Yesterday and the Future

Yesterday was a terrible day here.  A young man, named Andrew Boldt, was murdered in a classroom at Purdue University.  Such a senseless act, as all gun violence is, and a tragedy, and yet we seem to have become immune to it.  In the United States, gun violence happens every day, and it seems like unless it happens to someone you know, or happens in your town, it goes unnoticed.
But this post is not about gun control.  I've written many words about that before. 
No, today I am writing about death.  Death and the world we live in.  Death and the charge we are given.  Death and the message to the living.
I did not know Andrew Boldt.  But I've known other young people who are TA's, including my son.  They TA (for the most part) because they love the subject.  They are passionate, and care about their students--hoping that they will maybe pass along their passion to others.  And they are YOUNG, and have such hopes for the future.  They have such hopes, probably because they ARE young, and are not yet old enough to have experienced much disappointment from "the system" (i.e., the government).  In my imagination, I see Andrew, and thousands like him, registering to vote for the 2012 elections; registering and voting because he thought his vote would count, would make a difference no matter what his political views.
I also think Andrew had great hopes for his future.  For God's sakes, he was just 21--how could he NOT have hope?!
And, just like that, he was dead.
That's a sobering thought.
And yet, most of us will not dwell on that thought for very long.  And yet, we should.
Because here's the thing:  Our time on this planet is not infinite.  Our time is finite.
With that in mind, we should be asking ourselves, every day:  "What can I do to make this world a better place?  What can I do--this minute, this hour, this day? 
What can I do?
Can I write, can I speak, can I use my mind, my body, my wealth, my time?  What of my gifts can I use?
And then, we should do it.  As much as we can, as fast as we can.  Because our children are depending on us, the poor are depending on us, the sick, the beaten, those who have no voice--ALL are depending on us. Hoping we will do something...anything...to make this place better.  For all.
Yesterday, on a terrible day, we also found out that the Speaker of the Indiana House, Brian Bosma, despite platitudes about "being fair" and listening to the desires of the voters, decided to use his power to move the Marriage Amendment (HJR-3) from one committee to another--to a committee that would be more malleable.  For those of us who have worked so hard, following proper channels and using our voices, our words--this was a real blow.  It was a slap in the face and a "Fuck you--I'll do what I want." from someone who we took at his word.  For me, it was discouraging, and a reminder that those in power will use that power BECAUSE THEY CAN.
This is just one example of misuse of power; it happens every day, in every city, state, country in this world.  But should we allow it to keep happening?!
Hell no!
It does not matter what your "issue" is. We need to take that step back, and then push as hard as we can--keep pushing and fighting and doing whatever it takes--today, tomorrow, the next day and the next.  We need to keep working to make this world a better place for everyone.
Why?  Because we don't have much time.
If you think you have all the time in the world, think again.  Remember those who have gone from this world far too soon--those who left with hopes in their heart, thinking this place could be better, if they just had some more time.  Andrew. Daniel. Dagmar. Quincey. Joe. Kim. Kelly.
 

Just Thinking....

Usually I save thoughts like this for Karen (yes, you should feel sorry for her!).  But however much I've shared with her, some of these thoughts keep swirling through my head.  So, I'm going to write them down, share them with you, ask for responses, and maybe then the "itch" will have been "scratched".  Or not....

• Why do we have snow in the winter?  It's just so cold when we have to shovel it--that task would be so much more pleasant in the summer!
• Why do they still put cotton in bottles of pills?  It's so annoying! 
• Why didn't I know about eating bananas from the "bottom" before now?  It's just so much easier!
• It's winter here, and people still drive like there's no ice or snow on the pavement.  Get a clue, before you kill someone.  Or, before you slide into my car!
• When the authorities tell us not to travel, except for work or emergencies, it's probably a very good idea to stay home, even if you do have "cabin fever".  Instead of getting into your car to "get out of the house", why not walk?  You will get some exercise, and might see some beauty, instead of almost causing more accidents.
• Why is it, when one thing--on or in--our body is not working, it begins to make us cranky, irritable and depressed.  It's like we're unable to realize that the vast majority of our body IS working?!  [I would like to take this opportunity to thank Karen for putting up with me]. 
• Why do the good die too soon, but the evil ones seem to live forever?
• Why is it that we bend over backwards to "woo" companies into our cities and states, we offer them tax breaks because "they'll be creating jobs" (therefore WE end up paying for all the services THEY use), but when something horrible happens, and their factories spew chemicals, etc. into our soil, water, or air, we're expected to foot the bill for the cleanup?  Pretty good gig if you can get it, corporations.
• And, why is it that we allow companies to purchase land and build factories, then do not inspect any of that for decades, and are shocked when a disaster strikes.  AND, why do we let politicians talk us into less EPA or other regulation, because it's "anti-business"?!!  Seems to me, these businesses are doing quite well, and are fucking us over again and again.  And "we" keep voting for people who think that way.
• And, why is it that companies don't have to pay to clean up those disasters?  I think there should be a law that states if a company creates an environmental hazard, the funds for clean-up will come from the CEO, and every person who has profited from the company, until the land, air, and water are restored.
•  How is it that you prepare perfectly, you line up qualified and articulate speakers, you present intelligent and compelling arguments, you have hundreds of supporters who turn up, but you still feel powerless and manipulated by the ones who have the actual power?
• Why do we still "take the high road" when doing it by breaking rules, lying, and pushing people around is so much quicker,easier, and seems to be more effective?
• Why do people presume that, just because they ask for it, we will have a civilized discussion on marriage equality in Indiana?  The discussion, once it really gets started, will quickly turn ugly--outside money will pour into the state, and every citizen of Indiana will be bombarded with unfettered ugliness.  
• I just can't stop thinking about all the kids I know who live with two moms or two dads.  No matter what their parents do to protect them, they will hear and see things that are the lowest of the low.  This is what I fear most when I think about the debate of HJR-3.  
• Next, I worry about LGBT youth.  We adults can let comments go in one ear and out the other, but these future adults do not have the same confidence nor same filtration system we do.
• I worry that my friends are not getting involved.  I worry that HJR-3 will go into the Indiana Constitution, and they will feel bad about not stepping up.  
•  Why do we allow ourselves to be distracted and divided, thus allowing those in power to do whatever the hell they want?  Why do we allow ourselves to be divided and conquered, when working together and being focused on the good for all will make this a better world?
• Why do we allow religious beliefs to get in the way?  Why do we not see that HERE and NOW are far more real to us in this limited time we are here than what probably will not come to us in any "afterlife"?

