I’ll admit up front that I’m no scientist. I got as far as physical science in high school, took botany and geology in college, and never looked back once I’d taken all the science I needed to graduate. So, I’m not a scientist, but I’m married to someone with a degree in chemistry and a medical school diploma. So when the hubby informed me, before running off to a meeting, that PBS was airing a program on the “Intelligent Design” fiasco that erupted in Dover, Pennsylvania, I knew I had to watch it.
All I have to say is this: watch it. When it airs again, watch it. When it’s available for viewing online on November 16, watch it. If they’re old enough, park your kids in front of the television and make them watch it. Watch it for a couple of reasons; one because the explanations of science are so well done that even a non-scientist like myself understands what the scientists are talking about, but also because you begin to understand something about the other side too.
Not that“old time religion.” Think older. Mark Lefkowitz is thinking older, much older, in this Los Angeles Timescolumn suggesting that we bring back the Greek gods.
Prominent secular and atheist commentators have argued lately that religion “poisons” human life and causes endless violence and suffering. But the poison isn’t religion; it’s monotheism. The polytheistic Greeks didn’t advocate killing those who worshiped different gods, and they did not pretend that their religion provided the right answers. Their religion made the ancient Greeks aware of their ignorance and weakness, letting them recognize multiple points of view.
There is much we still can learn from these ancient notions of divinity, even if we can agree that the practices of animal sacrifice, deification of leaders and divining the future through animal entrails and bird flights are well lost.
…Zeus, the ruler of the gods, retained his power by using his intelligence along with superior force. Unlike his father (whom he deposed), he did not keep all the power for himself but granted rights and privileges to other gods. He was not an autocratic ruler but listened to, and was often persuaded by, the other gods.Openness to discussion and inquiry is a distinguishing feature of Greek theology. It suggests that collective decisions often lead to a better outcome. Respect for a diversity of viewpoints informs the cooperative system of government the Athenians called democracy.
He has a point. And, it turns out, someone’s already working on bringing back some “old time religion.”
You’d think I’d be done with coming out by now, and that on National Coming Out Day, I’d have nothing left to tell anyone. At this point, I think the only person I haven’t told is Oprah. I will if I’m ever on her show for some reason. Somehow I don’t think she’ll be surprised. Somehow nobody’s ever surprised at that revelation. I think I tend to give it way by some of the things I do. Like talking. The “gay accent” is a dead giveaway.
Or, if Parker speaks (and if this kid is awake he’s usually talking) we’re pretty much instantly outed after a barrage of questions and statements directed at Daddy and Papa. It just doesn’t take long for people to do the math.
So, when National Coming Out Day rolls around, I’m left feeling like I have nothing to do. Not that I want to tell that story again. Let’s face it. After a while, coming out stories get old. When I was co-director of the LGBT student group at UGA, anytime someone new came to a meeting, we’d put our chairs in in a circle and tell our coming out stories. After about a year of this we decided en mass to cease that practice, because it had gotten to the point where we could each go around the circle and tell everyone else’s coming out story.
So, no, I’m not going to tell min again. Because I’ve told it before, and thanks to the magic of blog archives, I don’t have to. I can just repost it. You can read it after the jump if our so inclined.
Your LGBT heroes, that is. Dana, of Mombian, posed the question in honor of GLBT History month, and a lot of names came to mind for me. Some of them are people who, in some small way, gave a little bit of hope to a skinny, effeminate, non-athletic, black, gay boy growing up in Augusta, GA, during the Reagan era. Some of them are people who helped that same kid hold on to (as my mama would say) “a portion of my right mind” through college and into adulthood.
All of them are people whose lives or work gave me three clear messages: You’re not alone. Everything will be alright. Anything is possible.
What a sneaky Buddhist dad I am. I wrote earlier about figuring out how to raise our son with a set of values so that he will be less vulnerable to fundamentalism, dogmatism, etc. when he gets older. Well, when Parker was much younger, I looked up several children’s books on Buddhism or with a Buddhist flavor. A while back I got one of them, I Once Was a Monkey: Stories Buddha Told, via BookMooch. It’s a collection of Jataka Tales adapted for children. (By the way, check out this great site with animated jataka tales. I’d show it to Parker, but I’m afraid I’d never use my computer again!)
I put the book on the shelf and left it there at first, because the writing was a little advanced for Parker then. But a couple of weeks ago, when we were getting tired of reading the same books we always read to Parker, I pulled I Once Was a Monkey off the shelf. But I didn’t offer to read it to him, because that would have given him a chance to refuse. I just started reading it silently and waited for his natural curiosity to kick in.
It did. For the first week, I read one story each night. Then he started asking me to read from it when I put him to bed. Now it’s one of his favorite books. And he gets the stories. He stops me and asks questions, and we talk about what’s happening in the story and why. By George, it worked. I don’t want to push my luck, but I think next time I have a chance I’m going to thumb through a copy of Zen Shorts, and if it passes muster, I’ll bring it home too.
