positions. We need to stop using the word WAR so loosely and instead recognize the source behind all the suppression and negativity and take away their power - with our voting power.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Can I Get An Amen?
I just saw a new poll taken in Mississippi and Alabama that showed the majority of republicans planning to vote believe that the President of the United States, Barack Obama, is a Muslim. Inspite of the fact that he converted to Christianity, attended a Christian church with his wife and family, was sworn in to the office using the Bible and continues to claim he has accepted Jesus as his savior.
What is it with these people? Isn't it bad enough that there are movies, songs, books, cartoons and comedians constantly reminded the rest of the world just how ignorant residents of the deep south in the United States are regarding any topic but NASCAR standings and "cheesy grits?" I was raised in Virginia, sadly becoming more southern each day. I remember the confederate flags across the trucks' back windows, shading the gun racks and the rampant prejudice that came with the "The South is going to rise again" bumper stickers. Maybe, it's just as simple as one of their comedic heroes, Ron White, put it - You Can't Fix Stupid.
I attended high school in 1968, a year after the school integrated. I was small and got slammed against lockers often. I was even hung upside down and swung from my ankles by a couple of bullies in front of classmates. One day while a large white male was slamming me into a locker, a black student happened by. He was Calvin, the fullback of our football team and a bass in the choir where I sang tenor and alto as a freshman. Calvin slammed the bully against the wall and told him to pick on someone his own size. I guess the word got out that Calvin was my friend because the bullies backed off somewhat after that incident. I never properly thanked Calvin, although at the time I would probably have kissed his class ring.
I carried some of that taught prejudice with me into my adult years. I found it wasn't easy to unlearn something that been ingrained in you most of your life. I was fortunate enough to play music with black musicians in Norfolk in my twenties. I remember smoking a joint on a corner in the projects in Norfolk and being told by the drummer that times had definitely changed since my high school days. "There were times your white face wouldn't have been welcomed here," he offered with a sly grin. We ended up performing in an all-black nightclub one weekend. I looked around and immediately thought, I get it. I get what being a minority might feel like. Not that I could really understand being black in America in one weekend, but it was eye opening.
Back to the white southerners who continue to brandish hatred and prejudice -u even if just through economics. Christians of every denomination, Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist, Protestant, Mormon, etc. send out missionaries to convert the world to their religious views - to save them - from what I'm still not sure. I am a recovering Catholic, being taught that whistling in the house was calling the devil and punishment for cursing could include burning your hands in the oven. Religion with zeal? I find it difficult to understand how my fellow Americans could believe that all non-Christian people around the globe can be converted to their Christian faith, but the President of the United States could not. More than just a bit hypocritical. They send emissaries to convert Muslims, Jews, Athiests, Pagans and anyone else who has yet to join their club, but yet won't accept that President Obama had already converted. It would seem there is no way they can wrap their heads around the fact that the President of the United States is black - actually he is more pecan tan - because his mother was white.
I am trying to be a proud American - being made difficult by the rampant prejudice that is pervading our country to this day - be it against Hispanics or African Americans. I am proud when we stand together to help strangers during tragedies and extend a hand to the needy without questioning one's beliefs. I live in a world of hope - a hope that we can accept each other's differences with respect and understanding, perhaps even learning something from someone with those differing views.
In spite of all the mess I see and hear being spewed in the name of religion, I find myself a more spiritual man than ever. Perhaps that's why I was given songs to record in the name of Music for Social Change.
Wishing us all . . . love!
Peace - Ho'oponopono
What is it with these people? Isn't it bad enough that there are movies, songs, books, cartoons and comedians constantly reminded the rest of the world just how ignorant residents of the deep south in the United States are regarding any topic but NASCAR standings and "cheesy grits?" I was raised in Virginia, sadly becoming more southern each day. I remember the confederate flags across the trucks' back windows, shading the gun racks and the rampant prejudice that came with the "The South is going to rise again" bumper stickers. Maybe, it's just as simple as one of their comedic heroes, Ron White, put it - You Can't Fix Stupid.
I attended high school in 1968, a year after the school integrated. I was small and got slammed against lockers often. I was even hung upside down and swung from my ankles by a couple of bullies in front of classmates. One day while a large white male was slamming me into a locker, a black student happened by. He was Calvin, the fullback of our football team and a bass in the choir where I sang tenor and alto as a freshman. Calvin slammed the bully against the wall and told him to pick on someone his own size. I guess the word got out that Calvin was my friend because the bullies backed off somewhat after that incident. I never properly thanked Calvin, although at the time I would probably have kissed his class ring.
I carried some of that taught prejudice with me into my adult years. I found it wasn't easy to unlearn something that been ingrained in you most of your life. I was fortunate enough to play music with black musicians in Norfolk in my twenties. I remember smoking a joint on a corner in the projects in Norfolk and being told by the drummer that times had definitely changed since my high school days. "There were times your white face wouldn't have been welcomed here," he offered with a sly grin. We ended up performing in an all-black nightclub one weekend. I looked around and immediately thought, I get it. I get what being a minority might feel like. Not that I could really understand being black in America in one weekend, but it was eye opening.
