Gay & Republican Is Not an Oxymoron

In 2001 I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and haven't looked back. To say I became disenchanted with the Democratic party is an understatment. I also became disenchanted with many of the gay groups and their partisan rhetoric. Something had changed for me and I knew that I couldn't be a part of any organization that pushed the victim button nor could I be part of any organization that made claims to "saving" the gay community.

During this time, I took a break from "advocacy" work and started reading and researching. One of the books I read at the time was this book by Rich Tafel, former executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans. This book, I know its a cliche, changed my life. I found myself agreeing with everything Rich had to say and I knew at that moment that I had made the right decision in switching parties and his words reinforced my internal debate of several years. Many years later I still think this is an important book and it continues to dispel the myth that gay and Republican is an oxymoron. And it reinforces the notion that HRC is not now or have ever been non-partisian.

Here is some comments on the book including mine. "Tafel rejects the identity politics that lead to such unproductive alliances, favoring instead an emphasis on individual rights and responsibility in which political commitment is based on a desire to personally do the right thing rather than be "accepted" or "loved."

And my review: "Rich Tafel answered many of my questions as I struggled to figure out why I was still commited to the Democratic Party. Tafel makes clear and cogent points about the differences between the Democratic and Republican parties and comes out on top everytime. He gives evidence to the contrary that gay and Republican is an oxymoron. This is a must read for anyone who cares about the political future of gays and especially for those who see morals and values not as buzz words used by the Right but a way of life that should not be anathema to the gay community." I still stand by those words.

Where Is The Outrage?

Where is the outrage? Blacks killing blacks doesn't warrant a march from Al Sharpton and his entourage. Why? Because black life is worth more when taken by whites.

I'm sorry but I think this issue has gone too far.

Casablanca

"Here's looking at you kid."

Booze and Dope

"Broadway doesn't go for booze and dope." They don't? They don't make them like they used to.

Too Much Information

"And I soon realized that having the secret out was liberating." These words are from Oprah Winfrey about her pregnancy as the result of sexual molestation. My reaction to the latest news that Oprah was pregnant because of sexual molestation is one of sympathy. However, while I have a great deal of respect for Oprah I'm tired of the tell all stories from her and others. I realize that her latest revelation came about because of a craven relative's need for quick money I maintain that she need give it more attention.

I have respect for Oprah because she has done a lot for a lot of people and she has brought attention to issues that many would not talk about before now. And I especially like her emphasis on education as in her 40 million dollar creation of a school for girls in South Africa. However, it makes me wonder if her latest revelation is not simply a way to increase ratings. Call me cynical but it makes me stop and wonder about what's really going on. And if it's not about ratings then I would suggest to Oprah to seek out professional help and no I'm not suggesting Dr. Phil. I would ask Oprah to share this information with a therapist in the privacy of his/her office and not on camera or in the mainstream press. To Oprah: continue to do good things for young people but turn off the camera on your personal life.

Something worthwhile to keep in mind as we debate one another.

I think everyone would agree that the fatal shooting of Sean Bell was horrible and should be investigated. However, I don't think it beneficial to the investigation to scream racism. Crying racism does more harm than good to the black community. Two of my favorite writers drives this idea home here and here.

Let The Games Begin

It's official, Hillary Clinton has formed an exploratory committee to run for the presidency. Let the games begin.

Dreams- Performing Dreamgirls

I saw Dreamgirls this past weekend and loved it. All the women were wonderful but Jennifer Hudson stole the show. I would recommend it as a must see. Enjoy!

Obama Mania

Well, well, well, Barak Obama has formed an "exploratory" committee to look into running for the presidency of the United States of America. And we all fall at his feet. Don't get me wrong I like Obama. What's there not to like? He's handsome, he's educated, he's well spoken, he's of African descent, AND (drum roll please) HE's BLACK. I seem to recall another black who has stellar credentials but wait I forget, she's a Republican. Sorry folks I forgot my head there for a moment. It's not just "any" black person with stellar credentials it has to be a black Democrat with stellar credentials.