It IS Time!

How Did I Miss This One???

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What's Ahead

Today, the temperature is far below zero, we have about a foot of snow on the ground, and I have the opportunity to "flesh out" some thoughts I've had about the upcoming legislative session, and how they deal with HJR-6. 
I recently wrote, and had published, the following "Letter to the Editor": 

"Please ensure 2014 does not become the most divisive year in the history of our state.  Hyperbole?  I think not.  If HJR-6 goes to on the November ballot, Indiana will become a battle state, and outside money will pour in, along with messages of fear and hate.  We, citizens of Indiana, will have absolutely no control over our airways, what’s in our newspapers, nor what we see on our computer feed, or even what’s in our neighbor’s yard.  For those of you who remember what it was like when Lafayette and West Lafayette were considering Human Relations Ordinances, this will be 1,000,000 times worse. 

 Make no mistake—there will be expressed hatred against same sex couples, lies about those who are different, and fear-mongering of what’s to come.  The misinformation will take years to undo, and we may never undo the damage done to our children, for they, more than any of us, will absorb and internalize the hate-filled, erroneous messages. 

For you who do not like “outsiders telling us what to do”, contact your legislators and tell them to bury HJR-6.  For you who “treat your neighbor as yourself”, contact your legislators and tell them to nix

HJR-6.  For you who demand clarity in our State Constitution, contact your legislators and tell them the second sentence must go.

For those of you who want Indiana to continue to be a good, civilized place to live, it’s time to stand up and be heard. 

Our children are depending on us."

The image above is meant to be humorous, but what I want to add to what I wrote in my "Letter to the Editor" is very serious.
I've written about marriage equality before.  I've written about hatred in the local community.  I thought I had nothing left to say that was new or different.  But I was wrong.
HJR-6 has been proposed, in one form or another, since I moved to Indiana nearly 24 years ago.  Sometimes the proposed amendment sat in some committee, sometimes it made it to the House or the Senate for a vote, but until last year, it didn't get much traction.  For good reason--it's a mean, divisive, discriminatory statement that would actually ADD discrimination to the Indiana State Constitution.  But it's happened before, to the chagrin of native Hoosiers; I mean, who wants to admit that they once had a Constitution that forbid blacks from moving into the state?!
And yet, with that horrible history, the legislators of the state are about to repeat themselves, by duplicating existing law, and expressly forbidding certain rights from a minority.
We, the citizens of Indiana, should be so proud. 
The fact that the proposed amendment has made it so far is because: 1) the Republican Party controls both the House and the Senate, 2) There is a powerful "pro-marriage" lobby at work in the state, and 3) The amendment and the right to vote on said amendment appeals to some voters in the state who haven't quite thought it through. 
I'll admit that I was one of those who hadn't quite thought it through, until an eye-opening meeting late last year.  At that meeting, someone stated that, in states where marriage equality is being debated and voted on, the rate of suicide among teens goes up. 
Think about it--if you are a teen who knows they are LGB or T, and yet have no support system, you are going to hear and internalize all the negative ads you read and see and hear--and they will get ugly....

Now, imagine that you are a little kid, with 2 parents who happen to be of the same sex.  You know your parents love you, you know that you love your parents, and you are proud of your family.  Imagine what a campaign against marriage equality will do to you, and the way you feel about your family.  NO KID SHOULD EVER HAVE TO HEAR THOSE THINGS.  NO KID.  And yet they will--over and over again.  They will be told, "God hates your parents.  God hates your family. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate." 

Oh sure, parents will do all they can to protect their kids from the hate-filled campaign literature and from the ads on television.  But parents can't be everywhere, can't protect their kids from what other kids will hear from their parents and repeat to their friends.  You won't be able to protect them from the signs in neighbor's yards, or from the billboards at the side of roads.  One day, your kids might come home to this:

And it will go on and on and on--the citizens of Indiana will be hearing and seeing these hate-filled messages for up to NINE long months.  Our state will never recover from this; it will be hard for neighbors to trust one another if they are openly on opposite sides of the issue.  Kids, who have heard things come out of their parents mouths, are bound to internalize those thoughts; to think that they, or someone they know, is a "less than".
I know my neighbors.  I know my community, and I know my state.  I know we are so much better than this.  We want so much more for our kids, and for our state.  But we need to say it--loudly and often.  We need to let our legislators know that HJR-6 is not wanted, not needed, not to be allowed on the ballot.  We need to do it for ourselves, for our neighbors, and for God sakes, we need to do it for our kids--the next generation of Indiana citizens.   

Just a Single Thought

Although there are over 31,000 verses in the Christian Bible, the vast majority of anti-gay prejudice in Christian theology is derived from only five verses: Gen. 19:15, Lev. 18:22, Rom. 1:27, 1 Cor. 6:9, and 1 Tim 1:10. Borrowing from Phyllis Trible, the prominent feminist scholar of the Hebrew Bible, I call these verses the queer "texts of terror" because they are the source of much terror for LGBT people.