Back to the white southerners who continue to brandish hatred and prejudice -u even if just through economics. Christians of every denomination, Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist, Protestant, Mormon, etc. send out missionaries to convert the world to their religious views - to save them - from what I'm still not sure. I am a recovering Catholic, being taught that whistling in the house was calling the devil and punishment for cursing could include burning your hands in the oven. Religion with zeal? I find it difficult to understand how my fellow Americans could believe that all non-Christian people around the globe can be converted to their Christian faith, but the President of the United States could not. More than just a bit hypocritical. They send emissaries to convert Muslims, Jews, Athiests, Pagans and anyone else who has yet to join their club, but yet won't accept that President Obama had already converted. It would seem there is no way they can wrap their heads around the fact that the President of the United States is black - actually he is more pecan tan - because his mother was white.
I am trying to be a proud American - being made difficult by the rampant prejudice that is pervading our country to this day - be it against Hispanics or African Americans. I am proud when we stand together to help strangers during tragedies and extend a hand to the needy without questioning one's beliefs. I live in a world of hope - a hope that we can accept each other's differences with respect and understanding, perhaps even learning something from someone with those differing views.
In spite of all the mess I see and hear being spewed in the name of religion, I find myself a more spiritual man than ever. Perhaps that's why I was given songs to record in the name of Music for Social Change.
Wishing us all . . . love!
Peace - Ho'oponopono
Saturday, March 3, 2012
What's the Rush?
One has to wonder whether Rush Limbaugh is popping pills again, or is just completely meshugana - still. Third-year Georgetown University law student, Sandra Fluke recently testified about the need for health insurance to cover birth control medication for women. Fluke testified to a Congressional committee on Feb. 23. The previous week, a Republican-controlled House committee had rejected Democrats' request that she testify on the Obama administration's policy requiring that employees of religion-affiliated institutions have access to health insurance that covers birth control. Instead, Representative Darrell Issa of California, the committee's chair, summoned a men-only panel of so-called experts representing a variety of faiths to make the dialogue purely about religion, not birth control or women's access to medication covered by their health insurance.
Fluke said that Georgetown, a Jesuit institution, does not provide contraception coverage in its student health plan and that contraception can cost a woman more than $3,000 during law school. She spoke of a friend who had an ovary removed because the insurance company wouldn't cover the prescription birth control she needed to stop the growth of cysts.
Following her reported testimony, Limbaugh proceeded to call Ms. Fluke a slut and a prostitute, demanding she produce videos of herself having sex. The saddest part is not only is this guy a complete pig, a disgrace to humankind, a buffoon with a microphone, but people actually listen to his misogynistic tirades and corporations pay to support his continuing to unapologically berate anyone who does not agree with his warped views. As do many men in positions of self-ordained power that feel threatened by the mere existence of a sex that can give birth and nurse and nurture their offspring. Men typically want to take that power away from women - men will decide when and how women have sex and if they become impregnated, they'll decide, through the government, that she must carry to term - no matter the circumstance or medical conditions of the woman or fetus. Men are now even trying to rewrite science, claiming a zygote is a person. A zygote? The big bang? Do people realize that by declaring a zygote a person, laws can be written to make it a crime to destroy any fertilized eggs held in petri dishes and fertility clinics?
I remember being groomed to be a Catholic and being told that masturbation was a sin because I was releasing my sperm somewhere other than in a vagina, with no chance of procreation. Sad to say, masturbation is the only sex most boys and many men are going to have. As Woody Allen says, at least masturbation is having sex with someone you love. This pious declaration comes from the same people who brought us alter boys - misspelled purposefully. I have had recent conversations with Catholics who are not worried that their priest is gay - doesn't bother them. However, no way should a woman be ordained or should priests be allowed to marry - after all, the vow of chastity is sacrosanct. Give me a break. As a recovering Catholic, I am disturbed that Newt Gingrich tauts his religiosity after his actions with his current wife - another Catholic who knowingly committed adultery with him - this is like the political tiffanys of sin because it involves a lot of lying to maintain the relationship.
Then there are the other political wannabes - Rick Santorum, one of the Republican presidential contenders seeking to oppose Obama, commented to CNN about Limbaugh's remarks. "He's being absurd," Santorum said. "But that's, you know, an entertainer can be absurd."
So, afraid to disturb the status quo, Santorum tucks his rebukes of Limbaughs inane and disturbing remarks under his sweater vest and quietly waves to his supporters who agree that contraception should not be allowed under any conditions. And, since he wants to bring his faith to the Washington political arena, he must, to be a good and faithful Catholic, agree with his leader, the Pope, that there should be no in-vitro fertilization allowed. The Pope considers it selfish to want to bear children if nature has made it medically impossible. How dare you? Just take somebody else's unwanted child. Will Santorum bring this religious righteous indignation to the White House were he to be ordained? And since Gingrich has converted, he would need to bring the same rules and regulations with him in order to be a good Catholic.