One funny thing about Nan Talese’s statement’s about Oprah’s roasting of James Frey a year ago (whom she’s evidently still mad at, by the way), over his partially-made-up memoir. Nan actually says, “When someone starts out and says, `I have been an alcoholic. I have
lied. I have cheated.’ … You do not think this is going to be the New
Testament.” But given what we know about the gospels, Frey’s memoir may have more truth in it. Considerably more.
I have a confession to make. I hadn’t made up my mind to come clean until I read this mornings Washington Post Express and saw an article about a transgression much like my own. Exactly like it, in fact. I’ve been cheating on my husband. Regularly, even. Sometimes as often as twice a week. Just like Kurt Rieschick.
Kurt Rieschick can’t stop cheating on his boyfriend. He knows it’s wrong, but sometimes David Klimas works odd hours. And Rieschick gets lonely. And those naughty red envelopes are so enticing.
So, occasionally, Rieschick sneaks into the media room, with its flat screen TV and surround sound, and proceeds to break a relationship commandment of the 21st century. Thou Shalt Not Netflix Without Me.
Actually, you can add Tivo to that, especially since I can schedule my flicks online and watch them when the hubby goes to bed.
Look, it’s not entirely my fault. We just like different things in movies. I love dark, independent flicks, and documentaries absolutely enthrall me. He prefers romantic comedies above all else. I get a thrill out of scary movies. He gets nightmares. I like watching them late at night. He goes to bed way early (like, before midnight). I lovedMemento and he hated it. He lovedThe Ritz and I thought it was just weird.
So, when we Netflix together the movie must be carefully chosen, and the time scheduled. But that’s not actually what drew my eye to that article. Can you guess what it was?
I’m overdue in posting a round-up, because so much has been going on in my offline life lately. Case in point, I’m on the road with the family today, and away from the blog and the blogosphere. So here’s some great stuff to check out in the meantime.
…As I had discovered during my years in politics, one of the most aggressive extremist groups that operates at the state level is called the American Legislative Exchange Council - or ALEC for short. It’s a seemingly innocuous name, but as Progressive States detailed in one of its first reports - and as other terrific progressive organizations have detailed at length - ALEC is not an innocuous organization - it is arguably the most important legislative appendage of Big Money and right-wing interests in American politics. That’s why U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) must reject ALEC’s invitation for him to speak at its upcoming national conference.
… Obama is a former state legislator, meaning that he understands the power and destructive agenda of ALEC. If he has not accepted ALEC’s invitation, and ALEC is nonetheless using his notoriety to build an audience for its conference, Obama has a huge opportunity - a PR gift given to him by the Right. He could demand his photo be removed from ALEC’s website and marketing materials, and issue a strong statement talking about how nefarious right-wing extremist groups like ALEC really are, both tactically and public policy-wise. He would create a significant moment for public education about the real forces that drive - and distort - our politics.
This article about Perez Hilton's blog getting yanked by his host, because. of his penchant for posting copyrighted pics of celebs reminded me of this old post about some other pics he posted a while back (including one apparently poking fun at a non-famous teenage girl), and how his popularity signified a kind of "culture of meanness" we seem to crave. That his site was back up within hours suggests the cultural craving for cruelty is still far from sated. But the recent reader revolt over a rather mean post about Alexa Ray Joel — Billy Joel's daughter — inspires hope that his run may be over soon. Meanwhile, The Triumph of Meanness just landed on my to-read pile. Maybe it'll provide some insights.
I’ll admit it. It was the combination of Mitt Romney and porn that got my attention and caused me to stop and read Chris Kelly’s HuffPo takedown of Romney’s appearance at the National Right to Life convention. (His politics make skin crawl, but even I have to admit that he’s pretty easy on the eyes.) What came to mind, as I Read Romney’s rather odd rant about a children’s book was something I’d been meaning to write about for a while, but never quite got around to it.
“And parents of a child in second grade were told that their son is required to listen to the reading of a book called The King and the King (sic) about a prince who marries another prince. The school’s rationale was since same sex marriage was legal, the education system should advance the idea… I immediately drafted and introduced legislation to grant religious liberty protection, but the legislature wouldn’t even take it up.”
This is, of course, not the first time a children’s book (the mere presence of one, let alone an actually reading) has given some religious conservative parents fits. Heather Has Two Mommies,Daddy’s Roommate, and And Tango Makes Three have also had that honor. And while I understand the concerns parents may have about what they’re kids are exposed to at school, there’s an underlying reality they’re missing as they get overwrought about fiction & fairy tales.
I haven't read Al Gore's latest book, The Assault on Reason, but what I read of the excerpt has convinced me to go out and buy the book. I may buy it sooner rather than later after reading this Washington Post review. Not because the review is all that positive. But because I want to support Gore in his career as an author, in hopes that he will seriously consider not running for the White House in 2008. Not because I disagree with his ideas. Not at all. I think the country could benefit immensely from having someone in the White House who thinks as deeply about issues as Gore does.
