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Buddhist thought

The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted through a sieve. - Buddha ...

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Prop 8 Protest: A Call to the LGBTQ Community, Friends, & Family

I’m sure all would agree that with the election of Barack Obama, this week
has been one of amazing wins in the world of equality! Still,
Tuesday night was one of bitter-sweet celebration, as we came together
to witness the first black man who will become our president, and
watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all
voted down equal rights for all citizens. Pendants and bloggers
alike have put their focus on Proposition 8, trying hard to find an
explanation for the anti-gay wins in the face of a huge pro-equality
event. Some have blamed the voters, others blame religious
groups, and even others blame the LGBTQ community for not being able to
mobilize on a larger enough scale. And you know what, there is
truth in every argument.

As a community, we have to admit to the fact that we are polarized
in various ways. Honestly, I’m not sure what community isn’t and
I believe that our polarization is proof to our humanity - we are no
different than anyone else, regardless of color, creed, or sexual
orientation. Still, our polarization has hindered us from
mobalizing as one strong voice. We all come together in the month
of June to celebrate Gay Pride, but few of us are even aware of why Gay
Pride exists. Gay Pride is a celebration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
Many say that the Gay Rights Movement began in 1969, which means that
we are still a young movement and have accomplished a great deal in
such a short amount of time. The generation that fought for us in
1969 deserves our gratitude and respect. This is a generation of
amazing people who fought for our ability to hold hands in the street,
to speak out against hate, to dance to our own “thumpa thump”, witness
television shows with a queer cast, and come together in the streets
celebrating for an entire month! This is the generation that
opened the doors for us to even have a conversation about gay marriage,
and this is the generation that deserves our help and our voices
now. On June 27th, 1969, this generation came together in
protest, jumping from closets, taking to the streets, and mobilizing in
ways this country had never seen before! And what happened?

The country was forced to respond. The Queer identity was forced
onto the front pages and coffee tables of people’s worlds and people
had to once and for all accept that we are human too!

Now, almost 40 years later we NEED to come together again. We
need to show this nation that we are ONE LOUD VOICE THAT DEMANDS TO BE
HEARD! We need to be one organized unit. Our gay pride shouldn’t
be something we celebrate one month out of the year. Our
gratitude towards the ones who came before us shouldn’t be ignored and
wasted away with one party after another. We beg to be given a
right that requires responsibility and commitment, yet we, as one
strong community, have not proven to this nation that we deserve to be
taken seriously! The gay pride parade has become a great party,
but it has lost the memory of Stonewall and therefor given the nation
another reason to cast us aside as irresponsible. It’s time we
come together for debate, for public recognition, and for LOVE!

Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and
let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS
EQAUL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE
LAW!

On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST /
1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out
against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we
have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many
generations before us. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! WE NEED YOUR
HELP! We need organizers in every major city to work with us and
get out the protest! I know you’re all tired from all of the work
you’ve done for this great election year, but I’m asking for one more
push! Let the country hear our voices together. Let them
see that we are a strong, adamant, and powerful community that deserves
equal rights, and CAN’T BE DEFEATED!

Send this post to everyone! We have one week and must react to
the pro-hate votes cast against us! Let’s help our LGBTQ friends,
families, neighbors, and each other to IMPACT this country with a
demand for our basic human rights! Join the cause, join the
voice, and JOIN THE IMPACT!

Election today & I got Married yesterday

Today America is on the cusp of a monumental change. I feel this is a moment that has been anticipated and hoped for by many people since America became a country. All shall remember the day when the first half black man became President!!

Our home requires a new Commander and Chief. Hopefully, then can our country provide a better example of who we really are; and always have been.

Senator Obama is a leader that will change our country. Wounds of many categories created by the current President's leadership have made the world worse. It's time for something new and healther for everyone!!

Local politics in the City are just as interesting as we have a number of ballot measures that effect me and mine.

In measures submitted to the voters today in San Francisco and California we vote for measures banning Gay Marriages to naming a sewage plant after George W. Bush.

Yesterday was a complex and at times difficult day... But after almost not being allowed to marry Geoffrey (because of my lost ID that was stolen during a recent car break-in) we secured our rights by getting Mark Leno's office to contact DMV on our behalf. DMV then faxed over a copy of my info so that we could obtain our marriage licence.I must say that Geoffrey managed to pull a rabit out of his butt type of magic trick. He didn't quit until he our licence was in our hands. Our ceremony was beautiful and brief. We spoke our vows in the Mayors box over looking the grand stairs inside San Francisco's City Hall. Friends and family bared witness and I am now Geoffrey' s spouse. And he is mine!

There was once a time when I thought I'd never marry. I feel blessed and honored to have Geoffrey and I hope to love him for the rest of our lives.

Prop 8 has a chance to win today and while I pray that California doesn't pass this wrong law I can't help but feel satisfied that I've found a mate!!! No one can take this away!! Yesterday was magical and amazing and at this point I'd not wish for anything else!!!

Go Barak and blessings of peace to everyone!!!

buddhist thought

Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill. - Buddha

Buddhist thought

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit."
Aristotle

PICS OF SONORA CALI & YOSEMITE: GOLD COUNTRY

Buddhist Thought

Whoever thinks as, from, or on behalf of, an entity which he believes himself to be, the more so if he tries to work on himself, by, with, or for such an entity - which is only a concept in mind - has not yet begun to understand what it is all about. - 'Posthumous Pieces' by Wei Wu Wei

New Photos

Buddhist Thought

It is better to practice a little than to talk a lot. - Muso Kokushi

buddhist Thought

Ask yourself this; 'Are you a human being having a spiritual experience, or a spiritual being having a human experience? - Wayne Dyer, PhD

Buddhist Thought

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him. - Buddha

I'm Getting Married

Today marks one year that Geoffrey and I came into each others lives.

Oh what a year!

Every since we've met Geoffrey has been an amazing friend, lover and companion. And to top off this year we've moved into together and started co-habituating.

So, on November 3rd at 1:30 we make this union and family official by getting hitched or tying the knot which is also called getting married.

Oh, what a lucky guy I am!!!

Talk about having your cake and eating it too!!!!

Buddhist Thought

There are no facts, only interpretations. - Friedrich Nietzsche

Just Another Day in Fog City

It's been a long moment since I took the time to write out some of what I've been up to or what's on my mind.

In just the last month I've moved into a romantic relationship with my best friend. Traveled to the Nevada Desert for a week to burn a wooden structure of a man at a event called Burning Man. Got accepted into a art school over in Emeryville. Turned 35 years this past August. Started to move my possessions into Geos home as we settle in together as a couple.

I'm also learning how to drive because I figure learning should happen before I turn 40.

The drama with my former company continues and doesn't seem likely to end anytime soon. My gut tells me it will be worth it when it ends.

Sitting here a bit bleary eyed and coffee is now needed. Watching of the History Channel and need to motor to the DMV to get my learners permit.

Ciao for now!!

More Photos From My week at Burning Man

More Burning Man Photos Again