A conglomeration of Issues

Wow, there's a lot going on in the world.  Most notably there was a meteorite over the Midwest of the US.  And a volcano grounding most air travel into/out of Europe.  I guess it just goes to show us that no matter how advanced we get technologically, we can always get smacked down by our own planet.  And the things it hurls at us from the sky.

But let's take a look closer to home, and less about what the planet is doing to us and more about what we are doing to each other.  Because while the planet is capable of widespread destruction and death, the worst the planet can do is kill you.  Human beings are capable of so much more.

As evidenced by this story which gave me a bad feeling in my mouth.  I just can't believe that two lucid adults (who just happen to be older folks) who also have all of their legal "I's" dotted and "T's" crossed can have all of it stripped away because some uppity workers of the county decide that they're not worthy of the basic respect and dignity all human beings should have.

In reference to this article I have thought about writing a letter to the president imploring him to use whatever measures he has at his disposal to help ease the suffering of the survivor.  Since he just enacted legislation that would force hospitals to allow visitation rights to same sex couples, I think this is a timely issue to show a little strength and prove that there will be consequences for overstepping your bounds.  Not to mention asking what's the point of having all the legalities in place for things like this if they can just be ignored anyway?

As a matter of interest I am mentioning this article about sex-slavery in Afghanistan.  I'm not judging on anything except the sexual exploitation of minors, which is despicable any way you look at it.   I'm at least going to watch the thing online when it comes out.

Echoing the sentiments of the first story I mentioned, this article shows that you don't even have to be gay to be fired.  You can only be fired for seeming gay in a workplace filled with heterosexual innuendo.  So now you don't even have to actually be gay, all you have to do is have others perceive you as gay, and whammo you'll be fired.  Let's just conveniently forget that the perception of homosexuality is purely subjective.

I guess I'm not surprised that this could happen in the South.  But I guess that's the way things go in down there.  But at least when confronted they relent.  I have a feeling however that once all the hubbub is finished, retaliation will be huge, you know like in school when the teachers aren't looking...

In a groundbreaking study Harvard has determined that Sexual Minorities are at a greater risk for violence.  Duh!  What's more interesting is that the above story appeared right next to this story about two drunk girls kicking a man to death in the UK.  I kinda hope they'll throw the book at them.

I ran across this story a day or two ago and didn't really know what to think.  On the one hand they allow those who do not conform to their beliefs to join, just not make decisions about the directions of the group.  So on the one hand they're allowing for discourse regarding different viewpoints by allowing those who hold them to attend the meetings.  However, since they're using school resources and space for these meetings they should be held accountable to the schools policies regarding groups.  Just like all other groups.  I feel that this is a blatant attempt to hide bigotry behind the freedom of religion argument.  Bad form.

As a testament to the fact that our government is totally off the deep end, this story proves that they're now thinking that they're going to be fighting in the streets of the States at some point in the near future.  They're worried that kids are too fat to fight, and somehow this is us letting the terrorists win?  I'm sorry, I thought joining the army (outside of being drafted) was voluntary.  Not to mention the rigorous basic training program that they have, which is guaranteed to shed poundage.  (Seriously have you ever seen a fat army guy who's currently serving?)

Well that is certainly a lot this week.  Not a lot of huge revelations, but enough food for thought I think.

Oh, before I forget I finished reading the book by John Boswell and have moved onto The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer which is something that I started reading a long time ago, but never had a copy of until I found on in the local AMAZING used bookstore hear in Milwaukee.  I found the Boswell book to be very informative.  I'm not sure how most religious people will take to the understanding that in the middle ages the Church was a refuge for gays and lesbians and a vast amount of homosexual love poetry was written by monks and nuns.  And that it wasn't until the late 13th/early 14th century that discrimination and criminality was associated with homosexuality for any lasting period of time.  *sigh* Oh well.

More next week, hopefully!