November 2006
10/25/2006
HOMOSEXUALITY NOW AND THEN
I’ve heard talk and discussion about the difference between homosexuality today and homosexuality in years past.
Our homosexual forefathers fought, suffered and endured in the "Stonewall Era;" giving us later generations freedom to be who we are individually. They understood and knew the consequences of their homosexuality at that time of their lives; they as well understood and acknowledged other gay people. I’m guessing it was a time when those who were the same embraced one another.
Times change, though. Homosexuals reveled in the Sexual Revolution of the 70s; they saw the Sexual Revolution come to a screeching halt in the 80s with the advent of AIDS. Many gay trailblazers probably felt fear, worry, the feeling of doom.
Though times change, people don’t. The next generation of homosexuals who came of age in the 80s most certainly were frightened, not only of their own homosexuality but of the consequences portrayed in the media as well as one’s own personal feelings of shame.
Another generation later, the "good and advances" made by prior generations have allowed young men to not just accept their homosexuality, but also embrace it at a much younger age.
A few times I’ve gone to a Gay Bar. A place, I thought, where I might be able to meet other like-minded people and develop friendships. What I found, however, was very different; I’m sure it was a nice place and a nice group of people, if only one knew "the secret handshake." The men either huddled with each other or passed by without even acknowledging the "Hello" from someone not in their group. It was like high school again, only worse.
The younger homosexuals, who have been afforded the sense of being who they are sexually, have their own issues. With our society’s obsession with beauty, thinness, hairless and youth, these young men see these as ideal. Not only do they dismiss those who do not "fulfill" this interpretation of the human body, they arrogantly insult and demean.
Times change, though. These arrogant young men will age and some time they will wonder why they are treated with the same disrespect and dismissal.
Our homosexual community isn’t what it could be. The media, the general public and even many homosexuals see the homosexual community as gays wanting and trying to have sex.
I don’t know, maybe I’m the one who doesn’t understand. I’m a homosexual man but sex doesn’t define my life or me. What I’d like to experience in the homosexual community is friendship and camaraderie. Just like real people who have personal things in common.
11/1/2006
How do you vote?
Do you vote straight party? Regardless of a candidate’s view or stand on issues, do you vote more for the Party than the candidate?
Is your vote based on your own concerns? Whichever candidate says what you want to hear regarding certain issues?
Do you vote according to your own thoughts and conscience as well as consideration and concern for society as a whole?
Do you vote for a "name" because it’s recognized without researching the candidate?
Voting is not only a privilege and honor, it is a duty we have in our country. After all, "Government for the people, by the people" cannot work if the "people" stay silent. The adage is true: if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain. NOT voting because one thinks "my one vote doesn’t matter" is a copout; it is a mask that hides apathy and/or laziness. If we want to enjoy the benefits of our Country we must also participate.
But why and for whom do we vote? Is it for the candidate that seeks to do the best for everyone? Is it for Party affiliation? Is it based on one "issue" or "cause?"
In my opinion, a vote for Party affiliation without consideration for the candidate, is a wasted vote. There is really no meaning behind it other than the thought "I’m " this or that "and THAT is how I vote." A vote based solely on one issue without consideration of every other issue is a selfish vote; one that doesn’t help anyone else other than the person who voted. It’s basically a vote for an issue, group, thought; not a candidate.
No one political party has all the answers; no one political party has the best interest of society as a whole in mind. Each has it’s own agenda and ideals.
That is why it is so important for citizens, the voters, to educate ourselves about each candidate and us. Forget the paid advertisements we are force-fed. Politics is a dirty game; instead of a candidate telling the public about him or herself, we hear about how horrible his or her opponent is. THAT is no help; I don’t want to hear about what one candidate thinks of another, I want to hear what that candidate believes and what he or she will do or try to do.
In a political race, information is often misinformation and/or skewed interpretations intended to make one look better than another.
For the public and voters, this is tiring and annoying. "Don’t tell me about the other candidate, tell me about YOU!" That is why we must do our own research; in order to make an informed decision we need to make the effort to examine a candidate’s political history, decisions and stands on issues.
As voters, we must also remember that we aren’t the only people affected. We should consider our society as a whole and not just our own personal issues and causes when we make our vote. Are we voting for someone just because we like the stand on one certain issue? What are the candidate’s stances on other issues? Truth be told, some issues are more important than others, regardless of one’s personal thoughts.