Then there is Mitt Romney. While campaigning in Ohio for the Republican presidential primary, Romney was asked about Limbaugh's comments and craftily (for him) steered his answer away from the uproar.
"It's not the language I would have used," Romney said after a campaign event in Cleveland. "But I'm focusing on the issues that I think are significant in the country today and that's why I'm here talking about jobs in Ohio." So, Romney would not have called Ms. Fluke a slut or prostitute - perhaps jezebel or floozie or just a loose woman - something more retro.
Limbaugh continued to ramble for days, shoveling his drivel to his, hopefully dwindling, audience without realizing he had absolutely no clue what female contraception is. He assumed that each time a woman had sex, she had to take some type of contraception - like it was Viagra or something. What a moron. Speaking of Viagra, isn't that medication to make men stiff covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare? Thank goodness Limbaugh didn't make an appeal for nursing homes to release sex tapes of men showing off their proud Viagra-aided johnsons. Perhaps his ubiquitous cigar is his personal phallus to comfort him when he is alone on his sound cloud. No videos, please.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
Fluke said that Georgetown, a Jesuit institution, does not provide contraception coverage in its student health plan and that contraception can cost a woman more than $3,000 during law school. She spoke of a friend who had an ovary removed because the insurance company wouldn't cover the prescription birth control she needed to stop the growth of cysts.
Following her reported testimony, Limbaugh proceeded to call Ms. Fluke a slut and a prostitute, demanding she produce videos of herself having sex. The saddest part is not only is this guy a complete pig, a disgrace to humankind, a buffoon with a microphone, but people actually listen to his misogynistic tirades and corporations pay to support his continuing to unapologically berate anyone who does not agree with his warped views. As do many men in positions of self-ordained power that feel threatened by the mere existence of a sex that can give birth and nurse and nurture their offspring. Men typically want to take that power away from women - men will decide when and how women have sex and if they become impregnated, they'll decide, through the government, that she must carry to term - no matter the circumstance or medical conditions of the woman or fetus. Men are now even trying to rewrite science, claiming a zygote is a person. A zygote? The big bang? Do people realize that by declaring a zygote a person, laws can be written to make it a crime to destroy any fertilized eggs held in petri dishes and fertility clinics?
I remember being groomed to be a Catholic and being told that masturbation was a sin because I was releasing my sperm somewhere other than in a vagina, with no chance of procreation. Sad to say, masturbation is the only sex most boys and many men are going to have. As Woody Allen says, at least masturbation is having sex with someone you love. This pious declaration comes from the same people who brought us alter boys - misspelled purposefully. I have had recent conversations with Catholics who are not worried that their priest is gay - doesn't bother them. However, no way should a woman be ordained or should priests be allowed to marry - after all, the vow of chastity is sacrosanct. Give me a break. As a recovering Catholic, I am disturbed that Newt Gingrich tauts his religiosity after his actions with his current wife - another Catholic who knowingly committed adultery with him - this is like the political tiffanys of sin because it involves a lot of lying to maintain the relationship.
Then there are the other political wannabes - Rick Santorum, one of the Republican presidential contenders seeking to oppose Obama, commented to CNN about Limbaugh's remarks. "He's being absurd," Santorum said. "But that's, you know, an entertainer can be absurd."
So, afraid to disturb the status quo, Santorum tucks his rebukes of Limbaughs inane and disturbing remarks under his sweater vest and quietly waves to his supporters who agree that contraception should not be allowed under any conditions. And, since he wants to bring his faith to the Washington political arena, he must, to be a good and faithful Catholic, agree with his leader, the Pope, that there should be no in-vitro fertilization allowed. The Pope considers it selfish to want to bear children if nature has made it medically impossible. How dare you? Just take somebody else's unwanted child. Will Santorum bring this religious righteous indignation to the White House were he to be ordained? And since Gingrich has converted, he would need to bring the same rules and regulations with him in order to be a good Catholic.
Then there is Mitt Romney. While campaigning in Ohio for the Republican presidential primary, Romney was asked about Limbaugh's comments and craftily (for him) steered his answer away from the uproar.
"It's not the language I would have used," Romney said after a campaign event in Cleveland. "But I'm focusing on the issues that I think are significant in the country today and that's why I'm here talking about jobs in Ohio." So, Romney would not have called Ms. Fluke a slut or prostitute - perhaps jezebel or floozie or just a loose woman - something more retro.
Limbaugh continued to ramble for days, shoveling his drivel to his, hopefully dwindling, audience without realizing he had absolutely no clue what female contraception is. He assumed that each time a woman had sex, she had to take some type of contraception - like it was Viagra or something. What a moron. Speaking of Viagra, isn't that medication to make men stiff covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare? Thank goodness Limbaugh didn't make an appeal for nursing homes to release sex tapes of men showing off their proud Viagra-aided johnsons. Perhaps his ubiquitous cigar is his personal phallus to comfort him when he is alone on his sound cloud. No videos, please.
Peace - Ho'oponopono . . .
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