But, and perhaps this is because I read it after reading several depressing headlines, the Post Review convinced me that All Gore shouldn't run for the White House in 2008 because for the most part America doesn't deserve a president with his qualifications for the job, and most probably wouldn't understand what the man was saying half the time. And when they did, they'd get pissed off, not because he's wrong, but more likely because he's right and — to break it down to grade school level — "He thinks he's so smart." At least that's what the Post reviewer seems to be saying.
I’ve only gotten as far as the first folder in my RSS reader today, but that’s fine because Nacho over at Woodmoor Village has already given me one one but two topics today. The first was his post about Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion, which inspired my postand inspired me to run out at grab a copy during my lunch break. Now I’m borrowing this old book meme from Nacho, because it’s been a while since I’ve blogged much about what I’m reading or asked readers here what they’re reading. (And I almost always get ideas for future reads from the comments.)
So, here goes.
Grab the nearest book.
Open it to page 161.
Find the fifth full sentence.
Post the text of the sentence along with these instructions.
Don’t search around and look for the coolest book you can find. Do what’s actually next to you.
It just happens that the book nearest me is one that I’m almost done reading, which has inspired me to start restocking my “stash” to ensure my “fix” is always within arm’s reach.
I wrote earlier about trying to teach my son empathy, and even earlier about the question — as a parent who’s also a “non-theistic Buddhist” and wishes not to set foot in a church except for weddings and funerals — of how to raise our son with a clear set of values and ethics without having to resort to a return to some form of organized religion with, with it’s unresolved and unresolvable conflicts and baggage. For now, I’m trying to teach Parker to put himself in other people’s shoes and think about how certain actions would make him feel if they were directed at him, just to get across the idea that other people have the same feelings and feel the same pain that he does when he’s hurt. Next comes understanding why he should avoid hurting others, but for now, based on my observations, that much is already starting to filter through.
It’s a conundrum I’ve yet to figure out, but the hubby made a good point when we were discussing it last week (he’s pretty much in the same place I am when it comes to organized religion), that if we don’t bring him up with something in terms of a set of values, he’s more likely to be ripe-for-the-picking if he ever encounters a religious cult or fundamentalism when he’s older. That’s something I definitely don’t want. At the same time, I’m hesitant to “choose” a religion for our son or require him to go through the motions of adhering to a specific one, as I experienced growing up. (Going to church was not an option or a matter of choice in our house. So I went, and sort of pantomimed belief long after I’d give up on the faith I was raised in.)
And in American culture, it’s unavoidable. I can’t tell you how many times in the last four years, we’ve gotten religiously-themed presents for Parker; books about Jesus, Christian-themed toys, etc. I know they’re from well-meaning people who simply made assumptions that our family must be Christian (gay, liberal Christians, but Christians nonetheless, because what else would be be?), but it’s still rather awkward, because we end up making a serious effort not to offend, by not letting it show on our faces that it not “exactly what we wanted” for our son, and quietly setting it aside rather than figuring out a polite way of explaining that we don’t want our son getting those types of gifts. Instead, we quietly give them away.
But I can’t escape the feeling that something is unavoidably encroaching upon our family, it won’t go away if asked politely, and I’m not quite sure what to do about it.
Mark this day on your calendar: August 4, 2009. It may not all happen on that day, but it will mark 9 months since November 4, 2008: the day Barack Obama defeated John McCain in the presidential election. So, that would be "zero day" for the Obama baby boom.
Well, I'd hope so. Anyone stupid or careless enough to put an uzi inthe hands of an eight-year-old ought to be charged with something. The D.A. looking into "whether anyone committed a reckless or wanton act" by allowing the child to fire a weapon. Oh, I'd say that qualifies as reckless and wanton. If it doesn't, then nothing does.
I admit it. My first thought when I saw this was, "Honest, officer. I don't know what happened. I totally meant to hit the brakes. I guess my foot just slipped."
I'm not saying its the kind of thing that anyone should base their vote on, but I gotta admire a campaign when I find out about the candidate's economic plan on an LGBT social network, and then get a link to read or download the entire plan on Scribd. It tells me that a campaign is making a special effort to reach out to people like me, and that the campaign is up to date on the latest ways to disseminate information.
If you haven't yet, take the time to stop by Box Turtle Bulletin, where they have been doing a great series of day-by-day posts on the Matthew Shepard murder. Today's post is a particularly heartbreaking one, about the moment ten years ago when Dennis and Judy Shepard walked into their son's intensive care room and saw him for the first time since the attack. It also links to the earlier posts in the series.
Its sounds like a joke, but it's true. You know the economy has gone South when folks around in Macon (or anywhere else in the south) are going to restaurants and not ordering sweet tea.
Big news. Clay Aiken is gay. Bigger news. So is Lindsey Lohan. Or, at least, she's been dating a woman "for a really long time." I don't know what counts as "a really long time" for Lohan. But kudos to Aiken, at least, for finally coming out. The closet is no place to raise a kid.
Reading: "Top 10 Gay Friendly Places to Live: Countries Where Gays and Lesbians Have Equal Rights." We're number seven. ( http://tinyurl ... 11 hrs ago
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