If we are truly government for the people by the people, we the people have to consider everyone else. Are we voting and choosing based on our own thoughts and beliefs only? Do we give any consideration to the fact that we are all American citizens and we are all individuals with thoughts and beliefs as well? Do we think our own thoughts and beliefs are better and/or more important than anyone else’s?
No ONE person is any more important than any other. No ONE political party is better or worse than the other. If we, the voters, keep in mind and understand the fact that WE ARE THE PEOPLE, each and every one of us; if we take into consideration others’ thoughts instead of thinking our own thoughts are best, correct or right, we’d be much more FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.
11/8/2006
JOHN KERRY
John Kerry could have said, "do well in school or else you get stuck in fast-food." He didn’t. What he said when he said, "get stuck in Iraq," was exactly what he meant. His comment was intended to insult the current administration, frighten campus students and again, pompously as ever, his own idea that he is "right" and everyone else is "wrong."
His apology wasn’t an apology at all; it was a "sound bite." He apologized IF his words were "misinterpreted." His words were NOT misinterpreted at all; everyone knows exactly what he meant.
Okay John, you lost the election. Get over it. Taking shots at the President, Congress and/or Senate is one thing; but to imply that only "flunk-outs" join the Armed Services is way beyond your own case of "sour grapes."
Our Military is comprised of men and women who are accomplished, smart, honorable, dedicated and, quite frankly, more patriotic than you’ve shown yourself to be.
There is a reason you’ve been "dismissed" from the campaign trail; YOU are an embarrassment and a liability to your own Party. I’m thinking that should be a "red flag" there!
Publicly insulting and demeaning those in our Armed Forces by insinuating that they are there only because they didn’t "do well in school" is your own asinine opinion; more likely your own personal political beliefs. Then your refusal to admit that you made a mistake in your statement shows arrogance and disregard for the American people.
You are now an embarrassment to the Democratic Party; you are the offender to those in the Armed Forces; you are one who cannot admit his own mistakes or accept responsibility for his own words to the American public.
As Dr. Phil might ask, "How is that working for you?"
11/15/2007
SEXUAL ADDICTION
Personally, I think "sexual addiction" is just another "term" or "label: sexual addict" to excuse the actions of a person.
The man who rapes a woman: he's a sex addict; the husband constantly cheating on his wife: sex addict; the boyfriend cruising for sex, cheating on his partner: sex addict; on and on.
We all have physical and sexual desires. Unlike food and water, sexual desires are NOT needs. Sex, contrary to popular belief, is NOT a physical requirement like air. No man or woman has ever
died from not having sex.
"Sexual addiction" is just another way to excuse someone from their actions and release them of any responsibility that may result from one's inability to control him-or her-self.
What separates us from other animals is that we humans are able to rationalize and control his or her actions. We have urges, but we can choose whether or not to act upon them.
It has become regrettably commonplace in our society to excuse behavior and not accept personal responsibility. Too often we don’t hold ourselves accountable for our actions; and it’s not just sex but that is another article.
Just recently "scandal" surfaced about a US Congressman who abused his position and power. Then, come the "explanations" and "reasons:" he who, through his attorney, proclaimed his own alcoholism, homosexuality and molestation by clergy. How convenient for this former Congressman that he has all these "problems" to fall back on and to avert his own responsibility and blame. This pathetic man is grasping at any straw he can reach in order to protect and defend himself. He was a man in the Congress, a man of power and position, a man who indulged his own perversion (yes, he's a pervert) for his own selfish wants. His claims of alcoholism, homosexuality and abuse by the clergy insult those who have real problems with alcohol; his admittance of his homosexuality in the wake of this insults, demeans and vilifies gay men and women; his sudden revelation of abuse by a clergyman is insulting and exploitative in his own interest. As well, where were the leaders of Congress during this? Apparently there were tales told of his behavior toward those young and innocent. Is it true that it was ignored because of fear of losing power in the House? Crucify Bill Clinton for receiving oral sex from an adult woman, but ignore a Congressman's advances on selectively male minors? The Congressman who was chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children then did exactly what he fought against.
If we all held ourselves accountable for our actions, accepted personal responsibility for those actions and practiced self-control instead of self-absorption, we as human beings as well as our society would be better.