Well, I have not jumped on the Obama train and I have no intention of doing so and I know many will be disappointed because after all I'm black. And that is exactly why I'm not on that train and why this love for Obama is so sickening and disingenuous. If you listened to the Democrats and most liberals you would think that Obama was the best thing since sliced bread (dark sliced bread). He is the first black man that could string two complete and grammatically correct sentences together and walk at the same time. He is the first black man to look good in rolled up sleeves. And on and on. Whether or not he's qualified is of no concern to the Democrats because what is more important is that he has HOPE. I also find it ironic that he made his announcement the day after Dr. King's birthday. Please Senator Obama, don't even think of putting yourself in the same category as Dr. King.

Here are some worthwhile comments from one of my favorite bloggers.

Martin Luther King

"Let us not wallow in the valleys of despair."

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."

"I have a dream that my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by color of their skin but by the content of their character."

As we celebrate Dr. King's life and legacy let us remember his words but most of all let us not wait for another "leader" like Dr. King to come along but rather be leaders ourselves.

I Too Have A Dream

Not sure what is going on with Youtube but my earlier post on Dr. King never made it to my website. So let me do another in anticipation of the post showing up sometime tonight or tomorrow. Here is probably the most important speech of the 20th century and brilliantly executed.

The lines that continue to inspire me are as follows:

"Let us not wallow in the valley of despair."

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons former slaves and the sons former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

The dream that I have is that the black community stop looking for another Dr. King and take it upon ourselves to be leaders and fulfill his dream.

Correction

I made an error in my last post regarding the documentary Deliver Us Frm Evil. The pedophile priest's name is Father O'Grady and not Gagan. That's how riled up I become about scum.

Who Should Care?

I've never been fooled into believing that women stick together as do blacks because they "understand" each other. Not that I want them to but if you listen to liberals they should unless of course they happen to have an "R" behind their names. Another misnomer by many, not just liberals, is that if you are childless you have no "valid" opinion on rearing, loving, feeling the loss of or anything for that matter to do with children as shown here by Barbara Boxer. How impertinent is that?

deliver us from evil

"For all of America's 'children' the House will be in order." These comments are from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as she convened the 110th Congress. I call on Pelosi and ALL Democrats and Republicans to do the right thing regarding OUR children and protect them by delivering them from this evil. It's one thing to fight for healthcare for all children and quite another for a healthy child to be abused by scum like Father Gagan. Let's stop the lip service people. If you have not seen this movie go see it and let me know if you feel the kind of hate that I feel towards pedophiles in general and "God fearing" people who perpetuate hate in particular.

Barbara Walters on Donald Trump, Rosie O'Donnell

The Shut Up Rosie Tour: Part 3

While I don't agree with Trump calling O'Donnell names I still think she should shut up and go away. This clip with Walters, where she has to read her "support" of Rosie is laughable.

Excuse Me, But You're Stepping On My Shoes

For sometime now I have been saying that there are too many people in Manhattan. Everywhere you go there is a queue for one thing or another and forget about the subway. Strangers breathing down the back of my neck is not the way I like to spend my time. And I can never figure out why people "intentionally" stand on line for some new trendy restaurant. I never wanted a meal that badly.

Noise, dirt, germs and crowds make me wish for a time when life was not so harried, noisy and people had manners. I share most of this with my partner, who is probably tired of hearing it, but I'm happy to see that there are others with similar thoughts. In this article, Paul Theroux describes what I feel about crowds and noise but mostly about our lack of civility. The article reminded me of a recent trip to the pharmacy to pick up one of my many medications. I had been going to this pharmacy for sometime and was, unfortunately, serviced by a young lady who seem to have a trademark on rudness. I was getting tired of it so I decided to say something on my last trip.

Here is how it went. Me: "I realize that working with the public can be stressful and frustrating but I really do think you need a lesson in customer service." Pharmacy Aide: "Customer service? I aint got no problem with nobody." Other than walking away and shaking my head what else could I have done other than correct her grammar? And this is just one example of what we are facing in our society today. As Theroux states in his article, "Yes, it is just silly and fogeyish to yearn for that simpler and smaller world of the past. But one could ask for the past's better manners, the instinctive decorum that has served to mitigate conflict." A girl can wish can't she?

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I have been scratching my head trying to figure out how to start the new year with a happy entry and I have finally come up with one. Yes, I know Christmas is over but its always Christmas when I think of Charlie Brown. What better way to start the new year than with Charlie Brown and friends? Enjoy!