11/22/2006
Thanksgiving. Things for which I’m thankful (in no particular order, notwithstanding the top four):
God
My Family
My Country
Life
The love of my life Olivia Newton-John
Beer, Coors Light specifically
WVAsQueerNews
The "Delete" key
"Bewitched"
Men
The Male Body
The Seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer in THAT order
Personal Computers
Books
The Male Penis
My Grammy Award-winning Girlfriend Trisha Yearwood
Public Transportation
Friends
"Friends"
Portable Space Heaters
My Job
Memories of My Mother
"The Bionic Woman"
Love and Compassion
Coffee
Male Body Hair
Kareoke
Elizabeth Montgomery
Tolerance and Acceptance
Contact Lenses
My Hands and Tissues
Age and Wisdom
My Nieces and Nephews
Judy Garland
Male Testicles and Scrotum
Dentures
Battery-operated Wheelchairs
My Sisters
"Sisters"
Amish Friendship Bread (more of a coffee cake than a bread.)
Male Erections
An Electric Blanket on a Cold Morning
Reservoir-end Lubricated Condoms
Freedom
Laws
Fleetwood Mac
"The Wizard of Oz"
Being Able to Sit "Indian-style" then pull up and Walk on My Knees with my legs still crossed
Humor
Integrity
Honesty
The Male Chest and Nipples
Polident, Poligrip and Fixodent
Euchre
Online Shopping
The Beauty of the Male Body (did I say that already?)
The Beauty of a Hairy Male Ass
Intimacy
Women (I love women in my life, I just don’t want them in my bed)
My Godson/Nephew: The Most Perfect Child on Earth
There is SO MUCH MORE for which to be thankful; not just on Thanksgiving Day but everyday.
Happy Thanksgiving Day my friends.
11/29/2007
PENIS AND AGING
When I was a child, my penis was just there; I didn't understand why my sisters had lost theirs. lol
I began to see the difference between girls and boys; as a young child in the bathtub I asked my mother "What is this?" She told me it was my penis; she must have either sensed my confusion about the differences between male and female or KNEW I questioned MY difference from my sisters. She explained that boys have a penis and girls don't. At that age, that was explanation enough.
I grew up, puberty hit and adolescence began. During these years I not only noticed the difference between boys and girls, I became even more confused. The girls with their growing breasts didn't affect me; the boys, though. The boys in the summer wearing shorts and my seeing their growing leg hair, THAT affected me. Shirtless boys with the same underarm hair that I was experiencing affected me.
My own issues and worries about homosexuality aside, I understood during these years that my penis was more than how I peed. It did things on its own.
As a young boy, I had a "penis." As a teenager, I had a "dick." My dick created a circus in my pants, sometimes at the most uncomfortable of times.
As I grew into manhood, I learned that I now had a "cock." It was much more than how I peed; my "penis, dick, cock" could give me a pleasure that is nearly impossible to describe.
As a young man I began to understand what my penis could do. Also as a young man who saw himself only in his youth, what I could experience with regard to my penis was natural and older men certainly couldn't understand or feel that.
Come on, I could never imagine my father with an erection, THAT was just gross. No, parents aren't "people" like I was a man with sexual feelings and desires.
It’s funny how youth doesn't understand. I grew up. My youth turned into "middle age." I still feel the same way inside as I always have; my penis hasn't changed much as well.
I used to think someone in their 40s or older couldn't possibly feel the same things I felt in my 20s. I guess that is how the phrase "youth is wasted on the young" began.
I'm inspired by men of age who DO feel the same things we've all felt in our 20s, even into their 70s or 80s (okay, my father with an erection is still gross. LOL)
Time moves on, we grow and change; our bodies change as well. Our bones and joints may creak and crack on our way to the bathroom in the morning; some of us many leave more in the bathroom than we take to bed with us; some of us may put on some extra pounds; some of may loose our hair; some of us may require medication in our lives and struggle with health issues.
What doesn't change is that we ARE men. Those feelings and desires we felt in our 20s are still being felt as we age and move into different "age groups."
I think that is amazing and wonderful and inspiring. A man of 60 years or older feels the same feelings; his penis gets the same erection; he desires the same sexual feelings.
A picture of a 25-year-old guy with an erection is NOTHING compared to seeing a man in his "golden years" with the same erection. The erection of a kid will happen if the wind blows a certain way; the "golden year" man with an erection though, THAT is encouraging to every man. I think it's also quite a beautiful sight.
We forget how much we can learn from our older generations. Too often we pass them off as "old." However, with age comes wisdom. WE can learn from those who've lived and struggled (like we are now) before us.
I thank, honor and respect our older generations. I think we all should.
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